After luxuriating in a bathtub soak, Angelina dried her beautiful hair, oblivious to the lascivious remarks being made about her among the Gotti brothers. Moments later, she picked up her cellphone, logged into Instagram, and headed straight to Bernardo Greco's page. There were few photos there, as was prudent for a mafia heir like Bernardo who had to keep a low profile. Flaunting his opulent lifestyle on social media was a beacon for federal agents, who always kept close watch on him.
Lying on her bed, Angelina reminisced about her first kiss, at the age of fifteen.
THREE YEARS AGO...
"It's a shame you have to go back to the university," lamented Angelina, fully aware that Bernardo had no other choice. As the eldest son in the Greco family, it was imperative he complete his business degree to become the new capo.
"Angel," Bernardo called out, using the affectionate nickname everyone used for Angelina. "I don't get why you always seem upset. I'll be home on holidays and for vacation. We're never apart for too long."
Angelina and Bernardo's families had been friends for years, and they had known each other since childhood. Bernardo saw Angelina as a younger sister, but she desired much more.
"I know... but I wish you didn't have to leave this time," she said while twirling a strand of her glossy blonde hair with her finger.
"Let's not waste our time with your complaints. Let's make the most of the time while I'm here," Bernardo interjected, always one to cut through Angelina's fussing. "There's a new movie out: 'Charlotte's Web.' Do you want to go see it? We could invite Stella, too."
"No!" Angelina exclaimed, vexed because Bernardo wasn't entertaining her whining. "That movie's for little kids. I'm not a child anymore! I'm fifteen now."
"Wow! My apologies, Angel. You certainly are all grown-up," Bernardo teased, smiling at her irritation.
"Do kids kiss each other on the lips?" Angelina boldly inquired.
Narrowing his eyes, Bernardo gave Angelina a serious look, disliking where the conversation was headed. Indeed, Angelina was no longer a child. Her body had begun to develop into that of a woman, and she was becoming more beautiful by the day, but to him, she was just a dear friend or his little sister.
"No," Bernardo replied firmly. "Children don't kiss on the lips, and neither do fifteen-year-old girls."
"You're so old-fashioned," Angelina laughed, edging closer to Bernardo. "Tiffany, my friend, has already been kissed by a boy. She's my age. I don't want to be a 'BV' (barely kissed) anymore, but my first kiss has to be with someone special."
"I agree with you, and there's no need to rush, Angel. You're not competing with anyone. The right person will come along at the right time," Bernardo said, his gaze falling on Angelina who was now very close, unaware of what she was about to do.
"But I already know the ideal person," Angelina retorted, licking her lower lip.
Suddenly, it all happened. Angelina pressed her lips to Bernardo's, who at first thought to pull away from the young woman, but upon feeling her arms wrap around his neck and her womanly body pressed against his, he couldn't resist and returned the kiss. Minutes later, realizing he was becoming aroused, Bernardo pushed Angelina away who grinned back at him, and he looked at her in annoyance.
"What do you think you're doing?" Bernardo shouted, alarmed at his response to her innocent kiss. "Proper young ladies don't just go around kissing people!"
"I wanted you to be my first kiss, Bernardo," Angelina whispered, her cheeks flushing.
"Angel, you are very beautiful and young," Bernardo spoke in a calmer tone, noticing her embarrassment at his reaction. "When you're older, your father will choose a husband for you, and all your firsts should belong to him."
At that moment, Angelina wished she could tell Bernardo that she wanted all her firsts to be with him; that she wanted to marry him.
Ever since that day, she fell even deeper in love with Bernardo, hoping dearly that her father might arrange her marriage with him, but if that was not to be, she had no intention of marrying anyone else.
Bernardo Greco was strikingly handsome and charming. His blue eyes were as deep and captivating as Angelina's, and they shared the same hue. Both blonds, with fair skin and blue eyes, his well-defined jawline and enchanting smile had bewitched Angelina at first sight. Tall and with an athletic build, he enjoyed sports just as she did. The pair made a stunning couple, yet no one suspected Angelina's secret adoration for him.
Beyond that kiss at age fifteen, they shared nothing more serious than a beautiful friendship, which fueled Angelina's passion even more. Being raised in traditional mafia families, Angelina preferred to believe that Bernardo respected the rules and didn't pursue her further. All the boys in town pined for her, and she was certain Bernardo was no exception.
During his back-and-forth trips from the university far from New York, Angelina met other boys and even shared a few kisses, yet her affection for Bernardo remained steadfast. Every time he returned to New York on vacation, she hoped he might seek a more intimate relationship, but their dynamic remained constant.
In the mafia world, a woman's worth for marriage hinged on her virginity. No mafia member, especially leaders, would marry a woman who had shared a bed with another man, no matter her beauty. Moreover, sleeping with the daughter of an important mafia figure meant either marriage or death. Raised in this reality, Angelina was sure that Bernardo's restraint was due to the rules they lived by, hoping he also harbored feelings for her.
Sadly, Bernardo unknowingly nurtured Angelina's dreams with his tenderness and care, as the young woman struggled to discern the nature of their relationship.
Yet the most troubling aspect of this situation was that Angelina would not accept marriage to any man other than Bernardo, and in the mafia, she had no choice. She was to marry whoever her father decided upon. After all, in their world, marriage wasn't about love, but rather lucrative financial alliances.
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