Chapter 37- DANCE

Still upset about last night's event, Leonardo had chosen to sleep in the guest bedroom rather than in the very same bedroom as Aurora. The night had not been welcoming and warm to her, her eyes failed to shut and her heart heavy. She turned her head countless times to look in the direction of the couch were Leonardo always slept, seeing it empty felt disheartening.

With every passing day, their relationship fractured and the communications between the two of them was almost non-existent. The streams of light made its way through the curtains and not even the sun shining could brighten her day, Leonardo was mad and so was she but she knew that they would have to get over their rift.

Her door swung open and just like she had expected, Leonardo walked into the room and straight towards the bathroom and not once did he acknowledge her presence in the room.

Their marriage being less than a traditional one had made matters difficult as it was and with their conflicting personalities added fuel to the fire. She waited until she heard the water stopped running, with a few more ruffling, Leonardo came out fully dressed and Aurora, still on the bed clutching onto her bed sheets.

'Are you going to be this childish?" She surprised herself by breaking the silence between them, Leonardo stopped in his tracks, his back faced to her but she could hear his deep breaths. 'I am speaking to you!" she yelled. Leonardo turned as quick as lightning, his face hard and emotionless.

'You have no right to right to ask me anything" he told her plainly, looking into her eyes as though he was searching for something. Aurora got off the bed and walked up to him, looking up to see the disappointed look on his face.

'I am your wife, therefore I have every right to ask you these things" she told him plainly, to her surprise, Leonardo broke into a laugh and clapped his hands together.

'Now you consider yourself as my wife, I thought that this marriage was just a marriage on paper?" he sarcastically asked Aurora, whom shut her eyes as she realized what it was that he was speaking about.

'One day I might have the strength to tell you, why can't just listen to me?" she asked him angrily but Leonardo said nothing to her, instead Leonardo walked past her and exited the room.

Feeling defeated and as though the world was against her, Aurora picked up the phone in her room and dialed the number. The phone rang and in just one ring, someone answered.

'Aurora!"

'Signora Meta, how did you know that it was me?"

'I saw the number and I knew that it had to be you, how are you doing my dear" Signora Meta asked her, hearing her voice had put Aurora at peace. Her only source of support had been signora Meta and no that she was not here, Aurora felt torn apart.

'I missed you" she told signora Meta, Aurora's voice broke in the process. She had tried to control herself but she could not help herself because she was truly caught in a difficult situation.

'What is wrong, Mio caro?" She asked Aurora with concern clouding her voice.

'I think my life would have been better if I had just stayed in the Russo household, at least there I knew who was fake and who was not" she confessed but she was met with silence. 'Signora Meta!"

'Yes my dear, I hear what you are saying. Si, my dear, often every man thinks that his burden is the heaviest"

'But I cannot handle this anymore, whenever I try to do well, it backfires in my face and this is only causing me and Leonardo to fight with one another"

'I know how rich people can be, you forget, I have worked for the Russo's for as long as I can remember and let me tell you, it has not been easy"

'Then what should I do?"

'Be yourself in spirit and attitude. You are so strong, Mia figlia and if there was one person that could overcome whatever that was thrown in her direction then it would be you" listening to Signora Meta's advice was enough to uplift Aurora at that moment.

Ending the call had brought about a newer sense of strength within Aurora as she straightened herself and looked in the mirror.

'You can do this" she told herself confidently.


**

'You look beautiful" Although angry at Aurora, Leonardo had put his anger aside to compliment her. His breath caught in his chest as Aurora had walked down from the steps to meet him. Her long formal dress fitted her figure perfectly and the high slit of her dress, revealing her leg had not done much too ease the swelling in his pants.

Her hair pulled back into a slick bun and her baby hairs not shy to show itself off. Her diamond necklace and earrings, glittered as the light shorn on it making her look magical as she stood before him.

'You look handsome in your black suite" she complimented him. She was well aware that her husband was a handsome man but even now, she was seeing a different side to him. Leonardo had always looked put together, but seeing her husband formally dressed other than the day of their wedding, she was more drawn to him that she was before.

'Thank you for the compliment" he answered plainly, to her surprise, Leonardo turned around and walked out before Aurora could say anything.
**

Now, even as Aurora sat at the bar and had her cocktail, she was well aware that Leonardo was still upset with her. She did not blame him because anyone in his place would have done the same thing.

She looked at the crowd; the room was filled with classy people, the kind that Aurora had always seen at the Russo family. Without realizing it, they were flaunting their wealth and she could not blame them. Her mother in-law had made sure to get her the most expensive jewelry that money could buy and here she was, acting just like them.

'You just arrived and already you're bored" Aurora smiled, without even turning to see who it was, she was well aware of the person speaking behind her.

'I know that it is you Cory" she turned around and there Cory was, standing before her with the same dashing smile. He had changed his looks and gone for a more formal grey suit. Noticing that Aurora was staring at his suite, Cory laughed.

'Before you make fun of me, I want you to know that, my grandmother made me wear this" He explained, looking embarrassed that Aurora was looking at him.

'No you look great"

'Oh you're just saying that because you are a nice person"

'No, I mean it. It is just that I am not used to seeing you in a suit, I like you better in tight jeans and— I am so sorry, I should not have said that" Aurora apologized, realizing that she was indeed out of line and she was a married woman. Her face heated up with all the embarrassment that she felt but instead of Cory getting angry, he smiled at her.

'No offense taken, it's not every day that I meet a girl with a sense of humor" he complimented her, earning him a side smile from Aurora.

'You don't mean that?" She asked him, trying her best to hide the sudden rush of embarrassment that she felt.

'I seriously do, you are one of the realest woman that I have come to know here" Cory sounded sincere, something Aurora was seeing less of as she was getting to know the towns folks.

'Thank you, your words means a lot to me"

Why can't Leonardo be this nice to me? She questioned herself inwardly, glancing around the room for sings of Leonardo.

'Where is your husband?"

'Oh my husband…well I think he is catching up with some old friends" she lied but was surprised to hear Cory laughing aloud. 'Why are you laughing?"

'I don't know what planet you are from dear or what Leonardo told you but he doesn't have any friends" Cory's confession had come as a shock to Aurora who was well aware that Leonardo was reserved but she knew that he was a good man at heart.

'What do you mean?" she asked, hoping that Cory would reveal more than he had just said.

'I grew up with Leonardo in our younger days and he never made friends, he kept to himself up until he left to pursue his dream of becoming a teacher" Cory explained.

'Oh I see, it sounds just like my husband" she spoke under her breath but deep in her heart, she was proud of the man that Leonardo had become.

'Hey, since Leonardo is not here, let me show you around" Cory offered, although a bit hesitant Aurora looked around and still there was no sign of him.

'Okay, I will go with you"
Cory reached out his hands to her and she took it, together they walked into an empty corridor away from the guests.

'Where are we headed?" She asked. Fear began creeping in the further they moved from the corridor and up the steps.

'Don't you worry, I will show you just where we are going because you are going to love it" Cory assured her even though the unsettling feeling filled her stomach.

Leonardo where are you? She kept thinking to herself, hoping that he would somehow hear her.
Cory stopped right in front of a door; he turned to face Aurora and smiled at her. For the first time, his smile made her feel uncomfortable.

'Are you ready to see what is behind the door?"

'I guess so"
Cory swung open the door to reveal what was before them; Aurora's hands covered her mouth in shock. Her pupils grew wider at what she was seeing.

**

'Have you seen my wife?" Leonardo walked through the crowd, asking every waiter that he saw and it seemed as though no one had seen where Aurora had gone. He had walked outside to calm himself, his anxieties getting the best of him.

He had not wanted Aurora to see him in a state of panic therefore he had opted to leave her alone and now upon his return, no one had been able to tell him where his wife had gone.

Avena, where are you my dear? He questioned himself, his eyes scanning every corner of the room and ignoring anyone who wanted his attention. His only mission right now was to find his wife at any cost.

'I saw your wife sir" Leonardo turned around, facing the tiny female waiter in front of him.