The Mafia's Secret Heiress

2

Friday morning and I’m up at the crack of dawn. I quickly shower and change and prepare myself for my busy day. I head to the kitchen, the house quiet as everyone else is still in their rooms possibly sleeping. I make a start on breakfast making pancakes and fresh fruit for my father. He’ll be down in the next half hour and away to work before 8am.

I make a start on cleaning the house. Knowing the guests won’t be here until this evening, I can take my time with doing my chores just as father appears and eats his food without speaking a word to me, but before he leaves he tells me

“The guests will be here around 6pm. Remember you are not to be seen” he doesn’t wait for a reply and leaves slamming the door behind him.

Once the lounge has been dusted and hovered and everything is shining clean I make a start on the food.

I had decided to have a melon salad starter followed by leek and potato soup. Main course would be roast beef with potatoes and vegetables followed by strawberry cheesecake then coffee with biscuits and cheese platter.

As I get the beef in the oven and prepare the potatoes and vegetables ready to put on once the guests arrive. I make a start on the cheesecake.  I was lucky enough to find a good cookbook in the kitchen pantry and have been using it for months to try new foods. Father always complains that I was making the same food all the time.

A few hours later I finish off the cheesecake and prepared the melon starter. Once that’s done I set up the dining table with all the crockery and cutlery and crystal glasses. realising the time is nearly five thirty I quickly finish setting up and getting the wine out ready for our guests arriving.

A few minutes later Rose arrives with her soon to be husband, and we chat a little before my father comes in with our guests. He takes one look at me and shakes his head in disgust. I did go and change before I started laying the table and put on the nicest dress I had but I knew father would still not appreciate it.

As the maids serve the starters I quickly finish preparing the next course. Checking that the food is okay for everyone, I ask one of the maids to go check that everything is ok. She tells me that all the plates were cleared of food. Which is a good thing, means they like it but also means I won’t get a meal again tonight. I only get leftovers if there is any.

After the soup course is finished the maids start to take out the roast beef and vegetables and the extra gravy boats. Just as I load the dish washer with the dirty dishes and start to clean up and prepare the dishes for the next course, Marco comes into the kitchen to tell me my father wants me into the dining room. I look up at him in shock. What could he possibly want? He never asks me to go into the dining room when he has guests unless something is wrong with the food.

I gingerly walk through, eyes to the floor remembering no eye contact is allowed.  As I walk in I hear chatter and laughter from everyone there.

“You asked for me, sir." I whisper as I get just close enough.

“Yes. Our guests wanted to see who made all this delicious food" he says, clearly showing off infront of our guests.  I keep my head down, not wanting to show my father up and stick to the rules.

“The food is delicious. Are you a trained chef?” I hear a ladies voice I have never heard before asks. I quickly gaze to my father waiting on his permission to speak. He nods his head slightly, giving me the permission.

“No, mam. I’m self-taught" still keeping my gaze to the floor.

“Well, that is certainly a talent. You have a very talented young lady working for you, Henry" a Male voice says.

“She doesn’t work for him. She is my sister" Rose all but screams out, I quickly raise my head shaking my head, knowing that she shouldn’t have said that. I’ll get in trouble because Rose said I’m her sister.

“Your sister. Henry I thought you said you only had one daughter?” the same Male voice said.

“I do only have one daughter. Rose is my only daughter. You leave and get back to work.” He raises his voice at the end.  I bow my head and quickly leave to prepare the next course.

The maids collect the dirty dishes and I finish getting the cheesecake ready. Once the last plate has left I sigh in relief that it’s only coffee left to really make.

I clean up again and load the dishwasher switching it on. Once I’ve prepared the cups and the pot of coffee I organise the cheese and biscuit platter. The maids are looking at me with a worried expression on their faces. They must have heard what Rose had said earlier. I see pity in the eyes, but none of them will be able to help once all the guests have left.

“Aria. You are required in the dining room" one of the maids says as she brings in the last of the dirty dishes.  “Take the coffee pots with you" she whispers as she gets closer. I look up to see Marco standing watching me.

“What have I done?” I ask him as I pass him on the way.

“Nothing sweetie. Just take the coffee in" he pats my shoulder as I carry the two large pots in and place them on the table. I quickly find Rose’s gaze as she smiles at me.

“Aria, please have a seat" the same male from earlier says.  I look up to see my father with his head bowed, not looking at me. Which means I’m not allowed.

“I’m sorry, I have work to finish in the kitchen" I keep my eyes on my father waiting for a reaction. I don’t get one, so I quickly try to leave. As I said I try to leave but a hand on my arm stops me. Startled by the contact I quickly pull my arm from the person grip and flinch thinking I’ll be hit for doing so.

“Aria, please it’s ok" Rose all but whispers. I shake my head.

“I have work to finish in the kitchen. I apologise for not being able to stay.” I whisper back to her. Trying my hardest to remove my arm from her grip.

“That’s enough.” My father slams his hands on the table. “Let the bitch leave Rose.” I hear the guests gasp.

“No. She needs to eat something. You’ve starved her long enough father. Look at how thin she is. You need go stop treating her like a slave. She deserves better.” She yells at him.

“Rose. Please stop. You’ll make it worse.” I whisper as I tug my arm from her grip but lose my balance and fall on my bum.

I quickly scramble to my feet and rush through to the kitchen to finish clearing up the dishes. The maids have all but disappeared, leaving me to deal with it all on my own. Which I am used to by now but it doesn’t get any easier, especially when I’ve been busy all day.

Rose and Brandon come into the kitchen looking pissed off. I know Rose was only trying to help but she’s just made things worse. As soon as they all leave, I know I’ll get a beating. Something I’ve dealt with for a few years now.

“I’m sorry. Mrs Connors commented on how thin you were and that’s why I thought he would let you eat something. I’m sorry Aria.” She says as she hugs me tight.

“I’m not sure if I will survive this time" I sob onto her shoulder.

“Brandon, we have to do something" Rose yells at him.

“You know there is nothing we can do, Rose. You know that. I’ll come by tomorrow to check on you, ok" he says as he wraps his arms around my shoulders.

“Rose, Brandon, time to go" father shouts from the front door.  They both reluctantly leave after giving me one last hug.

You may think that they would be able to help, or at least take me away from the inevitable. Unfortunately, they can’t. It’s the way their family do business. To me it’s all very strange and old fashioned but again I’m reminded that I’m technically not family.

As soon as the front door closes, I hold my breath while I continue to clean up. I go to the dining room to collect the remaining dirty dishes and load then onto the small trolley. I hear fathers footsteps coming my way.

“Did you put her up to that? You think Rose actually thought that stunt would work. You think she cares about you. Neither of them care for you. You are worthless. You little bitch" he yells in my face, pulling me back from the table and slapping me across the face.

I stumble to the ground and wait for more. And more he gave.  Several kicks to the ribs. A few slaps across the face again. And several punches in the back.

“Get up. Clean up and get to your bed" he yells leaving me there on the floor.  I take a few small breaths to gain a little energy to get myself up.

As I wince in pain from that beating, I quickly tidy up the table. Wiping it down and taking the dishes through to the kitchen.

I reload the dishwasher and clean up the kitchen. All the time, struggling to breath. I think he might have broken a rib with the amount of pain I’m in. Before I leave the kitchen I sneakily take some pain killers and an ice pack from the freezer.

I head to my room in the basement, striping my clothes on the way. The pain is bad this time round. The beating was the worst I’ve had in a while. Checking myself in the mirror I see ugly bruises on my ribcage and my cheek is swollen, no doubt that will be bruised by morning.

I take a hot shower to try reduce the swelling, gently washing my hair and body. Really struggling with the pain in my ribs. If only Rose hadn’t had that outburst, this wouldn’t have happened. Father says she doesn’t care and I’m not sure she does. She knows I get beaten for any slightest thing, maybe this is her plan. Maybe she’s working with her father to get rid of me.

As the water starts to turn cold, I slip out of the shower drying my body gently and slipping on my shorts and t-shirt I wear for bed.

I toss and turn on my bed to get comfortable, but it is no use. The pain is the worst ever. I must have fallen asleep at some point as I’m woken by my alarm blaring in my ear.

I get out of bed, struggling to breath with the pain in my ribs, I quickly get washed and changed and make my way upstairs to make breakfast.

As I arrive in the kitchen, Brandon is there.

“Morning" I squeak out. Trying to hide my pain.

“Aria. Your face. Did dad do that?" he asks as he rubs his thumb over my bruised cheek.

“Brandon, son. Why you here on a Saturday morning?” father walks in and interrupts me before I get a chance to reply to Brandon.

“I promised Aria I would come visit her today since I never got a chance to speak to her yesterday” I hear Brandon say as I get busy making breakfast for father. The tone of his voice clearly showing he is not happy with the states I am in, but there is nothing he can do about it.

“Brandon are you having breakfast here?” I ask as they stand in silence.

“Yeah. Sure. Pancakes and fruit?” he asks as he sees me making the pancake mix and heating up the pan.  I nod my head in response as they head to the dining room.

I quickly cook the pancakes and cut the fruit and plate it up taking it through to Brandon and his father.  As I enter the room the suddenly stop talking.

“Thanks Aria” Brandon says as he starts to eat.

I head back through to the kitchen to prepare coffee and take juice through but as I stand at the door I hear part of their conversation.

“If they take her, you will be guaranteed more business dad. It makes sense.”

“Who would want her? She’s a pathetic bitch" father says back to Brandon

“Mrs Connors seems to think her middle son, Xander would like her"   I couldn’t stand to hear anymore so I go through the door as the conversation yet again stops. I leave their coffee and juices and leave the room.

Heading through to the kitchen, I think about what they were taking about. Mrs Connors was the lady that was here last night. Rose said she was worried about how skinny I was and she seemed nice enough. I’m not sure what Brandon meant by Xander would like her. Did he mean as a maid or a cook. I wonder.