CLAUDIA

In the end, I purchased an evening dress for the event. Gianna insisted that we should buy an outfit instead of looking for suitable wear in our closet. I spent a little more than my budget when I found this beautiful white off-shoulder silk long dress with a dramatic shoulder cape with matching hand gloves.

The dress fits me perfectly that's why I can't say no when my sister insists that I should buy this dress. Looking at the full-length mirror in my room now I can say that I didn't regret my decision to purchase this evening gown since I'll be attending Opera, after all.

"Looking good," Anna commented when she barged into my room with a grin on her face. "You look so angelic in that dress, Claudia."

"I think so too," I answered back, admiring my reflection. I also curled my hair today and parted it sideways with a sparkling clip to keep it in place.

"Men at the Opera will drool at the sight of you." My best friend proclaimed. "I can almost envision that they will not focus on the program because of your beauty."

I turned around to face her. "This is the reason why you are my best friend. You keep on feeding my ego and I like it."

She was about to reply when a knock sounded on our apartment door. "I will check who that is but I have a feeling that must be your sister. It's almost time to leave, after all."

When Anna left my room I sprayed some perfume on each side of my neck, on my wrist, and rubbed them together. I also wore my low-heeled favorite designer shoes and took my small black handbag on the bed before going out of my room.

I found Gianna and Anna and the living room having a light conversation. As expected, my sister was so beautiful in her sparkly figure-hugging evening dress with matching red lipstick. She could be mistaken as a model or even an actress at first glance.

"Shall we?" I asked, closing the door of my room.

Gianna stood from the sofa and smiled satisfactorily in my direction. "I knew that dress would be perfect for you, sis."

"Worth for its price, I would say," I replied dryly. I couldn't help but grimace when I remembered how much I spent on this dress.

"Come on," Gianna said looking at the wall clock. "It's almost time. We don't want to be late for the event."

I nodded as we went out of the apartment. My sister encircled her arm in mine and walked down the silent corridor. From the look of her face, she's rather excited about this event when to my knowledge she doesn't enjoy this kind of event.

I didn't have time to mull my thoughts when she hailed a taxi and we were on our way to the theater. After half an hour or so, we finally arrived at our destination. I looked at the imposing Teatro dell'Opera, it still feels like a dream standing in front of this building. I saw some notable people coming out of their cars which makes me wonder who in the world gave those tickets to my sister in the first place.

Since when did Gianna have ultra-rich friends who could give her sought-after tickets just like that? We paid the cab driver and went inside the lobby. I was aware of how my heart was pounding in my chest looking around at my surroundings. I have been to high-end parties before because of my work and once with the devil Alfonso so I could stop familiar faces here.

"Oh my God, we're here, Claudia. Can you believe it?" My sister whispered in awe. "Almost every elite member of the Italy society is here."

I couldn't help but wonder if there was a possibility that Violetta Ricci would be here and that cursed man who had been plaguing me lately...

"Buonasera, Gianna."

My sister and I both turned around when we heard that deep male voice draw her name behind us. My eyes narrowed instantly when I saw that familiar man, wasn't he the Orsini cousin who originally broke my sister's heart? Why does he come so friendly with her tonight?

Before I had the chance to mutter some hot retort my sister beat me and smiled broadly at the newcomer. "Piero!"

I was taken aback by my sister's reaction. I was half-expecting her to claw his face with her long fingernails and ruin his handsome face or something like kick him in the groin area hoping to make him infertile in the process. But no, the maddening woman smiled at the man who caused her tears not so long ago, as if nothing happened.

"Good to see you here." My sister beamed at the man, her blue-green eyes sparkled with delight. "Are you with someone?"

My God. Since when did become friends?

"Yeah, I am about to meet someone here in the lobby." The other Orsini devil answered with a smile. And then, he slid his gaze on me same pitch-black eyes regarded me with a friendly smile. "Buonasera, Signorina."

It took every ounce of my self-control not to snort in his direction. I don't want him to ruin my night by making interaction with the likes of him. I don't know what happened to him and Gianna since the incident but I don't want to make an acquaintance with him. One Orsini is more than enough to cause me headaches.

"Oh, here you are, cousin." I momentarily closed my eyes when I heard the familiar voice of the man I refused to think about since Monday. So much for my bad luck tonight, I should have expected that there was a high chance that he'd attend such an event.

I pointedly ignored him even though I knew he was behind my back. I won't acknowledge his presence. I watched him greet cousin maybe he was the one Piero Orsini had been waiting for. The bastard even exchanges a few pleasantries with my sister as if they have been old acquaintances in the past.

When his gaze settled on me, a satisfied smile fitted his mouth. I would not admit how devilishly handsome he was in his tuxedo and silk bowtie. "What are the odds to see you here, Claudia?"

I didn't bother to respond. Even though this was probably an unfortunate encounter there's still this feeling inside me that I couldn't shake off that this meeting was well-planned. I looked at my sister with narrowed eyes. She wouldn't dare to betray me, right? She knew very well not to try to be on the wrong side of me.

"Still mad?" He leaned forward and whispered in my ear. I immediately took a step backward when his breath tickled my neck.

I automatically touched the part of my neck that felt like being burned by his breath. "What do you think you're doing, Signore?" I was still glaring at him vehemently when I took Gianna's wrist and pulled her toward the entrance of the main hall.

I knew what I did back there was very rude but I didn't have a choice since meeting him again unexpectedly and him acting like that in front of my sister and his cousin while making my heart go crazy was too much for me.

I need to get away from him as soon as possible. It didn't take long before we found seats, I was taken aback when I realized that we were going to sit on a private box on the balcony. How on earth did Gianna manage to get these blasted tickets, again? I shook my head, there's no need to ask my sister we're already here now I can do is relax and enjoy this performance without any hassle. I was just about to feel at ease when I saw someone sit next to me.

I bit back the curse that wanted to escape my mouth. Why does misfortune keep on coming after me tonight? What kind of bad luck was this? I thought I would enjoy this night watching my very first theater play but I think I was wrong.

"What are you—"

Before I had the chance to finish my question, he raised his ticket with a smug smile playing on his lips. "This is my seat number, Signorina."

Seat number, my arse.

Was this stage? I turned to my other side to confront Gianna but too bad she's already engaged in a conversation with Piero Orsini who was sitting on her right side. How in the world we were stuck in the middle of the two damnable Orsini heirs?

Nope. I shook my head and stared ahead on the stage while the red curtains were still covering the whole platform. I would not let them ruin my night on my first opera.

"Are you going to ignore me throughout the night?" He whispered near my ear again. I fought back the temptation to spare him a glance. I kept on telling myself that he was not worth my time so I remained stoic and stared ahead. "Claudia..."

"Don't talk to me," I said through my gritted teeth while not looking in his direction. Seriously, I want to move away from him and ask a random stranger to exchange seats with me.

From my peripheral vision, I saw him smirk slightly while his gaze was still fixed on me. "Aren't you ever going to talk to me again?"

"What do you think?" I hissed at him.

"Why are you so mad at me?" He still has the nerve to ask. I refused to make any conversation with him. All I want is to enjoy this play. "Is this because of what happened last Sunday?"

I remained silent. Thankfully, the opera was about to start. The red curtains opened wide to reveal the stage and the music from the orchestra started they also dimmed the lights inside the hall. My heart beats so loudly on my chest as anticipation builds up. I am excited and nervous at the same time.

The first act was starting my eyes were glued on the stage savoring every second of the play since I didn't think I'd have a chance to watch the Opera again.

I was about to feel very much attached to the play as I felt the emotions of the actors on stage when the devil beside me decided to bother me again. He leaned again on my side intentionally invading my space when he muttered under his breath. "To err is a human, to forgive is divine."

For the first time since I had the misfortune to meet him here, I faced him with full of animosity on my beautiful face. "I don't forgive."

I still remember vividly how he was so worried about the freaking motorbike that he didn't bother to ask about my welfare. And let's not forget that he seemed to throttle me that day because I put some dents in his beloved motorcycle.

"I'm sorry, okay?" He said with a little irritation in his voice. "How long do you think we should drag this silly fight? What about our charade?"

"Maybe you should have thought of that before you acted like that last weekend, Signore Orsini." I snorted, giving him a scathing glance. "I think you'll fit the role of forever being that actress's dirty little laundry."

I could see from his face that I hit some nerves again but I don't care at the moment. He should take a good taste of my wrath and learn his lesson the hard way that no one should irk Claudia Romano.

He took a deep breath as if preventing exasperation get the best of him. "What do you think should I do so you can forgive me?"

From my left side, I could see that Gianna and Piero were more interested in our heated conversation than in the play we were watching. They were discreetly listening to us but I could tell that they were eavesdropping. I looked at him sideways and murmured almost inaudible I don't want our companions to hear a thing. "I don't know. Why should I tell you?" I gave him a saccharine smile. "You're currently my suitor, correct? Why don't you find out yourself?"

I focused my attention back on the play but this time there was a small smile playing on my lips as the chagrin was fixed on Alfonso's face throughout the play.

Serves you right.