Elsa
We get into a taxi and drive to one of our favorite venues downtown.
When we get out of the car, at least a hundred people are queuing outside the club. Rita ostentatiously passes the whole crowd, making her way straight to the red line, and kisses the woman standing guard at the entrance.
She unpins the rope blocking the passage inside, and later we are both in, greeted by the owner’s wife, Monika. She fastens VIP armbands on our wrists.
“You look gorgeous,” Rita says to the woman, who waves a hand dismissively but smiles.
“You always say so.” The cute brunette laughs and shakes her head. “That’s not going to stop me from buying you shots!” She winks at us and nods for us to follow her.
We climb the stairs and sit at a table. After instructing the waitress, Monika disappears.
“Drinks are on me today!” I call, trying to outshout the music and pulling out my credit card from my handbag.
It was about time I spent some money. I only really need one thing.
I wave at the waitress and order. A while later, she comes back with an ice-filled bucket with a bottle of Moët Rosé. Seeing that, Rita jumps to her feet.
“Nice!” she cries, grabbing a glass. “What are we drinking to?”
I know what I wanted to toast, and why I picked that specific champagne.
“Us,” I said, sipping.
I am not drinking to me or Rita. It is Marcello I am thinking about. I feel sad, but at the same time strangely calm-a part of me is accepting my new circumstances. After downing half the bottle, we go to the dance floor, moving to the rhythm, fooling around. My gorgeous shoes aren’t exactly comfortable, so after three songs, I have to go back to the table. On my way there, I feel someone putting their hand on my shoulder.
“Hi!” I turn around and see Sergio.
I jerk away and stand rigid, glaring at him hatefully.
“Where were you all this time?” he asks. “Can we talk?”
“I have nothing to say to you,” I reply, and turn my back on him, heading toward my couch.
He doesn’t surrender that easily, though, and a second later he catches up with me.
“Please, Elsa. Just give me a moment.”
I sit down and glower at him, sipping my champagne silently. That taste makes me feel stronger.
“You have the nerve to ask me where I have been yet you have fucking half the female population of Sicily while I was away?” I ask, glaring at him.
“What? No. Who told you that?”
“I know what you’ve been up to, Sergio. You can’t fool me.”
“Please, let me explain. I’ll leave you be after that.”
Despite all the anger and revulsion, I felt when I found out he was cheating on me while we were still together, I am strangely feeling relaxed enough to listen to him explain himself.
“Okay, but not here. Wait a minute.”
I go down to the dance floor and find Rita, explaining the situation. She isn’t surprised or angry. She has already managed to find a replacement for me in the form of a charming blond-haired man.
“Go!” she calls. “I don’t think I’m coming back tonight, so don’t wait up.”
I go back to Sergio and nod at him, signaling that we can leave now.
When we are outside, he leads me to the parking lot and lets me in his car.
“You’re not here to party, I assume,” I say, stepping inside the white Jaguar XKR.
“I came here for you,” he replies and shuts the door.
We drove across the city, and I knew where he was taking me.
“You look amazing with that haircut, Elsa,” he says quietly, looking at me.
I ignore him. His opinion is s of no interest to me. I kept my eyes trained on the vista behind the window.
Sergio presses a button on his garage gate control, and we drive inside. He parks the car, and we take the stairs up.
“Want something to drink?” Sergio asks, going to the fridge.
I sit down on the sofa, feeling uncomfortable. I have a strange feeling that I am acting against the will of Marcello. I am putting myself at a security risk moving loosely around the city. How else am I supposed to have fun and forget about him? He wouldn’t want me to be meeting up with my ex and finally hooking up with him. Though I am certain I wouldn’t sleep with Sergio tonight. I am already uncomfortable just being in his presence.
“I think water will do best now,” Sergio decides, handing me a glass. “I’ll tell you everything, and you’ll do whatever you want.”
I settle on the couch and gesture for him to start.
“I won’t deny that I messed up but it was only once. I regret it. I was miserable after you started ignoring me and turning me down every time I wanted to meet. I thought you wanted to end things, and at that time, I thought it was a good thing for both of us. I love you, Elsa and I want you to give me another chance. I can set things right. ”
“You always say that but you don’t add meaning to it. ”
Sergio slides off the couch, kneeling in front of me.
“Elsa,” he said, taking my hands, “you’re right. You’re absolutely right. But during those weeks I realized how much I loved you. I don’t want to lose you. I’ll do anything to prove to you that I can change.”
I stare at him, dumbfounded, feeling the champagne I have had rising in my throat.
“I don’t feel too good,” I mutter, getting up from the sofa and stumbling toward the bathroom.
I throw up long enough to completely empty my stomach. I feel sick to the depth. I shouldn’t listen to anything from this liar. I leave the bathroom and try putting on my shoes.
“I’m going home,” I call, pushing my feet into the stilettos.
“Not going to happen. You can’t go like that,” he said, snatching my bag from my hands.
“Sergio, please!” I am growing impatient. “I want to go home.”
“All right, but allow me to drive you.” He wouldn’t accept my refusal.