His Hidden Heiress

Aria Velazquez gawked at the high rise buildings that past her in a blur as the cab drove into the heart of Venice, a bustling city with the energy of an excited horse ramping up for a big race. A lot of thoughts swirled round her avid mind; she had come here to merely find her lover, to confirm to herself that he had really run away and not missing as her fearful mind told her. It was a one week trip at most, his sister, Bettina one of her very best friends, had disclosed his address and the location of his office. He was now a truck driver for a food logistics company.

Aria wanted to confront him, to know the reasons for his sudden disappearance, why he never bothered to call her, why he stayed for so long; didn't he know he took half of her heart with him? Every morning when she woke up, she checked her emails, her IMs, her texts, waiting for a word from him. The plan was to go to Italy and have himself established at his uncle's company (he had a vacant spot open for him), and having built his income to a satisfactory degree and settled, come back to get her or send a flight ticket, but 6 months turned to a year, and a year turned to three years, and her fear turned to worry and her worry turned to dread.

A loud honk from a truck made her lurch violently from her seat and the driver laughed heartily to her chagrin. 'Sorry about that' said the driver and she merely nodded, forcing herself to fix her thoughts back to the pleasant scenery outside to escape the haunting images from the past three years. She noticed the driver staring at her from the rearview mirror. 'You don't look like you are from this parts ma'am' he noted, trying to strike a conversation. 'I'm actually Italian but I was born and bred in New York' she grunted.

'You came down here for vacation? We usually have swarms of tourists by this time of the year'

'Huh, no. But that's a good idea. I will find my hometown and explore the place while I am here'. The cab jerked to a stop leaving her breathless. "Tommaso's house, ma'am" the driver called cheerfully from the front seat much to her annoyance. She cursed him inwardly for his swift ride which had caused the abrupt stop of the vehicle but when she looked up, she was in awe. She didn't know what to expect when Bettina gave her his address but definitely not the multistory apartment complex in front of her. 'Are you sure we are at the right place?' she asked, observing the elegant outfit of the people walking in and out of the complex.

'yes, this is pretty much it' the driver affirmed, as he helped her with her luggage. 'Alright, thank you' she paid the fare and started to walk in towards the receptionist area, unsure of herself. Her stomach was knotted with anxiety as she wondered how it would be like meeting him face to face after three long years. She wasn't sure she was ready for this, but she needed answers about why he didn't reach out to her. She needed to know if he had moved on so her seemingly stagnant life would move on to, because he stole her heart and left her life at a standstill while she patiently waited for him to come back. 'You are a fool' she quietly repeated to herself as the elevator rode up to floor 25. All throughout the car ride she had mentally prepared her mind for this but the waves of unease stung her to tears. She hadn't even called Bettina that she had arrived Italy − Bettina came up first to secure an air BnB lodge for the both of them− she immediately came down here discovering it was so close to the airport, knowing she wouldn't be able to sleep another night without knowing the truth.

However, when she rang the door of apartment 169, it was not Giorgio that answered but a beautiful slender woman dressed in a rich velvet robe, her silken hair tied up in a sophisticated bun, hair that made Aria want to run her fingers through them. She was the epitome of pampered natural beauty and the more Aria stared into her gold colored eyes, the more her throat constricted in agony. She was sure this angelic 'being' standing in front of her was the no. 1 reason Giorgio refused to come back to her. The woman's finely laminated eyebrows furrowed in irritation. 'You are certainly not the delivery guy, but this' she surveyed her duffel bags 'I do not understand this. Who are you looking for?

'Giorgio? Aria squeaked, uncertainty in her voice, hoping against hope that she had mistakenly rung the wrong apartment. A tender smile flickered on her delicate face. 'Oh you must be his sister then. We were not expecting you today though. Come in' she widened the door and Aria had a peek at the apartment. The furnishings inside bespoke wealth and affluence, but then every inch of the interior of the complex did. Aria flicked her gaze from the apartment to the stunning face in front of her, a crushing feeling settling in her chest, but she decided to play along. She stepped in. "And how are you related to my brother?

The diamond ring perfectly set on her lithe ring finger flashed briefly in her eyes and her throat went instantly dry. 'He's my fiancé'. At that moment, when time seemed to stop still, Giorgio stepped into the living-room. "Welcome sis−

for a split second he looked aghast but then he faced the lady in utter confusion 'Muriel who did you let into my house?

Aria zoned out from their argument of who she was and wasn't, her mind chanting 'You are a fool. You are a fool. You are a fool−

'She said you where her brother' she snapped at him and then they both looked at her. 'Giorgio' she muttered, tears hot in her eyes. She expected this, she did. But not this. Not this feeling of her rib cage crushing into one another, piercing and tearing her fragile heart. She loved and waited for this man for three years, she held her vibrant romantic life for three years, and she kept herself faithfully for three years all for him, for his failed promises, only to have all her hopes dashed to pieces.

'Who is she Giorgio? The other woman screeched. He looked at Aria unfeelingly. 'I don't know but I'll take care of 'it' '. The next moments were a blur to Aria. One second his hand was on her and the next she was rudely pushed out of his apartment, bags and all. 'Giorgio' she muttered again, tears staining her voice as she tried to recognize her former lover underneath the mask he wore now contorted with disgust. He leant down, his breath fanning her face. 'You can't just come from nowhere and ruin my life Aria. I've moved on and so should you'. That, and the Italian wooden oak door slammed in her face.

Aria flung down her bags on the closest settee and slumped down weeping, her hands covering her slobbering face. Bettina made a bee-line for her.

'Did you know?' Aria yelled, her voice twisted in pain, as soon as her friend touched her. 'Did you know that he was engaged before you brought me here to shame me? I trusted you! She flung a throw pillow at a very confused Bettina. 'why didn't you tell me? She broke down, weeping again. Bettina looked at her, stunned 'Aria trust me, I don't have any idea what you are talking about'. Aria shot her a heated glare amidst her tears. Bettina shook her head.' I really don't' she handed her a paper towel. 'Calm down and explain'.

While slobbering and sniffing, Aria recounted the past hour to an irate Bettina. 'For goodness sakes, was that the plan? Why didn't you wait for me? Did you then get the closure you needed?

Aria blew on the paper towel. 'This is it. I will never give my love to men ever again.'