Page 156 of La Dolce Vita

"Are you serious?" Rosetta smiled. "You'd do that for me?"

"We're family. This is our dynasty."

Rosetta ran over and hugged Catalina so tight she was nearly knocked back and out of her chair. Catalina laughed. She hugged her back. She wanted a sister. Not a mother, like Mirabella and Zia. Not a partner in crime like Marietta. A true friend. Maybe Mirabella was right. Maybe she should let go of the past and really bond with Rosetta. The thought of it felt nice.

"C'mon. Let's eat. We have so much to do."

***

To Catalina's surprise, Rosetta chose Jean Paul Gautier's Ready-to-Wear fashion event. They were given front row seats to bear witness among celebrities and dignitaries. And it was an explosion of contrasts and beauty. A hodge-podge of cultures from African to Indian traditional styles. Everything turned upside down, with men in skirts, and women in corsetry and long belted pants. And it all came together with an intermingled mix of punk rock. Every model wore some kind of face jewelry, from nose rings that connected to earrings, to bones and shells pierced in their lips and ears. There were non-ethnic models with braided hair, men, and women with shaven heads and tribal tattoos that extended from scalp to face. They wore sheer patterned sarongs. They sported dresses in layers of sheer earth tones with tribal patterns woven through. Gold and a rust colored red were the favorite hues.

Catalina fanned herself with her program and went from smiling, gasping to cheering. When she glanced to Rosetta, she saw the same look of awe and appreciation. Jean Paul had outdone himself. How would Mirabella's collection even compare? They needed to spend more time exploring the beauty and trends within Italy. Focus on their family traditions and translate them into fashion. It would be her new mission.

The show ended with Jean Paul coming down the aisle. Catalina stood with the crowd and cheered him on. She smiled at Rosetta who was applauding and screaming her praise.

"Can I meet him? Please? I must! I have to meet him!" Rosetta said.

"Yes," Catalina said. She glanced around for her brother’s men. They could not join them in their private seating. They were regulated to the far back of the event. She had agreed to meet them there when it was over, to their discomfort. These men were told never to let her out of their sight. But during Fashion Week it was hard to comply.

"Come, on, let's go to the back."

"Really?" Rosetta exclaimed. Her excitement was contagious. She took her hand and led the way. Catalina was spotted by Marco. A thin young man with large glasses and purple hair that hung over his left eye, while the rest of his head remained shaven. He grinned. Marco was extremely eccentric. He had his dentist add fang tips to his canine teeth and then had them studded with diamonds. When he grinned, it was both ghastly and beautiful. He waved her through. "Marco, this is my cousin Rosetta. Think she can meet Jean Paul?"

"Mmmm, yummy! Aren't you sexy! Is Jamie here with you?" Marco looked beyond her. His voice dropped to a deep octave of lust. Catalina knew very well that Marco and Jamie had a short affair. Marco was still salivating after her. Whenever she saw them together, he was always whispering in her ear and touching her intimately.

"She's not here, but she'll be at the party tonight."

"Yummy," Marco said again, the word being his favorite. "Well come on, sweet cakes. Let's take you to meet Jean Paul. Can I have her, Catalina?" his gaze scanned Rosetta's backside.

"Are you coming with me?" Rosetta reached for Catalina's hand. She looked a bit overwhelmed. Catalina found it funny. Rosetta was a classic flirt. But with Marco she wasn't sure if she should be flattered or scared. Marco licked the tip of a diamond pointed fang, and his purple contacts sparkled in his eyes.

"No. You can't have her, Marco. Behave or I'll tell Mirabella."

Marco chuckled and winked at Rosetta.

"Go on, Rosie; I want to see if Zenobia is here. I heard she was in the building. Haven't seen her yet."

"Va bene," Rosetta said and let Marco take her hand. She glanced back to Catalina once when he pulled her away. Catalina smiled and waved her off. She shook her head with amusement.

Catalina turned. The crowd behind the scenes had thickened tenfold. She bumped into models and men and women of the press. She couldn't tell one person from the next. She fought to get to the back lounging rooms, away from where the girls changed and celebrated. Champagne bottles were popping everywhere. This was how each show Mirabella did ended. Complete chaos.

"Excuse me, pardon me, excuse..."

A hand reached through the crowd. It fastened to her wrist. She was pulled left, and hard. She could not see the savior that brought her from out of the mob. But she was grateful. Catalina closed her eyes as some idiot began to spray everyone in champagne. It rained all over her. The person holding her wrist walked briskly. In another instant, she was shoved into a room. Before she could wipe the champagne from her eyes, she was brought into a man's arms. It was a man. And then he kissed her. His tongue and mouth so persistent her only instinct was to kiss him back. His cologne wasn't familiar. His kiss wasn't familiar. She opened her eyes in horror.

He kissed her.

***

"Get the hell off me!" Catalina shrieked. She shoved Armando so hard he was forced back. He smiled wickedly at her, and she lunged at him. Out of control, she went for his eyes, to claw them out of his head. She went for his throat to scratch and slash at it with her nails if she could. But he must have expected the attack. He grabbed her wrists and forced her to be still under his might. Locking her arms to the front of her.

"I'm sorry, beautiful. I shouldn't have taken the liberty," he said.

"Vaffanculo a chi t'è morto--go fuck your dead family members!"Catalina shouted. Armando covered her mouth. She screamed beneath his hand to the top of her lungs. But she knew she couldn't be heard. The music and chaos outside of the door was too loud. And his hand silenced her.

"If you don't stop screaming I will leave, but before I go I will stop out front to the press and tell them why I came here to be with you," he said and forced her to be still.

Furious she did as he commanded. Her breasts heaved up and down with her hard breathing. He held her so close to him she could feel everything about him. She could feel his height, his muscular form, his strength, and his desire for her. It made her sick with worry.

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