The mafia king and his princess

“We’re going out in 1 hour”

Kahlil said as Aria spared him a glance from the mirror. The makeup artist was taking longer than usual to do her makeup and Aria was getting tired of it.

“Hm” she replied as her gaze snapped at the reflection of the petite young woman, Aria recently hired as her makeup artist “I would have been prepared before time if my staff didn’t take this much time”

The girl flinched as her eyes met Aria’s “I-I am sorry mam but I got an order from the organizers that you need to look perfect for the e-event”

Aria’s eyes flared “Isn’t it your job to get me ready before ti-“

“-Aria, be nice” Kahlil interjected as Aria looked at his reflection in anger. But his hard glare made her shut up and looked down while heaving out a sigh.

“I’m sorry Nina” Aria said as Nina’s eyes widened in shock.

“I-It’s ok mam” she breathed out as Aria offered her a small smile before looking at herself again while pointing at her eyes, silently ordering Nina to do her eyes now which Nina instantly obliged.

Minutes passed as Kahlil sat on a spare chair while they could hear announcements and performances just a little far away. He clicked his tongue while continuously tapping his feet on the ground.

Aria’s gaze dropped to his feet as she rolled her eyes “Will you stop it? It’s not my first time performing in front of thousands you know”

At this Kahlil stopped, “This event is important for our reputation. Hotshots from all around the world are coming here, one wrong performance and we will be ruined” he said as Aria stared at her reflection with no emotion.

“I even heard that many top Mafias are attending this because they have a meeting after this” Nina said in a hushed whisper while setting Aria’s thick blonde hair up in a stylish bun.

Aria’s face broke down in a painful scowl as Kahlil took a step forward, examining her expression.

“Ms Nina, we would appreciate it if you just did your job” he warned as Nina quickly nodded and speeded up.

“Yes sir” she replied while Aria held a dazed look, not saying a single word after.

● ● ●

“Are you sure you want to do this? We can make an exc-“

“Kahlil, I’m fine” Aria cut him off as she ran her hand through her backless dark red mermaid dress. It was a little tight she had to admit, but it was all for a few hours so she would bear it.

They both stood behind the dark curtain which separated the marvellous stage with a grand piano all set for her and not to mention hundreds of elites awaiting her presence.

“I cannot back down now” she whispered more to herself as she blew air between her fists while her heart hammered against her ribs. No matter how many times she performed, the anxiety before playing would always get her.

“And now, the moment you have all been waiting for! Multi-award-winning, multi-talented Aria Leighton is here to grace us with her genius on the special request of Mr Sullivan!”

The announcer announced as Aria instantly straightened up and breathed in and out deeply, trying to calm her nerves.

She wouldn’t have even attended the program if Owen Sullivan, the organizer of the event, wasn’t a good acquaintance of her.

“Good luck” she heard Kahlil whisper beside her followed by a pat on her shoulder as she stiffly nodded and slowly stepped out of the thick curtain.

A blinding light welcomed her at first numbing all her senses which was soon replaced by the huge applause by the audience.

She confidently walked to the middle of the stage while giving out a breathtaking smile, which didn’t reach her eyes. She stood in front of the black grand piano and faced the audience completely.

She graciously bowed down in front of the audience when clapping slowly subsided. She looked up as a sudden chill ran through her spine.

Surely in an audience of hundreds, even thousands were watching her, she was bound to get nervous. But this time it felt like a piercing gaze was stuck on her form.

The hazel eyes of the man in a black Armani suit, not only made her feel uncomfortable but also self-conscious. It was weird because she had never doubted herself.

Her eyes locked with his narrowed hazel ones. He was a man maybe in his late 20s who sat beside Owen Sullivan, with an emotionless face. His eyes unmoving from her face, it was almost as if he was challenging or examining her.

She couldn’t tell.

She ignored him as she smiled once again and walked towards the piano and sat on the piano bench. All the while she could feel the stare at her, but she decided to concentrate on her performance.

She ran her hand through the shiny fallboards, something she did before every performance. She lifted the fallboard and felt the smoothness of the piano keys.

The whole hall quieted down as curious gazes pinned her down. She breathed out one last time before her fingers glided through the keys. A tune she had memorized since her childhood.

She hummed the tune in her mind as she closed her eyes in euphoria. No matter how stressed or sad she was, the music never failed to calm her down and make her heart flutter.

A real smile broke out on her face as she forgot all about the audience and played for herself. Just for herself.

The whole hall was enticed by the remarkable beauty as delirium spread through their veins. Some took pictures while the others just listened, spellbound by the music.

But a certain man with captivating looks and personality totally opposite to it felt different. He watched as the beauty, he now knew as Aria graciously moved her hands. As if she didn’t know the audience.

As if she didn’t care.