10. Aurora
CHAPTER 10
Aurora
As the jet taxied onto the runway, it hit me that I was no longer in paradise. I was back in New York, back in the city where I was now the wife of one of the most notorious crime families in history.
Yeah, but you’re in it now so you might as well accept it.
I pulled on my oversized sunglasses and headed to the limo where Matteo’s chauffeur was waiting. I don’t know why I thought he’d take me home, but for some reason I did. So, I was shocked when we pulled up to his sprawling mansion, securely nestled behind sprawling gates.
When the car stopped, I took a deep breath before stepping out. The grandeur of the home was overwhelmingly breathtaking. If I thought the honeymoon had been a whirlwind of emotions, it was nothing compared to the awe I felt by looking at Matteo’s home.
Nothing could have prepared me for this moment. Everything about the massive structure symbolized Matteo’s wealth and power, which were now my life.
I faltered as I began walking toward the entrance. It wasn’t like I grew up poor; my family had homes worldwide, but … this was more than I could wrap my head around.
I desperately wanted to return to my uptown apartment and knew what to expect there. It was my sanctuary. There, I was secure and in control and at no one’s mercy—not even my father.
The thought of leaving my beloved space filled me with dread. Matteo must have sensed my anxiety because he was soon next to me, placing a reassuring hand on my back as he guided me through the entrance.
“Welcome home, Aurora,”
Home. The word sounded foreign as I tried to register what it meant. The massive, ornate mansion didn’t feel like a home; it felt like a cage—a beautiful, gilded cage meant to hold me prisoner.
My eyes widened as we walked further inside. It was stunning, with high ceilings, ornate chandeliers, rare artwork, and luxurious furnishings, but it felt cold.
That’s when I noticed my personal belongings were being unloaded. How could he!?
All I could see was red, as I realized that my personal items had been moved without my consent. I spun around to face Matteo, my eyes blazing with anger as I spoke through gritted teeth.
“Why is all my stuff being moved? You had no right to do this.” Suddenly, it was more than I could take, and my voice began to tremble. “You can’t just move all my things without asking me, it’s an invasion of privacy.”
Matteo remained calm, but I could see the surprise in my reaction in his eyes.
“I thought this would make things easier for you, Aurora. We are married now, so it is only fitting that we live together. I thought it would be easier for you if you did not have to pack yourself. This is your home now—our home.”
I wasn’t sure how to process his last statement. I heard myself repeating “Our Home” repeatedly to myself, gradually getting louder and louder. Then, I exploded.
“This isn’t about this being our home, Matteo. This is about you still trying to control me, to prove that you are the one in control. In no way is this about making things easier for me.”
I was yelling at this point, but I didn’t care.
Matteo stepped closer, his gaze steady as he approached. “I understand that you’re upset, although I believe you are overreacting. This is not about control; it is about us starting our life together. I thought it would be better if you already had your stuff here, rather than going back into the city.”
I tried to interject, “This is all too much. This house, it’s just so…”
Matteo reached out to stroke my face, but I pulled away. “You can decorate however you like. Cost is not an issue.”
I was still angry, but I couldn’t deny the sincerity in Matteo’s eyes. Is it possible he did this to be nice?
Sighing, I closed my eyes and let out a deep breath. “I appreciate you trying to help, but you should have asked me first.” My voice was softer, but my frustration was still evident.
“This isn’t just about the house, Matteo. It’s about respect.”
Relieved I was no longer yelling, Matteo nodded. “You’re right. I apologize. I should have talked to you before taking it upon myself to have your belongings moved. But I meant what I said: this is your home now as well. There is more than enough space for you to be comfortable. I wasn’t kidding when I said you can decorate or change anything you’d like.”
I took another deep breath as my anger slowly gave way to a sense of calm resignation. Fighting with Matteo wasn’t going to get me anywhere and deep down, I didn’t have the energy. He offered me an olive branch and meeting him halfway was up to me.
“Okay, I’ll stay. But you must promise that you won’t make any more major decisions that concern me without talking to me first.”
Matteo smiled, genuine warmth in his eyes. “I promise to try. I can’t say I won’t make mistakes, but this is your home now and I want you to be happy here.”
I nodded in agreement and smiled softly. Somewhere deep inside, I felt a flicker of hope.
“Oh, and I’ll be taking you up on that offer to redecorate. I hope your credit card is ready.”
Matteo laughed as he began showing me the rest of the house. Over the next few days, I began to settle into the mansion. At times it was overwhelming. As soon as I thought I had explored every room, a new one seemed to pop up.
Determined not to let it get the best of me, I tackled each one as they came, making notes of what I wanted to change and how I could make certain spaces feel more like me.
It wasn’t that I thought the rooms were ugly; they just didn’t feel livable. I envisioned a home where I could come in from a run and kick my shoes off, not a museum where I felt like I needed to tip-toe on eggshells.
Luckily, Matteo was true to his word and gave me free rein to decorate how I saw fit. He’d never admit it, but I got the sneaking suspicion that either his mother had decorated for him, or he had hired the most expensive interior decorator he could find. I’d put money on the second option.
Occasionally, I asked his opinion and found that he was surprisingly supportive of my decisions. He offered suggestions but gave me space to do as I wanted. It wasn’t like he handed me the keys to the business, but it was a small step in showing trust.
One afternoon, I found myself in the library, a room that had quickly become my favorite. I fell in love with the dark paneled walls, the shelves of books, and the large picture window that offered a stunning view of the rose garden. I was lost in thought, deciding where to place my new reading chair when Matteo walked in.
“This room suits you,” he said startling me.
Blushing from the compliment, I looked up. “Thank you. The room is beautiful, and the view is to die for.”
Matteo walked toward me, his eyes never leaving mine. “As a child, I was always lost in a boo. It was my escape from the ugliness of the world. Inside a book, I was safe, transported to a beautiful, fictional world of my choosing. That’s why when I was having the house built, I insisted that the library window face the garden.”
I knew exactly what he meant.
“So, when you took a break from the beauty of the words, you could see the beauty outside,” I stated matter-of-factly.
Stroking my cheek, he leaned down and gently kissed my neck. “Exactly.”
It was hard to explain but I felt closer to Matteo at that moment than I ever had.
“It’s a beautiful home, and I will do my best to accommodate your style and preferences.”
“I trust you, Aurora. Everything you have done has been perfect. Just like…”
But he didn’t finish. I don’t know if he was scared or just thought better of it, but I desperately wanted to know.
As the weeks passed, I continued to transform the mansion. Drab colorless rooms were suddenly alive with color and full of comfortable furniture that you weren’t afraid to touch.
I added personal touches that reflected my personality here and there. I had taken some time off from my duties at the hotel to work on the house, and although Matteo was often busy with work, he always made an effort to spend time together. We weren’t a typical newlywed couple by any means, but we were making progress, and that’s what mattered—at least to me.
When Matteo was home, we took long walks around the property, often stopping in the rose garden as we shared a love for the beauty of nature. Slowly, we were beginning to build a connection that I hoped would continue to grow stronger. I yearned for something deeper than the business arrangement that brought us together.
One evening, after a long day of dealing with painters and floor installers, I wandered out onto the terrace with a rather large glass of wine. I needed it. Watching the sun cast an amber glow over the garden as it went down for the evening, I was lost in thought when Matteo joined me. He, too, had made himself a drink. From the smell, it was scotch.
“Aurora, you’ve done an amazing job with the house,” he said, standing dangerously close behind me. “It looks incredible.”
I smiled, feeling a sense of pride. “Thank you, Matteo. I know it technically always was, but it is now starting to feel like home.”
Nuzzling into my neck, he whispered, “I’m happy to hear that because that is what I wanted.”
As much as it pained me to admit it, I was beginning to see Matteo in a different light. The tension that had marked the beginning of our ‘relationship’ was beginning to fade. Matteo would always be an enigmatic and complex figure, but beneath that, there was a kindness to him that I hadn’t expected.
Grinning like a kid on his way to Disney World, he set both of our drinks down and grabbed my hand.
“Come on, I want to show you something.”
Laughing, I cocked my head to the side. “What could you possibly show me in the house that I haven’t seen?”
“You’ll see. Come on.”
He led me to the small garden shed that was no longer used, the one I suggested would make a great yoga studio.
“Matteo, what are we doing at the old garden shed?”
“I remembered what you said about smelling the aroma of the roses and seeing them bloom. It would be the perfect place to meditate and practice yoga, and you’ve done so much to bring life to the house; I wanted to do something for you…”
He opened the door and my jaw hit the floor. Inside, the small space had been transformed into a yogi’s version of heaven. The walls were painted a deep mauve, and twinkling lights hung from the ceiling. An air diffuser stood in the corner, and a window had been added. French Doors had been added to open into the garden.
Squealing, I turned to hug him. “When on earth did you do this without me knowing?”
“It’s a large estate, you can’t be everywhere all the time. Do you like it?”
“I love it! Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome. I want you to be happy, Aurora.”
I believed him. Over the weeks spent together, he had shown me in small but significant ways that he cared. It was a far cry from the controlling and domineering man from a few months ago.
I knew there were still challenges to face, but now I had hope—hope that together, we could find a way to make this marriage work.