Unholy conversations.

AURORA plucked his fingers from her arm, looking around to see if anyone noticed her apprehension. Unfortunately, the emotion was best suited for the occasion. The few people she locked gazes with, were sympathetic as they mistook it for grief.

"I wouldn't draw unnecessary attention to this inappropriate conversation if I were you." the man advised. Aurora glanced back at him. He stood directly in front of her, unyielding and unsmiling. "I'll leave you to continue with this charade as soon as I've been brought to speed on the plans you've made to retrieve the disk."

She moistened her lips. Or tried. Her tongue and mouth were dry. When she tried to speak, her voice was a croak. "I... I've been ill."

"What's that supposed to mean?" he inquired harshly.

"Mariano has been looking--"

"--Mariano knows little or nothing about the old bastard! Frankly speaking, he could care less." he interrupted. "Those two, haven't spoken in years but it's not the same with you. You were the wife. Find my money, or I'll take up a crash course in butchering. Gemma would begin to lose body parts soon."

Satisfied with the warning, he turned his back on her and disappeared into the crowd.

Her face was washed white, and her palms were a sweaty mess. Aurora looked over the guests to where Mariano stood, surrounded by a small group of reporters. She glared at him. The silent rebuke was wasted, however, because he didn't see it. She could feel that she was starting to project some of the hatred she felt for his father, onto him.

"Aurora," someone pulled on her arm. She glanced to her right. Latoya held up a glass of whiskey. "You look like you need this, my darling."

She collected the glass stared down into it for several seconds, then shot the drink. "Thank you." she coughed, depositing the empty glass on a nearby table.

Latoya smiled. "Come, sit with my daughter, Gabrielle. She's my eldest. I'll introduce you."

She gave a weak smile of approval, allowing the older woman to lead the way. Aurora brushed by a few people and stepped on a few toes before plopping into a waiting chair at Gabrielle's table.

"This is my daughter, Gabrielle." Latoya smiled at a chubby redhead then proceeded to introduce the other lady beside her. "And her best friend, Gina. I'll leave you ladies to take good care of, Aurora. Okay?"

"Alright, mom." Gabrielle smiled at the older woman's retreating form.

Both ladies greeted Aurora and she sent them another weak smile. Her brain was like a hamster on a wheel, going in endless circles and getting nowhere.

"My condolences," someone randomly tapped her. She glanced at the guest and muttered a thank you.

"This must be a very difficult time for you," Gabrielle said, rather than the standard I'm so sorry for your loss. It felt commonplace, a sentiment that's being echoed over and over again around the room. "I can only imagine how you feel."

"Horrible," Aurora muttered. She was only half listening. Her attention was focused on Mariano and the way he greeted mourners as they come by. The press had eased off on him.

"So, how long were you married to uncle Maximo?"

Aurora's eyes went to her as Gina added, "I was about to ask the same."

"Five years," Aurora replied. "Why weren't you aware?"

Gabrielle shrugged. "Mom never mentioned it. She only recently indicated that uncle sent her an invite to the wedding which she ignored. The last couple of years has been rough on their relationship."

"I see." Aurora nodded, glancing back to where Mariano stood.

"He's such a polished man, isn't he?" Gina asked.

Aurora harrumphed silently. "He was."

"I meant the son, Mariano. I couldn't help but notice you've been staring at him all evening." Gina pointed out.

Gabrielle's brow creased slightly.

"Have I?" Aurora diverted her gaze to them. "I was just thinking how socially inappropriate it was that I sit here while he receives our guests alone. I should be thanking them for coming. . ."

"So why aren't—" Gina began, but before she could finish, a woman swept in through the door, making her way toward Mariano. As she does, a corner of his lips tugged up in a small smile.

"Oh," Aurora heard Gina say under her breath. "Oh my. Gabby, Look who's here."

They all looked. The woman was tall, model-like thin, dressed in an extremely short black dress. Her long dark hair fell down her back and over the notched neckline of her dress which revealed a lot of cleavage. Flashlights went off as she made her procession.

She stopped just short of Mariano and said something to him before pulling him into a tight embrace.

"I thought you said they called things off," Gina whispered to Gabrielle.

"That's what the gossip blog said." Gabrielle corrected. "I guess they made up."

Unable to take her eyes off the woman, Aurora was just about to ask who she was, when the strange man who'd accosted her earlier suddenly approached Mariano. He said something curt, then turned and left.

Mariano leaned into the lady and quietly said something to her. She puts her hands around his neck and gently pulled him in for a brief kiss. Aurora isn't the only one watching as he excuses himself a few seconds later and slipped from the room.

Aurora pushed her chair back and stood. The legs of the chair skid across the floor and the ladies looked sharply at her, surprised by the sudden movement.

"I need to use the restroom," she announced. "Excuse me."

She rushed out to the hallway, which was sparsely populated and a few people greeted her as she passed by them. The farther down she went, the quieter it got. She turned left and right, the halls becoming vacant before she came to a dead end. She had just been about to backtrack to where she began when she suddenly heard the sounds of laughter. Following the it, she found the room it came from and picked out Mariano's voice easily. She stuck her nose in the gap between the doors and peeked through it.

Mariano and the strange man from earlier, stood in a darkened library, laughing and sharing a glass of bourbon.

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