His Unexpected Heir - Introduction
The Billionaire's Club
Antonio’s Story…
Antonio stood on the balcony, the chilling wind carrying whispers of dread through the air. His father, the Marquesso del Campo, relished this reaction. In fact, he raised his glass of champagne, the glint of malice in his eyes casting a sinister shadow over the festivities that only one who understood his father’s black heart would recognize.
“To the New Year!” his father’s voice rang out, but Antonio sensed the hollow cheer from the guests, a facade masking the collective unease that hung heavy in the room. Most guests, he knew, would rather flee this den of tyranny, their forced revelry a mask for their true feelings of contempt.
The villagers despised his father, and Antonio could feel their hatred pulsating through the very walls of the estate. Yet Ricardo remained oblivious or perhaps he silently celebrated their animosity, his cruelty a festering wound infecting all within his grasp.
Antonio shifted uncomfortably, the memory of his recent confinement in the dungeon clawing at his mind. His brain couldn’t banish the brutal days of starvation and darkness, his punishment for a mere question at dinner, served as a grim reminder of his father’s merciless grip.
His gaze flickered to the mayor whose glare spoke volumes of suppressed fury. If mere looks could kill, Ricardo would be nothing but ashes, yet the Marquesso remained untouched, reveling in his debauchery with a callous disregard for the suffering he inflicted.
The blonde woman at his father’s side was but a pawn in his sadistic game, a replacement for Antonio’s long-departed mother. He understood her departure because Antonio longed for escape himself. But Ricardo held him captive, a pawn in this never-ending nightmare of privilege-turned-torment.
Thoughts of his brother, Matteo, offered a fleeting hope of salvation. Sent away to boarding school, Matteo was thankfully spared the worst of their father’s wrath. Antonio yearned for such a reprieve, for a life free from beatings and nights in the dungeon. He longed for a place where sustenance wasn’t a luxury but a right.
Retreating from the facade of opulence, Antonio returned to his bedroom, the cold embrace of solitude offering little solace. As he lay upon the unforgiving mattress, he pondered a life untainted by his father’s malevolence, a longing for a father who wasn’t a harbinger of terror but a beacon of paternal love.
Astra’s story…
“I’m sorry, everyone,” the teacher announced, clapping her hands together in order to gain the class’s attention, “but because we didn’t have any parents step up to organize this year’s holiday party, we’re just going to watch a movie the day before our winter break starts.”
Astra listened to the teacher’s words and was horrified at the announcement of no holiday party. As were all of her friends. They looked at each other, everyone’s heads swiveling back and forth even as their teacher began the lesson on fractions.
“We have to have a party!” Jennifer Saltzon hissed, leaning over to whisper into her friend’s ear. “I want to ask Bobby Astir out for the New Year’s Eve party! How can I do that if we don’t have some time in class to just hang out with each other?”
Denise, Jennifer’s best friend, nodded her agreement. “And Nancy Muldane said that she is going to break up with Marty.”
Jennifer’s eyes widened. Since Astra was sitting right behind the duo, she was able to witness, and overhear, their entire conversation.
“If we don’t have a party on the last day of school before the break, how are we going to make those two things happen?”
Jennifer sighed, looking around angrily. “I don’t know. But maybe…” she stopped and looked back at Astra with a disdainful sneer that only a twelve year old could accomplish. “What are you looking at?”
Astra ignored the angry tone and leaned forward, her mind spinning with ideas. “Jennifer, your mother makes the best cupcakes in town. Any chance she could make some for the party?”
Jennifer’s angry expression morphed into scorn. “Of course she can. Why?”
Again, Astra ignored the mean-girl-tone and shifted her focus to Denise. “Your dad always puts up all of those Christmas lights around your house. Any chance you could ask him to lend you some strings of white lights?”
Denise’s expression wasn’t nearly as contemptuous as Jennifer’s, but that was only because Jennifer was the lead mean-girl for the class. So instead of looking angry, Denise shrugged indifferently. “My daddy gives me anything I ask for.”
Astra ignored the spoiled ‘tude and nodded. “Good.” She glanced up at the teacher, just to make sure that her back was still to the class. “I think I know of a way to still have our class party, even if we don’t have a parent volunteer.”
“Girls!” the teacher called out. Astra, Jenifer and Denise shifted their focus back to fractions. At least, outwardly they paid attention. Astra lowered her head and pretended to take notes on the class assignment. But in truth, she was writing down ideas for the best holiday class party ever!
Ten days later, Jennifer and Denise sauntered over to where Astra stood, leaning against the chalk board. “Okay, Astra,” Jennifer sneered, “this party is pretty cool.” She glanced around the room. “Your idea worked.” She chuckled at the games being played in the center of the classroom, snickering when someone won the “prize”. “I had my doubts, but you’re good at this kind of thing.” Then Jennifer walked away, Denise trailing behind her.
Astra looked around, enjoying everyone’s happy smiles as they enjoyed the party. She figured that half the challenge of a successful event was the décor. But having people actually do something, like the games she’d come up with, definitely helped. With a smirk of satisfaction, Astra realized that party planning wasn’t just cool—it was downright empowering?
