Chapter 61 Marianna

• Later as I'm applying my makeup, I wonder how this night will end. Padre left for a business trip earlier this week which makes me feel at ease somehow. Although Marco had promised not to invite him, he still has loyal men in the circle. To avoid a heads-up, everyone's invitation was sent this morning. It gives them enough time to prepare but not enough to call Padre back. Even if they do tell him, he'll arrive there when it's already too late. At least that's what I hope. I also refrained from telling Carina anything because I know what a blabber mouth she is. Her locations were a bust which means Padre isn't happy with her. She'd do anything to get back on his good side. I'd call her a people pleaser if I didn't know she was only trying to survive.
• At the end of the day, she didn't ask for this. None of us did.
• I pick red lipstick because it's hot and I like it. Looking at myself in the mirror, I wonder if Paulo was right. Is it too much? Would it be enough to convince those bastards? Made men treat women like commodities. The people I'm meeting today are at the top of the food chain. If they refuse to listen to Marco, I could come back in a body bag. But whatever the outcome, I still have to try. This is my only chance to get freedom. I put on the rose gold jeweled ankle strap heel sandals to finish off my look. My hair is straight today, parted in the middle, and sleeked back behind my ears so it doesn't need any work. I'm good to go. As I leave my room, I bump into Carina. She gives me a once-over and scoffs.