With You

Let’s start by telling my story. My name is Monica Harper. Until I was 7 years old, I was an only child. My father is Michael Harper and my mother is Maria Giordano. She died when I was five years old.

Dad loved her and was devastated, but he found love again in the woman who is now my stepmother, Nicol, who had a five-year-old daughter when she married Dad: Ester.

Dad treated them very well from the first day they came home, and made no distinction between Ester and me, we were both his daughters and he took care of us both equally.

My father is dedicated to the production of liquors, as is my mother’s family. My grandfather lives in Italy and since my mother died, I travel on my vacations to spend time with him.

Before, Dad used to accompany me, but Nicol now says she feels uncomfortable with Dad’s ex-wife’s father, so now I travel alone with my nanny Matilde and the bodyguards.

My grandfather Luca is the best grandfather, he is caring and loving like no other, I love spending holidays with him.

At first I didn’t understand why my stepmother was always upset with me, she really wasn’t nice and at my young age I thought it was my fault, I tried so hard to make her love me, but no matter what I did she got upset, but in front of dad she behaved like the most loving person.

Dad and my grandfather had problems because of that because I spoke to my grandfather daily and told him my concerns, when he mentioned it to dad my stepmother pretended not to know what my grandfather was saying and put it in dad’s head that grandpa had something against her, and the good relationship that dad and my grandfather had was fractured.

Matilde was the one who took care of me. I stopped worrying and trying to please my stepmother and as the years went by I only tried not to make her angry because if I did I ended up like the spoiled brat who didn’t respect her "mother."

My stepsister and I had a good relationship at first, but as we grew older we grew apart because of her mother.

Dad’s best friend Peter Spencer and his wife Natalie who was also mom’s friend are sweethearts. I have a good friendship with their son Alonzo, although he is three years older than me.

They are some of the wealthiest people in the country, just like my family. Alonzo is always looking out for me.

Today is my first day at high school, I’m going to study at the same high school that Alonzo studies at.

It is a private school for upper-class boys. He is the captain of the football team. He is tall and muscular, with dark blond hair, white complexion, full lips, a sharp nose, and a marked jaw. He is quite attractive.

– Continued in With You chapter 1 –