Changes

Emilia~

Gone was the dorky, playful, teenager I used to know. In his place was a brooding male, who exuded so much power and dominance.

The last time I saw Marcelo was at his mother's funeral, here in Los Angeles. I heard he moved to Sicily, just the following week, and I never saw or heard from him ever since.

Our parents used to be very close, and that was how we got to know each other in the first place. We were practically best friends, as we grew up together and even attended the same high school.

"How was your trip, Mr. Del Ponte?" My husband asked, breaking the long, awkward silence at the dinner table.

I hadn't noticed how much I was staring, until Marcelo's eyes suddenly met mine, forcing me to look away. It was obvious he also recognized me, but chose to say nothing about it.

He turned his gaze to my husband, who was sitting right beside me. The tension in the room seemed to get even thicker by the second.

"It was splendid. Right, boss?" One of the men who accompanied Marcelo, decided to speak up and break the tension. He called him "boss"?

Taking a little sip from his glass of wine, the latter let out a grunt.

"Not quite!" He finally spoke up for the first time tonight.

Hearing that accent of his, filled me with a sudden sense of nostalgia.

"I wouldn't have had to travel all the way down here, if you had just kept your end of our deal."

Although he tried to appear calm, I knew my husband was anything but. He exuded a lot of anxiety from where he sat.

"...but I forgive you, Mr. Bronx!" Marcelo said, before relaxing back on his chair and wiping his mouth with a napkin.

Bronx let out a nervous chuckle, before chugging down the wine in his glass.

The men soon switched to talking about full on business, and I decided to take that as my cue to leave the table.

"I'd like to be excused, honey!" I said to Bronx, plastering a forced smile on my face.

His eyes showed displeasure at my request, but he was quick to hide it with a grin of his own. He wouldn't dare to lash out at me in the presence of other people, as it would put a dent on his reputation.

"Of course!" He whispered, as I planted a quick kiss on his forehead, before taking my leave.

The men continued their conversation almost immediately, but I could still feel a pair of eyes, burning holes into my back. I knew Marcelo was watching me, with every single step I took towards the exit.

Finally out in the open, I let out a breath I didn't know I'd been holding. This spot had always been my favorite in the whole mansion, as it gave me a beautiful, aerial view of the city. 

Taking off my heels, I sighed at the feeling of the grass beneath my feet. Peaceful moments like this were rare for me, so I cherished every second of it.

I suddenly sensed a figure approaching me from behind, and I didn't have to look to know who he was.

He kept his distance, probably unsure whether to advance or not.

"You've changed." I stated calmly, before turning to face him.

Under the glow of the full moon, he appeared even more mysterious than earlier.

"I could say the same about you, Emilia." He said, slightly arching an eyebrow at the ring on my finger.

His gaze was so steely and intense, as he fully focused on me. I awkwardly shifted my weight from one foot to the other.

"Are you happy, though?" He suddenly asked, taking a few steps to close the gap between us.

"It doesn't matter." I answered, averting my gaze from him.

Marcelo had always been good at reading me like an open book, and it was good to know that hadn't changed about him.

He was suddenly in front of me, grabbing my chin, so I was looking right into his eyes again.

We were so close, so close that I could smell his musky cologne. A part of me was panicked by our sudden proximity, not wanting anyone to see us like this. I however, made no move to step away from him.

"Why did you leave?" I blurted out the question on the tip of my tongue, before I could stop myself.

Marcelo remained silent, but I saw guilt flash in his eyes for a brief moment.

"Was it...was it me?" I asked, a little more desperate for an answer this time.

First, it was him, then my parents also took one look at me and decided to leave me behind. Was it something I did?

"Did I do something wrong?"

He suddenly pulled me towards him, before wrapping me in a warm hug. Initially taken aback by this sudden action, I soon found myself closing my eyes, and melting into his embrace.

"No, Emilia. No!"

His words came in a reassuring tone, and I found myself sobbing in his arms. I was pretty sure my tears were ruining his suit, but he didn't seem to mind.

"Sei ancora un piagnone." He muttered in Italian, making a small chuckle escape my lips.

For the first time in years, I found myself smiling genuinely. I forgot all about my current predicaments, as I enjoyed the feeling of being in my best friend's arms. It was just like old times.

"I'll be in town for a couple more days." Marcelo suddenly announced, breaking the silence.

I pulled back a little, looking up into his eyes.

"You should come see me." He said, handing me a card that contained his number and address.

We finally pulled away from each other, and my wandering eyes widened at the sight of a familiar male, watching us from a distance; Bronx.

With clenched fists at his sides, and eyes that reflected murderous intent, one thing was evident.

I had managed to piss my husband off, and I was going to suffer it.