Isabella's PovHe acts like he doesn't know what I'm talking about; telling him might make him suspect me; I can't let it out.But he stays with Seraphine all day in that stupid store. Why will he reduce himself to a Seraphine assistant? Is there something I'm missing out on? The last time I checked, Seraphine hates Mafia; she is so bitter about them. She doesn’t even want to associate with them because of what they did to her father, but why does she like Carlos? I could see it from her eyes that she is really into Carlos, or is there something I'm missing? From his tone, he seems not to like me much. I need to come closer to him, have a way around his heart, and make him like me. But Seraphine, the previous day I sneaked up at them playing at the store, I was consumed with rage and anger. My heart broke into pieces watching them throw each other flour. I wanted to stop them but I couldn't.But he won't let me; he doesn't even want us around. I can't sit with her and watch him have
Seraphine's Pov My eyes blurred. I placed a hand on my forehead, my head pounding in-between. The feel of my home was the same; I felt safe, my legs untied. I was lying on my couch before the doorbell rang. It's a cozy one room, which was separated nicely. I got space for my bedroom, which was demarcated from my small sitting room. My dining and kitchen are in the same place.“I'm coming,” I yelled, staggering to the door to see who was knocking. My body lumps.“Who are you?” I yelled, and my eyes fell on the black pants tracing from down up.I could recognize that voice; it sounds quite familiar.“I'm glad you're okay,” his voice came again. I held a hand on the doorpost to prevent me from falling."Carlos,” I called startled. What is he doing in my house? “You don't look too good.” “Yeah, my head is pounding so badly.” “Come on, let me see that.” He took my hands and led me into the room.I grumble at each step.“Let me carry,” he offered, but I protested.“No, I'm good.” But h
Isabella PovIs time to deal with Seraphine, I have tolerated her for a long time. I asked someone to follow Carlos that night and I found out that he went to see Seraphine that night.I'm consumed by hatred for her, I want to see her suffer.“Hey Seraphine. You have to pay me out” I snapped over the phone when I called Seraphine. I didn't care about the greeting or about how we used to be.“Just give me a little time” she said, but I wasn't having it. I just want to put her in so much pressure that it would be hard for her to come. Oh her parents too, I can use them to my own advantage, I smirked at myself holding up the pack I will use to bring her business down. I planned to take her to hell. Firstly, incur debts for her then use this to finish up my revenge.“I don't have time Seraphine” “I just got out from the devil's den, Isabella I was kidnapped. I haven't even gone to the store” “I don't care about Seraphine. I just need my payout. You can send it out asap” I didn't wai
Seraphine's Pov“Hey Miss, do you want to kill me with your shitty cupcakes?” one of my customers yelled angrily with his hand holding his butt. “What is wrong?" I asked, wondering what was going on; I could recognize him. He is one of my constant customers. The air changed into a rotten smell. I used a hanky to cover up my nose, staring at the geeky customer from the cloth.“After eating your cupcakes, I have been frequently visiting the restroom. What do you put in those?” I quickly threw the hanky away, noticing the urgency of the situation, still utterly confused at the situation. I did nothing different from my baking method. What could be the problem?“Umh… I'm sorry,” my voice cracked utterly short of words.“Sorry, sorry for yourself. I will make sure I give bad reviews on your business. You're giving us poison,” he yelled, heading towards the door."Please..." I tried to stop him, but before I could say a word, he was already out of sight. I regain my composure looking back
CARLOSWhat was I going to do? I know I asked Seraphina to go home and not worry about the issue we had on the ground, but there was no way I could know what to do. What was I going to do? I arrived home a while ago, realizing also that there was a need to employ another man who would drive me. Since the last one died, or rather—was killed, Vito had been the only one driving me around when that was not his job - he was my PA, not a driver. “Vito?” When relaxed on a couch in my living room, I called. “I might need you to do something for me. But the time is not right - not yet.” I announced while the young man took a seat on the couch on the other end. “Sure, Boss. You know I can do anything at all.” That was a good thing to hear. “What would you love me to do for you, Boss? I have waited all these while for a task.” Nodding, I sat up on the couch. “I have no idea how this would go yet—” I sounded. “I'll let you know when the time is right but right now, we need a man to dr
CARLOSThis—was—beautiful. “Vito.” “Boss,” he called back. “Do you like what you see?” I knew I was going to love what I was seeing, but how do I know what exactly I was seeing if I wasn't told? Did Vito think I was a witch to know these things? “I believe so, but what am I seeing?” He took the blindfold off the man's eyes and now I could see his face, but I didn't recognize him. “What, Vito? Who is he? Can you tell me already? I don't think I have all day.” “This is Mr. Johnson—” Vito explained. “He's the man who has been dropping bad reviews on the website. It wasn't a hard thing catching him - especially when he lives around - with his entire family.” “Let me go—” the so-called Mr. Johnson cried. “No, not yet, Mr. Johnson—” I walked closer, meeting Vito's gaze as I gave him a nod. “This is a good job you've done, Vito. I wasn't expecting you to do it soon.” “Of course, Boss. Thank you.” “Can you give us some time?” I now asked. Vito dropped the blindfold on a desk and
SERAPHINA Worry became my second name. All day and all night, I worried about the fate of my bakery. Even though Carlos, my new partner, promised to do something about it, I wondered all the time what exactly he was going to do to save the day. Did he have connections I didn't know about? These and many thoughts ran around in my head this morning when I opened my eyes in my small apartment. Standing up on my feet, I walked over to the dressing mirror so that I could take a look at myself. I didn't look okay. How could I look okay with the many things that went on with me? It was barely forty-eight hours since I spoke with him at the bakery and since then, he had yet to reach out to me again which left me with none other but the impression that I wasn't wanted in his life anymore. One thing I needed to do was clean up the bakery just as Carlos suggested. Then, I left the side of the mirror and caught up with the closet where my outfit for the day was selected, after which I grab
CARLOS“Wh—where are we going?” “To the market, Seraphina.” I walked away from the office, and reached the table where my wristwatch was dumped. Picking it up, I walked to the door and turned to look at my new boss. “You should be fast about it.” “I don't think you should do this.” “Why not?” I stopped walking. “I owe you enough already, Mr. Carlos.” When was she going to stop this? A tired sigh ran out of my mouth as I walked back to the desk. “It's a gift, Seraphina. Oh, please. Come on. You cannot refuse my gifts, can you? And don't pity me because I can afford it, so shall we?” She picked up her purse after some time and walked to the door. I did the same with a sigh of relief running out of my mouth and then I reached my car in a short while. “Give me a moment—” I let out, walking to a corner where I knew it was safe to make calls. “Hello, Vito.” “Yes, Boss. Good morning.” “Can you do something for me?” “Of course, Boss. What can I do for you?” “We need to change the
ISABELLA In the comfort of my home, I relaxed. I believed life was going to get worse, but it didn't. It hasn't, not yet, and won't, in fact. Not when I worked with Frank Gotti, the new CEO and owner of the same businesses Carlos used to run. What could I ask for? Life was good. Life was beautiful. The plans to resume school were canceled. Why was I going back to school when I had all the money in the world? Maybe not the whole world but it was enough to live life the right way. Even the wrong way. However I wanted. I smiled and sipped some more juice from the glass in my hand, admiring a dress I found in a store, more than willing to purchase it the next day—or whatever day I left the house next. Suddenly, I thought about something. I needed a maid. Someone who could run all the errands for me. Someone who could even leave the house at night if I wanted something from the mall. Living an extravagant life was too much. Too much that I didn't have the strength to eat somet
CARLOSA door opened. “Look who I have here—” Nonna, with a stained apron, walked out of the kitchen. Immediately, I jumped to my feet. “Nonna—” my legs dragged me to her front and I took her in a tight hug. “You don't know how much I've missed you.” I looked at her face when the hug ended, taking her in another hug. “It's you who don't know how much I have missed you, my son. Come here.” We walked back to the living room together, while Jenny left our side. “You can easily not miss me by asking me to come back to this house with you and you know.” I shook my head. “It's not as easy as you think, Nonna. I need you more than safe for what's about to happen.” I held her to myself for a moment before letting go. “I'm so hungry right now. Maybe you should serve me some of the meals before you start nagging.” “Oh, really?” Nonna got up. “You say I nag.” She walked towards the diner and I remained on the couch, taking out my phone to text Seraphina about meeting Nonna at the house.
CARLOSNow that it was brought up, I shook my head, realizing I never really asked who told her about it. Well, how could I ask? How could I ask when an audience was never given to me? Did she joke with me or was she serious? A sigh ran out of my mouth as I managed to sit up on the chair where I was seated. At that moment, I looked up at Seraphina once. “You never told me. Do you want to tell me now?” I adjusted again on the chair. There was not enough time. “Isabella told me—” Her words shocked me, but not as I expected. “Isabella?” I chuckled as I looked away before looking back at her. “That's a lot,” I admitted with a sigh running out of my mouth. “I expected better than just Isabella, at least. Not herself.” A confused Seraphina asked. “How?” “How?” I chuckled again. “I don't know what to say but all I can say is that I don't know what to say either. Because why would she do a thing like this to a man she scammed of so much money?” Myself and Seraphina went into thoughts
CARLOSIt was unbelievable that she would ask me to come with her to her shop. Was it because she knew I wasn't a Mafia Don any longer? So many thoughts ran around in my head as I walked closely behind the woman who caught up with the door of the restaurant hall. “I'll get a cab.” Seraphina's voice woke me. I looked up and let out. “That I have lost everything doesn't mean I have lost my car and house, Seraphina.” I pointed at the end. “Vito is in there. I'm sure he can take us to your shop.”She nodded and we walked. The look on her countenance did not seem like a woman who was angry any longer. Maybe she no longer was mad at me but how could I know? What if this was some trap even? Thoughts did not stop running in and out of my head and in a shorter while, we hopped in the car. “Good morning, Miss Seraphina—” Vito looked at us from the mirror before him. “We meet again, don't we? I should have known your words were empty threats the other day.” “Can we get over this, Carlos?”
SERAPHINA It has been three months since the breakup. My life became a mess even when I least expected it. Just as myself and Carlos planned months before the breakup and even before I became his girlfriend, I moved out of the old shop to a new site that would suit me and the business. But life became even worse when I least expected it. This morning, I reached the shop and waved at the newly employed workers who did a good job when I wasn't even in the shop. Maybe I should take a day off. My mood seemed to be affecting my business, even to the point where my staff came into my office, demanding to see me. “Good morning, Stella,” I greeted her back, then I pointed at the chair before her. “Come on. Take a seat. You said there's something you would like to discuss with me and I want to hear it.” Slowly, she walked to the chair and took a seat. “Yes, ma'am. There's something I would love to discuss with you. And I'm sorry for addressing it but I cannot let it pass. Not today beca
CARLOSI burst into laughter at that moment. What did they think they were talking about? I stopped laughing and then looked at the men who moped at me as though they had seen a ghost. What could I say? Why couldn't they say something too? “What's going on here?” Finally, I popped a question. “Is there something I need to know and why are all of these coming at me?” “Carlos—” Mr. Robinson called. “We don't bring sentiment into this business and you know this. I'm sure you do. One thing you should know is my job and that of the others is to bring the company to life and that's what we're trying to do or can you not see it?” “No, I can't see it,” a chuckle escaped my mouth. “If there's something I can see then it's you being unfair to me by taking something I have spent the last decade building. What exactly is going on here?” “Carlos. This is a family business. It's a different thing if it were your business and you know this.” Frank was all smiles when I looked at him and he n
CARLOS “What? Why?” The same confusion that plastered on my countenance was the same as that of my man, Vito. “I wouldn't know, Vito. That's what he said.” Vito adjusted on the chair. He looked at me and looked around the room before facing me again. “I don't know what to say about this but you cannot run from the meeting. Maybe there's something he has to discuss with you and we'll never know until you get there.” “You're coming with me.” I got up and walked around the dining section. “I don't know how I'm supposed to face Frank if this is one of his games. I'm too weak to fight if one arises and the strength or courage to face him, I don't have. Do you see it?” “I understand, Boss. You mustn't kill yourself.” I turned to face him. So many thoughts ran around in my head and one that bothered me the most was what my cousin wanted. He rarely reached out to me on the phone. In fact, the last time Frank and I talked over the phone was months ago and it had to do with the Mafia g
CARLOSThe month didn't start well, or end well. No one needed to tell me but I knew I lagged in my tasks at the office. There was so much to do and whenever I walked into the office, I ended up doing only a few.What was wrong with me? I knew, but still needed to ask. A woman had never affected me in this manner and I didn't have the slightest idea what to do and how to go about what to do if I knew. I hit my hand on the table, shouting. Another month had started and this wasn't the right way to start the month—even the day. Especially when there was more than enough to attend to. What would I say to partners who I penned all these while? A frustrating sigh ran out of my mouth and I stopped trying while realizing how a woman would become my end. Standing up on my feet, I caught up with the door and walked out, catching up with the stairs and then the diner where Nonna and Jenny stayed to eat. Whenever I came into the diner and Jenny was there, she got up and left. But she didn
ISABELLA It was a good thing—watching from afar. Even though I wasn't sure what the news was, I knew there was no way the two would be together at the end of the day. Especially when I knew my once best friend hated lies more than her enemies. Or was she going to let this one be? No, she had better not. I snapped out of my thoughts when my phone rang. My gaze went to the phone and I nodded, smiling at the callers whose name appeared on the screen of my phone. Without any hesitation, I picked up the call. “Hello, Frank Gotti—” The man from the other end chuckled. “Good morning, Miss Isabella. You've done a great job and you don't know.” His words made the smile on my face widen and I nodded, happy that his suggestion worked after all. That was what we needed. “I'm happy to hear that, Frank. But how did you know? Did your cousin reach out to you so that you're told?” He laughed again, and now it annoyed me. Could this man go straight to the point? Could he answer my questions