ISABELLA A cab stopped me at the gate of Carlos's mansion. Over and over again, I thought about what I was here to do. There was nothing wrong with claiming my place, was there? A sigh ran out of my mouth and I held on to the empty carton with a smile on my countenance. What was next? Jenny. Reaching for my bag that hung on my shoulder, I picked up my phone. Without thinking twice or hesitating, I dialed her contact, looking for a spot around the gate where no one would suspect so that I could wait there. What the fuck was wrong with Jenny and why wasn't she taking her calls? Did she think I had all day? A sigh ran out of my mouth as I gazed at the screen of the phone for some time and then made up my mind to dial her again. “Hello, Jenny. What is wrong with you?” “Ma'am,” she cried from the other end. “I'm sorry about this but my boss is around. You'll have to wait until he's gone from the house. Can you give me some time?” A sigh ran out of my mouth and I let out. “Don't b
CARLOSI wasn't supposed to return home, but I had my reasons. Especially when I forgot a document I would need for a new contract at the house when I should have left home with it the last time. What was the need to stay out? Seraphina would make it to the house as well. Why not wait until she was here before I would go back to where I was coming from? The thought of it alone sounded good in my ears and I picked up my phone from my pocket, dialing Vito who must be waiting for my next return. “I'll not be out until later in the evening, Vito. Do you understand? Keep them on hold until I'm done with whatever it is I have come home to do. I forgot already that Seraphina would make it to the house today.” “Of course, Boss. I'll do just that.” The call ended. I looked around me, discovering the new driver parked me in the lot and this was my time to make it into the house. But it was weird because I felt something was off even though I could not place a hand on it. Where was Serap
CARLOS She was the woman from that night!How didn't I know this since all these while? How didn't I know this? “Seraphina—” I mouthed. “Do you know what you're talking about? You're not certain, are you?” Confusion plastered on her countenance and she shook her head. “It was a Halloween party. There were plenty of masks. My former best friend and I were there. I didn't want to be there but she forced me to come along with her and I did as soon as we closed the shop.” I was confused so I asked. “We—?” “Yes, we ran the business together that time.” A painful smile came on her countenance and she let out. “She was my second hand in the business.”“W—”She cut me short. “I went there with her and she was with men while I busied myself with nothing in particular—not until a man pinned me to the wall and kissed me. I recall tending to his wound. I had gone to get some more ice for his bruises and by the time I got back—” “He was gone—” we both echoed. She was the woman from that
ISABELLA I knew I was done at this point. No one needed to spell it out to me because I could spell it out by myself. Carlos, a man I have wanted for myself all this while, had nothing but an angry look on his countenance. He was walking in my direction and I looked at the door to see Seraphina who was on her way out—then Jenny who shivered. Fear took over me and I wondered what I had done to myself. Not just myself but other innocent people. “I'll be back—” He looked at the door. “Alexa. Extra lock the living room door.” “Living room door extra lock activated—” a womanly voice sounded. The man nodded and looked at me before walking up the stairs. His footsteps were telling anger—including how much he would deal with me and I didn't know. I didn't know what he wanted to do. Was he going to hurt me? One part of me deserved it, after all. “Jenny. What are we going to do?” The young lady sobbed at this point. With detest in her eyes, she looked up to meet my gaze. “You're su
SERAPHINA Nothing but betrayal was all I could feel. The very moment I got home, I thought about how much of a fool I had been by not thinking too far about it when Isabella walked out on me and the shop. How could I be so foolish?Dumping my handbag on the couch, I walked through the living room with many thoughts that ran around in my head. There was a lot to think about—starting from the fact that Isabella did nothing more or less than betrayal. How could she? How could she be so wicked to me? A painful smile came on my countenance. I stopped walking and turned around to face the other side of the room, wiping my face with my hand as I wondered if I was dreaming while trying to wake up from this dream. But this wasn't a dream. This would not be a dream. This could never be a dream. Especially when I was standing in the space of my living room and thinking. There was no way this could be a dream and the thought of it alone made water fall off from my eyes. Why did Carlos a
CARLOS How could she be annoyed that I tried to rectify the situation? What would she have me do if not that? I had something to say but the call ended. Seraphina ended the call! Something I would never guess she could do. How was that even possible? I moped at the screen of my phone for a while, thinking about what to do and what was right to do—even how to go about it. “How dare she?” The woman didn't have the slightest idea about who I was and I could not blame her. I would not. Standing up on my feet, I knew I needed to see her. But I could not ask her to come over to the house or could I? She would not—not in the mood that she was in. Making up my mind at that instant, I promised myself to be there as soon as the next week would come. We could not carry on like this. I wasn't going to let that happen. A hand knocked on the door of my office. Looking up, I asked. “Nonna, is that you?” “No—” Jenny's voice sounded from that end. “It's me, Jenny. I—I'm here to—” “That's
ISABELLA So what? So fucking what? Does Seraphina get to live the life I've always wanted? Wasn't that the meaning of all these? I moped at the screen of my phone with anger evident in my countenance. One of the many things that still bothered me was the fact that the man I thought I bagged for myself, has foolishly given himself to another woman. How did I know this?It was all over the internet. Maybe Seraphina and Carlos were yet to have a relationship but there were signs that they could go down that path very soon. Or wasn't it obvious? Especially when I moped at the screen of the phone that stayed all day in my hand. “What do I do?” What should I do? There were no ideas at all. Another angry sigh ran out of my mouth this morning when I opened my eyes on the bed. One thing that annoyed me more than this was the fact that not a single dime existed in my account and there was nothing I could do. What could I possibly do? I picked up the phone I dumped a while ago so tha
CARLOSIt was the day when Seraphina would make it to the mansion so that we could spend some time together. Little did she know about my plans for her. Waking up this morning, there were more than a lot running around in my head and one was what would happen between Seraphina and Jenny who had wronged her weeks ago. I didn't know what to do about that. I got off the bed and caught up with the closet, snatched a towel from the closet before reaching the bathroom. It didn't take long for me to be done and when that happened, I caught up with the room again. Jenny needed to be talked to. One part of me knew I should have fired her because she caused more than a lot to myself and Seraphina who blamed me, instead of her. Why would she do that? A sigh ran out of my mouth and I fell on the bed to think before drawing a conclusion that should be of help. Then, I got back on my feet and reached the door of my room. In a short while, I was downstairs, inhaling the aroma of many dishes I c
CARLOSOf all the things she could say to me, I didn't expect this one from her. There was shock on my face even though I tried so hard to hide it. “I—” I stuttered. “I'm glad to hear you say that.” One part of me forgot already how much I loved this woman, why then didn't I say it back? I leaned and took a seat right on the bed and next to her. “Seraphina, I don't need to say it to you before you know and understand how much I love you.” The look on her countenance brightened. She heaved a sigh and nodded. “I thought you were never going to say that, Carlos. I thought I lost my chance with you.” She touched me slightly and then laid her back on the bed. “Thank you.” What could I say? Whatever good mood I was in before, increased. As I got off the bed, my gaze did not remove from the face of a woman whose eyes were shut. It won't take long for her to sleep and I didn't want to disturb or distract her, so I led my way out of the room, catching up with the stairs in moments.“Mr.
SERAPHINA “You don't have to if you don't—”Before he could complete the statement, I kissed him with the last ounce of strength I had in me. I would wrap my legs around him if I could. But I couldn't because we were in the car. My lips only covered his and it lasted for moments before we broke off—shock on his countenance. “I'm sorry—” I sat up. “No, no, Seraphina. It's not a problem.” Nodding, I relaxed my back on the couch. Then, Carlos let out. “Cameras are everywhere in this estate although it shouldn't bother us but I don't want us being watched from the headquarters kissing each other like we don't have manners.” A soft laugh ran out of my mouth. That was funny. I was tired. I didn't say much. But the last thing I noticed was Vito walking towards us with a piece of cake in his hand. And then I passed out on my seat. The next time I opened my eyes, I was lying on the bed in a room I didn't and wouldn't recognize. Not until I was told where I was. I should be scared.
CARLOSThe door pushed open in a rush. The men who watched over the door, armed, walked in, pointing their guns. Myself, Sera, and Vito who had guns in our hands did not stop pointing them at the people who were now on their feet—dragged towards the door by the policemen Matthew came with. “You cannot take us!” Frank shouted at the top of his voice, trying to get off the man who didn't let go of him for a moment. “You can't take us without telling us what we've done. I have a right to know!”I laughed, dropped my gun, and walked towards the door. “You're a fool if you think these men and I haven't planned long before now.” I looked behind me to see Vito holding Seraphina from falling as she could be shocked from everything that had happened in the space of two hours. The policeman let Frank be. But many people pointed guns at him. He did not dare run unless, of course, he wanted to be shot in the legs—just like I had done Isabella. “Mr. Frank Gotti, you're under arrest.” “What
SERAPHINA I shouted at the top of my voice. Not because I was held captive by Frank, but because a woman who should be but wasn't my best friend had been shot in her leg. Was I supposed to be mad at Carlos? No, I couldn't be. Why did Isabella try to run? I looked at the man who pointed a gun at Frank. But he could not shoot or make the mistake of shooting because I could be shot in the process. Either by Vito himself or the man holding me. “Ask your boy to drop his gun or I shoot your girl,” Frank ordered with a triumphant laugh running out of his mouth. “For a moment, I thought my own was done for. Well, I guess it isn't. Ask your stupid boy to drop his gun. Don't you value the life of this woman here? I thought you loved her.” “Vito—” Carlos looked at him. “Drop the gun.” “Boss—” “Drop the gun!” Without thinking twice or hesitating like before, Vito dropped the gun to the floor. He looked up to look at me, making a reassuring sign I had no choice but to nod. “I have droppe
CARLOS“Tada!” I laughed in victory. Another person who laughed was Vito who I knew waited so much for this day to come. “What's going on here?” That was Frank's voice. He was shocked and I could see that. In the same way, there should have been a shocked Isabella who had started shaking from the very moment. So she wasn't strong. I should have known. I knew, but was surprised. “You're saying you don't know what's going on?” A chuckle escaped my mouth. I looked at Isabella before facing them. “Why not tell me what you two were up to a while ago? No, for months. Why don't you want to start talking?” “I don't know what you're talking about—” Frank did not agree. He looked me in the eyes and told that lie that made me burst into laughter again. “I was only coming to save you from dying. Why would you think I was up to something?” “Oh, my bad, brother.” I got up so that I could face him well. And then, I recalled at that moment Nonna was in the same room as us. “Call me the maid,
SERAPHINA “Yes, I'll be the one in charge of serving drinks. My best friend here will assist me as well.”“You heard that right—” Frank said to Carlos who didn't stop looking at his best friend and secondhand man. “Do you have an issue with that, Carlos? Is there something you want to tell us?” “And why is that question directed at me?” Carlos walked away after this question. He then reached the diner table and looked at me once in a while, while serving himself a glass of water before settling into one of the chairs. “The party is about to start.” “No,” Nonna looked at Frank who made that statement. “I shifted it to three hours later, but I may have changed my mind already. Thank you so much for this beautiful cake, Frank—” Nonna winked at the worst human she would ever know. I could not help but think of Nonna as an actress. For a moment, I believed she would not do a perfect job like we imagined should be done. But this woman was doing more than a good job. More than one woul
CARLOSThe way the man looked at me almost made me question if he was the one sent all the way from the station by Matthew who had not yet come. “Good morning, gentlemen.” “Good morning to you, too, mister.” He took out another tool and commanded. “Raise up your hands so the machine can do its job.” I did just that, waiting for the machine to make a noise, and just as I counted down from three, it stopped at one. “Take that out, Mr. Carlos. You must be Mr. Carlos and I'm not surprised because my boss warned me about you.” I took out the gun. When I turned to look at Vito, the same thing was happening to him. They took a gun out of his pocket and pushed him towards me. “He's free. Only his phone can go in with him. Those were the words of Mr. Frank. Let them pass.” The stubborn-looking man allowed me. We turned around to get the car but one stopped us on his way, leaving me to wonder when it became a crime to take my car with me into the compound. “You can't drive in.” “And why
CARLOSThe day had finally come. The day when a few out of the many bad eggs in the city will be arrested.The thought of it alone made me smile and I could not help but jump off the bed with so much excitement running around inside of me. “Vito?” I called when he picked up his call. “You're sure there's nothing we're forgetting, is it?” A smile pulled on my countenance and I led my way to the closet so that I could grab my towel. “Yes, Boss. Everything is in order.”“Good.” I ended the call since there was nothing else to say, and now I led my way to the bathroom door with the same smile that plastered on my countenance with hopes of not leaving soon. When I was done, I got ready for the show itself. My phone was beeping. I rushed to the screen to take a peep and there was a call from Seraphina who had been trying to reach me long before now. “Don't scare me like that again, Carlos.” “I'm sorry, baby. Good morning. I just got ready. Waiting for Vito to get here so we can leave
CARLOS“Welcome to my home.” “Thank you, Mr. Carlos—” the man greeted and took a seat on one of the couches. What do I do next? “What do I offer you?” “Water, please.” He begged and I relaxed on the couch as well. “Water is enough.” “Jenny?” “Yes, sir.” Jenny opened the kitchen door and walked out. “Mr. Carlos. You called me.” “Yes, Jenny. Serve my guest a bottle of chilled water. The weather is not good for the ordinary or would you like the ordinary, Mr. Matthew?” “No, Jenny. Chilled please.” When Jenny was gone, I looked at the watch I was wearing on my wrist and then heaved a sigh. “I'm so sorry for the delay. I'm waiting for Vito. He was the one who reached out to you on my behalf. Thank you also, Mr. Matthew, for coming.” “No, don't say that. It's the least I could do.” The front door opened immediately. “Gentlemen,” Vito led his way in. “I'm so sorry for coming late.” He took a seat on a couch and let out. “I needed to fix something permanently before leaving my ho