Isabella's Pov Incredible! My plans worked as I planned, but then when I was on my way to my date, I forgot something. I have come back to pick it up when I saw the image of Carlos and Seraphine at her doorpost. I was consumed with rage and anger. They were so close that their lips almost touched like they were about to kiss. Seraphine lived almost in the same street with me, but I have to walk past her street to get to my apartment. I hide myself between a wall and watch them. My fist clenched and my lips pressed into a hard line. What is Seraphine doing with him? Has she figured it out yet? I don't think so; she doesn't even have any clue. But how did they both meet again? Oh no! The cupcakes. I shouldn't have given it to him, but what was I supposed to do? I acted out of happiness, unknown the consequences with cost my charade. I waited for him to kiss her, but he didn't; rather, he brought out a necklace. What! That is supposed to be my necklace. I know Seraphine scheme
Seraphine's Pov "Isabella, I have been worried about you.” I said to Isabella, who suddenly showed up in my cupcake shop. She looked restless as she constantly tapped her fingers on the counter. “You back me out; you hardly pick calls, and you even packed out of your apartment. Isabella, what is going on?” “Hey Seraphine. I don't answer to you, so quit the fake concerns.” “Fake concerns!” I shook my head in shock at her words. She thinks I'm giving her fake concerns. This isn't Isabella, I know; what has come over her? “You went to deliver cupcakes; it never got to its owner, and you put me through the stress of baking another cupcake. Do you even know what that means? You’re chasing our customers away.” "Our,” she asked with a raised eyebrow. “I told you I quit Isabella. I made it clear.” “But why, Isabella, we promised to pull this out. Why will you back out now?” “This isn't your business. I'm here for something. I need your perfume.” “My perfume!” I sh
Carlos' Pov “Boss Seraphine has been kidnapped,” my pa reported. “I asked you to guard her; why didn't you do your job?” I slapped my hand on my office desk, frustrated. I didn't go over to the cupcake store because of an emergency. “I'm sorry, boss, but the guard on patrol was knocked out. There is nothing to panic about the girl; she is just a lowlife,” my assistant added. My face darkened at her calling Seraphine a lowlife. What up with me with this girl anyway? I'm already suffocated without seeing her face. “I will give you the grace because you're family. Nobody dares question my authority, or do you want to carry your head on your palm?” He shrunk away in fear. I'm ruthless, but you see, I'm loyal to my family. “Get who took her and report back to me.” "Yes, Boss,” he immediately disappeared and was left alone in my office, my fist unconsciously clenched with my feet constantly tapping on the floor. I knew who might have done this—none other than my cousins. H
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
SERAPHINA As soon as she picked up my call, I looked at Carlos who moped all these while. “She has picked up.” I whispered. He thumbed and came to sit down next to me. To make things easier, I turned on the speaker so that everyone in the room could listen. Even though it was the both of us. “Hello, Seraphina?” “Hello, Isabella—” I called. “Good afternoon.” She hesitated for a moment and then asked. “What do I owe this call? Do you want to set me up? You know you shouldn't think of that.” The way she talked made me scared. What has she turned into? She never spoke like this before and now, she did. But I could not let it get to me. Especially when Carlos looked at me and asked me to go on. Then, I looked again at the screen of the phone. “Isabella, what do you mean? I am calling you to let you know about how shattered I am.” She hesitated again. “How do you mean?” “I am heartbroken. I have been since months ago when you walked into my shop to let me know about Carlos's ide
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