(Lorenzo) I watch as she storms into the house not bothering to spare me another glance. I messed up, I knew that but then I wondered why she brought it up. If only she knew the story of my childhood she’d understand. But I cannot tell her that, not yet, I needed to tell her everything and show her everything about my world before that so she can understand why I cannot let it go. The silence in the car threatened to swallow me up, half of me wished she’d come back but that was a very unlikely. There had to be something I could do to make it up to her, there’s no way I’m letting her go to bed in a bad mood. The problem is I don’t even know how to deal with girls and their emotions, this meant seeking help from the last person I wanted to call. I picked up the phone and dialed Giovanni’s number. He picked up almost immediately.“Boss.”“Gio…hey, man.”“What’s the matter? You sound really dull.”“Uh I got into a fight with Mariana. And I’m thinking of making it up to her. What do you
(Mariana)I wake up to find myself crying on the bed and curled up in a way that felt as though I could fit inside a little box. I'm hugging my knees to my chest and I'm thinking about last night. Everything is forcing me to demolish my love for Lorenzo.Can I not love someone in peace? And why did it have to be him? Fine, he had a good reason not to want a wife and child, but it was beginning to get clear that he had feelings for me, also because why the hell was he going through such lengths for me? The talk about him willing to marry me, discreetly?I shake my head to myself. No, no, no, it didn't change the fact that his life was a risk to mine. I could have been shot alongside with him last night and that could have been the worst part. It could have been at my stomach and I would have been bleeding seriously. I would have lost the baby in the most horrible way possible. And what not next? My death.I would have died last night. I still can't shake the feeling off. The feeling of
(Lorenzo) “Gio, call the boys. Gather as much as you can. They have to be with Mariana 24/7. She’s in danger as long as she’s with me and until I find the fucker who’s responsible for this, I need to know that she’s safe.” “ I warned you, this was bound to happen sooner or later. You know how these things end up. You should have let her go when she had the chance to escape. She would have died today, and what would you have done? Wage war on whoever did this? What then? Does that bring her back? Then you’d wallow in self pity, your rivals will see your point of weakness and take us all down.” “What the fuck Gio! You think I don’t know that? Yes I know it’s all my fault and she’s in there terrified and possibly traumatized because of me. I knew she was not meant for this life but still I’ve been selfish about it. Hell I found the fucker who killed her parents and I’m still hiding it because I cannot let her go! So I don’t need you to tell me things I already know. Instead, you can
(Mariana)"Lorenzo, why are you back?"Lorenzo walks towards me like every others and checks for my temperature. "I heard you were sick and I couldn't wait any longer." He confesses, his voice edged with worry.His statement marvels me. "Was your business trip not that important that you will return the same day instead of in three days?"You're more important to me, Mariana. Than anything else in this world right now, and I can't seem to ignore that fact."My cheeks redden and I gather all the strength in me not to smile, but it's futile and I simply hide my face by looking down at my laps as a result of feeling bashful. "I don't understand." My voice is low and my cheeks are hot. "I thought you said you don't want a wife.""But I want you, Mariana." He answers, fast and sits down next to me to glide fingers through my hair, massaging gently and tracing tender lines.An electrifying jolt runs through my skin uncontrollably in response and I lean into him, resting my head on his shoul
(Mariana)"Are you all set?" Lorenzo and I are standing in front of a mall where he spent all the time shopping clothes and various other accessories for me like shoes and jewelries and all those stuff.In my hand, I hold the suitcase that has all the clothes we bought and in his hands, he carries two shopping bags where the rest of the things are contained."I'm ready." I reply."Okay. I've also sent some money into your account as well. Only a quarter of it, the sum of your salary.""For working only a day in your club?" I cover my mouth as if it helps to reduce my chuckle."It wasn’t for free, was it?" He smiles, joining in on the amusement."Thank you." I say and hug him. "I didn't think I'll say this, but I'll miss you." I feel his hands circle around me and there's so much tenderness in the way his hand rests around my waist and back."I'll miss you, too." Then, he stops a taxi for me and I get in, waving him goodbye. His eyes are watery with tears but I think I've imagined it a
(Lorenzo) I watch as she enters the car and leaves. There goes the one person I ever hoped to love. There’s nothing else I can do but watch her slip away from me as the car takes her further than my eyes could see. I’ve been successful at many things, but given my profession, it is no surprise that I’ve failed at love. The thought of entering my car and chasing after her rushes through my mind but I dismiss it immediately. She has to go. Staying would get her killed and I cannot bear to see that. Instead, I decide to drive to the club and get me a drink. Nothing helps better than a bottle of bourbon down my throat while wallowing in self pity. I dare Gio to come yammering about how this is going to lead to our ruin. I enter my car and begin the long drowning drive to the club, all the while trying not to dwell on the scent of her on the passenger sit. This is going to be a long year. I might as well change my car, having it sprayed won’t do me any good. I’d still look at the pass
(Lorenzo)It’s been two months. Two whole months of peace. The best two months of my fucking life. I had never felt peace the way I’ve felt in the past months.I lay on the bed cuddling with her. Our legs entwined as she runs her hand across my chest.“I want to tell you something babe.” She sits up and moves a bit further from me. Missing her touch immediately, I scoot over, closer to her and she moves away. This sends signals to me immediately. “What’s wrong? Did something happen? Did I do something wrong?” Fear grips me as I wonder what I could have done wrong to hurt her. Instead of making assumptions in my head and overthinking, I allow her to feel comfortable enough to say whatever it is. Resolving that I will try my very best to make her happy again. “I’ve been keeping something from you for a while now. I’ve been so scared to open up and if I had told you before leaving, I’m pretty sure I’d have regretted it. But now I’ve been thinking and I feel like I’m in trouble and I hav
( Lorenzo)“Fuck work." I muttered.The clock ticking away and worsening my mood, as I went through the high stack of paperwork on my desk,a pen in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other.I took a sip of the hot cup of black coffee, the bitter taste cutting through the stale air of my office. Lazily, I threw my eyes around the paper praying silently for a escape.The devil answered my prayer. The next moment the worst type of distraction came bursting out of the door. I looked up and met the gaze of the one and only person who had the guts to barge into my office. A deep frown settled on my face. It's Giovanni, my right-hand man.'Great, just great' "They're here" he announced"I see you've implemented a new policy of no-knock entries" i said, casually placing my coffee down and returning my attention back to my work.'Yeah I chose perk over the other option’A smile formed on Giovanni's face. "Maybe I have" he shrugged and sat down on the couch by the window staring outside"So
(Lorenzo)It’s been two months. Two whole months of peace. The best two months of my fucking life. I had never felt peace the way I’ve felt in the past months.I lay on the bed cuddling with her. Our legs entwined as she runs her hand across my chest.“I want to tell you something babe.” She sits up and moves a bit further from me. Missing her touch immediately, I scoot over, closer to her and she moves away. This sends signals to me immediately. “What’s wrong? Did something happen? Did I do something wrong?” Fear grips me as I wonder what I could have done wrong to hurt her. Instead of making assumptions in my head and overthinking, I allow her to feel comfortable enough to say whatever it is. Resolving that I will try my very best to make her happy again. “I’ve been keeping something from you for a while now. I’ve been so scared to open up and if I had told you before leaving, I’m pretty sure I’d have regretted it. But now I’ve been thinking and I feel like I’m in trouble and I hav
(Lorenzo) I watch as she enters the car and leaves. There goes the one person I ever hoped to love. There’s nothing else I can do but watch her slip away from me as the car takes her further than my eyes could see. I’ve been successful at many things, but given my profession, it is no surprise that I’ve failed at love. The thought of entering my car and chasing after her rushes through my mind but I dismiss it immediately. She has to go. Staying would get her killed and I cannot bear to see that. Instead, I decide to drive to the club and get me a drink. Nothing helps better than a bottle of bourbon down my throat while wallowing in self pity. I dare Gio to come yammering about how this is going to lead to our ruin. I enter my car and begin the long drowning drive to the club, all the while trying not to dwell on the scent of her on the passenger sit. This is going to be a long year. I might as well change my car, having it sprayed won’t do me any good. I’d still look at the pass
(Mariana)"Are you all set?" Lorenzo and I are standing in front of a mall where he spent all the time shopping clothes and various other accessories for me like shoes and jewelries and all those stuff.In my hand, I hold the suitcase that has all the clothes we bought and in his hands, he carries two shopping bags where the rest of the things are contained."I'm ready." I reply."Okay. I've also sent some money into your account as well. Only a quarter of it, the sum of your salary.""For working only a day in your club?" I cover my mouth as if it helps to reduce my chuckle."It wasn’t for free, was it?" He smiles, joining in on the amusement."Thank you." I say and hug him. "I didn't think I'll say this, but I'll miss you." I feel his hands circle around me and there's so much tenderness in the way his hand rests around my waist and back."I'll miss you, too." Then, he stops a taxi for me and I get in, waving him goodbye. His eyes are watery with tears but I think I've imagined it a
(Mariana)"Lorenzo, why are you back?"Lorenzo walks towards me like every others and checks for my temperature. "I heard you were sick and I couldn't wait any longer." He confesses, his voice edged with worry.His statement marvels me. "Was your business trip not that important that you will return the same day instead of in three days?"You're more important to me, Mariana. Than anything else in this world right now, and I can't seem to ignore that fact."My cheeks redden and I gather all the strength in me not to smile, but it's futile and I simply hide my face by looking down at my laps as a result of feeling bashful. "I don't understand." My voice is low and my cheeks are hot. "I thought you said you don't want a wife.""But I want you, Mariana." He answers, fast and sits down next to me to glide fingers through my hair, massaging gently and tracing tender lines.An electrifying jolt runs through my skin uncontrollably in response and I lean into him, resting my head on his shoul
(Lorenzo) “Gio, call the boys. Gather as much as you can. They have to be with Mariana 24/7. She’s in danger as long as she’s with me and until I find the fucker who’s responsible for this, I need to know that she’s safe.” “ I warned you, this was bound to happen sooner or later. You know how these things end up. You should have let her go when she had the chance to escape. She would have died today, and what would you have done? Wage war on whoever did this? What then? Does that bring her back? Then you’d wallow in self pity, your rivals will see your point of weakness and take us all down.” “What the fuck Gio! You think I don’t know that? Yes I know it’s all my fault and she’s in there terrified and possibly traumatized because of me. I knew she was not meant for this life but still I’ve been selfish about it. Hell I found the fucker who killed her parents and I’m still hiding it because I cannot let her go! So I don’t need you to tell me things I already know. Instead, you can
(Mariana)I wake up to find myself crying on the bed and curled up in a way that felt as though I could fit inside a little box. I'm hugging my knees to my chest and I'm thinking about last night. Everything is forcing me to demolish my love for Lorenzo.Can I not love someone in peace? And why did it have to be him? Fine, he had a good reason not to want a wife and child, but it was beginning to get clear that he had feelings for me, also because why the hell was he going through such lengths for me? The talk about him willing to marry me, discreetly?I shake my head to myself. No, no, no, it didn't change the fact that his life was a risk to mine. I could have been shot alongside with him last night and that could have been the worst part. It could have been at my stomach and I would have been bleeding seriously. I would have lost the baby in the most horrible way possible. And what not next? My death.I would have died last night. I still can't shake the feeling off. The feeling of
(Lorenzo) I watch as she storms into the house not bothering to spare me another glance. I messed up, I knew that but then I wondered why she brought it up. If only she knew the story of my childhood she’d understand. But I cannot tell her that, not yet, I needed to tell her everything and show her everything about my world before that so she can understand why I cannot let it go. The silence in the car threatened to swallow me up, half of me wished she’d come back but that was a very unlikely. There had to be something I could do to make it up to her, there’s no way I’m letting her go to bed in a bad mood. The problem is I don’t even know how to deal with girls and their emotions, this meant seeking help from the last person I wanted to call. I picked up the phone and dialed Giovanni’s number. He picked up almost immediately.“Boss.”“Gio…hey, man.”“What’s the matter? You sound really dull.”“Uh I got into a fight with Mariana. And I’m thinking of making it up to her. What do you
(Mariana)"You can do this Mariana."I keep motivating myself for work, but Giovanni just has to ruin everything."... and Princess, it's nice to see you didn't chicken out." His voice rings in my head as I leave him and Lorenzo behind to get on with their usual business.I know what he's trying to do. He wants me to be scared and lose courage. And I know it's not going to be easy for him to readily accept me as a Margot replacement, never minding that she had eventually betrayed them, but I'm determined not to give him want he wants.The thought of Margot watching me from the afterlife baffles me because it sends a shiver up my spine. She would definitely consider it an insult. It's even worse when I get to the office because now it looks neater that I've ever met it and more empty than I've ever seen it.Margot's things are gone. God knows where they were taken. There are still some files left on the table and I assume they are files connected to the club itself. I approach the chai
(Lorenzo)I drive Mariana back to the club and ensure that she is settled in her new office, she had a determined and fierce look throughout the drive, a facade to lead me to believe she was not nervous about the job. I decided not to make things worse by pressing the issue by asking her questions.It hurt how much she wanted to hate me. Sometimes I believed she really did. I understand my ways were not what she approved. I’d explain to her I had no choice growing up, that I was born into this life but I knew better. It would only anger her more and I am already on thin ice. Seeing her sleep so peacefully this morning melted me. I had always thought I would never fall in love with anyone.The kind of life I led did not require weak points like wives and children. I was not a loved child and the marriage between my parents was proof enough to know that being married with kids was cruelty to them as they would become targets all their lives. I had always guarded my heart against it, I h