The Worry

Severino was in his thought-land thinking about how he arrived in that apartment full of beautiful ladies. Ladies like them were present last night in the auction. Well, the ladies in the apartment were a little old for everyone’s taste but if they were presented in the auction, they would be sold within seconds.

“What are you thinking?” asked Renata.

“Nothing! Nothing! Just about last night. It was an adventurous one for me,” replied Severino.

“He is done, superficially. I have checked all his wounds,” smiled Sameeksha. “Okay, tell me do you have trouble breathing?” she asked.

“Um… no, I am fine,” replied Severino.

“So, it hurts only when I press your stomach and ribs?” asked Sameeksha.

“Yes.”

“It’s just bruised. But it would be better if you get an X-ray,” said Sameeksha.

“No, no, it’s fine.”

“I can get you one in my hospital,” said Sameeksha, “for free.” She tempted him.

“Ha-ha, I don’t really care about money. I feel good but I will take your advice and go to the ER if any problem arises, okay?”

“That will be fine,” smiled Sameeksha.

“See! I took such good care of you. Now, will you take your boss away?” asked Renata.

“Ha-ha, fine! I will ask him,” smiled Severino. “Michel! Let’s go.

“What!? I have not yet finished my coffee,” said Michel, sadly.

“I will buy you hundred cups. Let’s go. Let’s not barge in anymore we have to,” said Severino and gestured at him with his eyes to get out.

Michelangelo understood that Severino was trying to convey some hidden message to him, but he had no idea what the message was.

“Okay!” said Michelangelo seriously and gulped the hot coffee in one gulp. “Thank you, girls and thanks to you in particular,” Michelangelo winked at Renata.

“Ew… shut up!” groaned Renata.

“Don’t pretend you didn’t enjoy me last night,” said Michelangelo and winked at her.

“Oh, get out!” groaned Renata and threw a pillow at Michelangelo. He caught it immediately and started laughing. He walked near the door and teased again, “call me any time you want,” and threw the pillow at Renata. It was about to hit her head, but she stopped the pillow at the very last second and glared at Michelangelo in anger.

“Going! Going! Geez!” laughed Michelangelo and walked out laughing. Severino followed him after saying thanks to Renata and Sameeksha.

“Gosh!” Renata sat on the couch with a thud and groaned, “ah… bring me some coffee. I can’t take this day any more without it.”

“You never told us what you did,” teased Hazel.

“You idiots! I was unconscious. Why didn’t you stop me or him from coming into our house?” she snapped at everyone.

“As if only you drank last night,” commented Ambrosia.

“That’s why I was saying that no more shots,” replied Renata.

Meanwhile, Michelangelo looked at Severino the moment they stepped out, “what were you trying to say?”

“We have to be careful.”

“What do you mean?” asked Michelangelo.

“You are one of the nominees. People will have their eyes on you,” said Severino.

“I am not afraid of anyone, Sev.”

“I know that. I was not talking about you.”

“About them?” Michelangelo pointed at the door.

“Yes, they have no idea that our world exists. They are doctors and whatnot. If people saw you with them, it would not be good for them,” said Severino.

“Oh, I didn’t think of that, at all. I am an idiot! Did I put their lives in danger by helping them?” Michelangelo furrowed his eyebrows and looked at the door, worried.

“No, not by helping them but by spending a night inside. People might think you are in a relationship. First, that would disqualify you and then hurt her to hurt you,” explained Severino.

“I don’t care about the first one, the disqualification but I care about the second, no one must touch them. They have to be safe. First, make a fortress out of this building and increase the security.  Patch up the CCTV to my office and my phone. Install one directly at their door. We will keep an eye on them. No one must hurt them,” ordered Michelangelo.

“You care so much about them in just one night?” Severino was shocked.

Michelangelo sighed. “I don’t know how to explain it. But every girl we meet is either clingy or cold. She was something else. They all were something else. Do you know one is a civil engineer, one is a fashion designer a software engineer, a doctor and Renata, she works in an advertising firm. They are orphans and made a life for themselves. We are rich and we sell women like them. If given the opportunity, everyone will be accomplished like them.

“Girls! Like them will inspire more women. We have to save them. We have to tell the whole world that women are not sex material, they are so much more than that, Renata is so much more than that.”

“Don’t! Stop that!” snapped Severino.

“What?”

“One night! You spent one night and now she is special? Are you out of your mind?” shouted Severino.

“What? What are you talking about?”

“Why are you so adamant in making my job so hard?”

“What? What did I do now?”

“Do you want to get kicked out of the nomination?” shouted Severino. Michelangelo tried to open his mouth, but Severino interrupted, “yeah, yeah, I know, you don’t care about nomination. But what about a war against your people? At least try to be interested for a few days, then you can do whatever you want.”

“But…” Michelangelo protested.

“No, but. I will take an interest in your business, you try to take an interest or at least pretend to be interested in the nominations. You never know what Tikhon will do if you defy him.”

“Fine! I will do as you say but take care of the girls.”

“I will make all the arrangements. You don’t have to worry about them. They will be safe,” sighed Severino.

Michelangelo glanced once again at the door and smiled at the memory of last night. He never had such a memorable night in his life.