Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Charles did not stop Aliza from crying.    Sometimes silence has more eloquence than speech. He simply stood there in mute and held her to his chest for he did not know how long. After Aliza emptied her tears completely, he covered her in a blanket with no words. Yet on the night Aliza felt a gratification she had never felt before.

The next day started off with usual meetings and work. Charles did not raise the topic of yesterday and neither did Aliza because both of them wanted to avoid the black truths of their unfortunate lives. He is a mafia don and she is a homeless orphaned teenager.

It is often said that opposites attract. Slowly Aliza began to achieve her solace in the arms of her boss, an irony but the truth which was difficult to absorb even for her. He was giving her the protection, love and care she was long deprived of since the age of six. On the contrary Charles was an underworld leader. He had done the most sinful, brutest crimes in the world. Was it pitifulness or a proclivity of warmth for his unsullied PA, Charles had no idea but he felt a shielding stance for the unblemished girl.

After work Charles ordered Aliza to get ready. That night he took her to Regency, the fanciest restaurant in the city that he owns. Apart from being the mafia leader and the Alpha billionaire Charles owns a series of pubs, casinos, hotels and restaurants in the city. Yesterday night he had to take Aliza to Rutherford's club because he was bound by a business meeting. Charles couldn't afford to lose his eyes on his innocent PA to add insult to an injury on a foreign land.

Bringing Aliza to Rutherford deal wasn't a part of his plan but he did not wish even a phone call from Stella and Fredrick to disturb her. If she is under his supervision then she is out of their evil stunts. They were only meek holes when compared to massive security he had but Charles doesn't like to take second chances concerning his heart. Allowing Aliza a little joy of living was also the hidden inclination of him under the pretext of work. This was her first international trip and he wanted to give her the most memorable tour.

The next morning he took her to the museums and galleries of the city and in the afternoon they visited the famous beaches of Sydney.  Aliza was in complete awe to look at the waves following her in the ocean. Charles wished Aliza to be herself, forgetting the rigidity between a boss and an employee. Sipping Scotch he watched her from a distance and explored the happiness of a child in her when she experiences something new. Aliza ran towards the water making a 'ooh' sound forgetting she was with her boss. There was an unknown pleasure enveloping inside Charles as Aliza played with waters bending down like a little girl. A smile etched his lips to see excitement in the eyes of her.

Three days later it was time for them to leave Sydney which was more like a holiday than a business trip. Aliza was in a gloomy mood and though Charles did not wish to see her dull, he had work responsibilities. He had already extended the trip for two more days for her.  "Aliza, did you finish packing?" He asked her to enter her room. It was an executive suite in one of his hotels with conjoining rooms.

"Yes sir." Aliza answered professionally, hiding her colorless look. "Good, let us leave." Charles walked ahead and Aliza followed him behind. The same flight that took them to Sydney was waiting for them at the private area of the international airport. Just as the flight began to move, Aliza clutched the handle of the seat and closed her eyes tight. This time Charles did not hesitate to wipe away their professional barriers.

He laid his hand behind the head of Aliza and kissed her forehead. "It will be okay. You are safe. I hire the best pilots in the world." He spoke softly near her ears and kissed her cheek. Butterflies ran in Aliza's belly experiencing the intimacy with the man she could only hallucinate and it was a fantasy come true for her. Charles pulled her to his chest. Encapsulating her face in his warm callused hands, he took her hand and laid it flat across his chest. "Listen to the beat of my heart and close your eyes."

Aliza just followed Charles's instruction. "Are you feeling sleepy?" He asked her tenderly after a few moments. Aliza could only nod as sleep was already over powering her speech. "Good" Charles stretched back in his seat with a sigh and pulled Aliza into him. Ten minutes later both of them were fast asleep.  It was the best sleep Aliza could ever have filled with contentment, in the arms of a man she could only dream.

*****

"Tomorrow is my sister's wedding with my childhood friend. I want you to join me for the occasion." Aliza looked at Charles with shock filled eyes. "Sir I?...I mean it is your family function....how can I....." Charles was a reserved person right since his childhood and he is extremely inscrutable regarding the display of his emotions. "I did not ask for your opinion Aliza, I am just informing you. You will accompany me to the wedding. Be ready tomorrow by nine and yeah wait for a moment." He tipped up his forefinger as a signal.

Bending down he pulled out a gift pack covered in silver foil from his office desk and gave it to her. "Use this when you join me tomorrow." Aliza had no guts to counter her boss at the same time his instruction was cryptic. Use this? What does the article contain?

Going home Aliza opened the wrap and was stunned to see a beautiful silver gown matching the wrap cover. It had zebra straps in front just above the bust area. There were two lines of flowers in self design running on either side of the dress. The attire looked simple at the same time covered in elegance. There was smaller gift wrap inside the bigger one. Aliza wondered what was inside it and her eyes sparkled in surprise.

It was a silver platinum necklace matching the gown with a bracelet and earrings attached. Aliza felt delicate to receive such a costly gift but did she have the courage to question her boss? Next morning at half past eight she was completely dressed and waited for the driver who was supposed to pick her.

She curled her hair with a curling iron and let them fall loose on both sides of her face. Applying a bit of eyeliner and mascara and a nude lipstick Aliza was modestly dressed completely for the occasion yet in a simple look.

Charles had picked for Aliza the dress in Sydney. It was hanging on one of the display pieces of a shopping mart that immediately caught his attention. An overwhelming feeling to see Aliza with the dress intensified in him. He immediately got the dress packed but did not know how to present it to her. His sister's wedding timely rang in his head and he aptly used the occasion.

****

It was the first time she was going to meet her boss's family. Her hands went clammy in anticipation and she was continuously wiping the sweat on her forehead. She had no idea why her boss was inviting her for his private family function. Aliza had no option but to accept the order of her boss. So here she was waiting for Charles at his doorstep inside the car.

A couple of minutes later Charles walked to the entrance while speaking to someone on the phone. One of his hands was inside his pants pockets and the other was holding the phone. Drinking in his rich appearance Aliza gulped heavily to clear her throat of the air block. He was dressed in a three piece navy blue suit. As usual his hair was combed to perfection. The same lemon and hue perfume invaded her nostrils that kept her engaged in his arms in the past two times that he hugged her to erase her discomfort. Aliza felt the goosebumps in her heart whenever she replayed the scene.

No sooner he sat beside her in the back seat still speaking on the phone, the driver closed the door and the engine started. Charles guarded Aliza carefully between his calls. He wanted to tell her she looked very beautiful. Aliza bit her nails in anxiety. Charles observed her and ended up saying. "You look not bad in the dress. Relax, my family is not going to eat you."

The drive to the venue was exactly half an hour. It was a beach resort, one of the many properties that the Rodriguez family owned. Aliza wondered if the members of the family even had an idea about the amount of immense wealth that they owned, probably they could bathe everyday with money.

Charles's mother Arianna was very happy to receive Aliza at her daughter's wedding. At last she had the glimpses of her son to settle down. Arianna had been insisting on Charles to get married for the last two years and this is the first time he brought a girl to one of their family functions.

Allen addressed Aliza formally though he had a fatherly adoration in his eyes. "Welcome to our daughter's wedding child." He said with a run of his hand on Aliza's head. Even within the few moments Aliza spent with Allen he had the power to get her to experience the rush of emotions. Aliza   felt her father come alive in his touch. Encompassed in the uncontrollable feelings Aliza could feel wetness in her eyes. Charles immediately understood her discomfort.

He pulled her firm to his side holding her by her shoulders. "It is okay. You will soon call him dad." Charles muttered soothingly close to Aliza's ears. Aliza being too innocent did not understand the intensity behind his words. She quickly wiped away her tears before anyone noticed them but Arianna could see everything through the curtain. She did not miss the next sentence Charles spoke to Aliza. With a smile of contentment and happiness she walked away to her daughter's room to check the last minute essentials.

Just as Arianna thought, the girl to catch the flower bouquet during the throw was none other than Aliza Stelwart.  By the time all the sequences of marriage ended it was dark. Charles was always a man with principles. He told the driver to take his leave because it was getting too late at the wedding venue.  The drive back home was like always in pin drop silence except the serene music running through the stereo.

The sky was dark and the habitat around was in deep sleep by the time they reached home. Aliza was feeling sleepy too but the thing that happened next banged every cell of her body to an explosion of dynamite.