Monica
Agreement
We had to move to another camp because many cells were also damaged by the fire. I haven't slept well two days ago since that happened.
"It's been two days since the massive fire broke out. And here you are, in front of me. Maybe my dearest cousin told you I needed to see you." I said.
Here we are now in a private room. Mattheo is now with Francis who's both in front of me. His expression didn't change when he saw me.
Plain. Poker face. No expression.
"The police said the fire was intentional... for you. Do you know anyone who has a motive to do this to you?" Really? Did he come here just to ask me that?
"Did you come here just to ask me that? And besides, I don't know! I don't even know my family's enemies. Or how many are they." I rolled my eyes.
Why did he ask me that? I don't even know who the angry people hating my family. I also don't know which of my companions today is true. Because I am no longer sure of my life.
I am no longer safe.
"What do you want me to do?" He asked. No, he offers.
"Get me out of here," I said.
His eyebrows were raised.
"We have an agreement. If you'll agree to my-"
"I'll do everything you want,"
I cut him off. I knew he was going to insert that so I took the lead. He will not agree unless I gave him his satisfaction.
He looked straight at me. Can't believe my sudden assent to its wishes. After a few weeks of stubbornness and this happened. I was the only one who struggled.
It's time to lower my pride. It won't harm me, anyway.
"I just realized that it will do me no good if I keep on hardening and declining your offer. In fact, I am jobless. I can't keep living a luxurious life without money."
I will not do this for myself. I will do it because I want to fulfil the buried dreams of my prison friends.
"I will do it, but on one condition," I said.
He chuckled. "Of course. You won't do it on your own willingness."
Just think of whatever you want to think. I don't care.
"You will fund the newborn baby of my one friend until it turns eighteen and able to live comfortably without your support. You will also fund the college studies of the son of my other friend until he finished and you will hire his father in whatever position that is available in your company. "
"That's too much,"
"I am not finished yet,"
"I will go to the christening of Nelly's daughter and be her godmother. I will support her. I will also go to the graduation of Glady's son three months from now to be the substitute of her mother instead."
"That is too much to ask as a condition," Francis said.
"But that's all I wanted. Nothing more. Then, I'm all yours. You can use me. You can have me as much as you want. You can toy me around. You can dispose of me when you feel like you didn't need me anymore. And I will not say any single objection. You will not hear me protest. "
Saying those words while my tears are falling down my cheeks might be my power right now. I can convince him and this is my chance of getting away with this mess.
"You didn't want anything for yourself?" He asked.
I shrugged my shoulders and constantly wiped my tears. "Just want to get out of here,"
Now that we have come to our agreement, I changed my clothes to my outfit and took the long bath I could imagine.
My cousin; the lawyer and the chief are sitting opposite to mine while Francis and I are on the other side of the table. While the prosecutor is standing beside me.
"It's easy to talk to you, you just took longer." Said the chief.
I just look straight ahead and didn't say a word.
"Both parties have agreed. Mr Rodriguez will lift the charges and Ms Carluccio will pay for the fines." My cousin said.
"Okay. I'll ask you again, Ms Monica Carluccio." The chief sat up while holding the paper without mentioning a contract or waiver for my charges. "Do you admit to the charges that your complainant have raised against you?"
I already agreed, right? Why do I need to repeat?
Does it make me look less like the mistake I made?
"I admit,"
"Do you also agree to pay the fines for your committed crime?"
"I admit,"
While speaking, my gaze was still straight. Helding back the tears that threatened to drip as I humiliated myself. My pride and the honour of my family was now in vain because of what I did. I let my anger control me and the revenge I seek to eat me alive.
"I will now close this case. Sign the paper and you may go."
The chief handed over the paper he had been holding earlier and the ballpen that was in the pocket of his uniform.
I wasted no second in signing the paper and when I finished, I gave it to Francis.
"That will be all for today. You're free, Ms Monica Carluccio."
When Mattheo opened the office door, the cameras immediately flashed and blinded my eyes. The crowd outside waiting for me was concentrated media from different establishments.
"Ms Monica, according to reports you robbed Carluccio's. Is this true?
"Why did you do that?"
"Did you do that for your planned revenge?"
"What are the agreements with the new owner of Carluccio's?"
I answered nothing of their questions. I just kept walking as Mattheo and the other policemen surrounded me. I will not give new statements to start another mess that has already closed.
It closed because of my decision to lower my pride.
Even if that's all I have. I still chose to let go so I could just get out of this place.
Thirty minutes ago I left the police station. It was still quiet inside the car as I was with Francis and Mattheo in the front while I was alone in the back, looking at the passing trees, buildings and people.
"You must be hungry. Francis, is it okay for us to go through the restaurant first before we take her to the condo?" My cousin asked.
"Use honorifics, Matteo. He's our boss." I answered him.
"It's okay. I asked him not to do it." Francis defended.
"From now on, he will use it. I just don't want my cousin to get in trouble when the time comes." I answered.
I saw the tightening of Francis's jaw and the tightening of his grip on the steering wheel. Mattheo, on the other hand, is silent on the side and almost hides himself in the chair.
One thing I learned in my almost two weeks stay in the prison; know where your place truly is, whether that position is high or not. Regardless of the profession. Everything is equal and you should know where the right place is for you. I accepted my ill fate just a moment ago and I am just curious about how it will drive me to keep my life.
Maybe it's best to just let go so that I won't experience the merciless fate that my father has gone through.
They even went to the first restaurant to buy food. I also had no appetite so I ignored them either. When I arrived at the condo, I went straight to my room and locked myself up. It was clean, unlike the last time I left it.
"Monica, you have to eat." Mattheo knocked on my locked door.
They will insist on what they want when I don't want to.
"Leave her alone for now, Matteo. She can eat that whenever she wants." I heard Francis stop my cousin.
"You don't know her. She can lock herself for two days and more in her room without going out to eat. And after that, she gets sick." Mateo still remembers how I keep my sophisticated tantrums.
"That's her choice. Let her be." Francis cackled.
The nerve of him! He just laughed at me?
I picked up my cellphone and typed a message to send to my cousin. I cannot stand their annoying presence near me.
Me:
Leave the fucking food on the table. I will eat whenever I want. And get out of my house!
I had just been released from prison but I was thinking about crime again. In my brain, I choked them until they lose their breath because I am disgusted.
I want them to leave!
Mattheo:
Alright, we will leave. Just call me when you need anything. You have to eat. Please.
Good!
Leave and never bother me again.
I feel like they are gone because I no longer hear any noise outside. I got up lazily from my bed to take off my clothes. I saw Dad's picture on my bedside table so I approached it.
"I know, Papa. You're not proud of me. And I won't question you if you feel like I have abandoned our family's hope. I hate myself too."
I took a deep breath.
I pulled the door out of my bedroom to go to the kitchen. I was thirsty to act all day so I took a bottle from my refrigerator and drank from it.
"Your food is on the table," that is Francis' voice.
I was confronted with the source of his voice. He was looking straight into my face and I saw him glimpsing my naked body.
"I'm not hungry," I said and closed the refrigerator.
Carrying a glass of water and I continued walking towards my living room. I reached for the remote and turned on my TV. I have been watching my favourite series since I left and I want to continue it now.
"Why are you still here?" I asked Francis without looking at him.
I pressed the play button to continue watching this series.
"Your cousin asked me to check on you. I just want to make sure you eat. Because he's worried." The answer is this.
"You're checking on me?" In the command of my cousin. "You are letting your employee command you whenever they want?
I scoffed. "You are the first employer I knew who's doing that,"
"You're cousin knew how to separate work and personal life. And he is not just an employee to me. He is my friend."
My forehead furrowed. I also don't understand what I'm watching because of Francis.
A friend? Since when?
"Friend? How can he have a friend like you?" I asked sarcastically.
"What's the likes of me, Monica?" His jaw clenched.
I pissed him off. I can see that.
I kept looking straight at him while thinking and going through the things he had that would prove what I said as he did. If I were to voice that we might just argue.
I turned my gaze back to the TV and even though I could no longer understand what I was watching I was still pretending. I put the glass I had been holding down on the table and arranged my seat on the sofa. Arms and legs crossed.
"You have checked on me. Report to him then. And leave as soon as possible." I said.
I just focused on what I was watching and tried to turn my attention back to it.
"Do you realize that you don't have any clothes right now except for your undergarments?"
I do realize that. And so what?
"I know. So what? This is not different when I wore a swimsuit at the beach."
I can do whatever I want because this is my house.
"But you are not alone here. You are with a man." He said.
In his annoyance, he took off his coat and threw it at me. It slammed into my body to cover the delicate parts. In my shock and anger at what he had done, I threw his coat back at him.
"This is my personal space!" As I said that I approached him and just stopped to line our eyes.
"You are invading my privacy that's why I asked you to leave!" I scolded.
The two of us were twelve inches apart and our eyes are on the same gaze. I have nothing else to feel right now but anger because of his interference. He sighed in surrender and rolled in front of me his coat I had thrown.
"Leave," I commanded.
"I will," he said.
But before he left, he slung his coat over my shoulders. I struggled to remove it but he fixed my arms and finally buttoned the dress.
"You are fucking annoying!"
"I know. Lock the door." He said before closing the door.
My blood boils with irritability. Push me walking to the door to lock it. Francis is big so I look like a hanger of his clothes. I also hurriedly removed his coat and threw it on the sofa.
Is that the Francis I will be with every working hour?
Annoying. Arrogant. And so fucking handsome!
Ugh!
Why am I thinking of that right now?
"Remember Monica, he turned you and your family down. He is a snake! And even you have nothing right now, there will be something in you that he can get too. That's him. So we need to be careful!" I beg of myself.
"Don't become soft to his actions!"
I almost closed the door of my room. I need rest because I know tomorrow I will be tired again. More than twice as tired as I feel right now.
He will never go easy on me.
It's morning but I still can't get up in my bed. My noisy cousin knocked on my door again to wake me up. I am not ready for what I will face today. What will I do? I have never worked as an assistant my entire existence.
"Monica, get up there. Francis is coming in early. You must be ahead of him!" Mattheo shouted as he knocked on my door.
Papa, guide me, please. I don't know what I am doing.
"Va bene! Stupido." I answered back.
I finally rose to my bed while grunting. Every move I make, I made sure to complain by muttering whispered words and growling.
I frowned as I opened my door and when I saw that it was still guarding my door and waving I stared at him. I went straight to the kitchen to open the refrigerator.
"Francis said you didn't eat. What? You're not going to eat now? I looked at the refrigerator and your cupboards, there are no contents but bottles and water. You'll get sick of what you're doing."
I didn't know that he can be a better nagger than my nonna.
"As I have told him, and I will tell you again. I am not feeling any hunger." This is exactly right. I have nothing else to eat because my refrigerator is full of water.
I just sighed.
"You have lost too much weight! You may not be able to work later."
"Stop, okay? Stop saying anything. I'm starting to feel bad so I ask you to shut up. You said he comes in early, right? And I should be half an hour earlier than him. I have no time right now, so let's go. I got to have a nice first impression."
My body is used to it even if I don't eat breakfast. I have been doing intermittent fasting to get my period into regular flow monthly. That was the advice of the doctor besides taking the pill. Although there are side effects, I'm used to it. Ever since I got my first period, the doctor said that I am in an irregular flow. So to prevent that, I have to take extra measures to take care of myself.
We arrived at the building where the office was and was waiting in the elevator for it to open. I could hear the whispers of Mattheo and me who were also waiting in the elevator.
I just couldn't help but hear them because they were just so close to me.
"She's Carluccio's son, isn't she? The rumoured prisoner?"
"Yes, she is. She came back to be the executive secretary."
"Maybe she's out of money,"
"And even stole really!"
"So embarrassing,"
Did I just hear them shaming my name? Why am I at fault for this?
My palms are clenched and holding back from fighting now. It's still my first day at work and I don't want to give them the impression that my behaviour is bad.
"Let them go. Don't listen to what they're saying anymore." Mattheo whispered to me.
Oh! He also heard them talking shameful things about me. Yet, he didn't want to do anything to defend me.
"Are you just going to let them talk?" I whispered a question to him.
"This is your first day, Monica. You can't take your horn out yet."
What the hell?
"Confirmed! She's Monica Carluccio."
It was there that my hearing tingled. I couldn't control my patience anymore. And my cousin couldn't even defend me against it.
"Excuse me?" I finally faced them.
I saw the shock on their faces. Because they were just behind us, I could easily face them. Mattheo grabbed my arm to stop me.
"Do you have a problem with me? Earlier I heard my name you were talking about. Is there anything I can help you with?" One wrong answer and I will tear all the hair she has.
"Monica, enough," Mattheo replied.
I heard the sound of the elevator signals on this floor. They walked sideways away from my front to enter the elevator.
And they will escape this?
"I'm asking you a question!" My scream was heard all around.
"Monica!" Mattheo pulled my arm into the other elevator.
When it closes I waved my hand away to face him.
"You heard them! They were talking about me. And you didn't even do anything." I said.
"What do you want me to do? I'll fight them for you?" Those are questions.
"Yes! Fight or tweak or punch, just so you can protect me. They were saying ill things about me, Mattheo!"
"There's nothing I can do if people think that way about you. I can't control that. And I'm not hurting a woman!"
"Will you let them think what they think of me? While it bothers me to keep a peaceful surrounding here in the office?"
"I will not use violence against them. They did not hurt you."
"They've hurt me through their words! That's still considered violence."
"But you are okay! Complete. The words they said to you will also pass. Just don't be affected!"
"What about me? I am your cousin! Can you hear them talking about me like that?"
"You brought yourself into this situation. So bear with it." He gritted his teeth while saying these.
I was speechless. I can't believe he favours them more than me. I'm the relative but I just seem like a stranger most of the time.
The two of us fell silent while at either end of the elevator. Ignoring and just staring at the door. I hold back my tears. The elevator rang when it was on the seventh floor and it opened. Francis came in and stood between us while I looked at the elevator door.
"Francis, I have to talk to you before you go to your office," Mateo said.
Without honorifics, as usual.
"Okay," Francis replied without taking his eyes off me.
I can see him at the corner of my eyes so even if I don't look up I know where his eyes are.
I simply sniffed and wiped away the tears that dripped down the side of my cheek because of the fight Mattheo and I had earlier. I don't care if he sees that. I don't want to hide my emotions.
"Why are you wiping your tears?" Francis leaned a bit just to ask me.
That made me uncomfortable.
"It's none of your business," I said.
"Monica," Mateo commented in the middle.
I rolled my eyes in disgust and sighed heavily.
When I don't use honorifics, is it forbidden?
"It's none of your business, Sir," I repeated.
"Goodness! Monica!" My cousin commented again on what I said.
I heard Francis's soft laugh on the side which surprised me even more.
"Did you just laugh at me?" I asked.
They did not answer me. Instead, Francis continued his grin while Mateo rubbed the middle of his eyebrow while closing his eyes.
What is their problem?
"What's wrong? I added honorifics just like what you wanted!" I hissed.
They continue to laugh at me until the elevator door opened. They came out and faced me.
"Go to my office first. I'll meet you there." Francis said.
Where is his office? Are they gonna leave me? Goodness! I don't know anything about this office!
The elevator door was about to close but Mattheo stopped it from outside.
"Aren't you coming out of the elevator?" It's a tough question.
I sadly got off the elevator as I watched them walk away. Where am I going now? I am not familiar with this office.
They just left me here, all alone.
"Ms Carluccio? I am Nina, the executive secretary. I will escort you to his office." The girl in corporate attire approached me.
I am the secretary. Why would she say that she is the secretary?
"O-okay," I replied.
I just followed and my suspicion was correct. This is Francis' secretary because that's where he took me to his office. Why would he still want me to have him as his assistant if he already has? What is this all about?
"Please have a seat, Ma'am. I'll go get you something to drink."
Ma'am? She called me 'ma'am'?
What is really happening?
How many secretaries does he need?
"Wait! I need to ask you something." I'm confused.
She stopped and faced me.
"You said that you are Francis- I mean, Mr Rodriquez's secretary. And he's going to hire me as secretary as well. What is the meaning of this? Does he need more assistance? Or are you going to quit? Am I going to be your replacement? Or am I being fooled right now? " I asked a series of questions.
I saw how she suppressed her laughter because of what I said.
What is wrong with people this day? Why are they laughing at me?
"Am I being the laughing stock of this whole office?" Seriously.
"No, Ma'am-"
"And you're calling me 'Ma'am'. Seriously, what is my place here?"
They are making me confused!
"I'm sorry, Ma'am. But I am in no place to tell you anything. Just tell me what you want to drink, and I'll go get you some." She said.
Not in the right place to tell me right now?
"I am being stupid right now. I came here with the fact that I will be hired as an assistant and when I came here, there's already one. And three people just laughed at me this day. As if I was some fool who didn't know anything. " I complained.
What am I really here for? And where is that Francis? If this woman can't tell, I'll ask her.
The woman who was facing me just bent down and waited for me to say something. This is one of the ones I don't like. To make me look useless in front of people who don't even know me. Laughing. Judging. In question.
"I'll take it from here, Nina. Just get us a cup of coffee. Thank you." Francis came.
"Yes. Tell me everything." I said while gritting my teeth from irritation.