Monica
Impulsive
"I-I gotta go," I uttered.
While I am still not on my own, I stood up and walked quickly to the door. I turned the doorknob with my injured arm but it immediately ached and I howled in pain. I removed my hand and stroked it.
Why am I still holding on to that?
But Francis was behind me so he oped the door for me.
I went out immediately and since our room was next to each other, Carter caught up with me in that situation. His eyes ask as I stare in shock.
"Wait, Monica!" I heard Francis call my name from the back.
Carter saw us. When Francis' presence appeared on my back, I got confused. Why is he following me? We are done, right?
I didn't look back and walked through my door instead. Carter closed it as soon as I entered.
When I went inside, I didn't know what to do and how I would feel. I remember everything but I don't know the reason for my sudden actions last night. And it was wrong!
It is Francis. My boss. I just had sex with my boss!
"Monica, can we talk please?" Francis knocked on my door.
"Carter, get the master key and open this."
"I believe that Signorina wants to be alone at this moment," Carter said.
"What did you say? Are you disobeying my command?"
"No Sir, I'm not. But I am including Signorina's feelings in this. She might be uncomfortable talking to you right now."
"You don't know everything! Get the key and open this!" Francis burst angrily.
I don't know if Carter left because I don't hear anything more talking behind this door. It also didn't open so maybe Francis gave up as well.
I'm already hungry at these times but maybe later, Francis will be in the kitchen too for sure. I don't want us to face or even talk. That's right, I'm avoiding him.
For God's sake Monica, what have you done?
How are you going to deal with him when you are with him under the same roof?
No. I can't stay here. I need air.
I changed my clothes because I want to go out now. To ventilate. To think. I caught up with Carter again opposite my door who was guarding my room as usual.
"I want to go outside. I near fresh air."
Carter just followed me down the stairs. He opened the door for me and I caught up with Francis on the terrace holding the newspaper while having coffee. He looked at me but turned my head faster to avoid his eyes.
"Have you eaten your breakfast? Where are you going?" He asked.
"I just want to-to take a walk around the vineyard,"
He lowered the newspaper he was holding and focused his full attention on me.
"Really? Have you eaten?"
Is he interrogating me?
"I don't feel like eating. I'll take Carter with me."
I grabbed Carter's hand and dragged him out of the terrace for once. I just want to get out there because the air feels suffocating when he's around.
Fortunately, he didn't utter any words so I feel relieved.
What should I do? I can't just avoid him always for the rest of the days that I will stay here. Everything will never be the same now that there's something that happened between us. I always say that I am straightforward to those that I like and I didn't deny that. I am not denying my feelings toward Francis. It's just that...
I can't even explain this!
What should I do?
"Be careful signorina, this is the end of the vineyard." I heard Carter from behind.
I lost track of time and I've been lost in my thoughts that I didn't recognize that we reached the end of this vineyard.
The end of this land no longer belongs to Francis so it has a fence. It looks like a forest and I can see from afar some houses. Curiosity got the best of me so I stepped forward to reach for the chained gate. Carter grabbed my arms quickly which made me face him.
"We're not supposed to be here," he said, whispering.
"But I just want to know what's out there,"
"That's all you can step on. It's not possible outside this fence. Let's just go back to the mansion, signorina."
My curiosity is heightened by what Carter is doing and saying right now. Does he not want me to see beyond this fence? It's no longer covered by the vineyard but I probably wouldn't die if I knew what's outside of it. I have never been here and I do not know that this place existed.
"Just this once, I want to see what's out there."
The houses are small and close together and are covered with vines just in the middle of the forest. I don't see people so maybe no one lives in them. That place was quiet and I didn't really hear any noise.
Carter suddenly pulled me away from the fence and back into the vineyard.
"Let me go! Carter! Off!"
Why is he forbidding me to go there?
"We have to go back," he said.
"No! I won't go back unless I see what's out there!" I struggled with my arms so he could loosen but I failed. He's too strong.
"It's dangerous, signorina. I'm sure Sir Francis is looking for you too. We have to go back."
"Carter, please. I can't sleep if I don't know what's outside that fence."
"Sir Francis no longer owns everything outside that fence. It's only natural that you can't go there anymore. I was instructed that you must be guarded and protected."
I gathered all my strength to stop our walk. I pulled my arm away from his grasp and looked at him wickedly. I could already see the mansion from my stand but I didn't care.
"Protection? Protect me again?! Why are you forcing yourself on me?! Don't you understand that every time you get close to me you will be damned! Papa! Helga! Who's next? You? My cousin? I'm so fed up that every time someone I want to take care of and save is taken alive! So please, Carter. Cut it out. As long as it's not too late! "
I could see the mansion and the factory from my vantage point. I want to go to a place where I have no one else to meet. No one else will interfere with my every move. In a place where I will be peaceful and free. But the only ones I have circled in this area are only three; the mansion, the barn and the vineyard. For now, my only best option is the factory.
I frowned at Carter and left him. I made my way to the factory and I was not mistaken that I would still arrive that way. From the last time when visiting this place, until now, it is still the same. It grew more and more.
I can say the company has grown even more since Francis took over. He knows the ins and outs of business and he is smart. For the first time, I can say Dad didn't make a mistake in choosing him to entrust to the company.
It was like only yesterday and my heart went crazy with joy when I saw this place again. The large machines, the barrels, and the products. Nothing changed. I went up to the second floor to tour the barrels. I read everything that was written on each barrel and I remember what had happened since I was here.
"Carluccios. 2023. Twenty-seven days old."
I read the label on the barrel.
It can be transferred to a bottle for better ageing. Anytime, when the workers saw this, they will work on it immediately.
I took a goblet. I turned on the barrel faucet to fill my glass. Half the glass is filled.
I followed as I tossed the glass away from me so I could see what the true colour of this wine was. This wine is medium-bodied. Once it is transferred to the bottle, its colour will change. I gave the glass a careful swirl. Swirling gives the wine the air it needs to activate aromas.
I pressed the mouth of the glass to my nose to smell the wine. There are two things I smell in this wine, fruity and earthy. The smell of fresh grapes and the smell of morning grass stuck in my nose. It is well fermented. Just like how I want it.
Of course, the ultimate point of enjoying wine is to drink it. While drinking, I let myself close my eyes to truly feel and taste what it offers. I was not wrong. What I smell in this wine is also what I taste, including its alcohol content.
I was satisfied when I drained half the liquid in my glass. This was not definitely the first time that I have tasted wines. But every time that I will drink our wine, the Carluccio's, it always gives me a first time feeling. The type you will really find.
The saying is true, 'age like a fine wine'. Although it was not meant for a person, I only meant it with the wine itself. The more it ages, the more it tastes better.
Papa, did I make you proud by this? I just did the proper way of drinking and examining the wine. Just like how you taught me.
I hope even in this matter you will be proud of me. I have disappointed you many times. In your last days on earth, we still fought. I still can't believe you're gone. You and Mama have abandoned me here. You left me all alone.
I sometimes wished that one day, I will be in both of your arms again.
"Sir Francis, thank you for visiting."
I woke up when I heard his name. I never thought that I would even collide with him. I just hope he doesn't go up here. Even though I was hiding in the big barrels here I knew that he knew I was here. Even though Carter didn't follow me I was sure he had already told me where I was.
"I don't do much so I'd better visit you. How's the production?" He answered the worker who asked him.
Now, how will I leave this place?
He's standing near the door where he sees all around here. If I will make my way through that door, he may notice me.
Of all places, why do I choose to hide here?
I thought he wouldn't come here.
"It's fine. This morning the pressing machine just froze. We called maintenance right away so it's fixed. It's fine and working again."
The machine freezes?
"Maybe we need to replace it. We have been using it for a long time so maybe the motor is weakening. I will find a way and I will also call our supplier in Italy. If this happens again, please notify me immediately."
I saw Francis walk. He went even further and went to the broken machine that the worker was referring to. The stairs up to the barrels are just to his right, so I feel very nervous. He shouldn't have thought of climbing here.
He checked the engine and its motor. I can't see it in my distance now and I can think of nothing but the speed of my heartbeat.
Why am I hiding? Why am I avoiding it?
Maybe I just don't want to go back to the mistake between the two of us. I'm not gonna deny that I like him but that's wrong. I shouldn't have let that happen. We shouldn't have done that in the first place. But I will be lying to myself if I will say that I didn't like that.
I liked that it's driving me insane that it feels so wrong.
I looked at Francis again and he was still not leaving his stand. He was talking on his phone.
I couldn't help but admire him while working. He's so sexy and attractive. He's just like a busy husband working to provide for his family.
Wait, what? What did I just think of that?
I must be really insane!
I need to get out of this place before I could finally turn into a lunatic.
I turned my gaze on him again and fuck... he's looking in my direction. I hid my whole body behind the barrel and I am holding the glass so tightly in my hands. He didn't see me, right? He can't.
"I will have to call you back," I heard him say.
There's a creaking sound from the metal stairs going to the second floor and I know that he's climbing the stairs now. I don't know what to do and where to run. If he sees me here, I might be hysterical.
No, he can't.
Every time I hear the crackling metals, it signals that he's taking a step. I go along with that but I am on the opposite path. He was passing in the back so I was in the front.
I had already passed a barrel so I stopped walking and hid so he could not see me. When I heard the crackle again, I ran down the metal stairs. I know he heard my actions and I wouldn't be surprised if he saw me now.
I ran off the factory until I got to the mansion. I gasped on the terrace as I bent down and held my knees. I caught my breath and I stopped running.
"The heck. That gives me a heart attack." I commented while panting.
Francis never caught up with me and he didn't bother me all night. I heard nothing about him so my night was peaceful. I just had my dinner delivered to my room and I ate there. Also, he didn't stop me so I didn't standstill.
"Are you sure you want to eat here?" The maid asked me.
"Because I feel sick and I can't get down,"
They put up a small table and chair for me to eat there.
"Is that so? Do you want me to tell Sir Francis so you can be treated-"
"No! Don't do that. He doesn't need to know. I'm okay." I said.
I didn't eat breakfast as well as lunch so I was very hungry. They prepared a lot of food because a one-course meal was not enough for me today.
She didn't look up and let me go. When I finished eating, they immediately put it away. I also cleaned my body and got ready for sleep.
I opened my laptop and saw that my Nonno had sent a message. We also had a long last conversation so I decided to greet them. It was only five o'clock in the afternoon in Italy so I knew they hadn't slept yet.
"Ciao Nonno, Nonna! Come stai?"
They appeared on the screen of my laptop. When they saw me, they immediately smiled and waved at me. The nurses who take care of them stayed behind them in the background.
"Stiamo bene cara. Ti stai godendo le vacanze?" Nonna speaks. They are asking about my so-called vacation here in the Philippines.
"As expected, I love it here. You should have been here so I can also show you the places I've been to."
Lie. The place that I have been to was the prison.
"Si, cara. We'll come by someday. I see that you changed the set-up of your room." Nonno said.
I don't tell them I'm here at the mansion. I don't know if they'll be happy that I'm back. I would rather just not say.
"I did some touches. I got bored lately so I redecorated my room." I said.
Lie again.
"You did a great job. It's beautiful. By the way, the Marchetti's will come over for dinner today. They will discuss the planned merger for the company. Have you told them about the Carluccios?"
I didn't even mention anything about that to Paris. I did not expect that they will work on it now.
"I didn't tell Paris, Nonno." I still don't know how to tell him.
"They might be asking that over dinner later. Should I tell them?" Nonno asked.
"Please, not yet. I want to tell Paris myself. I just need time, Nonno. I am working on it now."
"Just act normal. If ever they ask about that, just don't decide without my permission. Give me more time, Nonno. I promise that I will come home with the company in our possession."
I really need to start working. Time is ticking and I still don't have any progress on my plan.
I've been stressed out again by what Nonno have mentioned over the call. I don't have to flake any further now that the Marchetti's want to start the merger of the two companies. If they found out that we are not the official owner of the Carluccio's anymore, they might back down.
I only have six months to execute my plan. And I have wasted three months doing exactly nothing. If I didn't succeed with this, my life will be changed once I come back to Italy. A life that somehow pushed into me but I didn't want.
I went down to the kitchen because I was thirsty. It is past twelve in the morning so there are no people and the lights are off. I just carried my cellphone and turned on its flashlight so I wouldn't fall down the stairs.
When I got to the kitchen I turned on the light here. I turned off the flashlight on my cellphone and laid it on the counter. I took a glass from the cupboard and opened the refrigerator to fetch water.
I don't know if this water will really quench my thirst. I am thinking of drinking wine instead.
I still drank the water in my glass. I was stunned afterwards and reformed in my mind the tumultuous events. It only increased when Nonno sent me the upcoming merger.
I was surprised when someone gently grabbed the pitcher of water in front of me. I came face to face with that person and also immediately regretted it when our eyes met. Maybe because of my adrenaline instinct, I stepped backwards hurriedly while panting. I didn't notice the rack for spices behind me so the sole of my feet bumped into it.
"Cazzo!" I whispered in pain.
That rack was sharp and metal so it had a painful impact on my foot. I sat down on the floor and stroked my foot that had been hit by the rack. Hoping the pain will go away if I touch it.
What was I really thinking? It's just Francis! If I could react, he'd think we didn't know each other.
"Are you okay?"
He hurriedly assisted me to stand up. Held my elbow softly while looking at me.
I swayed those hands.
"I am fine. Thanks." I said.
Our eyes met again. But this time, I seemed to cannot turn them away. I want to look at his face as if it was an artwork made by an artist. Admire the beauty and memorize the pattern. And the lips... those lips that were once touched mine.
I don't know what's gotten into me but I kissed those lips again. I conquested the space between us and throw my whole body at him. Wrapping my arms around his nape while my lips move as if it's an expert. I felt his hands snaking on my waist and back while reciprocating the kiss. We hurriedly and hungrily kissed each other's lips while my eyes were closed. There were sounds of our kisses but I don't care.