Francis
Side
"I've missed you, babe." She moaned.
I kissed her neck hungrily while trailing our way to her bedroom.
She grabbed my head and guided my lips onto hers. I pushed her through the door making it closed on its own. She chuckled a little and became more hungry of our kisses.
Now that she's asleep, I can just make my way out of her bedroom and to never return. I wish that's just as easy as I can think of it. As I look at her naked shoulder, closed eyes but her lips were curving in a smile. It's been a while since we last did this.
I never thought that I could do this again. The last thing that I remembered was I was so furious and all my days were felt like intense. Then, the next morning that I woke up, here I am.
I have been avoiding Monica since she got discharged to the hospital. I cannot look at her. I cannot talk to her like before. I cannot even be near her. All I am feeling towards her was anger and disappointment. How could she say that it was all for nothing? That I should just forget about what happened between us. As if we both didn't like it.
The one who's in my arms right now is Eugene, my fiance. We are not dating or some couple sort of thing. We're engaged because of our actions. We met last year when I was golfing. We got attracted to each other. We slept together. Until we decided to get engaged. We both agree, but we do not have romantic feelings for each other.
I just went to her to vent, to satisfy myself. But I never plan on staying here. I just couldn't just leave yet when she's sleeping.
My phone rang and I couldn't reach it with my free hand. I slowly, but carefully put her head on the pillow so I will not wake her. The sound of the ringing on my phone was so loud that it could distract the sleeping person. Luckily, she didn't wake up. The ring stopped and I put my clothes. I grabbed my phone and got out of the room.
Carter called so I dialed his number since I missed his call.
"What is it?" I asked as soon as he picked up.
"We have a problem, sir. Monica is on the news." He said.
"What do you mean? What news?"
I hurriedly look for a TV remote and turned on the television. The first channel that appeared and I already saw her face in it. They are covering her recent accident at the parking lot of the mall. I clicked on different channels and they are all broadcasting the same news.
"She even appeared in international news, especially in Italy." Carter said.
I pressed the international channels that I know and Carter was not wrong. Monica is there.
So that's it? The one thing that we are avoiding suddenly happened. We cannot even protect her further.
I am soft like a wilted grass when I sat on the sofa. The TV is still on but my focus is not here.
"Where is she? Does she knew about this?" I asked Carter. We're still on the phone.
"We were out of the house when we find out. The maid informed me and called. When we came back to the house, there a tons of cameras and reporters surrounding the main gate. We couldn't go inside so we just checked in the nearest hotel from the city to avoid the crowd."
It's really happening.
"Are you with her? How is she?" I wonder what she's doing from this moment.
"Devastated, sir. She is worried about her grandfather finding this out."
I put my palm on my face. While listening to Francis, I can imagine how shock Monica is. We didn't saw it coming. If I only knew that it would happen, I should have stopped it right away. That's why we're protecting her.
"Send me the address of the hotel. Do not leave the room until I come." I hang up the call and stand. Eugene was already awake and got out of her room. She saw that the TV was on and I turned it off right away.
"What are you watching?" She asked.
"Nothing. I am just waiting for you to wake up so I could leave." I said.
"You should eat lunch first before you leave. I will cook." The offer was tempting but I have to go to Monica right now.
"I'm sorry but I have to go," she walked towards me.
"Can't you just... stay a little longer? You just got here." Her eyes were the one's talking.
"We've been doing this multiple times. And you already know that I only fuck not stay. Eat lunch by yourself." I revoked my arm that she's been holding. Grabbed my phone, wallet and keys.
"I will call you. You don't need to call me." I paused turning the doorknob while saying this.
"How much longer do I need to wait again? When are we going to set a date for our marriage? When are you going to give me a ring?"
I turned to her. There's tears that has already been dripping through her cheeks.
"What?" That's all I can say.
"Engaged couple should plan for their next step which is marriage. And it's so funny because I am the only woman who got engaged without a ring. I am the only woman who's a fiance of yours but never introduced to others."
"Francis, I don't plan on staying like this."
We made ourselves clear before we came here. No such feelings should develop because we are just a passing time for each other.
"I also don't plan on staying like this,"
I cannot stay any longer only to see her crying. I specifically agreed that we should not developed any feelings towards one another and she's breaking the deal.
I waited for Carter's text message of the address of the hotel they're staying before driving my car. I have to be there. I have to be with Monica and see what I can do. Matteo was out of the picture since he's busy taking his client's case to court. He told me to be with Monica when she needs me.
But does she need me?
I stopped the car in the middle of the road making the other vehicle honking and overtaking my car.
That's right. I should question that to myself. Why am I in a hurry to come to her without knowing if she need me or not?
I still need to go and find out. She's still my friend's cousin. I have to take care of her.
I drove my car again and determined to come to her.
Carter:
I told the front desk to let you in the room once you arrived.
I went straight to the lobby and let the valet to park my car. I asked the reception which room Monica is staying and they didn't gave me a hard time and just let me go. As soon as I arrived at the right floor, I looked for her room. Carter opened the door and there is Monica, sitting on the corner of the sofa and staring into nothing. Biting her nails and fidgeting her other hand.
"She's been like that for almost thirty minutes now," Carter whispered.
I sat next to her.
"What should I do? My nonno shouldn't know about this. Why do I have to appear in every news channel all over the world? I am not the heiress anymore! They should not have been interested in me all this time!"
I heard her stomach rumbling but she didn't notice that. She's too busy to think of everything.
I turned to ask Carter.
"Did she eat anything?"
"She didn't eat anything since we left the house," Carter answered.
I reached for my wallet and gave him my card.
"Go and buy food for all of us," I commanded that he immediately obeyed.
I looked at Monica and she's still the same. Doing the same thing the first second I saw here as I entered the door.
"He shouldn't know... He shouldn't know..." she whispered anxiously.
I stopped her hand with mine. I softly grabbed her fingers, taking it away from her lips so she will not bite them again. She then turned to me.
"Can you ask them to take it down? I don't want nonno to see it. He will be worried and I don't know what he can do if he find out about my accident."
That's impossible. The news were taking over the whole world since she is known as Carluccio.
"I cannot do that. I don't have the power or influence to order anyone to just take it down."
She started crying.
"No, no, no...."
She burst into tears like a helpless girl. She's so worried about her situation. The only important thing that matters to her now is that her nonno shouldn't know that her life's in danger.
I cannot do anything but to look at her crying and wimping. She's been through so much since her father died. Matteo is the only family she got here and that's why we're doing everything we can to protect and keep her safe. But I don't think that what we're doing is enough.
"I don't have any lead about my accident," she calmed down and talked to us.
Food was placed in the middle but she haven't touched any.
"Papa must have had a lot of enemies. And I don't know which one to point!"
"Do you remember the face of the man who stabbed you?" I asked her.
"No. Everything was black and blurry. He's wearing a mask and I only saw his eyes." She said.
"That could be a lead," Carter stated.
"Yes, Carter is right. What does his eyes look like?" I tried to be attentive.
"Foreign. Very foreign... it was greenish but dark."
Not a Filipino, for sure.
Based on her description, the man was not from here. A tall physique with foreign eyes.
"I will talk to the police. They might have do something about this. At least we can give them a lead." I offered.
She came back from being quiet and anxious. I hate to see her like this. She hasn't touched the food we ordered.
The front desk called us saying that there are some reporters at the lobby looking for Monica. We can't go out and come back to the mansion. Some may have been waiting in the parking lot also.
"How could they tail us here?" Monica questioned.
"They must have followed us earlier. We need to escape them to go back to the house." Carter.
"But how can we do that? We are being trapped here. Even if I call security, they will still invade."
We need to think of a plan to get out of here. We don't have much time.
We need to be discreet.
"How about a disguise?" Monica suggested.
We turned to her and got enlightened by her idea. She's right. We can do disguise without being that suspicious to the press.
We planned our escape for almost an hour. Carter was in charge on going to the employees locker room to get us hotel uniforms. Once her got those, Monica will be in the trash bin until we get out. Carter and I will be the housekeeper.
"You need to replace my new top, jeans and shoes for this," Monica threatened before sliding in the trash bin.
"I know. Once we got out here, I will buy you five pairs of each." I said reassuringly.
At times like this, she's still thinking about her material things. Unbelievable... but she's cute.
Carter was about to put the lid back on of the trash bin but she interrupted us again.
"Wait! How about my handbag?"
She looked at the sofa and her handbag is sitting there. She don't want that to leave behind. I sighed in frustration before walking towards it, grabbed the bag and gave it to her. She hugged it tight and slid herself in the trash bin. Carter finally put the lid back on and get ourselves ready to get out of this room.
First stop was okay. Nothing much happened. We are waiting for the elevator to go down.
We got stopped midway and the elevator door opened. I adjusted my cap and praying silently that no one will recognize me.
"We're sorry. But we're going down the basement." I heard Carter said.
"Oh it stinks!" They commented.
The elevator door closed itself.
Two more floors before we can go down the basement.
I was not wrong. The other reporters are here in the parking lot waiting for Monica to show up. They were scattered all over and attentive to their places. We cannot make any mistake. Once we screwed, everything will be for nothing.
I opened the lid of the trash bin, enough for me to peek at Monica. She's still holding her bag to her chest.
"We need to be careful. The reporters are here." I whispered to her.
"Can I get out now? It's so stinky here!" She hissed quietly.
"We will give you the signal," I closed the lid.
We got their attention but they didn't approach us since we are on disguise. Beside the elevator is the garbage shoot. We walked through there and pretended that we are throwing some trash. They turned their heads away from us and that's the time I signaled Monica to get out.
"We're leaving the cars behind?" She asked.
I cannot go back to the reception to get my key.
"I will ask other person to get it. Now, come on! Before they see us."
"Carter! They key to the other car is with you. Where is the car?"
"Are you crazy? They know the car you used going here that's why they are surrounding it hoping that you will come out! If we use that car, they will caught us."
"But I don't want to walk! I stinks! I wanted to take a bath!"
"You shouldn't be thinking of that right now! We have to get out of here first before they see us! We are just lucky that we outsmarted them but we are not yet safe, especially you."
She surrendered and just followed our plan of escape.
"Signorina, please wear this cap so it will somehow cover you face."
"Thank you, Carter. I honestly don't know what to do if you are not here."
I heard their exchange of words and it hurts me somehow. I hurriedly went to her to protect and look after her but she didn't seemed to notice it. I am always worried about her that she might get in danger again but she will always depend on Carter. Her cousin trusted me but she didn't.
This plan will not happen if it weren't for me.
"Signora! What happened to you?"
We got back to the house safe and sound. The maid saw her so they assisted her.
"The next time that Monica will be in danger, you have to inform me instantly. Do not make decisions by yourself." I gritted my teeth in anger and annoyance.
I confronted Carter.
"I do not have any option earlier. My first priority is her. And I will do everything to keep her safe and away from danger when she's with me." He rebutted.
"I am in charge of her safety and you are my employee. You will obey my command, not to make on your own." Because of my annoyance, I stepped forward to meet his eyes. We have the same tension going on between us and one wrong move, we will both explode.
"I will not wait for your orders before protecting her. Unlike you, she will always be my top priority."
He didn't say any words after that. He walked passed me and climbed the stairs until Monica's room. He stood firmly and attentively outside her door.
My mood changed again and my breathing became heavy. I went straight to the kitchen and got myself a drink, not just water but a brandy. I don't want to just quenched my thirst. I want to feel it burning inside me and hoping that it will help to wash this anger away.
Monica didn't left her room since we arrived. I stayed on the kitchen counter with my laptop while facing the stairs. She might come down, so we could talk.
"I couldn't do anything about it. This is big and this will bring scandal to the brand." Matteo face-timed me.
"She was begging to take it down because she's worried that her grandfather might see it," I sipped my glass of whiskey.
"How are we supposed to do that? Do we already have the lead on her accident?" He changes the topic, but the subject remains her.
"She told me that she saw his eyes. Do you think that's enough evidence to find her killer?" I asked him.
I consulted him since he studied the law. I told him everything that Monica said.
"That would be difficult. There might be some Filipinos having the same eyes as Monica describes the man who stabbed her. It's a small evidence and we are still far from finding the killer. We need to have stronger lead like fingerprints or eye witness. Is that all that she really saw?"
"Why would I lie?"
I heard her voice behind me and she heard our conversation. She approached me and turned his attention to my laptop.
"I am honest when I told Francis about what I saw. Do not accuse me of lying."
"I didn't say that you were lying. I just want to be precise. Maybe you saw other things to the man that could be a strong lead so we can proceed to your case."
"I already told Francis everything I know. I'm sorry if that's all I can give you." I heard sarcasm in her voice.
"Monica, you don't need to-" she pressed the red button to end the call.
"What a chatter..."
She left my side and walked away. I didn't thought of following and grabbing her elbow. She turned around to face me. Worry is still visible in her eyes.
"Have you eaten?" I asked.
"Francis, I don't have the appetite to eat or even drink. Leave me alone." She swayed my hand, letting go of her elbow.
Is she going to be this hard again?
Is she going to be distant from me again?
I already gained her attention, but now I think I'm losing it again. She changed her treatment again over me.