"Hi!"
I said with a smile.
"Hey! You know, we had a great time today."
She said before I could even ask for it, her eyes sparkled as she was jogging the memory of it.
"Yeah about that...."
I started but she interrupted me.
"Take a seat and I'll tell you about it."
She said as she excitedly arranged my chair in it's place and gestured me to sit. I did.
"I think my feelings aren't one sided for Duke. Maybe he also has some emotions for me."
She started and I felt bad for the innocent Chloe. If one was to believe Enzo then Duke wasn't capable of such emotions as Chloe exclaimed and I pity Chloe for falling for a wrong man, just like I did and I wanted to help her out before it was too late.
"How so?"
I asked. I wanted to know about the time they spent together before I could start enlightening her with truth. God, it's hard!
"He asked me for breakfast and was polite to me more than I have ever seen him be, he was being a complete gentleman..."
She spoke but was cut off by my voice.
"He is no gentleman Chloe, no one in our acquaintances is."
I told her and the happiness in her face and the excitement that shone in her eyes was gone. She was appalled by my sudden change of mood, well it was sudden for her but I had been processing this in my mind since my talk with Enzo. The words sounded harsh as they left my mouth but there was no other way, I could have said it more pleasantly.
"What are you saying, Val?"
She asked with a face filled with questions, I did not want to answer for her sake. She didn't need to know every horrific thing about the mafia men.
"He is not as good as you think him to be Chloe. He is a mafia man and being in Italy you know very well what that means."
I tried to explain to her. Mafias ruled over the country and they were very well respected... or I'd rather say, they were too petrifying for the non-mafia families. They were well aware of the consequences, they would sufder if they don't keep pace with what the mafia wants but no one was completely enlightened about all the dark sides of our world, which remain hidden in shadows, only the ones belonging to the mob knew it. They were taught about it from very childhood. There were more horrors to it than an outsider could ever imagine.
"I know Valerie, he is a made man and is loyal to his work which includes many sins. Italy is my country, I was born here and I grew with the well knowledge of mafia in our country. I have accepted the reality and now I'm not as afraid of it as I used to be. Not everyone is bad here, few are exceptions and I think Duke is too, after all Enzo is his capo, who proved there is some light in mafia world too."
She said with the optimism evident in her eyes, I desperately wanted her words to be true about Enzo and Duke, if only she knew about my conversation with Enzo today. Before that even I used to think that there was some hope but it was useless hoping for something good in this world.
"It's not possible Chloe. These men maybe good to us for their reasons because we work for them. But in reality they are mere treacherous men, whom we are ought to respect, not to fall for. Duke can never reciprocate your feeling for him."
I tried to put some sense into her about the made men but she wasn't able to decipher my words as if I was speaking some foreign language.
"What are you saying Valerie? What has changed you so much just in a night? Last night you were totally different and now... What's wrong?"
She said scanning my face as if she would find answer on it. I knew it was hard to accept the reality of this world for her, she didn't belonged here and she didn't ought to. I would make sure that she wasn't dragged in this world by some emotions which didn't keep any significance here.
"I am trying to tell you what's right for you. Trust me my intentions are for your good Chloe. You are innocent and Duke is vicious. You will have a much happier life outside this mafia world."
I told her and my intentions were genuine for her. I genuinely wished that she find a guy, who was worth her and was as good and pure soul as she was.
"I don't understand a word Valerie. I am going to work now. I'll see you at the meeting and we will talk after that, maybe by that time your words would actually be sensible."
She said and her words felt harsh, it was the first time she was talking to me like that. She didn't mean to be rude or impolite, I know, but I wished I should have stopped her from thinking about Duke at the time she told me about it. Maybe my acceptance and then sudden disapproval of their relationship, bothered her. Which was obvious.
"Chloe..."
I pleaded her with my eyes to not to consider me wrong.
"And also, Benjamin said, one of his guest will also be joining the meeting with us."
She told me ignoring my appeal to talk more, but here expressions made it clear, she was in no mood to discuss that topic further. She was back to being formal and professional, the sweet, friendly Chloe was gone for now, I guess.
"Who's the guest?"
I asked her as I arranged the files on my desk in chronological order.
"He didn't tell about that but only said to make arrangements for his extra guest too."
She said. Maybe it was someone from London, his relative or anyone who worked for him. This wasn't something to ponder much on.
"Yeah it's alright."
I told her and she left with a nod. I hated it when she was too formal.
I did every possible thing to keep me consumed in my work but the attempts were measure failures as I kept reminding myself of how Chloe was falling for someone so deep that it was nearly impossible to climb up from and even if she did it was gonna hurt. I don't want her to go down that road because I knew the consequences, I have been a victim of it. I would not give up on her just yet, actually never.
Someone knocked at the door and I saw Duke standing there. He usually never came to my office, he only guarded from outside. Which made me wonder, why was he here, did Chloe tell him everything, already?
"Come in Duke."
I obeyed and stepped in.
"So, what brings you here?"
I asked him, I wasn't angry at him, it wasn't his fault. It was no one's fault, just the circumstance were making it difficult to do right things. Duke was calm and polite to us for sure, but he was a made man and a man of honour. He would lose everything in order to protect his words and loyalty which he pledged to Enzo. Even if he wanted to be good to someone, his duties wouldn't let him be.
"Enzo said he will be late for meeting and we shouldn't wait for him and you can start meeting on his behalf."
He told and yes, he was actually here to talk about work. Chloe still hasn't uttered a word about her feelings for him and I did not want her to, either.
"Yeah, I'll handle it until he shows up."
I assured him and he left the office. I couldn't believe, Enzo promised me he would reach in time and now I would have to handle everything on his behalf until he comes, what a bummer! He should have known, I was still learning to survive mafia business and this was my first time attending a meeting and that too with a capo of another territory. And I didn't even know what all kind of topics would be discussed there. I was in no mood of making fool in front of Benjamin, now. I would have to act smartly, no matter whatever he wanted to discuss about the business.
The day passed quick after I had my lunch and I was more focused on my work after that. Maybe because of the energy I got from eating healthy. I have decided to look more on my diet and the food I consume should be healthy. That was what Enzo recommended for good health but I have never seen him have any salad by himself, yet.
I left for the conference hall, when it was time for the meeting. I was more nervous than I ever had been, but no matter what, I wouldn't let Enzo or myself down. I took a deep sigh and entered the hall.