Angelo
THREE MONTHS LATER
The past couple of months have been the hardest. I've tried to sleep,
but everything that happened; the week I did the unthinkable keeps
coming back to haunt me, and to make matters worse I miss Cleo and
she still doesn't want to see me . The week she gave birth our babies
were put in NICU I had to wait a while before I could see them but
I eventually got to see them . Our babies are Pisces twins born on the
16TH of March. Pio looked like Cleo and Pia looked like me. both
babies had the upper lip beauty spot; which surprisingly Cleo and
I had too . We still don't know what happened to Rachel but both my
parents moved to the lake house , leaving me with Giovanni who misses
Cleo more than I do but he still manages to call her using my phone
and they talk for hours but he gets to have weekly dinners with her
too and I'm not invited . Nicolai drives him. Paul and I are in
talking terms and we both
are back to being best friends . I also went back to work at Massa as
CEO. Cleo is still heading up the communications division. I still
don't get to see her because her deputy attends the status meetings
and he reads off her notes because she emails them to me the day
before the meeting.
I have Cleo on all three social media platforms . I need to keep track
of her whereabouts and what she's up to . Her mother is raising Pio
and Pia. I get to see them whenever I want because she still loves me
like his son. Cleo has kept the night I acted out of character quiet
and to herself. My mother has apologized to Cleo numerous times for
what she did but she still keeps her distance. My mom also gets a
chance to take care of the twins they alternate monthly . I had
another late meeting and Gio was at a sleep over; so that meant I
would go home to an empty house. I didn't have to deal with "Club "
politics; Carlo had things under control . When I made it downstairs
to the parking bay I saw Cleo's car, and I decided to go back
upstairs to go see her . There was no one in the building and the
thought of Cleo being all alone didn't sit well with me at all. I love
her , I'm still in love with her , I've sent her roses and orchards
every day with a message . Today I sent her deep red short stem
roses in a vase with a note saying that I'm thinking of her and the
babies . As soon as she got the delivery like clockwork she sent me a
text saying ; thank you , that she appreciates the thought and the
flowers . Today I also sent her a box of Swiss Chocolate caramel
and salt flavored. Every time she says thank you ,I text back asking
her how she's feeling and she always says she's fine and asks me
the same question ... Every time I type a paragraph pouring my heart out
telling her how sorry I am and how much I need her , I end up
deleting the paragraph saying; fine thank you have a good day.
When I walked in the office; Susan was walking out . When she saw
me she smiled and waved at me she gave me a wide eye look and took
out her phone pretending to make a call to someone important .
I walked straight to Cleo's office and her Shutters were partially
open. When I opened the door she didn't look up but spoke .
"Sue I said you can go home angel. I will be fine . I have the
weekend off anyway and the twins are at Rosa's .Since you're not
responding ... I will eat something and don't say I am too skinny ."
Why isn't Cleo eating ? I am going to give Sam a piece of my mind and
we both have the weekend off for the first time in a long time without
the twins and Gio around maybe we can focus on us . I smiled at Cleo
but she didn't look up from her notebook so I spoke;
" Well Miss Kwena Sue went home and we are the only ones left in
the building . where is your assistant?"
" He took an early day ."
Cleo looked up and I noticed she looked like she did when she
worked as Ruth's assistant.
Walking over to her shelf full of flowers I couldn't help but smile .
" I love your arrangement of flowers . You must have someone
seriously stalking you to have so many roses and orchids ."
' He won't stop sending them and It's been going on for the past
three months . The red bunch he sent today confused me ,but I liked
the pink and white tulips ."
"Did you at least thank this irritating man?"
" I always thank him but I get the feeling he's not being honest with me."
Cleo closed her note book and I sat on the couch so that I can see her face .
" Really?"
" yep he is constantly stalking ,me on all my social media platforms
and liking every post ."
Cleo slid her notebook in her bag and started packing up her desk .
I guess some things never change .
" So you know this admirer?"
" yes . He's the father of our twins ."
I looked up and locked eyes with Cleo . I promised myself I wouldn't
cry and I held my teats back and pinched the bridge of my nose . She
walked from behind her desk with her bag and car keys
" Why haven't you blocked him ?"
Cleo sat at the other end of the couch with her legs tucked to the
side looking at me.
" I don't know. Maybe he had more to say than ;" I'm fine have a great day"."
I moved closer to Cleo and she didn't move back. She was wearing
black skinny jeans ,white sneakers and a rose pink v neck long sleeve
top . She looked at me calmly which was a relief.
" He isn't fine Cleo. He misses you like crazy . He has never stopped
loving you and the kids. He needs you. He wanted to tell you that he
was drugged when he acted out of character . He's asking for one
more try to fix the mess he made and forgiveness. He's far from fine
and wants to just spend time getting to know you again and ask you out
for dinner ... I'm pretending to cope and I'm barely hanging on. I
didn't relapse . I'm so sorry I hurt you .
Cleo winced and looked at me with sad eyes I couldn't hold back
the tears and I started crying. I couldn't let her see me like this so
I stood up and made my way to the door to walk out when I turned
around to say goodbye felt Cleo's arms on my waist and I hugged her
back tighter. When she let go I let go too trying not to push too
hard she might run. She stepped back and looked at me .
" I forgave you on the Friday our babies were born before the ICH. I
love you too and I miss you more. "
I leaned down to kiss Cleo and she kissed me back and pulled away ,
she then retrieved her bag and walked out .
I stood by the threshold of the door and I must have looked confused
because Cleo turned around and giggle.
"Is that it Cleo ?"
" No . "
She walked out the office and I followed her to the elevator waiting
for her to say something .
'' I asked you to go out to dinner with me and you haven't replied. I
will get down on my knees if I have to and security will think other
things ... "
Cleo looked at me and laughed . I gave her a peck on the cheek. I was
so happy to see her smiling . She looked adorable with her curly
short hair and glasses.
" hmm."
I slid my hands around Cleo's waist and I whispered in her ear
" Even though I prefer you all curvy ; you still look beautiful."
" you are being charming ."
" I'm only trying to get you to say yes ."
The elevator bell rang and we both walked in . The doors closed and
the lift started its decent.
" Cleo?"
"Angelo?"
" I miss being called Blue. "
"Angelo?"
" Fine . Can I at least cook dinner for you at the house ?"
Cleo shook her head and froze
" No . I can't Angelo. Anywhere but the Villa ."
Cleo said it in a shaky voice and I knew she was scared and I was
afraid to scare her again. I gave her a hug and a kiss on her temple.
" I'm so sorry Bella .The penthouse?"
Cleo nodded.
When the doors opened Cleo walked to her Jeep
" I will follow you."
" promise Bella? "
" I promise."
As soon as we drove out Cleo followed . The Club was thirty
minutes away. I kept checking if she was behind me and she was . She
caught me looking on the rearview mirror and she flashed her lights
at me.
I called her using the voice function and she answered
" stop flashing in public."
" Angelo I am not flashing in public, I am flashing at you."
" No you are not I don't even know what color..."
" Behave Massa ."
" No Cleo. It has been a while "
" Three months ."
We turned into the Club's street and I saw the blue brigade. Oh my
goodness why now? Why today out of all days and it is still early nine
is early what the hell is going on?
"what the hell?"
" Angelo why are the Cops outside the Club?"
" I don't know Bella but please stay close to me okay?"
" I will."
When we parked at the basement I walked out and waited for Cleo and we
both went upstairs to the main level and there were more cops . Paul
and Carlo were missing and Nicolai and Nico were covered in blood . Oh
hell this can't be happening... A policeman held up his hand but
Nicolai nodded and they let Cleo and I through the red and white
tape.
"What's going on ?"
"sir is this your club."
The policeman asked looking at me all serious meaning something went
down and it wasn't good . I knew the look all too well .
" yes. Why."
" There was gang related incident that resulted in the death of three
people and two injuries. How long has your club facilitated narcotic
deliveries for?"
My phone started to ring and I saw Paul's name and gave it to Cleo
and nodded . She knew that I trusted her enough .
" I have never allowed such criminal activities to take place and I'm
a recovering addict . Can we go up to my office ."
The man nodded and I looked at Nicolai .He pulled the thumbs up sign
. Cleo was still on the phone and when she hung up she didn't give my
phone back to me . She just gave me disappointed look and pointed up
stairs.
I Spent the next two hours going through security footage that made it
look like the other gang just attacked innocent people; and the guys
fought them off and killed in self defense . An hour later I was done
, I talked to Nicolai and headed straight up to the Penthouse . When
I walked in Cleo was on the couch sleeping and her phone was next to
mine on the kitchen counter . It was cloudy when we drove in but it
quickly started raining .I sat down next to Cleo after taking off my
jacket and shirt and gently woke her up . She opened her eyes for a
couple of seconds and she hit lights out on my shoulder. All I wanted
was her and her alone .
For the first time in a long time I drifted peacefully to sleep.
©#KCMmuoe