"Deanna Vasquez", Mauricio said.
Guilio felt a splash of cold water to his busy conscience. He felt numbed. "But you keep women and children out of your way, no matter what. Am I right?" He glanced nervously around at all the people around him who were equally stunned. Mauricio did not harm women and children. Everybody knew it. "This is no option, Mauricio. I trust you. You can do it. Just take your time and think of something else."
But Mauricio was no longer present to heed Guilio's advice. With well-versed agility he jumped from the terrace and landed on the back of a vehicle that he had seen approaching.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deanna woke up to complete silence. The previous commotion of the party preparation had completely died out. She checked her phone for the time. Nobody had tried to wake her to get ready for the party and it was already past 10 in the night. He did not come! As much as Deanna wanted to deny, in some deserted corner of her heart she still wished her father to return for her birthday. She was disappointed. Walking over to the balcony of her room, she pulled the sliding doors apart to let the cold night air to filter in. Sheets of fog were floating in the air obscuring the view she had enjoyed that evening, yet the lights were still bright in the distance. She had an idea. Pulling on a pair of jeans, a hooded sweatshirt and a jacket, Deanna snuck her way out of her room and then hopped down the stairs to make her way out of the mansion. Even though none of the servants who were earlier preparing for the party were nowhere to be seen, she tried to be careful. If anybody sees me I am never going to make it out of here.
When she reached the bottom of the winding staircase, the view of the hall stunned her. The hall, big enough to house a couple thousand men, was beautifully decorated in white and gold. But the deserted look of it, the cake, the presents – it pinched her heart. Anger flooded inside her. Why did he even bother to ask Reece and others to make such arrangements when he was not going to make it! She was about to step away to go on her planned rendezvous when all the lights went out. Deanna fiddled in her tiny backpack, that she had managed to stuff with bare essentials, for her phone. But she never managed to take it out. There was Happy Birthday music playing subtly from the center of the room. The huge chandelier hanging from the ceiling illuminated the piano beneath and Bertin, her driver, played the song with practiced perfection. Gradually the hall got lighted with party lights. The servants in the house appeared from the corners, clapping and singing to the tune. And from opposite end of the hall from where Deanna stood, Reece entered – a tray in her hand. It appeared to be a hand-baked cake – Deanna's favorite. Candles in the shapes of 2 and 1 were burning away on top of it. Deanna could not help but smile. She cried for all the love they were showering.
"The food is very tasty!" she gobbled everything that she was served even when she was close to bursting. She was not hungry for food as she was for love. All the people in the house, despite the difference in their social stature were made to seat at the huge dinning table of Vasquez mansion and Deanna made sure everyone was content with the party servings. Once she was satisfied that everyone else was satisfied as well, Deanna picked her backpack from where she had left and began to make her way out of the place.
"Child ….. stop!..... stop!" Reece ran after her. Deanne stopped in her tracks; a questioning look on her face.
"What now, Reece?"
"Where are you going at this hour?" Reece sounded concerned.
"Well, there is more to the night. I want to celebrate outside."
"Let me get Bertin for you."
Deanne did not keep standing to allow Reece the time to call for Bertin. "But it is not safe outside, dear. Please listen to me!" Reece kept calling after her while barely trying to keep up with Deanna with her bulky body.
"And it is like that because of whom?....... for people like my father, isn't it?" Deanne stopped in her tracks and stood facing Reece. Reece's features softened. She knew the child was hurting inside. She was being rebellious to get everybody's attention.
"Your father loves you dear!" she touched Deanne's face with motherly affection.
"Ask him to find me, if he loves me." Deanne did not wait any second further and ran her way out of the gates of the mansion and kept running until she had reached a good distance away from it. The cold air was drumming against her ears and her tears were frozen on her cheeks. She felt miserable for troubling Reece with her behavior. But she knew she had to get out of there for her own self. She called for a cab unaware of the shadow figure following her from outside the mansion gates.
"Where to ma'am?" the driver enquired.
"The Central city, any pub that might be open at this hour."
"I can take you to central city, but if you could be more specific about the pub. I think most will be preparing to close by this time."
Deanne was getting disappointed from the reply of the driver. She tried to check her phone for places to visit so that she did not come out as the new girl in the city who was easy to take advantage of.
"The Barrington Bistro. It's a good, decent place. We can go there." Hearing a man's voice Deanne turned around. A man in grey business suit stood behind her with his hands in his pockets. He had a serious air about him. She raised her eyebrows questioningly. "Uh… actually my car broke some way back there." He said pointing towards west of where they were standing, "I called a cab, but it is going to take a while. I work at The Barrington Bistro and have to get there really quick. I thought you wouldn't mind if we hitched." Deanne heard to the man speak. She did not feel anything suspicious about him, her alarms didn't go off. After some convincing from the driver's end as well, Deanne agreed and off they went together.
"Mauricio", the man said.
"Hmm?"
"I am Mauricio. You are?"
"Deanna" she shook hands with him.
Mauricio smiled.