MEET YOU AGAIN, MY MAFIA

I WANT TO CLAIM YOU!!!

FIORELLA BIANCHI

I was taking a bath with my son when someone decided to interrupt our bath session, forcing me to get out of the bathtub and just wear my bathrobe without even drying up my body first and I rush to answer the door.

Before I open the door, I ask:

“Who is it?”

“Babe, it is me! Open up,” Violeta excitedly shouts from outside.

Without hesitation, I open the door while I mumble something in my mouth about Violeta. Nothing bad, just how she always sound happy to come to my apartment. If I were to count how much she spends time here, I would say more than she spends time with her husband.

“You really can’t go a day without coming to my apartment, can you? You should just get your thing and permanently move in with me because-“ As soon as I open the door, I could not finish my words as I look at the two humans standing on my doorstep. What is happening here?

“Marcus, Violeta?” Sheepishly, I call out their names.

“Hey girl, what is up?” Violeta walks into my apartment, pushing me aside.

Of course, this is her second home. She does as she pleases.

“Fiorella, hi. Uhm…” Marcus tries to say something, but he probably does not know what to say either.

I smile at him, stepping aside to let him come inside and I close the door.

“Uhm, I was in the middle of a bath, so I am going to finish up quickly. Violeta, please serve Marcus something to drink,” I say.

While Marcus is not looking, I signal Violeta that I am going to kill her. I then disappeared back to the bathroom to get my son out of the water. We go to my bedroom where Violeta soon followed in, closing the door behind her. I just could not wait to attack her for bringing someone I did not expect.

“What the hell, Violeta? For what did you bring Marcus here for?” I furiously ask her.

Marcus is Violeta’s husband’s friend. He once tried courting me, but I rejected him because I was not ready to let someone into my space. I still am not ready to start dating again. The last time I saw him was a year ago.

“It is no harm, babes. Carlos and I thought we could join you for dinner today, so when Marcus arrived at our apartment, we were already on our way to you so we could not change our plans but tag him along with us. Carlos will be here soon with some snacks and drinks,”

“Violeta, it is a weekday, and my son has to wake up earlier than usual tomorrow for day-care because I have to use a taxi to get him there as my car is still getting fixed, and I have work. I am not in the mood for all of this,”

“I am sorry, do you want us to leave then?” I sigh, thinking about it.

“You are already here. Anyway, you will not believe what happened today. I bumped into Gabriele at The Pizza Hut. He was flirting with me, can you believe it,” I squeal, excitedly.

“What? Oh my God, tell me more. Did he hit on you?” Her face beams like a teenager who is about to get her virginity broken.

“His girlfriend came. Thinking about her makes my body cringe. She was so mean and because of that, she got dumped,”

Yeah, I saw the breakup when it happened. After collecting my order, I exited the restaurant only to find the couple arguing, but I hid in the crowd that was watching them, while some were taking videos. I heard everything that was said, and what stood out for me most was when Gabriele said to his girlfriend — I mean EX-girlfriend: “Never did I ever think that you are the type of woman that would bring down another woman’s self-esteem. Because of what, jealousy? I am so disgusted by you right now and so disappointed”. He really pointed out the importance rather than her jealousy.

As I spill the tea to Violeta, I put lotion on Massimo’s body and get him into his pyjamas before I also moisturise my body with my Cherry Blossom body cream and slip into a long body-hugging dress and slippers.

“Wow, that was tense. So, he was flirting with you while his girlfriend was in the same room… wow, he is a f**k boy, but irresistible too. I would not mind if you get your heart broken by him. He has got the looks and money and he is every girl’s dream husband, babe. If he asks you out, do not turn him down,”

We hear voices in the lounge, and I assume Carlos is here.

“That must be Carlos. Get done and I will see you now,” Violeta says, leaving with Massimo.

“Can you please warm some Pizza for Massimo? The one that is flavoured with bacon and avocado toppings. He likes it,” This used to be his father's favourite pizza topping, and when I first bought it for Massimo, I thought he would not like it because I also never liked avocado in my pizza, but because of Benjamin, I ended up getting used to it and loving it, so did my son.

“Got that!”

I comb my hair and wrap a bandana around my head. Lastly, I apply the vitamin C serum to my face to hydrate it, and I make sure that I leave the room and the bathroom neat and clean in case the guests want to use it.

When I get to the lounge, I am shocked to find Marcus sitting alone, drinking beer.

“Marcus, why are you alone? Where are they, and where is my son?” I ask, still deciding whether to sit down or just keep standing. Gosh, this is my apartment, I should not feel uncomfortable as I am feeling right now.

“Carl received a call from some maintenance guy who is supposed to fix something in their apartment, so they left with your child,”

Shit. No maintenance guy is here to fix anything at 7:30 PM. Violeta has set me up with Marcus and this was entirely her plan. I am going to kill her, I swear!

“Oh. Uhm, did you at least see if my son ate or not?”

“No, but I did see them leave with Pizza, so I am assuming that was for him,”

“Alright. Well, I did not cook today, I hope you do not mind some pizza?” I really hope that he decides to leave instead.

“I would love some pizza,”

Oh, great! I make my way to the kitchen to warm up some chicken and Mushroom flavoured pizza and put it on two separate plates for him and myself before I walk back to the lounge and hand him the plate.

“Grazie,” (Thank you.) He says. “So, how have you been, signora?”

“I have been doing well, thanks for asking. How about you?” I return the question to him.

“Well, I have been pushing, working on my brand that has been taking so much of my personal time, but things are settling now, and I would probably also get a chance to relax,”

“That is wonderful,”

“I guess. The last time we met, you mentioned that you were a writer, right? How is that coming for you?”

Oh, he remembers. I did not expect that, but I appreciate his effort.

“Yes, I am a romance writer. It is going so well, and I am very comfortable in it,”

“That is good,”

We both get quiet, and it gets so awkward because we both do not know what to say to each other, so we are staring at the silent TV while we listen to our chewing mouths.

“Uhm, Fiorella,” He breaks the silence, and I am deeply praying that he tells me that he is leaving. I am feeling suffocated by his presence; Oh, God. Help me.

“Yes, Marcus?”

He clears his throat and turns his face to me.

“I would like to take you out on a date if you do not mind?” He asks, staring into my eyes.

My heart beats out of my chest uncomfortably. Marcus is a handsome businessman and would make all girl’s knees go weak, but I don’t get that from him; he does not give me that.

But how are you going to get that if you don’t want to give the man a chance, Fiorella!?

The voice in the back of my head yells.

Maybe it is right. I have been too tied to Benjamin whose corpse had rotten many years ago. Maybe it is time that I move on because he is not coming back. I know that he would also want what is best for me. He would want me to move on and be happy. Marcus is a nice guy and I think he will make me happy if I give him a chance. But I am going to take things slow with him in case I get cold feet.

“I would love that,” I answer, giving him a shock. He did not expect me to say that now, did he?

“What? Really?” He gives me a nervous smile.

“Yes, really,” I laugh.

We are now comfortable with each other, and we start talking about random things and he tells me about his day. He looked at the time on his watch and it is almost 9 PM.

“I should get going, it is getting late,” I could not agree more with that! I could not wait for this part to come, and now that it is here, I am the first to get up.

He stands up after me and takes his phone and car keys from the table.

“Thank you for the hospitality, and I enjoyed spending some time with you,” He says, opening his arms for a hug. I gladly hug him and inhale his scent. I still do not get the spark from him.

Did my feelings die with Benjamin? I have not been with any man besides him, and I won’t lie, I feel so lonely, and I always wish to have someone to take care of me sometimes, but it is just so hard.

“I had a great time too,” I say.

I walk him to the door and open it for him.

“I will call you,” He says.

“Okay,” Does he have my number?

After he leaves, I close the door and heave a deep sigh. Before I could even walk away from the door, someone knocks, and I assume it would be Marcus.

“Did you forget some-“ Just as I open, a different face is standing on my doorstep, not looking pleased.

“You are letting losers into your apartment now?” He asks, walking into my apartment without my permission, and I find myself walking backwards and watch him charge towards me after pushing the door closed.

“Gabriele, what are you doing; what do you want?” I ask, feeling very scared. Why does he look so angry?

“Finishing what we started at the Pizza Hut, signorina. Do not be scared,”

“You are making me scared,” My tears start rolling out of my eyes.

“But why? I am not here to hurt you; in fact, I was here for some serious matter, but seeing that loser walking out of here makes me want to just claim you right now. Why are men coming in and out of your apartment?"

I gasp, shaking my head.

My ass gets bumped on the kitchen counter, and Gabriele takes the opportunity to hoist me up and perch me on the counter. I scream, but he covers my mouth with his hand. My tears are constantly dropping out of my eyes and I try to break free from him, but he does not let me go.

“Principessa, look at me,” He orders, firmly. I look at him nervously and he let out a crook smile. “Do not scream. You might give your neighbours the wrong idea,”

He slowly removed his hand from my mouth. I open my mouth to scream, but before I know it, his lips are on mine, and his hands are on my waist.

I freeze in shock, but that end so quickly when I hear the door shutting and my eyes shoot straight to the door.