APATHETIC (Mafia and Roses - # 2)

Chapter 3

Kiki’s Pov.

Nolan adjusts in his seat as I sit on my bed and take of my reading glasses. My eyes shifts towards the opened door and my most trusted female, who has been a mother figure in the last few years and housekeeper announces her entrance before walking in.

“Your boss had his driver drop this bag for you. He said it is a bonus and it is what you should wear to the meeting with is Mom this weekend.” She says and drop the shopping bag on the tiled floor next to my bed.

“Thanks, Lady Tee.” I reply and she waves to Nolan who reciprocates before walking out.

“So now, do we get to talk about you and Colton getting engaged without telling me anything?” Colton asks and I sigh.

“You think I would ever engage or fall in love with any man again after Alejandro?” I ask and he shakes his head.

“I thought you wouldn’t.” He replies.

“You shouldn’t think, you should be sure. Whatever is on the newspapers or said in the news about I and Colton is a false rumor set up Colton’s mother schemed in other to get her son married before she retires from rapping.” I tell him and he adjusts in his seat.

“She even backed up the false engagement news with the pictures of you and Colton during events you had to accompany him as his secretary. The only surprising stuff is that you didn’t object or try to stop the rumor, after all it is false.” He says and I shift my position on the bed.

“I and Colton talked about it later. He promised to prolong the engagement till his mom retires and hand over her label and music industry to him. Also I wouldn’t want to break his mom’s heart plus it is a bonus on my part, I will stop getting flirt messages from guys and I will be getting enough money to do what I want to do.” I answer and he smiles.

“So you two will act until his mom hands over the music industry to him.” He says.

“That’s right.” I reply.

“His mom will still feel heartbroken, she might hate you after words and you two might end up falling in love with each other and decide to marry for real. Anything can happen. The fact that you two are acting to be engaged for now will force you two into spending time with each other even if it is for the clouts.” He says and I shake my head.

That’s not happening. Just because it is possible doesn’t mean it will happen. A man is a man…. Alejandro was someone I thought I would spend the rest of my life with happy…

“Colton isn’t interested in falling in love according to him and I, you know my story. About his mom hating me, if he can give his mom a very good explanation as to why we are to separate she wouldn’t hate me and if she hates me even after a good explanation then a single hate won’t hurt.” I reply as I fiddle with my nails.

“Even if a man wasn’t interested in falling in love with you, seeing you alone already attracts men…”

“Not because they have falling in love with me at first sight, it is because they were and are trying to get between legs.” I reply, cutting him off and he smiles.

“Right, but what if you do not fall in love and he does? What if he doesn’t let you go after your pretense engagement?” He asks and I sigh.

“He would do no such thing. He wouldn’t blackmail me, not after helping in more than any of his past secretaries.” I reply with confidence and he gives me a toothy grin.

“I forgot that no one can win an argument with you, you always win. Always. About Alejandro, if you two happen to ever see each other again. What do you think will happen?” He asks and I raise my head.

“I don’t know to be very honest, but it’s been five years and we have brought grown. If we ever get the chance to meet again, it will just be a normal greeting and we will go our separate ways.” I reply with a shrug.

“What if he hasn’t gotten over you yet?” He asks.

“You and your what if questions. He sure has gotten over me. I mean it has been five years, Alejandro isn’t someone who would stay celibate for years with hopes that one day the woman he loved will return to him. He moved on already, he is with Lucy once more the way his mom wanted.” I answer.

“You sound pained. Somewhere in your heart, do you want him to still wait for you? Do you think you two can reunite?” He asks.

“I don’t know. Can we step out for a while? I want to eat out, maybe burger or something.” I reply and change the topic of the discussion.

“Something. you and I both know how much I detest burgers.” He replies and stand up at the same time with me.

“Right.” I say as we both walk out of my room.

We walk out together as he cracks a silly joke and Lady Tee see us off, as she usually does whenever I am stepping out. Lady Tee is also one of the two people I have told everything from five years ago.

“We shouldn’t forget the part that this burger could have been delivered at our doorstep, but we chose to go there ourselves. It is your turn to drive, I drove the last time remember?” He asks and I grin as he gives me the key over the car’s bonnet.

Driving to the burger shop is quite short as it is not too far from my place. As soon as I stop the car and unbuckle my seatbelt to get off, Nolan grabs my right wrist/

“What’s wrong?” I ask as I look at him and he signals with his head.

Looking at my side, I see Colton’s fan girls surrounding my car.

“I didn’t sign up for this, Colton promised to keep the press and fans off me. How did they find out I will be here?” I ask.

“I have no idea.” He replies and get off the car first.

Some of the ladies run towards him and I can see some of them being dramatic about how hot Nolan is.

“She won’t be answering any of your questions.” I hear Nolan say and I open the door to step out.

Some of them move over to my side and before I can get off I feel wetness on my dress as one of them throws an egg at me.

Am I in a Korean drama?

Before I can move my hand to get a small towel to clean it of they throw another and continue like that until the egg’s shell cuts the skin of right arm. Blood ooze out the cut which now stings me and Nolan shouts, but his voice seems unheard as the ladies begin to call me what I am not.

“Gold-digger!” They chant and Nolan turns over to my side.

“Get off and sit at the passengers’ seat, I will drive.” I hear him say as my eyes begins to sting more than cut.

“Let me talk to them.” I say.

“No!, I have called the police. They are harassing you.” He replies and when I remain still he pulls me out with my left hand and help me sit at the back seat.

He shuts the door and move to sit at the driver’s seat. As soon as he drives away from them, he stops the car and drum with his fingers on the steering repeatedly.

“Cry now if you want to cry, don’t hold it back. I will make sure Colton pays for this! Who does he think he is? Is it a must you work for Colton? Whether or not he loses his mom’s industry is none of your business. If you really enjoy working as the secretary of a rock star, fine! I will look for another rock star who is willing employ you as his secretary.” Nolan shouts and I wipe the stupid tears rolling down my face.

“This isn’t Colton’s fault. He didn’t know, I know. There must be someone watching me and that’s why they knew I will be at the burger store. The only question I am asking now is do they go around with eggs in their bags?”

“You are not trying to lighten the mood now, are you? Look at your arm, look at your dress and hair. You are still soft in the way you do not want. You are not Colton’s savior. Just few minutes ago, he wasn’t the one they called a gold-digger and throw eggs at. You can’t save everyone you are not some superhero, fight for yourself. I am sorry.” He says and I shut my eyes.

Alejandro’s POV.

I sit next to Bianca who seems to be busy with her phone as Joe and Lucy are talking. Bianca raises her head and I look at her.

“They are hurting Kiki.” She says and Mike walks towards her.

He takes the phone from her and I stand up.

“Let me see, Mike.” I hiss.

“No, forget Kiki already. You are now with Lucy.” Joe says.

“Let him see.” Lucy replies and I take the phone from Mike.

The video of some ladies throwing eggs at Kiki is displayed on the screen and I ball my free hand into a fist.

“Unclench that hand Alejandro, she has moved on and she will be fine on her own. She doesn’t want to have anything to do with us or you. After you burnt the newspapers and all her pictures, I thought you have finally moved on but what’s all this?” Joe asks.

“She doesn’t look happy still. She doesn’t have the type of happy smile she had when she was with me.” I reply.

“That’s because she is being harassed with eggs, do you expect her to be smiling?” Bianca asks as she jerks her phone from my hand.

“You all can’t blame him, he still loves her and I am okay with it.” Lucy says.

“You can’t be okay with it he destroying himself because of a lady who has moved on. What does he want to do about the video? Travel all the way to France because he wants to fight for someone who doesn’t even want to see him?” Joe shouts.

“Bianca and Mike, please take Joe in.” Lucy says as she moves to touch my arm.

“I am not going anywhere! I will knock some sense into his thick skull today.  What does he think he is doing? The last time he saw the newspapers, he almost killed himself. Now, he is clenching his fingers like someone who wants to fight. Does he want to go and fight for Kiki who doesn’t even want to see him. Should  I remind him of the night he went to Kiki’s hostel room in France a year after she left us? She didn’t bother to show her face, but she was in. Her roommate told him she was in.”

“That’s enough Joe. You have repeated her not wanting to see us or have anything to do with us enough. I need some minutes with Alejandro, Mike drag Joe out of here.” Lucy replies.

“There is no need to drag me out, I am leaving!” Joe shouts and Mike follows behind him.

“Can we talk?” Lucy asks as Bianca walks away.

“Yes.” I reply and sit.

“I am not willing to be your wife. I do not deserve to be with you after everything I have done to you in the past, but let me heal you. Let me help you heal from the pain you feel in your heart.” She says as he sits too.

“You can’t help me.” I reply.

“What if I can?” She asks.

“You can’t.” I reply.

“I can. I am not trying to take Kiki’s place in your heart. I am not asking you for more. Your mom wants you to be okay just as you were before you knew Kiki.”  She says.

“How do you want to start?” I ask.

“Let’s start with you becoming a lecturer again.” She answers and I stare blankly at her.

“No.” I reply.

“Yes, Alejandro. Yes.”

“I do not need you to heal. Let’s continue acting for the company as couples. This discussion is over!” I shout and stand up.

Lucy’s POV.

As soon as Alejandro walks away, I move for his mom’s room. Stepping in, she stands up and make fast strides towards me as soon as she sights me. Her next move should be avoided as I kind of saw it coming, but it is too late as her palm collides with my right cheek harshly.

“You had just one simple task, get Alejandro to love you and take his heart off that Kiki woman I never liked. Is it until Alejandro goes crawling to her or when she returns that you will try to eject her from Alejandro’s life again? This task is simple, get Alejandro to be on your side. Let him be fond of you, seduce him, make him yours and have a third person created by you two so that woman never comes back. I like you so much more than I would ever like my daughter if I had one and i want you to…”

“Aunt Erica, you shouldn’t hit me yet. It’s been barely a week since Alejandro let me return into his life. It takes processes and I would appreciate if you refrained from hitting me because it brings back my ugly past.” I reply, cutting her off from her long speech as I rub the soreness I feel from the slap.

I would rather keep the part that Alejandro had me sign a contract before agreeing to let me be his wife, a contract wife.

“Moreover, you do not have to worry over your son crawling back to the woman who almost had his child five years ago. Even the one who was on her side big time five years ago now has his back turned to her totally and you know. Joe doesn’t even want to hear Alejandro talk about her and Alejandro is slowly hating her, I am making sure of it. The only problem we have now is Bianca. Bianca is useful, but I still do not think she likes me. Every opportunity she gets to tell Alejandro about the current movements in Kiki’s life, she uses the opportunity so well and that isn’t helping Alejandro move on.” I tell her and she clenches her both hands together as she raises her head.

She turns her back to me and walk away from me slowly as she seem to be in deep thoughts.

“My house, which is also my home shouldn’t be a family and friends home. I can’t have my son leave my house now, I am getting older over the years and I don’t have a grandchild yet. I still want my son to be with me even when he is married to you. I will have Mike and Bianca leave my house soon enough.” She says as she rests her palms on her bed.

A small smile creeps its way to my face, but it is quick to fade away as she turns to face me again.

“If I send Bianca and Mike off, I will be on both Sofia and Phoebe’s bad side and that’s the least thing I want right now.” She says, but it more for herself than for me.

“How about you buy an apartment very close and ask them to move in? That way, you would be seen as a good person by both your son and everyone for helping their relationship and you would also be helping your son get rid of Bianca who constantly reminds him not to forget that woman who broke his heart and couldn’t understand him years ago.” I suggest and a bright smile creeps its way to her lips.

“Brilliant! Extreme brilliance.” She compliments me and I smile.

“Thank you Aunt Erica.” I reply and she moves to hug me.

Smirking, I return her hug as a feeling of satisfaction fills me.

“That is why you fit to become the next mafia Godmother. You are brilliant enough, a child from you two deserves to be the heir to our companies and the mafia. Work towards it Lucy, you are a woman. Use your female power, Alejandro will succumb. Just as Kiki moved on so loud that her engagement in France spread all the way here to Italy till my son almost killed himself,  I will also make sure you two get married legally and also make it loud until she is also affected and broken by it just like the way my son was broken till the point my husband had a slip of tongue telling the press that he just escaped a near death experience. “ She says  as she breaks our hug.

“Alejandro is a pure soul, faith and luck is always on his side. Heavens decided to punish her for being the gold-digger she has always been. Her engagement to the rock star, Colton Felton. Remains a shock to his fans and they harassed her with eggs. You need to see the video, it is all over social media right now.  Her body and car felt what it is like to be hit with shells, it was hilarious but Alejandro still felt it so much as he watched it. He had the expression of someone eager to save a person from harm and that left me so worried. It made me think I do not have a chance with him, but I swear to myself that I will make Alejandro want me more than he ever did Kiki.” I say assuredly as I turn my back to Erica and her feel her palm pat my shoulders.