The Mafia Boss' Heart

CHAPTER 14

HAZE was stunned when Nicolo walked in front of her. As he walked in front of her, he put a cup of coffee on her table and smiled. “Morning.” Nicolo greeted her. Nginitian pa siya ng binata.

Nasundan na lamang ni Haze ng tingin si Nicolo saka siya napatingin sa kape na inilagay nito sa lamesa niya. Napatingin siya sa mga kasamahan sa loob ng department nila at may nanunudyong ngiti ang mga ito sa kaniya.

Haze could only facepalm. Then she received a text message from Janine.

‘OMG! I saw it, Haze. Nicolo’s smile was so handsome!’

Haze frowned then replied, ‘If you want him then date him.’

Janine replied. ‘Kung pwede lang sana. Kaya lang ayaw kong makisawsaw sa relasyon ng iba.’

‘Bakit naman hindi? You’re single.’

Habang nagpapadala ng mensahe si Haze kay Janine, nakaramdam siya ng inis. Hindi niya alam kung bakit siya biglang nainis. She sighed and turn off her phone.

Sinilip naman ni Janine ang kaibigan at nakita niyang hindi na maganda ang mood ni Haze. She chuckled and started her work.

May gigil na kinuha ni Haze ang kape saka tinanggal ang takip nito. Bigla siyang natigilan nang mailapit niya ang kape sa kaniyang bibig. She doesn’t take food or even drinks from other people especially man. Pero pagdating kay Nicolo, kusa na lamang na gumagalaw ang katawan niya. Napabuga siya ng hangin saka tinakpan ang kape at inilapag sa kaniyang lamesa.

“Haze, you have to sign this,” Jade said as he opened the folder and gave it to Haze. Then he looked at the cup of coffee on Haze’s table. He saw that the Assistant CFO gave it to Haze. It seems that Haze didn’t refuse it. Unlike him, the things he wanted to give Haze, she refused it all.

Haze signed the papers before giving them back to Jade.

“Are you and the Assistant CFO dating?” Jade asked. “That’s why you’ve been refusing me?” he added.

Haze frowned and she looked at Jade. “You have no right to ask me and I am not obliged to answer you, Mr. Perez.” She calmly replied and returned to her work.

Kumuyom ang kamay ni Jade saka galit na bumalik sa kaniyang upuan. You can only be mine, Haze.

Unbeknownst to Jade, the Assistant CFO was glaring at him. Nicolo saw how Jade looked at Haze. Working at the Romero’s Company for almost a week now, he had heard many rumors about Haze and Jade in their department. But those are nonsense rumors. He still trusted the character of Haze he knew.

Nagpatuloy si Nicolo sa trabaho. Then he received a call from Alonzo. He connected the call to his wireless earphone and spoke to Alonzo. “What is it?” he asked.

“Young Master, how are you?”

Nicolo clicked his tongue in annoyance. “Alonzo, if you don’t have anything serious to say, I’ll hang up.”

“Wait, Young Master! Don’t hang up!” Pigil ni Alonzo.

Nailayo ni Nicolo ang cellphone sa tainga dahil sa lakas ng boses ng kausap mula sa kabilang linya. Nicolo closed his eyes. “Alonzo, don’t shout. Damn. I’m at work and I’m wearing an earpiece.”

“Oh,” Alonzo chuckled. “Sorry, Young Master.” Then he became serious. “Young Master, a shipment from the Parisi Family will arrive in the Philippines.”

“To whom?” Nicolo asked.

“Caranza Family, Young Master.”

Nicolo asked again, “when it will arrive?” he asked.

“Eight in the evening in Philippine time, Young Master.”

“Alright. Leave it to me.” Saad ni Nicolo.

“But the Master has instructed that you should hide your identity,” said Alonzo.

Nicolo nodded. “I understand. What’s inside the cargo?” he asked in a cold voice.

Alonzo knew that the Young Master would get mad after hearing what was inside the cargo but he still needed to say, “Prohibited drugs, Young Master.”

“I believed my father has some instruction other than I will hide my identity.” Wika ni Nicolo. He knows his father very well. Katulad nga ng laging sinasabi ng kaniyang ina, he and his father’s way of thinking are the same.

“You're smart, Young Master. Even if I don’t say anything, you already know what your father wants you to do. Or else, why would he inform you about the shipment coming,” said Alonzo. “You don’t have to worry about our subordinates. They are already instructed by the Master.”

Nicolo had already an idea when Alonzo informed him about the shipment. And he could read between the lines. “Good.” Nicolo was still focused on his work. Finalizing the report before he will give it to the CFO. “By the way, how’s my parents?” he asked.

“Yes, Young Master. Don’t worry about them. The other day, Master, my father, and Uncle Luca got drunk. And the wives went shopping, uncaring for their husbands.” Alonzo couldn’t help himself to laugh. He still remembers the face of his father while complaining the other day.

Nicolo chuckled. “Serves them.” Napailing siya.

Alonzo agreed.

Nicolo let out a breath after he ended the call. “Shipment, huh.” Of course, it was illegal. Or else what should it be?

He stood up and printed the finalized report. Then he clipped it and went to the CFO’s office. He knocked before entering.

“This is the final report. Take a look. I already finalized it for you.”

Grace smiled. “Thanks.”

Nicolo sat on the visitor’s chair.

“By the way, why did you agree to my husband to be my Assistant CFO? If you want to become the Chief Accounting Officer, I can make that happen,” Grace said while reading the annual report.

Nicolo shook his head. “If I will take that place, I will become busy. That will be troublesome. Being an Assistant CFO was good for me. After all, even if I already got my dual citizenship, I will still leave here eventually.”

Bahagyang natigilan si Grace. “Haze rejected you?”

“What? No. I haven’t got my chance to confess yet. I don’t dare to be reckless, Grace. Haze was reserved and she was distancing herself from men. Being friends with her right now if she treats me as a friend was good for me.” Nicolo said and smiled. “Don’t worry about me. I can manage myself.”

“Are you sure?” Paninigurong tanong ni Grace sa pinsan.

Nicolo nodded. “I’m sure.”

“Alright. Have dinner with us tonight?”

“I’m sorry. I have something to do tonight. It was important. I can’t delay it.”

“Mafia?” Grace asked.

Nicolo only smiled in his response to his cousin, and he went back to his working station.

When the work hour ended in the afternoon, he secretly followed Haze to see if she was safe. But he noticed that Jade, the one who was pursuing Haze was also following her. His narrowed at Jade. If looks could kill, this man was already dead. He took out his phone from his coat pocket to text Haze to tell her to be careful but remembered that he didn’t have her number.

Nicolo looked at Jade who was now walking away. “I’ll deal with you later.”

He’s a man and he knew what Jade was thinking. Hindi na lang ito magkakamali na gumawa ng hindi maganda kay Haze dahil hindi niya ito sasantuhin. He was about to call his subordinates but remembered that he wasn’t in Italy. He was alone in this country. So, no one could help him but himself. Though he can ask his subordinates to come, it could only give his enemy an opening to know where he is. It’s better to do it himself. Now, he understands one thing why his father sent him here and alone. His father wanted him to do what he wanted, only relying on his ability.

Nicolo took a deep breath and left. He went to his car and drove it to his condo. He took a bath and wore the attire he always wore when he was doing Mafia business. A black shirt, black jeans, and a black leather jacket.

Then he left his condo. He looked at his wristwatch. It was seven in the evening. He has still one hour before the arrival of the shipment. He stopped his car on the roadside and went to the open café. He needed to grab something to eat.

He arrived at the port at seven forty in the evening. Lumabas siya ng sasakyan at umupo sa hood ng kotse habang kumakain. Munching his food, he called the number that belonged to his father’s subordinates. The number was given by Alonzo when he called this morning.

“Young Master.”

“What are you doing right now?” Nicolo asked in a cold voice.

Medyo natakot ang kausap ni Nicolo dahil sa lamig ng kaniyang boses. “Young Master, we’re transferring the cargo to the small boat. Master has instructed us not to dock the ship in the port.”

Tumaas ang sulok ng labi ni Nicolo. That’s really my father. Being cautious at everything. “Destroy the cargo,” he ordered. “After destroying the cargo, burn the boat. Save yourself.” He instructed.

“Yes, Young Master.”

Nicolo ended the call. After he finished his food, he entered his car and left the port. As he left the port, a convoy arrived. It must be them. He thought. The Carranza Family. Too bad, their cargo was now being destroyed.

He drove his car. From the road where he was driving, he noticed the fire in the ocean. He stopped the car and looked at the large fire in the ocean. It must be the boat that he ordered to be burned. Nicolo sighed. Actually, this is what his father wants to happen. His father never wanted the cargo to arrive at the port. If that cargo is on the Carranza Family, many lives will be destroyed.

Nicolo received a message from his father’s subordinate. ‘Young Master, we’re all safe. We’re going back to Italy now.’

He deleted the message and let out a sigh. Sometimes, you have to enter an illegal business to save other people.

Biglang naalala niya si Haze. What Haze would think once she learned about his real identity? Would she still be friends with him?

I don’t know. But I sincerely hope that Haze will like me.