Chapter 1: AND, HE MIGHT NOT TREAT YOU WITH HATERED
1960 Words
KIKI’S POV.
I let my eyes flicker over the dance floor as The Hum by Briz DJ blooms through the dance floor speakers. I can feel the shirtless man’s eyes bore a hole in my thighs as he seems unable to get his eyes off me. Moving towards the bar, I can sense his movement from my side view as I also notice my men make a move. Stopping them with my index finger, I turn my head over my shoulder and smile at him before taking a sit on one of the bar stools.
“The same as yesterday.” I say to the bartender as I Know by Muna plays lowly behind him.
“I almost missed my steps.” He says to me as he sits on the bar stool next to mine.
Glancing at him, I smile and take the glass from the bar attender.
“You look stunning.” He adds as he orders his own regular and I finally turn to look at him properly.
Nice abs! They would feel rock hard if I run my hands on them.
“That sounds like a compliment from an friends who have known each other for long.” I finally dim it to reply him.
“If I was a close friend, I won’t stop reminding you of how stunning you are.” He gives an expected reply and I move the rim of the glass to my lips as I notice the tattoo on his left arm.
He feels like some Mafioso.
“Nice tattoo and abs.” I comment and I watch his eyes raid from feet to my thighs.
“A dance?” He requests and I shake my head.
“Sure.” I reply and he puts out his hand.
Taking his hand, we both move for the dance floor and we begin a waltz dance to a pop sound.
“Small talks as we dance?” He asks and I shrug.
Feeling his hand on my hand on my waist, I sway and he smiles richly.
“You dance so well.” He compliments.
“Thank you.” I reply as I place my palm on his rock hard chest.
“I am Alonzo.” He tells me and I let my eyes drift towards the dance floor.
Everyone on the dance floor begins to give us space and before I can let go of him as he closes the gap by attempting a kiss, he reels back as Mike connects his fist with his cheekbone.
“How dare you touch my woman?” He bellows and the loud music stops at once.
“Your woman happens to respond to all my advances.”Alonzo replies as he spits blood and Mike connects his fist with his jaw forcefully the second time.
He moves to hit him the third time, but I move to hold his raised hand.
“Please, stop. Please.” I plead and Alonzo laughs like a manic, which sends chills down my spine as the manic laughter reminds me of Martins.
“Come with me.” Mike commands and I follow after him.
“Thank you.” I whisper to him as soon as we step out and he replies me with nothing, but a deafening silence as some of his men and mine step out of the van.
One of mine hands me a coat and I put it on as the door is opened for me. As soon as I settle down in the car, Mike moves towards the driver’s side. He takes the key from the driver and settle in. My men moves for their cars and so, Joe’s men.
“You own that goddam hotel and you let a random male customer hold you like you…” He trails off and I raise my head.
“Feel free to say the words.” I reply and he steps on the gas.
“Whatever your reason was, I hope you are fine.” He deadpans after a very long silence and I nod as he stops the car.
The door is opened for me and I step out as the other man standing next to the one who opened the door for me puts out his hand to take my coat from me.
“This is a VIP game room.” Mike informs me and I nod as we both move for the door.
He slips a VIP card into my hand and I take it from him as he displays his to the security official at the entrance, displaying mine too; they let us in and the warm air from the large room hits my exposed arms as I sight the sitting area first.
“You need this.” Mike says and leave me be as he moves towards the tennis area, where I notice Bianca smiling at him.
Moving my eyes to scan everywhere in search of Alejandro, if Joe is here then maybe he came along too.
“Don’t just stand there awed, enjoy the night.” A lady says as she smiles at me and I smile back.
He is no where in sight. Moving for the bar, I order for a bottle of tequila and sit as I scan through each game area until I found the pool table. Taking a glass filled with tequila, I move towards where the cue sticks are kept. Taking one, I walk towards Bianca and Mike moves to sit next to Joe who seems to have nothing to say to me. Not even a wave.
“Can you play? I flaunt the cue stick in front of her and she stares at me for some seconds before taking the stick from me.
“This doesn’t mean we are back to being friends.” She replies and I shrug as we walk towards the bar together, she gets a glass of liquor for herself.
I watch her arrange cue balls and she hands the cue stick over to me to let me have the first shot. Smirking, I set my hand in an open bridge and I watch the balls fall into the pockets. Handing the cue stick over to her, I watch her set her fingers.
“How long do you plan on hating me?” I ask as she strikes the ball and I watch her miss.
“I will assume you asked me that question on purpose to distract me.” She remarks as she moves to take her drink.
”By the way, do not expect me to be your friend anytime soon.” She adds and I smile more.
“There is hope.” I reply and she shakes her head as I take the stick from her.
“Let’s talk about your reason for returning.” She responds and I let out a shaky breath.
“You wish I never returned?” I ask and she smirks as I am also distracted from the game.
“I still hate you, but I am trying to understand you. You lost your son, Alejandro did too. You lost Marie who was also my best friend and we all felt her loss. While trying to save you, my brother and man got into an accident they went into a vegetative state for, but you left like Mike was never there for you. If Alejandro never told you about being involved in a mafia gang. It was because he had the fears you eventually let happen. You never bothered to think about how each and everyone of us felt or try to understand why your parents couldn’t even be together.” She spills and let go of the cue stick.
“I really can’t bare playing this game with you right now, every single time I thought of you; I couldn’t help but think of you as a selfish lady. I am sorry.” She adds and walk away leaving me to tighten my grip on the glass of liquor in my hand.
‘Kiki, you prepared for this.’ I chant to myself as I watch Joe and Mike walk towards me.
“You look…”
“I am okay.” I reply and Joe takes the cue stick from me.
“Whatever Bianca said that might have hurt you, came from a place of hurt and she doesn’t mean to hurt you. She is like that when she feels hurt, she will come around.” Joe finally says a word to me since I returned to Italy a week ago.
“Let’s go straight to business.” Mike says.
“Cut some slack, we should play a few more games or drink the night away before talking about that.” Joe replies and I whisper an ‘excuse me’ before walking towards the bar.
“More tequila.” I order and the bar attendant refills my glass.
“Same for me.” I hear Bianca say next to me.
Moving my glass to my lips, I wince as I feel a little burn in my throat as I gulp down the liquor.
“You didn’t answer my question. Why are you back? What did Mike say to you to make you return? Did you return because you suddenly feel sorry for Alejandro or because you killed Martins, you suddenly feel like one of us?” She asks and from my side view, I can see Joe and Mike leave where they were standing.
I thought this game arena or whatever this place is will be to let me loosen up before I resume to business tomorrow, but I guess not. I can take all of this.
I can, right?
“Fluffy.” Mike calls Bianca as he moves to grip her waist and she leans into him as she misses a few step.
“I am sorry.” She slurs and I nod repeatedly as my eyes sting.
If I have returned I can take this much. I expected it.
“Joe, I…”
“If you are going to be apologetic, Kiki… Just forget it.” Joe cuts me off and I shake my head.
He finds it hard to forgive me too.
I was too hurt and young back then to take it all.
“I wanted to ask how he is.” I can’t help it.
“If you care about him this much, why did you leave?” He asks and I can’t help the tears that streams down my face.
”You hurt yourself too while you thought you will live better away from all of us, from where you actually belong.” His voice is laced with so much pity than hatred.
“How has he been since we all returned to Italy? He still doesn’t know about me being here, right? That is one of the reasons you didn’t let him come, right? Joe, please answer me.”
“Alejandro has been better since you two had a thing, but you should prepare yourself for his hatred when he sees you again.” Mike replies instead.
“And, he might not treat you with hatred.” Joe adds and I nod.
We three move to the sitting area and I notice everywhere is empty leaving the whole arena to us four and the bar attendant at the bar.
“Some weeks ago, it was reported to Alejandro that some of the stocks that belonged to him and Joe had been tampered with. It is fine now that we and Alejandro have found out Marco had nothing to do with it, he fired his secretary and…”
“You want me to be Alejandro’s new secretary.” I cut Mike off and they both nod.
- Writer
