THE ITALIAN BOSS

CHAPTER 5: THE LESSON (PART 1)

ANASTASIA GRIFFITHS

As soon as Mr Ferrari left, I ran downstairs only to find Junior with another woman who was busy with my mother.

"Who are you?" I asked without even greeting. It is very obvious that she is a nurse, looking at her uniform, but I felt the need to ask her to take her things and leave.

"Signora, I'm Emily. I'm so happy to be here." Indeed, she does look happy, but I am going to ask her to leave.

"Mam, I don't know who told you that you can come and work here, but I don't have money to pay for your services. I am asking you to leave." I know very well who brought her here. Her face frowns and she starts gibbering in Italian, shouting at me… well, that is how it sounds like when you don't fully understand the language.

"Sis, let's keep her. We need her." Junior insists.

"Junior, do you have money to pay her?" I ask, getting annoyed.

"Met pa se geld." (With dad's money.) Did he just say dad's money? I chuckle.

"Watter geld? jou vader het ons met niks agtergelaat nie! The money is not there, Junior! You won't even get to go to your stupid prom!" (Your father left us with nothing!) I yell at him.

"Mommy, you are scaring me." My daughter says, standing in the middle of the staircase. Tears are at the verge of falling out.

Junior Huff's and runs upstairs.

"Junior?" I called him, but he just went off. I heard his bedroom door slamming. I sighed.

"Come here, baby." I kneeled and opened my arms wide for Beverly and she came running into my embrace. "Mommy didn't mean to scare you, sweetheart. I'm sorry okay?" I kissed her cheeks.

"Is mommy angry?" She asked. No, I'm stressed, but how do I tell my problems to a 5 year old?

"Mommy just wants coffee, and she will be fine, okay? Go upstairs to your room and start doing your homework, then you come and show mommy and I will help you wherever you couldn't finish, okay?" She nods and walks away.

I turn and look at Emily who is sitting on the couch, waiting for me to tell her to leave again.

"Emily, I'm sorry but I am not the one who called you here and I don't need you. You need to leave."

"Signora, I was paid for my job here." Why is she insisting? It's like she is afraid of someone, I don't know.

"That's good for you. Please leave?" She starts again, complaining in Italian but at least she is now walking to the door. After she left, I made sure that I locked the door, all doors in fact.

Mr Ferrari seems very dangerous. He is one of the things added to my stress. I am only 23, but I have problems of a 40 year old. God, how did I end up here. I am the only person that my daughter and my siblings are relying on. My mother gave up on us a long time ago.

I was scared for my life when I woke up to Mr Ferrari's face. He looked so merciless and what he did to me in my bedroom made me fear him so much. He hurt me. He harassed me again, in my home. He forced himself on my lips. He tried taking advantage of me. I apologised, apologising for something that I don't know of. When I slapped him, I thought that he was going to kill me. Now I fear for myself and my daughter.

All this time, I was standing with my back against the door. When I felt my cheeks getting wet by my tears, that is when I realised that I was crying.

I walked over to where my mother was sitting in her wheelchair. I kneeled in front of her and looked at her.

"Are you happy? Is this the kind of life that you and dad wanted for me? Answer me, dammit! I am suffering, because you and dad are running away from your responsibilities. In less than 5 days we should be out of this house due to outstanding p*****t. Fortunately for you, you might be at least staying at a home, but as for me, my daughter and siblings, we will be living in the streets. Your children will soon be kicked out of school also due to unpaid school fees. My daughter too. I am jobless, because I have to take care of you! I hate you mom. I hate you and I hate dad too. I hate you!"

I am truly tired. This is too much for me. Before I got up, I saw a tear rolling out of my mom's left eye. Soon as I got up, I went upstairs, wiping my tears with the back of my hand. I knocked in both Dewald and Junior's room. I knocked again as I got no response at first.

"Go away!" He shouted, but I opened the door and walked in. I found him at his desk, studying.

"Junior." I quietly say. He kept quiet. "A lot is going on right now, but that is not an excuse on how I spoke to you. I am under a lot of pressure right now and you are not even the cause of it. ek wil net sê dat ek jammer is." (I just want to say that I'm sorry.)

I turn around, leaving him but he stops me.

"Sis?" He calls me, getting on his feet. "We will get through this, together." He then pulls me to his embrace. I didn't want to cry, but I did.

"Promise me one thing… you will never quit school?" I say after pulling out of the hug, only to find him fighting back his tears.

"Ek belowe." (I promise.)

"Where is Dewald?" He shrugs his shoulders.

"His classmates said he didn't pitch today. I haven't seen him today since the time he left with the car in the morning." Dewald is starting to be a problem.

We heard a doorbell ringing and I was hoping that it would be him. Without waiting any longer, I went back downstairs to open the door, only to find a girl who is probably the same age as Junior, or younger. She had a luggage with her and I got a little bit confused.

"Hi, may I help you?" I asked, but she was looking down all the time. This time, I offered her to come in and that is when she picked up her luggage and followed me to the living room. "Sit here, I will get you water to drink." She had hiccups and seemed to be crying.

I got back and sat next to her. I helped her drink the water, because her hands were trembling.

After what seemed like forever, I asked her the same question: "How may I help you?"

"My parents kicked me out of their house. I had nowhere else to go but here." I narrowed my eyes at her, still confused.

"I'm sorry, but we don't run a charity case here. You can't stay here." What the hell?

"I have been sick for a few weeks until my parents took me to a doctor, yesterday. That is when we all learned that I'm pre-pregnant. That is when they told me to leave their house." She bursts into tears. I still don't get what this has to do with me or my family.

"I'm sorry to hear that, signora, but still you can't stay here." I get up, picking up her luggage. I have my own problems. Way bigger than hers.

"The twin made me pregnant!" She blurts out. I immediately dropped her bags.

"What!? Which twin?" I wouldn't be surprised if it's Dewald. His behaviour recently was out of line. "Junior! Come down here, now! Junior!" I shout.

"Ja, ek kom!" (Yes, I'm coming!)

When he got downstairs, I asked him if she knew the girl and surprisingly he said yes. He explained that they ride the same bus to school everyday, but she is not in the same school as them. She even shared a seat often with Dewald.

"Is that true, young lady?" I asked.

"Yes. I was in a relationship with Dewald until he changed on me and he started hanging out with Two-Sec's crew." She said, while wiping her tears.

"Who the hell is this Two-Sec? You know what, I don't care. Junior, call your brother and tell him that I want him back here in the next hour!" I cluck my tongue.

I remembered that my daughter didn't eat. Gosh, this kids are now stressing me out. It's getting late and I don't even know what to do with this girl's situation.

"How old are you and what is your name?"

"Sandra Kopka. I'm 18 years old."

When she said that, I chuckled. I left the living room and went to prepare food for my daughter and started preparing dinner.

***

We were now all sitting around the dinner table, quietly having supper. As always, I am eating while also feeding my mom. Dewald was still not back yet and I was starting to get worried. Speaking of worry; Mr Ferrari told me to come to his office tomorrow. I am now contemplating on whether if I should go or not. He is cruel and has no shame. Who knows what he might do to me at his office. He is very intimidating and I – I am scared of him.

The door opens and I quickly jerk up. I was thinking about a man who threatened my life and now Dewald just opens the door like this is his damn house?

"Dewald! Where have you been?"

"Why do you care? You are not my mother and definitely not my father." He starts laughing. "Dad is dead."

"Are you drunk? Have you been smoking?" I have never seen him like this before. Dewald was the sweetest one. What changed?

"What if I am? Maybe you should also get out of the house and you will see that there is life outside this home that is about to be taken away from us." I gasped. "What? You thought I didn't know? The letters have been coming in and I hid them so that you don't see them. You already had enough going on."

"Sis? What is he talking about?" Junior asks.

"Nothing." I answered and roughly pulled Dewald to the couch. Good riddance, he reeks of weed. "Sandra, you are needed here." Dewald did not even see her. But the moment she stepped in the living room, he got sober instantly.

"Sandra? What do you want here?"

"Oh, so you know her? Junior, how could you be so careless? With our home situation and you still get the opportunity to make someone else pregnant?" His eyes widen and he has nothing to say. "Yes, Junior. She is pregnant! The baby is yours." He stands up.

"The baby is not mine. Why are you lying, Sandra? You are a b***h. You've been throwing yourself at me and surely you have been doing the same to other guys. Until I get prove that that thing is mine, stop bothering me!"

"Dewald, what has gotten into you? We don't speak to woman like that. When you were supposed to be focusing on your school work, you decided to go and ruin your education. Both of you! As you know the situation of this house – I am not getting myself involved in this. You better look for jobs to maintain your kid. I already have enough on my table." I turn, walking away, but I stop when I hear Dewald insulting me.

"As if you were not stretching your legs wide for older men when you were only 18 instead of focusing on your education!" I walked back to him. My blood was boiling and I was getting livid.

"What did you just say?" I threw the back of my hand on his cheek and he stood still and held it. "Who are you? You are not my father's son. I despise you."

I walk away, only to find Junior standing on the door way with mom on the wheelchair. How long were they even standing there?

***

The next day morning, I was on my way to Mr Ferrari's office, but on my way there I met up with Lorenzo and funny enough, he picked up my dull mood. I am not okay and no matter how much I try pulling my best poker face, I fail dismally.

"Do you mind if we catch up on a coffee and you tell me what is eating you? I still have a full hour, I hope I won't be taking any of your time." I looked at the watch and it is just 7:58AM.

You know what, f*ck Mr Ferrari. I could use a friend's shoulder to cry on right now.

"I'd love that." I said.

He brought his hand forth and I intertwined mine with it before we walked down to the Cafe that is just 10 minutes walk away from Mr Ferrari's company.

After purchasing two coffees and two muffins, we settled down in the cafe.

I started telling him that my home situation is difficult. I did not go too deep, but only told him how not easy it is looking after my mother and also, I need a job but if I get a job, who is going to take care of her.

Without even looking at the time, we spent hours chatting and laughing. Before I knew, it was 10AM and I totally freaked out at how time runs when you are enjoying the little moments, forgetting about your reality.

"What's wrong?" Lorenzo asked.

"I was supposed to be at Ferrari Metricsilo Pty Ltd offices at least by 9. I didn't realise how time flies so quick."

"I'm sorry. It's my fault." I shook my head.

"It's not." My phone started ringing; it is my daughter's school. "Sorry, I have to take this." I said, before I answered my phone.

"Hello?" I answered, nervously.

"Hi. I am I speaking to Signora Anastasia Griffiths?" A lady asks.

"Speaking? Is my daughter fine?" I asked.

"Uhm, I am calling to let you know that your daughter cannot continue to learn in our school anymore. Please note that, she is being let out of the class as we speak." My tears immediately ran down to my cheeks.

"But, why? Why are you doing this?"

"I'm sorry signora, goodbye." She hung up. Same time, I received a call from Junior, telling me that they have done the same to him and Dewald. I asked him to go and get my daughter and just come home. I stood still like a chicken that was poured with cold water.

"Come here." Lorenzo pulled me in his arms and I just cried.

"Enzo, what did I do to deserve this? Do I not deserve to be happy?" He kept quiet and rubbed my back. My phone rang again, but I couldn't take anymore bad news, but I knew I had to answer it.

"Wat is it, nou?" (What is it now?) I asked Dewald, who is the one now calling. He didn't go to school due to his late excuses.

"Sis? There are man here trashing us out of the house." Lord, just take me! Please take me and my daughter. I'm tired!

"Ek kom, nou." (I'm on my way.) I hung up.

"What's wrong?" Enzo asked with a worry in his tone.

"I have to go." I ran out of the cafe and right now, I had to catch a taxi. I had no choice.

***

Arriving at my home; I find mom, Dewald and Sandra sitting outside with most of our furniture. This can't be a coincidence that all of this is happening in just a day?

I saw men, big men helping each other taking out our furniture. I ran to them and asked: "Why are you doing this? You gave us 5 days! Please take back the furniture!"

"I'm sorry, signora. These are boss's rules." One of them said.

"What boss!?" I asked, but I remembered Mr Ferrari is called 'The Boss' at his office. I turned to check if my mother is fine. She looked okay to me and I gave Sandra and Dewald a glare. They looked irritated with each other's presence, but that is none of my business.

"I am going to fix this." I said as I left. Again, I am catching another taxi to the Ferrari company. I looked at the time, it's 11:33AM.

If I am about to sell my soul to the devil for my family, so be it. At least I can handle it; but I would hate to see my daughter going a day uneducated.

***