44

Klaus sat in his mansion drinking wine from a glass cup reading the newspaper when he came across a headline.

“MR AND MRS BLACK SALVADOR ON THEIR DELAYED HONEYMOON TO PARIS” he read out loud.

Instantly he knew it was his arch nemesis as he squeezed the newspaper angrily and threw it away as he took a sip of his wine. He was pissed off with how things were turning out lately. He wasn’t able to kill either Black or Casita and now his brother Nycole was living with them which left him with very few options and what was more, the masked lady had put him on suspension and forbade him from leaving the safe house.

That’s right.A woman inferior to him put a 27-year-old full grown man under a fucking suspension. Not that he could do anything about it. It has been a week since this suspension and the masked lady had told him, that she doesn’t want to set eyes on him either in her company or her house, until the whole news died down. And this was a result of him laughing back at her when her plan to kill Casita failed. If only she didn’t have a major share and she wasn’t important to him he would have killed her off already.

But now, he had bigger problems, Black and his family had travelled to Paris while he was stuck here. He couldn’t even board a ticket because his face was wanted all over, his plans of killing the Salvador family was ultimately gone and destroyed. He cursed as he gulped the remaining wine and threw the glass at a wall as it smashed to bits.

The doorbell rung making him stand out from his study. He looked like what the trash spat out from the gutters. He hasn’t shaved and was starting to look a bit bushy, plus not hitting the showers, he looked like a complete wreck.

The doorbell rang again as he opened the door.
It was the masked lady standing in the flesh under the sun on his front porch.

Klaus looked up and sideways searching for something.

“What are you looking at?” The lady asked irritated that Klaus hasn’t given her thought that she was here.

“I am looking for the damn pizza boy. He hasn’t arrived. And what the hell are you doing here. The man you are in love with is in Paris with his wife or have you forgotten the road that leads to the airport. It’s that way and oh, out of my fucking front porch.” Klaus said pointing at the gate.

“Are you kicking me out Klaus?” She asked surprised.

“I never invited you in.” Klaus said stating his point.

“Seems, you had gotten some balls from your suspension, that you can’t even acknowledge me.” She said crossing her hand in front of her chest glaring at him, as Klaus rolled his eyes in blatant frustration and said,

“Acknowledge you? I used to adore you, I was in love with you Linda. But you had someone else in your heart. You liked Black, you wanted him too. I did everything under the freaking sun to please you, yet you showered Black all the love, care and attention, but now he has left you all high and dry, so you are trying to see if I care the same way. So excuse me if I don’t feel happy that you are here, because I don’t care.” Linda clenched her fist tightly but controlled her anger. Pushing him aside, she entered the house.

“Look at the mess that you have become. I am terribly disappointed.” She said stepping into the house.

“You do know that you are intruding on private personal property right? I didn’t build this with any of your money so you can’t stake your claim on it.” Klaus said as he shut the door.

“Boy I do not want to even stake claim to this filthy hellhole. When was the last time the maid actually cleaned it?” Linda said waltzing around different trashes just to get on the sofa.

“None of your business. Now what do you want?” Klaus said standing with his arms akimbo.

“I am here to talk business with you.” She said dropping the bomb as he raised an eyebrow expecting her to complete her statement.

“What kind?”

“Well not really business. I want to invite you to the ball this night at the company. We are hosting and I am hoping that you will be there”

“I mean, why are you inviting me? What is your plan?” Klaus asked looking at her with suspicious eyes.

“Oh nothing, just want my colleague to be there. The press wouldn’t be there. You don’t need to worry about them talking. Also you need to show yourself there, build your reputation, piss off Mikey and Michael, I invited them too, you deserve to be there.” Linda said holding him by the shoulders.

“Are you kidding me? You don’t care about me, you wouldn’t care if I was dying in a ditch somewhere in Iowa, so what’s really your game plan here, because the last time I saw you, you suspended me. You didn’t call or text and now a week later, you are inviting me to the ball. Something is off. Don’t play dumb with me.”

“Don’t you get it at all Klaus? This is the grandest party of all time. All the big people will be there. Superstars, C.E.Os., Models, famous people. You will get to meet them all, especially the females, make a few friends. Don’t you get it. This is your chance, you can improve your Mafia’s ranking and get more bodyguards and respect out of this.”

“My chance to do what exactly? Wait you don’t mean…..” Klaus trailed off as Linda nodded her head and said,

“Exactly, I want you to piss his friends off. Aggravate him a little by showing your face, silently tell them that you are not caught and you will be coming for revenge. And you will be able to pick up any girl you want too . That is what I want.”

“Do you realize what you are asking me? You want me to flirt with other ladies when you know that I have feelings for….”

“You are not good enough for me. God damnnit. Do you know the height of the atrocity that you are committing, having feelings for a whole me, the boss? Are you that dumb? Am I the only woman on Earth? I never thought that you would continue this madness. Haven’t you learnt yet.”

“I have learnt everything that you want me to learn. I used to do your bidding without blinking an eye. I always carried out your commands because I knew that you knew what was best for me, I trusted you. I broke up with my previous girlfriend Danny because you told me to.” He said as Linda rolled her eyes and said,

“That girl was poor and a gold digger. She was out to finish your wealth.”

“No, she wasn’t. she had no idea who I was. She knew me as an average dude, working at a mechanic shop, and yet she worshipped. Did everything for me and yet after 7 years together, I dropped her cause you told me to.”

“And I gave her five million dollars as her reward for letting you go. She took it, and left.”

“No, you manipulated her into taking it. You threatened her parents with jail time.”

“That’s all in the past. Why are you bringing it up now? Focus on the present, the now. Leave Danny buried in the past.”

“No, you are doing the exact same thing now with me. You are playing with my feelings.”

“Your feelings don’t count in the real world. Your feelings are holding you back from making you a real man. Love is for the weak and softhearted. The rich people like us, seeks for power and authority. That’s all that matters.”

“I didn’t see it before but now, you are nothing but a complete hypocrite. You care about nothing but power. I can see it now; I can see it all clearly now. Who you are.”

“You always knew I was power driven, now don’t go acting all surprised. Now let me make myself very clear, you are going to go that ball, find a suitable bitch that is rich and famous, forget about that Danny or so help me, I will personally murder you myself and turn in your corpse.”

“You wouldn’t….”

“You know that I will. Now do as a good boy under orders and I want to see you in that ball, sharp, looking like a perfect gentleman. Am I clear?”

“Crystal ma.” Klaus said staring at her with dagger like eyes.

“Good.” Linda said as she stood up to leave.

********************

8 HOURS LATER

***RIONA AND CASITA PRIVATE MOMENTS***

Riona came out of the bathroom wrapped in white towels.

“Now that’s a bath. She exclaimed as she sat beside on the makeup table.

“I know right, took you forever to come out. I thought you wouldn’t leave.” Casita said turning to face her.

“Believe me, when I said, I never wanted to leave. I came out before you go barging in dragging me out by my hair.” Riona said brushing her head.

“Well, I did have the thought. So what are we wearing? I can’t believe that we are heading out to a club this night, and my brother took us shopping. Honestly speaking I am bummed out”

“Don’t know yet, we bought too many clothes that I can’t even remember what they look like.” Riona agreed with her on this too as they glanced at all the clothes and makeups and designers wears that are all scattered on the bed.

“Yeah, are we going to wear all this?” Riona asked raising a gown up as Casita shrugged and brought out her opinion.

““Wear matching gowns?”

“Yeah. With the shoes too. Oh and makeup and same hairstyles.” Riona said with excitement as Casita nodded her head too in affirmative and said

“I guess. Well OK I am in.” She said as Riona hugged her tightly almost crushing her wind pipe as Casita smiled brightly hugging her too.

“Epic, that’s great.” Riona said bubbling with excitement.

“Just a hitch though, which gown are we going to decide on? Remember it’s a lot.”

“I have my eye on this two.” Riona said raising it for her to see.

“Let’s go with the one in the right.” Casita said after some minutes.

“Okidoki.” Riona sang in a child’s voice as she brought out another one matching it.

****

By 7pm, the two stunning angels stood before the mirror pleased with what they were looking at. Satisfied faces stared back at them.

“Whoa, is this what you look like, Riona? I am so freaking jealous. Casita said squealing.

“Have you seen yourself? I think I am going to do face surgery to look like you.” Riona said as she stared at her in surprise.

“Do, you think it’s time? It starts by 7pm.”

“Well its 6:55pm so I guess. Who is picking us up?”

“Oh, my brother called me when you were in the bathroom. He won’t be able to come home so he will change there, and he sent Nycole to pick us in the limo. So I guess he will soon arrive from anytime now.” Riona had decided to just stay in Casita’s suite, after they did shopping together for clothes.

“Oh okay, now I can go to the kitchen, I am starving.” Riona said as she picked up her heels and went to the door.

“Oh, wait for me.” Casita said picking up hers too. They had barely gotten to the door when they heard the horn of the limo.

“Don’t tell me…. Riona started.

“He is here.” Casita said as Riona almost cursed someone.

“Really, he couldn’t wait five more minutes.”

“Well, let’s go. There is snacks in the limo. We can snack on that till we get to the ball.”

“I guess, let’s go. We will wear our shoes outside.”

When they got downstairs they met Nycole standing outside the car ready to open the door for them. Immediately he saw them, his mouth dropped open.

“Wow, Casita you look…... so does your…. Good evening, I mean.” Nycole said as he scratched his head.

“Thanks, Nycole. You are just adorable. I take it that you know where we are going?” Casita said as Nycole nodded his head and said,

“Yes I am just coming from here now. I offered to drive you two there.” He said as he was lost staring in Casita’s eyes

“Well, are we going to stand here or what?” Riona said laughing as Nycole couldn’t remove his eyes from Casita.

“Oh, I am sorry. Pardon me.” He said as he opened the door for them.

When, they entered, Riona said

“I think you just gave dear little Nycole something to think about this night. He is so definitely crushing.”

“Oh, Riona.” Casita said shaking her head. Truly Riona was one of a kind, she always said what she sees, without fear, and she didn’t care what the person thought of her. She had freedom to do what she wants, and she was always there. She reconnected with her, in an instant, even though she wasn’t the real Farah and was playing her role here.