Episode 12

Episode 12.
For the next four days,Mr Marcello and I were able to maintain a proper working friendship. I saw no reason to talk about his former attitude anymore.
While I was too busy with work,I hadn't realized that my best friend was drifting away. Katie was never a quiet person. In fact,she hated quiet people. She said quiet people were the worst kind of people and one should never get comfortable with them. But for the past week,she's been really quiet and more into herself than into anybody else. She spent more days in her room,mostly on calls. Her phone rang a lot these days and most of all,she looked worried about something. Two days ago,I'd returned home only to be told again that she went out. When she returned she was all exhausted and retired to bed almost immediately. I knew Katie too well and I knew what something was up. When something good or bad was up. And now,I have an ill feeling that something was wrong somewhere. She wouldn't tell me.
I had my work cut out for me today,so I stayed in my room working on my computer. When my stomach rumbled,I decided it's high time I stop ignoring my stomach's protest for food and get something to eat.
Luca is sitting on the breakfast stool,typing away on his iPhone.
I threw him a mocking laugh before saying "who're you typing,Luc? Finally got a babe?"
He threw me frown before replying "I would very much appreciate it if you hooked me up with one of your sexy friends"
"You mean.....Katie?" I pull the cabinet open and retrieved a cereal box.
"Shut it,Ash! You don't want me getting into some dude's trouble,do you?"
"Some dude?" I shut the cabinet close and turned to him on the table, pulled out a plate and turned Luca's face to me "what dude?"
"I...I don't know okay? I just overheard her talking on the phone yesterday. Something about not agreeing to see him"
Hmm. "Really?"
Was she seeing someone? That's a good news right? But again,that didn't explain the reason behind her fowl mood lately. Was her parents doing okay?
I pulled the fridge open but unfortunately, the cans of milk were empty. I looked back at Luca and said "what happened to all the foods here?"
"I don't know. Katie's been really eating a lot"
My eyes dropped and I gave him a straight look. That was a lie. We both knew who ate most among the three of us and I knew Katie was in no shape to eat so much at the moment. I couldn't argue,I have my work cut out for me already.
I picked up my cereal and walked towards the exit "we're going grocery shopping on Saturday" I tell him before disappearing into the room.
Saturday came in like every other day and I'm walking through the food racks in the grocery store,Luca pushing the trolley right behind me.
"Aren't you gonna get a cheese pack?" Luca said for the umpteenth time and I abruptly stopped to look at him with a glare.
"I already have seven packs of cereal in there,Luc! You want me to buy the whole store?"
"Nope. Keep going ma'am"
"Thank you" I turn back around to spot someone just across from me. Someone that looks rather too familiar. His face suddenly made a whole lot of sense when he turns to face me now,his deep blue eyes glancing over my face for a quick second before his lips moved into a big smile.
"Ashley?" He called,walking towards me and stopping in front of me.
"Hey,Robin!"
"Hey man" he says,extending a hand to Luca who takes it.
"What are you guys going here?" He asked,placing his hands on his hips in wonder.
"I should be asking you that,Robin. Last time I checked you were on a plane to Vegas"
"Yeah....been really busy with dad's businesses and all that. What's up,Ashley? You look great"
"Thanks. What are you doing here?"
"I just came grocery shopping. Recently came to down about a month now,I'm kinda living alone. You haven't told me why you're in New York"
"Well.....we pretty much live here. Since business school"
"Really? With Katie?"
"Yeah,and Luca"
"Waw,you guys are still together even after college. I got to say that's pretty cool,Ashley"
"I know"
"I see you're busy right now. How about I give you guys a visit one of these days to catch up"
"Sure,sure"
"Okay,let me get your number then"
I called out my number for him and he typed it into his cellphone before waving us goodbye and disappearing through the corner.
"Don't you think you should've told Katie before inviting Robin to the house?" Luca said as we both watched him walk away.
Robin was Katie's ex boyfriend. They'd been highschool sweetheart right from first grade. They'd been so in love,it seemed nothing could penetrate them until they had to break up on prom day. That day had caused major break down for Katie and she'd nearly managed to go to college after that. I especially felt what she was going through then and since then,she had sworn to move on and had never mentioned his name ever since. Neither of us three had seen or heard of Robin since graduation until now. Okay,I think Luca is right. Maybe I should've told Katie first before inviting Robin to the house.
Riccardo's POV.
Maybe being a lonely lamb had its perks. Maybe one day I can sit and think about all that revolved in my life but for now,I needed to put some scumbags in their place so they never even think of messing with me again.
The Manhattan project was too important to me. It meant more than merely just building a park for the money it will bring. It meant everything to me. It's supposed to serve as a message to a woman. A woman who meant almost everything to me in this world. A woman I barely see.
Rebekah.
And now some thieves called government wanna take that away from me? They should know better that I wouldn't go down without a fight. Ashley has no idea. My world isn't a merri go round with laughter and happiness. It's serious. Too serious and real for her to realize that war is the only solution to them.
After Gregory's report to me yesterday, I realized these people weren't any government. They were the regular thieves and the inside man knew me too well. But the puzzle remained that the person is still masked in my mind.
I refill my glass again and drank the contents,feeling it burn my throat and intoxicate my reasoning. The club house was dark as usual,revolving disco balls illuminating a few corners. I looked to the side to find a stripper looking at me. She smiles at me,her red lips full and firm. Her blond hair is made into wavy strands down her back,her half naked body a tool of murder. Her finger twirls around a strand of hair as she winks at me,wrapping her body on the dance pole. If I wasn't so down,I'd have gotten her message and requested to take her somewhere for a little fun but right now,I was trying to place all the odds.
A body stops in front of me,blocking my view of the stripper. My eyes move up to find Jasmine's face. She stood akimbo,her face all made up in dark make ups.
"What in the world are you doing here,Ricky" she said,walking over to sit on the stool beside mine.
"Having a nice time,care to join?" I told her,beckoning the bartender to pour her a glass.
"I'm not here to drink with you,Ric,but I'll take a couple of shots" her smile always seemed to have strange effects on me.
"What are you doing here, Jasmine?"
"I was at your house but I didn't find you there. I knew you'd be here"
"You always know where to find me,don't you,jas?"
"Of course,Ric. What are friends for?" She sips her drink "why are you drinking at a bar?"
"Can't I have a nice drink anymore?"
"You never drink at public bars,Ric. I know you enough to know that you only do this when you're bothered about something or dwelling in self pity"
I starred at her for a while,amazed at how much she knew me then I broke into a short laugh,looking back at my glass on the bar table.
"You're right,Jas," I look at her now "you're always right"
"You wanna talk about it?" Her hand slips up my shoulder.
After sitting there quietly for a moment,I replied "yeah,this looks like a night to talk about so many things. You know the Manhattan project I told you about?" She nods "it's been stopped"
"What? Why? By who?"
"Some bastard called government. I really can't lose that project,Jas" I drink the last content from my glass .
"Why do they wanna take it? Don't they know it's yours?"
"That's the point,Jas. They ain't any government. The inside person on it knows me too well"
"This is just wrong. Why do you think they wanna stop it?"
"Report says they wanna buy it from me but just yesterday, Gregory reported that they wanna put it on a bidding market. You know what that means,don't you?"
"Oh my God. But you have the rights over it,Ric"
"That's not really valid where people wanna take what's yours away from you. I wanna fight these people, jas"
"Have you tried talking with these people and try to meet up with what they want?"
"They don't want anything, that's the puzzle. Either they after this project or.....something else"
"Are you gonna let them take it?"
"You know I'd never let that happen"
"Why not? You are more than this project"
"Jasmine,you know who this project is for"
"Rebekah? So you're willing to risk everything for Rebekah? Ric,this woman doesn't even care about you!"
"You don't know that,Jasmine. She's gonna come and you'll see"
She drinks her alcohol without speaking again,then she said again "you know this isn't going to be easy right?"
I just watched my glass without uttering a word.
"Did you talk with Victoria yet?"
"You should know that I have no business with that woman in this life"
"Until you tell me why you're so hard hearted towards her,I'll keep telling you she's your mother and that she doesn't deserve any of this ill treatment she's getting from you. You need to start learning to do forgive people and maybe Victoria would be a good start"
"If you have nothing important to say then you better leave,Jasmine"
She doesn't say another word but just watches me. After a while she said "I'm not leaving you. I'm staying right here while you finish that bottle so I can drive you home"
"I have my car right outside, Jas. I don't need a baby sitter"
"You're not exactly in the best shape to drive,Ric. At least not after you finish that bottle"
I gave her a small smile before pouring the last content from my third bottle and gulped it down in one go.
Jasmine always cared too much,that's why she's so weak. Too weak to put an abusive father in his right place deep under the ground.
Four years I'd found her bitten into a pulp down the corner of a dark Alley. If I hadn't given her immediate care,she'd probably have been dead before the break of the next day. She'd lived with an abusive father for years. On that night,he'd raped her from the influence of a hard drug and intoxicated drinking. He'd descended on her,beat her unconscious and when he thought he'd killed her,he'd dumped her unconscious body at a dark Alley. I'd taken pity on her. She was so vulnerable, reminded me of a cruel past and I realized I couldn't leave her there and after all she told me,I knew I could never leave her to go back to that heartless man nor to live in the streets.
And now,she thinks she's so indebted to me,she'd run in front of a fast moving truck even if I said so. I liked her.
Yes,she's always here.
Always.