Episode 14

Episode 14.
I sat from across the table from Mr Marcello in the huge restaurant. Between us sat a young woman wearing a nice and expensive looking storm blue bodycon gown with white pump shoes,her raven black hair straight as a pin down her back and across her chest. She has bright make up on,a pale pink lipstick adorning her bottom heavy lips, putting the deep beauty mark below her nose line into full display,especially with the very visible contour on the middle of her nose. I could tell she was Spanish from the moment she walked in,it was written all over her evidently small,long face with the black hair and the slim body and the average height. She looked like she was in the middle of her 20s. Her eyelashes seemed longer and fuller than normal, I wanted to believe she fixed them but she didn't.
Her name was Miranda Morales. She had a lunch meeting with Mr Marcello at exactly one thirty and here we were.
She'd just assumed her seat,throwing a wide toothy grin at Mr Marcello, then at me "hello'w" she offers,having fully sat down on the chair.
I offered a small smile,not wanting to give Mr Marcello any ideas that I'm not mad at him because what he did just a few hours ago was still very much in my mind and just as much or even more upsetting.
"Miranda Morales" Mr Marcello addressed her.
"Finally," she said in thick Spanish accent "I meet the mighty Riccardo Marcello"
"It's good to finally meet you too"
"All pleasure's mine" her smile was nearly contagious. I watched her speak and it was almost easier to say that she was a nice young woman. Everything about her screamed money. She looked like she was taken out of a Queen Elizabeth's show centuries ago.
Her eyes turns to me and lingered before she smiled broadly again and addressed me "well hello'w. Are you the girlfriend?"
Mr Marcello hadn't allowed me to exercise my surprise to her question cause he suddenly burst out into a fit of laughter,head buried down. My face instantly averts to him,my mouth still half open from my attempt to reply the woman's question.
"Of course she's not my girlfriend, Miranda" he finally looks up with a big grin "if you knew me as well as I thought then you'd know my type of women"
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, looking anywhere else but neither of their faces. What did he mean by that? I didn't know why his words upset me because naturally I wasn't supposed to care. I honestly do not give a care, rather,I feel insulted. No woman should ever have to feel like I felt right now. I wanted to vest at him and ask him what he meant by that or why he'd say such a stupid thing but I refrain from saying anything. I should at least respect the stranger between us even if Mr Marcello gave very little care about that.
"Oh don't be silly,Riccardo" Miranda Morales said "who is she then?"
"I'm his assistant" I replied before he could say any more trash about me,eyes refusing to see him even for a blink.
"Really? That's really nice," she gave me a small smile before turning back to Mr Marcello "so Mr Riccardo Marcello, what's for lunch?"
"That depends" he replied with a smirk and a wink at her.
Pervert!
He calls a nearby waiter who asks for the name of a drink we'd like to have before taking our orders. I had refused to order for anything and Mr Marcello didn't seem to care much. Not that I expected him to. After getting their drinks,we ordered. I had no idea what to order at an Italian restaurant so I ended up choosing a random meal that I thought the name interesting. But the moment I tasted the dish,I regretted ordering it. It tasted different and I wondered why peopled hyped Italian dishes so much. Maybe I just didn't pick the right one.
I was so driven into my own thoughts that Miranda's and Mr Marcello's voices drifted around me until I saw Miranda drop a piece of jointed papers on the table before Mr Marcello.
"There they are" she adds,shifting in her chair.
I was unable to glance properly at the paper with a single word written at the far end of it before Marcello took it into his hand,scanning it.
"You sure you wanna buy this?," Mr Marcello said to her "no one's ever approached me concerning that estate,Miranda"
"I'm well aware,Ric,but think about it. I've got nothing to lose"
"Oh yes you do,Miranda. What about your daughter who needs you right beside her?"
For a quick second there was surprise or.....shock in her eyes before they quickly settled and her lips twisted into a smile. My I still watched her in full surprise. Because you'd never guess she's had a daughter before. She looks like the youngest daughter of a British duke who might I remind you was dragged out of a play during the Queen Elizabeth's reign to this table to have lunch with us. She has a daughter? I had a Dearing feeling that there's more to find out about this Spanish woman whom from a rethink looks like a mixture of half Spanish and half German.
"You can be rest assured that my little warrior is doing fine," she replied "I appreciate your concern,Ric. How about you show me around New York? A little tour wouldn't hurt," she turns to me "would it?"
"I....no,'course not"I replied,caught off guard.
" wonderful "she replied before scooping more food into her mouth and chewed slowly like her life depended on it.
" how long are you gonna be in town?"Mr Marcello asked her.
"Well,a couple of weeks should do,Ric. Unless,perhaps you wanna invite me to some secret party"
Marcello chuckles lightly before quickly inching closer to her,almost immediately and replying "very well,Morales"
Uh. I wanted to roll my eyes so badly. When would this man ever stop seizing every opportunity to flirt with a woman. They may belong to the same social class but it's clear she's obviously on top of the chain,on top of him. Even if I spent years working with this man,I doubt I'd ever understand him. Conniving bastard.
The rest of the lunch was observed in silence with me minding my business the whole time and fixing my gaze on the irritating food on my plate. I didn't know how much longer I could contain the food in my stomach, I wanted so badly to throw up. When it looked like they weren't gonna stop talking any time soon,I excused myself to go to the bathroom. Once inside,I threw up in the toilet. God, I'll never eat that. I suddenly felt so sick in the stomach. I felt dizzy,the nausea spreading across my whole body.
When I walked back to the eating area,I was starting to feel really feverish. What was in that food? Miranda asked if I was alright as I appeared before them and I nodded courtly with a smile while Mr Marcello just sat there watching me. I gave him a scowl each time my eyes met him and soon after,I started feeling out of place. It was half past two. I didn't know how much longer this lunch was gonna take before we head back to the office. I knew I couldn't remain here any longer than I already did. Slowly, I cleared my throat loud enough for the both of them to stop talking and turn to look at me.
"I'm really sorry for interrupting but I was wondering if I could leave....."
"Why?" Marcello cuts me off,his face holding an expression that told me he'd been waiting for me to say that.
"I'm not really feeling good"
"Oh dear,that is terrible" Miranda half screamed in a whisper, the exaggeration unhidden in her voice but I give her a small smile nonetheless.
"Yeah,I really need to leave Sir"
Mr Marcello watched me skeptically for a moment before replying "we aren't done here,Ashley"
"How can you say that,Ric?" Miranda interrupts him "can't you see how pale the girl is? I advice you let her go home from here. Tomorrow's always another day, Ric"
I mentally smiled and thanked this woman. I knew she was nice the moment I set my eyes on her. My saving grace.
Marcello hesitates for a while before nodding his head.
"Fine. But first,get to the office and pick up a laptop from Mona. There's an assignment in there for you"
Faking a sweet smile,I slowly walked my way out,stumping my feet as I got outside. A part of me guiltily told myself that that Miranda Morales lady wanted me to leave just so she could spend more time with him alone. I quickly tried to discard the thought as I boarded a cab back to the office. She's been nothing but good to me today and because of her I get to go home earlier today.
When I returned to the office,I nearly bumped into Trevor who was just walking out of his office.
"Wow,wow!"
"I'm sorry,I wasn't really looking" I apologized.
"It's okay. Lunch meeting over yet?"
"Not exactly. I had to leave after feeling nauseous from some wired Italian meal"
He cracks up a laughter and stopped almost as soon as he started.
"Sorry about that. I'm not a very big fan of Italian foods either. I think people just hype it a lot"
"I know right? Anyways I need to be going real quick. Is Mona still in?"
"Nah,she left a few minutes ago"
"Dang it"
"Why?"
"The boss asked me to get an assignment from her. You know what? I'll just call her so I can get it before heading home" I start proceedings towards my office room. I could hear Trevor following behind.
"Home? You're leaving?"
"Yeah," I stopped at my desk and picked up the telephone "I'm not really feeling all great,Trevor" I start to dial Mona's cell.
"It's cool,I'm just surprised that Mr Marcello would let you leave like that"
"You have no idea," I told him before the call is picked at the other end and a feminine voice spoke up.
"Yeah,hi Mona. It's Ashley. Ashley Shawn from the office. I'm supposed to pick a laptop from you.......Mr Marcello's orders........yeah..........I'm leaving now ..........okay,I'll just pick it up then"
After disconnecting the call,I quickly gathered my things and hung my bag over my shoulder.
"Want me to give you a ride?" Trevor asks the moment I stepped out of the office.
I gave him an appreciative smile and replied "no thank you,Trevor. I can find my way"
"You don't know where Mona lives"
"She's gonna send me a text of her address"
"Still,it'd be easier and safer if I just gave you a ride" he insisted.
I watched him for a while,contemplating on whether to take his offer or still refuse. Then I decided.
"Fine. Drop me at Mona's and I'll take a cab home"
"Okay"
I walked past him and he followed suit.
It doesn't take fifteen minutes to reach Mona's apartment. She'd welcomed us warmly like we were childhood friends. She said the boss had informed her to give her the laptop and again asked her to go home so I'd go collect it. This damned man. Indeed,I'll never understand his motives. Arrogant jerk!
After retrieving the laptop from her,Trevor left as we agreed and I took a cab home. By the time I reached my apartment building, I felt faint and my head throbbed with a great wight as the elevator went up. I could feel the pains in my limbs,I couldn't remembers ever feeling this tired and all I wanted was to just go to bed. What was most surprising was the fact that I met Katie all looking well,more lively than pale like she'd been these last few days. It was a great thing. She and Luca were engaged in their orchestral performances again and I never thought I'd smile at the sight of them doing that but I did. And I slept through it.