16

Episode 16.
I couldn't quite understand why or how Mr Marcello would involve himself with things I called suicidal. But again, I might just be getting to know him as I watched the woman sitting far across.
"So how about you tell me exactly who you are"Christopher spoke again.
Turning back to him like a husband caught with his mistress,I gave a small chuckle.
" well....."I started but someone grabbed my arm and I spun around to see Mr Marcello, his hand laced around mine. This man would be the death of me. He yanks me closer to him and whispered "what are you doing, Ashley?"
"If it isn't Mr Marcello himself" Christopher makes his presence known again.
Marcello turns his attention to him now,a small smile stretching on his lips "Christopher Lightfeather?" He questioned.
"Correct,"he extends a hand " it's nice meeting you here tonight, "Marcello shakes his hand " I didn't think I'd be finding you here"
"Well,I couldn't miss this,could I?" I could tell the smile on Marcello's face was forced.
"Melina is here tonight too in fact" Christopher said,just in time for a voice to break in.
"What do we have here?" The woman Christopher's been showing me who is in fact his sister is standing beside me and facing Marcello. I notice the quick change in Marcello's eyes immediately he saw her. Aren't they like a thing? Why the hostile look?
"Melina" Marcello calls,a little smile starting to appear on his lips "you look ravishing tonight"
"It's like I dressed up for you," she replied "only I didn't know you were gonna come"
"But I did"
Somehow, judging from how they talked and looked at each other, it's almost impossible to think they were dating.
For a moment they all stood there silently,watching each other, a devilish smile thrown from Marcello to Melina while Melina's poker look remained unchanged.
"Well!" Marcello said "I'd like to steal her for a moment" and then he's guiding me away from the duo to another far side table.
"What do you think you're doing Ashley?" He says the moment we stopped at the empty table,his facial expression now changed to that of upset.
"What do you mean? You saw. I was just talking..."
"Keep your eyes open,that's what I told you to do"
"Oh well I'm sorry,you didn't exactly tell me what to 'watch' for you and as I recall,I've had my eyes open all night!"
"This isn't a mere party,Ashley. It's odd enough that the Lightfeathers are here"
"Well would you at least fill me in on this?" I flail my arms around to the surrounding.
"Take note of the people here tonight, Ashley. A few,the mafians,ruffians if I may be so bold. One,you were standing so close to a minute ago"
"Christopher?"
"You're so smart,I thought you'd know that" I didn't fail to sense the sarcasm there but now's not the time to argue.
"Well I'm surprised you'd date a mafian woman. Oh wait,I'm not so surprised"
"That's a long time ago"
So Christopher is a cheap liar. Duly noted. Not that I'll ever have to put up with him again after tonight.
"So what's this about? How does what you're telling me now have to do with this" I gestured my hands around the surrounding again.
"The Lightfeathers are known for their heightened thieving. It's odd enough that one is here tonight. I personally don't have a problem with them,we don't overstep territories. But they are very close to a certain somebody I'd have loved to meet here and finish a few scores with."
All I've just heard is a bunch of bla bla bla bla blas.
"So?"I urged him to say something more meaningful.
" Miguel throwing this party wasn't to welcome his wife,"he smiles wickedly "it's merely a show"
"What is it for then?"
"To lure a wanted man here. Lightfeather. Bruce Lightfeather and a Michael Amoretti. The man I have unfinished business with"
"What exactly is this business"
He picks a glass of wine from a waiter passing by and holds it to his lips "let's just say I'm a kid in a big park and this tall,very very mean man walks to me and natches my chocolate" he sips his drink and smiles before facing forward.
"Well you took your time before telling me that" I muttered quietly,looking forward too.
"Ladies and gentlemen" the previous man with a flower on his breast pocket whom I presumed is the Miguel Marcello just talked about stands at a top floor with a stair's rail in front. He has a glass of wine in one hand,the other gripping on the rail fence in front of him. "It's a wonderful pleasure having you here tonight," he continues "thank you,thank you for being here to celebrate somebody with me. And we all know the purpose of hosting this party. It is to welcome my dear wife,Sonia,after a successful brain surgery in Afghanistan. Please welcome this wonderful woman,Sonia White!"
A round of applause spreads through the room. I glanced over to Marcello and he had a smile on his lips as he watched Miguel. I looked forward again to find a petite and slim woman walking down the short stairs just beside the rail floor where Miguel's standing. She has a small baby face,adorned with straight blond hair made into a short bub on her head. She's wearing a golden bodycon gown that shone like the stones on it were diamonds. Gold diamonds. She has a pearl necklace running down her chest,her decent shoes high on the ground. She has light make up on,her lips a shade of brown and purple.
"There she is," Marcello comments "the star of the night"
Only she isn't. I watched her walk down to the floor,greeting the guests close by. Miguel goes down to her,planting a firm kiss on her temple before walking with her.
Okay if this party isn't for this lovely woman then what exactly is it for?
I grabbed another drink and watched as Marcello walk over to this Sonia. I couldn't believe she just came out from the surgery room.
The music soon starts,blaring across the room.
I watched as Melina walked over,a small fake smile on her lips. Didn't mean to judge but I can tell when I see a fake smile.
"So....," she said as she took the stool beside me "you're One of Marcello's"
"I thought your brother would've told you by now"
"That you're his girlfriend?"
"No,that I'm his assistant"
"Pff! You don't think he brought you here tonight cause you're just his assistant, do you?"
No,he brought me to be his assistant. I'm doing my job.
"I know Marcello, I see how he looks at you..."
Yeah,he looks at me because he thinks I suck at my job. Of keeping an eye on nothing exactly. Cheers to that.
"It's only a matter of time"
"Look,is there something you wanna say?" I asked her,obviously getting tired of her small talks. Plus her thick Spanish accent is annoying. Marcello has got to take a serious tutorial on choosing girls.
"I just thought you should know that Marcello and I once dated," she drops the glass from her mouth and turns her face to the far distance where Marcello stood talking "you should also know that he's an asshole. Big time"
I turn to look at him too. He's talking and laughing with Sonia now. His eyes glistened under the dim light.
"I couldn't agree any less to that" I added,eyes not leaving him.
Melina laughs shortly before drinking the last content of her glass and stamping it hard on the table "have a good night then" she said before walking out.
My eyes followed her as she walked across to the cornered table she once sat at. She passed the table and continued to walk towards what I presumed to be a backroom. Wait,there was a set of dull green eyes looking at me just then. My eyes moved back to this table in the shadows and alas,the pair of dull big green eyes. They belonged to a man. A man in a black coat. His hair is red and scattered,his skin a mixture of pale pink and bright scarlet, his lips thin and almost invisible on his face. His eyebrows are very few and scattered in a nice way,his neck invisible as the coat covered most of his body. He's a bit fat,what you'd call chubby. He looks to be in his early or middle 30s. His eyes doesn't move and they just held mine,settled there. Then his thin lips went into a smile and he held up his glass of wine to me in a cheering gesture.
Somehow he looked odd,like he didn't belong here. I tried to blink but I had this eerie feeling that if I did,I won't be seeing him again. I didn't know why I continued to stair back at him even though he gave me the chills. Why was he smiling at me and cheering to me ?
A finger snapped in front of my eyes and I blinked. Christopher is standing in front of me now,his face studying me,his body blocking my view of the green eyed man from across.
"My God,Ashley,I can take you for the night if you want"
I tried to look past him to the man and when I did,he was gone. The seat is empty. I let out a shaky breath. Christopher followed my gaze and turned to me ago.
"Quit checking that man out" he said.
"What man"
"That man sitting behind me with curls."
I look behind him again to find a slim,rather young looking man seated across,his eyes on his cellphone and smiling into it. He had brown curly hair and a broad nose bridge. I looked back t Christopher, annoyed.
"I wasn't checking him out. Eww."
"Understandable. Tell me what's your man up to?"
"Why did you lie about your sister and him?" I asked matter of factly.
"Because," he shrugged his shoulders "I knew you were lying when you told me you were together. You're not exactly the type of woman Marcello would date,no offense meant"
"I'd told you he was my date to the party!," I emphasized on the 'date' "we didn't have to be actually couples. And what do you mean by I'm not his type?"
Not that I cared he said that. Somebody has to put this guy wrong in his belief sometimes.
"I mean you're sexy,sweet,with a nice fashion sense,cute and descent. Marcello would rather go for a spoilt brat. Like my sister"
My mouth formed an 'O'. Somehow his words made me want to smile. My phone vibrates and a message came in. From Robin.
"Excuse me" I told Christopher, waving my phone to his face so he'd know why I had to leave and scooted over.
I open the message.
Robin:hey,Ashley. Been wanting to get a hold of you. I've been really busy. Wanted to know if you'd be free to eat lunch on Saturday so we could talk.
Me:sure.
Robin: great. I'll text you later.
Me:okay.
Robin:how about 2 o'clock. Seventh avenue, big Joe's.
Me:okay. I'll get back to you.
When I turned back,Christopher was gone. I looked around but he was no where in sight. I looked harder but neither was Marcello or Miguel. The party seemed to have reduced of people which didn't make any sense. It's like the people I once saw around me aren't the one and instead were replaced with strangers. I looked back to my phone to check it's time. 11:37p.m.
Suddenly, a strong palm is grabbed me by the upper arm and I looked to see that it's Marcello. He has a distasteful look on his face,like he's upset about something.
"We're leaving" he said,pulling me into motion,causing me to nearly stumble on my feet and holding my phone from falling off.
"Why?" I asked,adjusting to meet his strides as we walked towards the exit.
"Because I said so"