Episode 19

Episode 19.
When I got home after spending nearly four hours with Robin at the eatery,Katie was out for a stroll. Luca was out too.
I retired to my room and took a short shower,after which I engaged myself in one of Mr Marcello's work I brought home with me. I was exhausted but I knew I wouldn't have time to finish them before Monday. I'm going to a charity event Katie's father was hosting down town on Sunday. Katie's father was a lovely old man who'd want us to stay for as long as he want. I couldn't risk saving this work for later.
I engaged myself in making a small dinner for us after finishing the work. While cooking,the silence in the room was so comforting, almost hypnotising that I couldn't help thinking about the party I'd been to with Mr Marcello, the green eyed man sitting at the back and watching me. Thinking about it now,it gave me the chills. I should tell Mr Marcello about it but again he could've been just an ordinary man sitting in a room filled with people. Another reason why I shouldn't tell Mr Marcello about it,especially since he didn't ask.
When Katie returned, she was all looking energized and wouldn't stop eating. She was excited about her father's charity program tomorrow, I had to put Robin at the back of my mind. I wasn't gonna talk about what we talked about now nor tomorrow..... Till the time is right. Robin had asked me to talk to Katie and have her meet him.
**
I sat at my office table,my eyes fixated on the schedule on my table. I've gotten so used to setting and arranging Mr Marcello's schedules,I barely get tired of doing them. I was starting to enjoy it. I was getting my first payment tomorrow and I didn't wanna jeopardize that. I made sure to phone the people he was meeting with for lunch and business meetings to inform them of any changes.
When my telephone rang,I thought my heart leapt out of my chest. I picked it up reluctantly "yes?"
"My office, now"
I placed the receiver back and walked into his office.
Mr Marcello is standing at his window,his back to me. He's not wearing his suit,only his pale blue inner on his body.
"Yes?" I stopped in front of his table. He turns away from his window to me,a smug look on his face. Over the weeks of working with him,I've picked up the talent of reading his moods from his facial expressions and right now,he looked displeased about something.
"Ashley" he called,stepping forward "we never got the chance to talk"
When he didn't say anything again,I asked "talk about what sir?"
"The party,of course" he pushed his hands into his pants pockets "tell me your observations that night"
He's suddenly asking. I'm getting paid tomorrow..... Play cool.
"Well......I didn't really......see anybody"
"Well," he sat on his chair "the man you were so engrossed in a conversation with,Christopher Lightfeather and the sister Melina,outsmarted you"
"What exactly are you talking about?"
"They were at that party with the same man I asked you to keep an eye out for,Michael Amoretti"
"Wait....you never told me to keep an eye on any Michael Amoretti. You just told me to...."
"Keep yours eyes open,yes. Must I always tell you everything? And while you were there talking sweet talks and letting him flirt with you,you were letting the bad man slip away"
"Okay,stop that. First,Christopher was not flirting with me which clearly isn't any of your business by the way and second,I wasn't letting any man slip away. I didn't even know who this man is"
The man sitting at the back.....with green eyes.
"So it's my fault"
"Maybe! You wouldn't even tell me anything! Not why we we're there and why we had to leave that way"
"Well if you so wanna know I have an unfinished business with this Michael guy and he was supposed to be there in honour of Sonia's successful surgery."
"What were you gonna do to him? Kill him?"
He watches me for a second without a word,his lips half open before he spoke "you deem me a killer?"
It's my turn to watch him now,speechless. For a second it looked like my words had hurt him but almost immediately, he's smiling wickedly.
"Maybe that's just what I'll do" he said,"Michael took something that belonged to me and I would go any length to get it back"
"By killing him? That would bring it back?"
"Yes. It will"
I watched him silently for a while before saying "what did it have to do with Christopher and his sister"
"Wasn't it a coincidence that they were both there that same night? I went way back with their father. They're just thieves hiding under the covers of the several businesses they pose to be doing"
"Yet you dated the sister" I regretted it the moment the words came out. Stupid! That was none of my business.
"It's good to know you're jealous" my eyes catches his smile for a second and my frown deepened.
"There was a man at the party that night" I admitted,remembering how the man had looked at me and how he had smiled.
"What was he like?"
"He had big green eyes,red hair....I couldn't see much cos he was sitting at the shadowy backside of the room"
"Frenchie"He muttered breathily.
" you know him?"
"He's Michael's right hand man"
"So?"
"If I had my hands on him...." He stopped.
"Well.what exactly did he take from you?" I pressed,suddenly feeling upset by his tight lip.
"That's not what you should know. Your job is to get me as much information as you can,Ashley"
I forced my gaze away from his before briefly replying "okay. Anything else?"
"What's my schedule today?"
"You missed a conference meeting in the morning about the club house project Trevor and I are supervising but there's nothing to worry about,its already taken care of. It was just a demand of more capitals for the workers. Now you have a lunch meeting but I scheduled it to 12p.m so you will be able to meet up for the next meeting with a Mrs Jane Anne at a warehouse at fifth avenue. That will be all for the day."
"And tomorrow?"
"You have a flight to Atlanta for a short business meeting with Mr Joan"
"Oh,that"
"You won't be back throughout the day so I cancelled other schedules"
"Good"
For a tiny second there I saw a look of satisfaction on his face before they quickly disappeared. Then he just sat there,watching me. I suddenly felt uncomfortable.
"Where's the name?"
"Uh....what?"
"James Albert"
My face dropped. Really? You know if he had forgotten about this and didn't bring this up again,I would've actually forgotten the fact that there was actually no such name on that damned list.
"I sent the names to you already"
"I saw it. But the instruction was for you to submit a particular name to me"
What the hell was he talking about?!
"There Is no such name on that list!"
I yelled. I hadn't intended to. Maybe I did,but I didn't want to do that and now I did. I'm angry alright? How could he ask me to find a name when there isn't a name like that on that stupid long list?!
"I'm sorry.....I typed every single name out and even crosschecked it after copying them but there's really no such name!"
"So you're calling me a liar"
"No,but I think you should check it yourself, there isn't...."
"You're asking me to do your fucking job for you?!" He yelled now,shaking me vigorously. The deepness and anger in his voice causes me to stumble back in fear. "What do I pay you for huh?! If you can't open your damned eyes and see a name then you're just as good as useless!"
I forced my eyes to meet his instantly,his words actually causing more pain than anger to me now. How could this man say this? How could he even think of such a thing? I could feel the sudden moistness of my eyes and I feared blinking. I couldn't give him the pleasure of seeing me cry.no.
There's no such name. I'm completely sure but what the hell does he expect me to do?! I've always known that this man was ruthless and just as heartless and he wouldn't think for a heartbeat before firing me,even if I was getting my payment tomorrow. He'd fire me like I never mattered. Maybe I didn't. I didn't care whatever else he says, if I have to look through the names again,I would do it.
I stood there,motionless, speechless....too scared to speak. I fought the urge to reach my palms up my arms to rub, a way of getting a little comfort.
"Now listen good," his deep,menacing voice growls again "you better go to that office of yours and get me that fucking name. And I want all the rest of the names printed on sheets. You have twenty four hours"
I turned away immediately and hurried out,my legs barely carrying me. The instant I was outside of his office,I wanted to cry. I wanted to feel less hurt. I wanted to go home. Not to the apartment, but to my father.
I pushed away the tears nibbling at my lower eyes and sat down in my office. I'm gonna find that name and I didn't care about staying here all night just so I could do it.
I didn't know if all these was his idea of punishing me for something I mistakenly did,if that's it then he's good.
I think I went through the names a hundred times before accompanying him to his lunch meeting. I could barely concentrate all day. My eyes hurt,my body ached and I felt terribly tired.
After the lunch,we were heading back to his office in his car. I put a big distance between the two of us while at the backseat of his black SUV. I never glanced at him and he never said a word to me. I've never appreciated silence so much in my life like I did then.
When we stopped at the office,he asked to be taken to a hotel while I went back to the office.
I met some paper work from Mona on my desk. I had to run some prints on it. I felt dizzy.
At 2p.m,a few minutes from returning to the office,I was getting a call from Mrs Jane Anne's secretary about the business meeting at the warehouse. I dreaded phoning Mr Marcello but I was entitled to no choice at all so I called to inform him. He asked me to meet him there.
I didn't know how much I sighed throughout the day but I knew if I were to count,I'd probably lose count already.
The meeting was a brief one and we returned to the office just as fast.
After a while,Trevor walks to my table and said "You've been so busy,Ashley,sure you gon' be okay?"
I managed to give him a smile "I'll be fine" I knew I was already sick inside but the way Trevor looked at me with concern in his eyes,it was obvious it's written on my outside.
"Okay,come on. You're gonna be late for home"
"I'm not leaving,Trevor"
"Um....you mean...."
"I'm not leaving till I find this name. I'm dead serious so you should really leave without me please" I go back to facing the computer again.
He doesn't speak for a while. Then he sighed loudly before saying "alright. I know nobody's gonna persuade you to leave if you don't wanna. But I'd advice you to just go home," then he whispered conspiratorially "that guy is a douchebag. Stop letting him get to you"
I gave him a small chuckle before replying "good night,T"
"Night Ashley"
And he was gone.
It was dawn but I was determined to remain here till I miraculously find that name,even though I knew it wasn't on this stupid list.
Mr Marcello walks out of his office and I refused to look up at him. He walks past me and I heard the elevator jinxed and then he was gone. I felt like I could finally breathe.
I watched the time go by and soon,my eyes were beginning to betray me.
My head spun and I knew I'd need a hospital if I ever walked out of here alive.