Episode 27

Episode 27.
The following morning, I woke up with a lot less pain to my bones. I rose gracefully as they say it and then I'd settled in my bed for a while before deciding to go for a little morning jog.
I ran along my street blocks,my earphone plucked into my ears,Series of my phone's song albums booming in my ear,completely shutting me out. But as I jogged along,at some point,I began to have this eerie feeling of someone watching me. Cautiously, I pulled away my earpiece and jogged back towards the apartment. Then the feeling started coming back to me. The feeling of being followed,of being watched. I looked over my shoulders severally but saw nothing suspicious. Then I ran along,feeling sorry for myself. I'm just paranoid. I obviously don't think Mr Marcello would send a serial killer after me for yelling at him in his office. I cannot believe I just gave that a thought.
Once I got back into my apartment room,I felt all energized and I took a quick shower. I stayed on the phone mostly talking with Katie and some times Trevor. Many atimes,I'd come across my dad's number. I'd been tempted to call,but I scrolled away before giving in to the temptation. I missed him but now is not the time to talk with him.
I stayed home all day,watching my favorite shows on Netflix and all. I couldn't stop wondering what Mr Marcello was up to at every moment. If he was at the office. If he was having a meeting right now. If he needed my help. If he missed me. If he already asked Mona to get him another assistant, to put up a job vacancy again. I itched to check the vacancy site and confirm then I decided against it. Then I wanted so badly to call Mona and ask her personally of Mr Marcello's decision but again,I decided against it. Whatever he's gonna do is his problem now,not mine.
Just then,my phone blared to life. The caller's ID is unsaved but I pick it anyway.
"Hello?" Silence "Hello?"
"Hi" a bold,male voice boomed into my ear.
I waited for him to tell me who he was or say something else at least but he doesn't.
"Hello?" I said again.
"Do you know who you're speaking to?"his voice is deep,yet smooth and gentle.
"No?"I said questioningly.
I could hear him smile.
"It's Frenchie from the party"
The image of the young green eyed man from the gala of Saturday night appears to me and all I could think is how he got my number and why he's calling me.
I cleared my throat and replied "How may I help you?"
"I'm sorry to bother you,Ashley. I was wondering if I could make your acquaintance tonight?"
"How do you mean?"
"Forgive me if I'm asking for too much but I'd love to have a word with you. Say over dinner?"
"Is this about my boss? If that's the case then you should know that I already quit. I don't work for him anymore"
His laughter is soft,I could barely hear it "No,my dear. I just wanna speak with you on a different matter"
"What is the matter about?"
"If I tell you you'd never agree to meet me tonight"
"Why do you need me to meet you?"
"Ashley......I just want us to get to know each other. I really don't mean any harm. I just think you're a really....nice person,that's all"
I remained silent,thinking deep about his request and what to say. I bit my lip, wondering whether to agree to meet with him or not. He's Mr Marcello's enemy. But what do I care anymore? I'm not working for him anymore which makes his enemies my friend!
"So?. . . ." his voice came on after a short silence.
"Okay but I'm choosing a place"
"I'd say okay if I hadn't already booked us a seat at a very interesting diner"
"Diner"
"They serve nice spicy soup there"
I wanted to smile. . . . and laugh.
"Okay. . . . .Where is this interesting dinner at?"
"Thirteenth avenue, Milly's"
"Okay I'll meet you there."
"Seven?"
"Seven?"
I brought the phone back to my face and disconnected the call. I felt wired. Remind me again why I agreed to go out with a stranger? Life is worth a little risk every now and then,doesn't it? Yes to that. . . .
At exactly six thirty,I was ready to go meet this Frenchie of a man. The temperature had dropped a few degrees and it was crispy cold outside so I wore a tea colored cotton gown I'd bought of a store last year,a brown and oversized knitted Cardigan with brown boots. I wore a scarf around my neck for warmth before walking down the road. I'd get there a few minutes later after seven but that should just do. It's best he's waiting for me than I getting there before him.
The taxi pulled up in front of Milly's dinner and I stepped down. The diner is a little old,fairy lamps on poles before the entrance, oozing dim yellow lights to give it a glow warmth. When I pushed the door open,the bell above jinxed and I gave a small smile to the woman behind the counter.
My eyes scanned the place for Frenchie but I couldn't spot him. I spotted an empty table at the back and helped myself to a seat. It's seven minutes past seven. He's probably on his way here right now. It's never wrong to be five to ten minutes late. . . . . . . . .
A waitress,brunette and young looking walks to me with a pleasant smile and asked "What may I get for you?"
"Nothing...I'm actually waiting for someone"
"Okay. In the mean time,mind if I get you anything to drink?"
"Um...no thanks I'm okay"
She nods with a smile before turning to leave but I quickly stop her.
"Um...did any man called Frenchie make a reservation for seven o'clock this evening?"
"Frenchie. . . . oh yes,he called in a few hours ago making the reservation for a table at the back"
"Okay thank you" she left.
He's gonna come soon. He's fifteen minutes late now. I looked around to the unfamiliar faces in the room. I probably looked stupid. The girl at an empty table all by herself, nothing drinking or eating anything. A laugh to that.
Clicking heels against the floor starts getting louder till a woman stopped in front of my table.
"Hey,it's you"
I looked up to find the blond woman standing tall in front of me. I recognize her immediately. Who wouldn't? Isn't she like Mr Marcello's girlfriend or whore? . . . Jasmine, if I remember correctly.
But looking at her now,in her long red gown,she displayed a smile I'd never seen before.
"Hi," I quickly smile back "I...."
"What are you doing here alone?" She looks around "Where's Marcello?"
"Ah...he's not here"
"Silly," She laughed tenderly "I'm just joking. May I?"
"Sure" she draws a chair and sirs down.
"How come you're seated here on your own?" She asked,more to my dissatisfaction but I smiled at her nonetheless.
"I'm ah. . . waiting for someone"
"That's nice."
I checked my time again. 7:21.
"I'll just order us a few drinks and be away real quick" she winked at me.
"Sure" I replied with a smile. She throws her hand in the air and called a waitress. She whispered into her ear and she went back.
"So," she started. "What's your favorite drink?"
"ah. . . . . . I don't really have a favorite drink"
"Oh,bummer. We never got the chance to meet properly. I'm Jasmine Waters" she stretches her hand over the table to me.
I take it in a handshake "Ashley Shawn"
"Nice. You know I always ask why Ric chose you to work for him,why not date you instead?" If I was drinking the wine that the waitress just placed in front of me,I'd probably be choking on it right now. She waves the waitress away before glancing back at the stunned look on my face.
"Wait. . . . don't tell me. . . . you think I'm dating Rickie?" She laughs.
Well,technically, I did think so.
"You're not?" I asked bravely. What do I care? I don't work for him anymore.
"Of course not!," she drinks her alcohol "Ric's like my brother. Long story"
"Well I couldn't possibly date a man like that even if the world asked me to"
"Why do you say that?"
"I don't mean a disrespect but frankly,Ric's not exactly a nice person"
She laughs before saying "I know what you mean,Ashley. Honestly,I'm surprised you still work with him cause. . . . "
"I don't work for him anymore" I replied sternly and she stops to watch me for a while.
"What? Why not?"
"I quit yesterday, Jasmine" I called her name. Like she was a friend. While Katie hasn't been around to listen to this my story,I needed someone to listen to them and I hadn't thought before saying all I said to Jasmine.
"What happened?"
"He doesn't know how to treat someone like a human being,Jasmine. He lacks so many things. Respect,goodwill,sense,everything! I tried to endure all he said to me,all the hurt he made me pass through every single day but I just couldn't do it anymore so I quit"
Ma'am sighs and remains silent for while while I sipped my drink before she said "I'm sorry,Ashley. Ric isn't really a bad person,you just don't see the good side in him yet."
"Good?" I scoffed loudly. Talk about joke.
"I've been calling him since yesterday but he doesn't pick my calls and I sensed he was at it again"
"What do you mean 'at it'?"
"Ashley,I understand that Ric is everything but good,he's hard hearted but honestly, he's never been like this"
"You mean there's an excuse behind his attitude to people!"
"Yes,there's an excuse. Ric isn't a bad person and you'll know one day,Ashley"
I wanted to ask her what his problem was,why he's so mean,what drove him on edge. But I realized I didn't care and it was not my business. So I don't ask anything and just sip my drink. I quickly glanced over my phone. 7:32.
"Your date running late?" Jasmine asked observantly.
"No," I shook my head "He's not my date"
"Okay" she drank up and I was glad she didn't ask who my date was.
She put down the now empty glass before leaning closer and whispering "Do you know that Ric's mother doesn't visit him? Doesn't say a word to him,doesn't recognize him above her endless wealth"
My eyes perched hers as I listened.
"That's why he's the way he is most of the times"
Okay his mother cares about her wealth over him. That's kinda understandable, really. Like mother like son.
"Why doesn't she. . . . . check up on him?"
"I wish I knew,Ashley. But that remains a mystery to me"
"I thought you know him well"
"Well.....," she smiled,her eyes moving back like she was remembering something "I owe Ric my life,yes. He picked me up when I had almost given up life and made me family. He found me when my abusive father raped and physically abused me to the point of death. When he'd thought I was dead from all the torture, he dumped me at the gutter to rot. Mr Marcello had found me and gave me another chance to live. He saved me,Ashley. Ric is a good man,Ashley,he's just in a battle with himself"
I watched her,finding it hard to believe that this woman seated right in front of me could have experienced such a hard side of life before. Well.. . . . never judge a book by it's cover. And all these. . . . was made possible by Mr Marcello?
What was he fighting within himself?
A dark past?