Episode 30

Episode 30.
I stared unblinkingly at Frenchie, his words sinking deep inside my brain. Did he just ask me to work for him? He must be joking right? I had expected he'd say something of this nature but not exactly how he put it to me.
"Excuse me," I finally let the words out "I ah,. . . . sorry,what do you mean?"
"Work for me. I have a lot of companies in need of your expertise"
"My expertise?"
"Yeah,you're really good with what you do from my observation and Riccardo was a fool to let you go"
"Hold on a minute. . ."
"I know this is a lot to take in but I'll tell you everything"
I watched him unbelievably. Sure he's from the mafia family, Mr Marcello told me that and speaking of it right now will be inappropriate. Imagine me working for the Mafia? As a what? Manager of the family's business? Will that be a good thing? But then there's the begging question: why me? He could've chosen anybody to offer this job to,but why me? Does this have something to do with Mr Marcello? Will me taking this job expose me to a lot of danger? Is this right or wrong? I was confused. I need a job,badly needed one but to work for him?
"Sorry,this is all just. . . .why do you wanna offer me this job? Don't tell me it's because of my expertise,Frenchie"
He chuckled loudly and said "well. . . ."
"Seriously, it's like I'm sitting in here with some stranger. I don't even know you and you offer me a job? What's your take,huh?"
"I have no take,Ashley. I'm just offering you a job"
"You must want something in return"
"Yeah,I do actually" I watched him quizzically, waiting for him to continue "some piece of information about the Manhattan project"
"Why do you wanna know about it?"
"Because Ashley,it's the world's second big thing"
"What do you mean?"
"You haven't seen it?"
"No. But why are you so concerned about it?"
"Heard some people are trying to steal it. We might know just who that is"
Some people? Weren't they the one trying to steal it? Was he just playing with me right now? But the way he talked,his eyes,his body composure,there's no sign of lie or pretense there. If it wasn't him then who is it?
"Who is that?" That isn't exactly my concern,especially since I didn't work for Mr Marcello anymore but I was getting curious at this point.
"I'm sure you don't wanna know that,Ashley"
I watched him,reasoning. Maybe he is right. Maybe I don't need to know. This doesn't concern Mr anyways.
"You and Mr Marcello aren't friends like you said. Everyone knows that" I told him.
"Marcello isn't my enemy, Ashley. He just likes to make himself one"
"What do you mean?"
He leans closer before replying conspiratorially "your boss blames us for an incident that had happened many many years ago"
I wanted to ask what had happened many years ago that caused this hatred between them but I knew better than to ask. He's probably gonna tell me I didn't need to know and honestly, I'm not so sure I wanna know either.
"So,are you accepting my job offer?"
I looked back at him,my mind still racing to the possible scenarios that may have caused this hatred between these two people. I gave him a small smile before replying "I'll think about it"
He nods with a lip lined smile "thank you. Mind if we order now?"
I nod,the thought that I wasn't here to eat with him but to talk and leave pushed to the back of my mind. I let him order for me, thoughts of Mr Marcello filling my mind throughout the evening.
I didn't let Frenchie drop me off. I couldn't let him. Couldn't lead him to where I lived. He's still a mafia person behind all those mouth watering gloss. I ended up taking the bus home.
* * *
Riccardo's POV.
Four days. Three days since she walked out of my office and left. I'd thought she'd cone back but who am I kidding? I for one knows Ashley would never do that. She's as stubborn as a mother cat. It infuriated me. She intimidated me. I knew sooner or later I'd have to get her back but then there's a possibly that she's already working at some other company and would turn me down the moment the words comes out of my mouth. Who wouldn't wanna have her work with them? To think my office has been a mess since she left.
My door pushed open and Mona walked in.
"Sir? I have the report on Ashley Shawn as you asked"
I watched her,my eyes telling her to go on with the report. I'd asked Mona to keep an eye on her and report to me her activities. Stalker enough, I didn't care what she'd think or say when she finds out I'm stalking her. Jasmine is right, I should get her back before it's too late. Whatever was I thinking?
"She barely leaves her home but I spotted her eating out with a man last night"
A man? I leaned out of my chair to get the info well.
"I'm not sure I should be reporting that to you,it's her personal life and. . . . . . "
"Just get on with it,Mona"
"They we're mostly discussing. I ran a background check on the man and he came out to be some French man called Frenchie Leonardo Amoretti"
I stared hard as the words left her mouth. Frenchie? She's going out with Frenchie? That's. . . . .
"Did you hear what they were discussing about?"
"No,sir. I think they might be friends or old school colleagues. . ."
"You may go"
She nods before turning to leave
"Mona?"
She turns to face me again "Meet with Ashley today. Ask her to come back to the office"
"Yes sir"
I slumped down on my chair,loosening the tie around my neck. Frenchie? What could he possibly be talking to Ashley about? Damn it! Ashley knows better than to even as much as talk with him. But again,she doesn't work for me anymore and she pretty much has the right to meet with who ever she pleases.
* * *
Ashley's POV.
I sat on my bed,the early morning cold seeping into me,causing goosebumps to coarse through my body. The big white Cardigan didn't help,neither did the expresso coffee Katie made me. That's new York's cold weather.
I surfed through the internet, looking for job vacancies. At some point I stopped and asked myself why I'm doing this. Frenchie just offered me a job. I should take it like I would take a job from any other person. But what's stopping me from dialing his number and telling him that I'd take the job? Mr Marcello. Yes,him. I keep feeling this sense of betrayal towards him. Why the hell do I feel this way?! I completely hated myself right now.
"Hey,Ashley" Katie said from the door as she walked in,towards my bed.
"Katie" I gave her a smile. She sits in front of me on the bed.
"What are you doing?"
"ah. . . . just looking up for job vacancies"
"Ashley, I still think you should confront your boss about what he did. Even Luca says so. Not to give you back your job but just so he knows it's not okay"
"Kay,I really don't wanna do that. I. . . ." I bet if I told him about Frenchie offering me a job,she'd go blast and ask me to accept it. I'm keeping that away from her till I've come up with a decision. "I'm gonna get another job. Don't worry"
"I told you Ashley,that is just the best thing to do but I've heard you. I actually have. . . . . something to tell you"
"Okay?"
"Um. . . . while I was in Atlanta . . . . . Robin called me"
"Huh? He did? What did he say?"
"Well. . . . . he wanted to meet with me. . . . ."
"Really? That's good. So?. . . ."
Her lips form a line before she spilled "I agreed with a condition"
"Really now,Kay. What was the condition?"
"That he'd come to the house instead. He agreed cause he's out of the country as of now"
"This is a really good news,Kay!" I wiggled my brows at her "I have a good feeling about this"
"I don't ,Ash" she replied with a little sense of excitement. Not that I expected her to be excited. She was finally agreeing to meet with her ex boyfriend. Given the circumstances of the reason behind their separation, I didn't expect her to be on merry heels. "I just. . . . . wanna get this over with,Ash"
"I understand, Kay. Hey,all you have to do is play nice. Don't bring the past up unless he did and talk about it as less sensitively as you can"
"I'll try"
My phone starts ringing on cue and I checked the caller's ID. Mona. Strange enough.
I picked it. "Hey"
"Ashley, thank God I finally got a hold of you. Been trying to reach you since last night to tell you this before hand"
"Yeah,my phone battery was down. How may I help you?"
"Um. . . . can we meet out some place? Just wanna have a word with you"
"Really?"
"How about 3. At Millie's. Meet you there?"
"Uh. . . . sure. Is everything alright?"
She chuckles sheepishly "yeah, everything's alright,Ashley. Just . . . . be there"
"Alright"
I disconnected the call to meet Katie's peering eyes. Her eyes watched me questioningly .
"Gonna tell me who that is?"
"It's a woman I worked with at Marcello's company. Mona. Said she wanted to see me by 3. Sounded like it's important"
"Really? I think you should totally meet with her. Maybe your jerk of a boss asked her to beg you to come bag"
"What?" Ridiculous "that has to be the last thing Mr Marcello would ever do. He's too proud"
"Exactly. That's why he's sending her"
"Kay,Mona is like a friend. I don't imagine Mr Marcello doing something as ridiculous as that in a million times"
"Okay. Fine. Go meet with her"
I gave her a smile before going back to my computer.
"So,when are you gonna tell me about that hottie?'
" what hottie?"
"Trevor of course. The one you used to work with?"
I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face.
"You're even smiling. Waw! Look at that blush!"
"I am not blushing okay?"
The thought of the last time we went out together crossed my mind. How he'd almost kissed me in his car? Or. . . . . was I just mistaking?
Katie leaned in and whispered conspiratorially "I know you're attracted to him"
"Katie?!"
She stands up and said "what? I'd say you should get him laid"
She gives me the brows as she retracted her steps back towards my door and out of my room,leaving me grunting in frustration.