Episode 35

Riccardo's POV.
Obvious. Obvious. That's a word I try never to align with during my every endeavors in life. I asked myself countless times if I was being too much,if I was doing too much for this woman. If it was all too obvious that I wanted her by my sides at all time. To tend to my office and hopefully much more. I sucked at these things. What exactly are these things I felt deep inside me?
From the very first day she'd left my office,quitting the job, I've never felt any other thing but regret. I had crossed the line and I'd crossed it deep. I knew when she walked out that there was no going back,no taking my vulgar and inhumane words back. I regretted saying all I did to her but she needed to know her place. I'd done what I did to remind myself that she meant absolutely nothing to me,that she was a woman too who didn't deserve any form of kindness from me,that they're all the same. I did that to put her in her place,to show her that she was a mere worker and I could do whatever I so pleased whenever, wherever.
But when I saw her tears,when she walked out of that door,I knew I'd made a very big mistake. Ashley was a strong,stubborn and independent woman,getting her back was gonna be the toughest thing I'd ever have to do but after all Jasmine had said,I knew she was right. I needed to get her back.
There was just something really spectacular about her that for the days she didn't come to the office,it felt like there was a big hole in my chest that needed filling in. She filled that space and I wondered for how long had that hole been dug there. Since the first day she walked into my office as my new assistant? Or since that very day she'd spilled coffee on me at that café? Somehow, I'd hoped to see her once again. To make her pay for what she did. But after she appearing into my life,I didn't know if my anticipation to see her again was to make her pay for what she did or to savour her company. Sure,she works her way through my meetings like no other woman ever did,she even makes blueprints! She was an asset. Ever since she made that blueprint for a colleague, I'd been getting more partnership requests from all over the states and that meant more money. I knew she was something great. But what did I do? I jeopardized that with my hatred for women and fear of having something to care for. That strange feeling of entitlement destroyed you and hold you back from making so much decisions. I didn't want no part of it.
But meeting with Frenchie? She of all people knew who Frenchie is to me. Regardless that she didn't work for me anymore, Frenchie wasn't the kind of man for her to be hanging around with. The anger I'd felt when Mona reported to me that she'd seen them eating together hadn't only opened my eyes to vivid reasons about why I cared what she did behind our working space and what they could possibly be meeting about. Sure the mafia family went after women they want and wouldn't stop till they got them. I hated to think about that. But I knew that. . . . . Haha. I know Michael Amoretti too well. He's gonna wanna take Ashley too. That's what he's good at isn't it?
I shut my eyes and turned to the side of my car before opening them again. It was 3 fucking p.m already,but everything about Ashley Shawn seemed to occupy my mind. Why was I really up? Because the image of Trevor kissing her in his car crosses my mind every time I tried to shut my eyes and sleep and then I realize that the thought got me upset. Really upset.
I've always known that Trevor had a thing for her. It was obvious enough. The way he's always out to be her backup whenever she's facing difficulties with work,how he's always driving her home. It was irritating but I learnt to overlook it. Whatever was going on between them wasn't my business. And again,in a way it was. I'm paying Ashley to be my assistant. Personal assistant. She's entitled to me alone. I own her because I sign her pay check at the end of the day. But I knew not to meddle in her personal life. Work was a different thing entirely, personal life was just as different.
But Trevor? Seriously? I wish I'd fired him the day I called him. The day they went out together but when I called,I'd only discussed work with him. Ashley should have some taste. Why I showed even the littlest bit of concern,I didn't know. I'd only left the office for a few hours and the next thing I knew, their faces were all over each other in his car?! I'd left the office earlier to get ready so I'd just be at her house to pick her for the airport, I could wait even if she wasn't ready, I didn't mind. But when I started pulling up,I saw Trevor's car with the two of them inside. Ashley was about to leave but he holds her back,leaning closer to her. I gripped my steering wheel hard as I watched his face go closer to hers. Wasn't she supposed to push him away or something? Wasn't she gonna stop him? Did I want her to stop him from kissing her? But it happened and I forced my eyes away as he kissed her.
I looked back again when I thought it was safe without hurting my emotions. Hurting? Really,Ric?? Trevor's car is turning and going back past me. Ashley was walking into her apartment building. She's laughing while saying hello to the gardener tending to the flower beds at the front lawn beside the front entrance. Her smile. . . . how could a woman smile so much,with so much elegance in it?
I waited for a few more minutes, enough time that I assumed she'd already dressed up before getting out of my car and heading inside her apartment. I didn't know her room number but I could always call her. Following the direction from a woman,I took the elevator to the 40th floor. I stopped right in front of room 017D. Placing a firm knock on the door,I waited for Ashley to open up.
"Who knocks in this century when there's a fucking door bell?!" I heard a squeaky voice,much tinier and meaner than Ashley's from the inside. My eyes quickly caught sight of the door bell switch on the side of the door.
Before I could think,the door swings open and a woman,a bit smaller than Ashley standing. She's wearing a bum short,her blond hair looking out of place. Her eyes went wife immediately as she saw me before she turns back to the back,opening the door a little wider for me to see Ashley seated on a stool close to a kitchen threshold. Ashley looked like she'd seen a ghost as she saw me,jumping off her stool and rushing to cover her exposed body with the open robe around her body. Wait,I hadn't noticed the exposed body first. She's wearing some kind of half top with a mini bum short, her legs on full display even as she tried to cover them up with the robe.
"How may I help you?" The first woman asks,her eyes scanning me.
"He's. . . my boss" Ashley beat me to it. "Come on in"
Something told me the first woman knew who I was cause she let me into the house before shutting the door behind me.
There was something about seeing Ashley stand there like that,nervous out of her mind. I couldn't help the smile that forced its way through my lips. "I'm guessing we're gonna be two hours late for the flight" I gestured towards her robe.
"I'm so sorry,Mr Mar. . . Ric," she fumbled with words "I'm just gonna change!" She runs away into a room before I could speak.
"Have a seat" the first woman said "I'm Katie"
I gave her a smile "nice to meet you," I said as I assumed a seat "I'm Riccardo"
"Of course I know you," she said,sitting on the opposite couch "You're the Marcello"
"And you're the Katie who called her endlessly because she was running late from work"
"Then you must be the boss who went through his worker's phone reading her messages"
"I ah. . . " I was speechless. I couldn't believe I did that "Nice house"
"Listen Mr Marcello," Katie said seriously "I only let you into this house because Ashley asked me to. I'm not a mean person, I'm just being my beat friend's keeper. I know all you've done to her and I'm not letting it slide just yet. I was gonna come down to your office and give you a piece of my mind but Ashley wouldn't let me so now that she's back under your wing again,try to treat her even just a little bit better. And you better take good care of her in London or else!"
She tried to impose the anger in her mind but it was obvious she was one of the sweetest persons anyone would ever meet. She just cautioned me. Like Waw! I must've changed into something I'm having a hard time recognizing myself. All she just said was something to laugh about but instead I smiled. Just as I was about to reply,Ashley rushed back out,bulling a travel box out.
She looked like she'd hurried to get dressed,the sweats on her forehead was evident. She's wearing a pale blue T-shirt with the yellow poo bear painted on the chest area. The swelling in her chest stood out perfectly, making the head of the bear barely visible to the eyes. I casted my eyes away,hating the sudden thoughts in my head. A pair of faded blue jeans adorned her once naked legs. Her hair is held at the nape of her neck and down her back. She has a denim jacket tied around her waist.
"I'm sorry I'm. . . . I'm ready now!" She said said,her eyes looking from me to her friend "are you two okay?"
"Yeah!" Katie replied,leaping onto her feet to pull her into a hug.
I walked out first,not wanting any part of the goodbye exchanges the women were gonna share.
After Ashley got into the car with me,I drove us to my private jet at the mini airport. I stole glances at her as she walked with me, my driver who'd met us at the airport helping her with her bag. Once we were in,I watched Ashley gently occupy the seat opposite mine. The copter is made absolutely comfort, perks of owning a private property.
She tries not to look at me but she failed miserably at it. Once in a while I'm catching her glances,not caring that she might as well be catching me looking at her.
For the first time in weeks,I noticed something in her eyes.
Sadness.
Something even way deeper. Something I feared she's kept inside for way too long without anyone knowing.
That's when I thought about it. The conversation I'd overheard her having with her father on the phone earlier. There'd been something awfully sad about the atmosphere around her then. Ashley wasn't the kind of woman to talk about what happened with her,I've paid way too much attention to her while we worked together everyday to know that. But then she'd talked with Frenchie first. Slowly, their conversation replayed in my head,giving rise to my anger once again.
Frenchie.
I cast my gaze from Ashley to the glass of red wine in my hand. I wanted to toast to the end of Frenchie. And Michael Amoretti.