Chapter 38

Riccardo's POV.
I knew it wouldn't be long now till Michael shows himself to me. He had sent me that note the other day to make me aware of his presence,to tell me how he's always around me. I don't expect him to hide under these masquerade masks.
My eyes catches Ashley as she approached me. She looked stunning in the dress,I had to refrain from holding her slim waists each time she was close to me. The make up artist had done a perfect job on her face,I thought I'd lost my breath the moment she walked out of her hotel room to me. For a moment I was frozen and just stared at her. Throughout the ride,the same question kept resounding in my head: how could a woman be so beautiful?
Then she'd smiled so sweetly and played havoc with my heart. This woman. Have I just gotten used to her being around me that I suddenly appreciate her beauty? Or do I admire her? Do I perhaps. . . . .
I shake the thoughts away to give her a small smile as she stopped before me. Picking up a wine glass,she said "how's your arm?"
"It'd heal quickly if you stop worrying so much about it" I replied jokingly,earning me a small smile.
"Okay,I'll stop asking," she sips the wine and looks around "nice party"
"I'm guessing you've never been to a masquerade ball before" I watched her small dark eyes from the eyehole in her mask. They glistened brilliantly.
"Well. . . I've been to a masquerade ball party when I was sixteen. With my best friend, Katie. We were still in highschool then. It was a founder's party"
I imagined her in a gown similar to the one she's wearing now. A much younger version of her,as beautiful as now,looking all festive and a couple of young boys ogling at her. The thought causes me to laugh tenderly.
"Is something funny?"
"No no,I was just thinking. I hope you can dance"
"Yes but I'm gonna be a little bit awkward in the high heels" she laughs,telling me it's a joke and I smiled back. I sipped my wine from its glass,my eyes straining forward to see Ashley waving at someone. By the time I set the glass down,Ashley is turning to me and saying "excuse me,I wanna meet someone"
She barely let me talk before scurrying over to the other side,blocking whoever it is she was going to meet. I looked closely, wondering why I was even doing that,paying unnecessary attention to her. Doesn't she deserve some privacy? She could be meeting some men who's gonna want her number tonight. So why do I care? I looked away,and instantly realized I'd caught sight of someone and looked back again.
In front of Ashley stood Frenchie. He's not wearing a mask. His grin is wide as he exchanged what looked like pleasantries with Ashley. Ashley is grinning ear to ear too as they greet. Frenchie points to something behind her. My eyes moved to her back and fell on a man wearing a ball mask. His face is well hidden under the golden ball mask,a wine glass tucked in his one hand,the other resting on the table beside them. Ashley turns around now to meet this man that Frenchie just pointed to him. I watched closely as he took Ashley's hand and placed his lips over it,leaving a gentle kiss on it. The sight infuriated me and I found my jaw clenching.
My instinct told me to walk over there and snatch her hand away then I realized I was just being ridiculous. When the latter man moved,he caught my attention and I paid a close attention to him. I couldn't see his face thanks to the mask but he must be somebody important for Frenchie to. . . . . wait. Slowly, he loses the strands of his mask and took it off,revealing his face.
Michael Amoretti.
My jaw clenched harder and my gaze darkened.
Ashley? What's up?"
I gave him a small smile with an approving nod of my head "I'm back,T"
"That's. . . . good news,Ashley. Welcome back"
I got to my office and sat down,my table looking clean and dustless like it's been cleaned for me.
Mona appears before me,screaming my name and slamming her schedule board on my table in front of me.
"Thank goodness you're back,Shawn," she said breathily "that is Mr Marcello's schedule for today. I advice you go through it right now"
"Thanks Mona. Is he . . . . in?"
"Yeah," she whispered conspiratorially "he's been here before any of us in this office"
"Really?" What would he be doing so early this morning?
She nods before quickly turning away and disappearing. I watched the door to Mr Marcello's office, wondering what he could possibly be doing in there before deciding to go through the schedule. After going through everything, I walked into his office.
He was seated at his table,his body wight slumped against the chair's back rest as he swung left and right. He had a black pen in his hands,his eyes glued to it. But his eyes soon flew up to me the moment I stepped in. And they lingered for a while longer before he put the pen away and his eyes away. There was something about his eyes,something I've never seen before. Like there's sadness in them. Did something happen?
Stopping at his table,I greeted "good morning, sir. . . ."
"What happened to 'call me Ric?'" He cuts me off.
"Yeah,forgot. Ric" I started flipping the papers "um. . . . you're having a meeting with the constructor of the casino downtown,I scheduled for 11a.m so you could leave for lunch after then. I got a call from a Mrs havens. Said she talked with you yesterday and would be meeting today so I scheduled for 1p.m. Trevor has to brush you on some work about the teams sent to China two weeks ago and that would be 10 O'Clock. Thirty minutes from now"
"Very well. Thank you"
Him thanking me totally surprised me but I don't let him know that as I quickly nodded and turned towards the door.
"Ashley.. .. " he called.
I turned around "yes?"
He doesn't speak again. He just watches me for a while before tearing his gaze away from mine and saying "uh. . . . you are accompanying me to lunch right? Don't worry, I'll buy your meal this time" as cocky as that sounds coming from him,I gave him a small smile before walking out.
I hurried over to my desk to prepare for the meeting. Thirty minutes later we were all hurled around the conference table. Everything seemed to go smoothly and soon,I was sitting back on my desk,going through some of the papers submitted to me which would be needing Mr Marcello's. . . . .no,Ric's signature before the end of the day. After meeting with the building manager of the casino project,Ric's driver drove us to a different restaurant.
For the first time,I felt satisfied with myself as I sat there in front of Ric. He'd ordered my food and I'd eaten quietly, embarrassed for some reasons unknown to me. He barely said a word to each other and it felt like this man had completely changed into a better person. But I knew that was impossible. I knew he was just acting up only to go back to being the jerk he was. But each time I caught his eyes,I saw something different in them. I saw sadness,I saw loneliness and I saw emotions I couldn't quite decipher.
After having lunch,we were driven back to the office. I watched him leave again but I couldn't care less. The last thing I wanted was getting dragged out of this office. I was exhausted as it is.
"I see you've eaten out" I look up to see Trevor leaning against my office cubicle, his arms folded across his chest.
"Yeah," I replied,not really knowing what else to say.
He just nods with pouted lips "it's. . . . uh good to have you back"
"Thanks"
"Mr Marcello called you back?"
"Uhu,you wouldn't believe he could actually do that right?"
"Exactly. But. . . . . you should be careful though"
"Don't worry,T," I gave him an appreciative smile "we already talked through somethings. He knows I'll be out of here even with the slightest bit of maltreatment. "
"Good. Um. . . . okay. I'm just gonna head to the next floor"
"Yeah,okay," he started to turn back "nice presentation today" he turns back to me "your team did great"
He gave me a smile "thanks" before leaving.
At exactly 1:52,Riccardo walked back into the office, his face Moody. I didn't know where this was coming from but I was getting a little concerned. I knew something was up and also,I knew I wasn't in any place to ask. What do I care anyway?
Just then,my phone started to ring. I couldn't check who the caller was so I just picked right away and put it on speaker,still typing on my computer.
"Hello?" I said
"Hi,Ashley"
I stopped,recognizing the voice immediately. I quickly picked the phone and put it from speaker before holding it against my ear "Frenchie"
"How are you doing?"
I rubbed a palm over my forehead "I'm . . . . great. Why are you calling?"
"Um. . . . . just wanted to confirm why I. . . haven't heard anything from you. You told me you were gonna get back to me about my proposal. . . . "
"Yeah,about that. . . listen,Frenchie, I'm gonna have to turn you down. I'm sorry" I spoke quietly into the phone.
"Any reasons why?"
"I'm working with. . . . . my boss again"
There's a long silence before he spoke again "that's okay. I hope your decision doesn't affect our friendship"
"Of course not" are we friends? Silly,I'm not gonna ask that.
"Okay. . . . I guess I'll see you around then"
"Yeah"
When I heard the disconnecting beeping sound,I slumped against my chair's rest and blew out air. Air of relief that is.
Just as I put the phone down,it started to ring again. Was Frenchie gonna try to talk me into taking his proposal? What am I gonna say to him? But when I picked up the phone and saw the caller's ID, I felt my heart leap from my chest and sank into my stomach.
"DAD"
my dad was calling. I stared at my phone ring continuously, contemplating on what to do. Pick it? Whatever am I gonna say? My heartbeats accelerated incredibly and just as it was about to ring to voicemail, I swiped the pick button. Slowly,I placed it over my ear,my eyes poised and my ears strained for that voice. And when I heard it,my stomach sank deeper.
"Hello?" His voice sounded tired than the last time we talked,than I remember.
My lips trembled as I fought for words to speak,my breathing intensified. Then I decided to just breathe and face this.
"Hello dad"
"Ashley," his voice is foggy "how you been?"
"I'm. . . . fine dad. You?"
"I'm alright. It's been how long,Ashley? A year? Two?"
I shot my eyes,pleading with my mind not to think about what was slowly resurfacing at the back of my mind.
"I've just been really busy,dad. How are you holding up?"
"I thought you weren't gonna pick my call,Ashley. It'd feel really nice to . . . . see you again" it was impossible not to notice his hard breathing.
"Dad,are you alright?"
He chuckled like he always did "yes,I'm fine. What about you?"
"I'm. . . ." I gulped "fine. How's. . ."
"Don't you worry,Ashley"
"I'm sorry I never called,Dad," my eyes stung and I could feel it's sudden wetness at the corners "I was gonna. . ."
"You don't have to apologize. I just wanted to know how you're doing. And now I know,eh?"
"Dad,I. . . . . . " He laughs at the background and it was like he was right here. And I smiled too. It was impossible not to smile. His laughter was always contagious
The disconnecting sound kept resounding to my ear after he cut the call. I brought the phone to my face,watching it till it went blank. And I heaved a deep sigh. I sighed more deeply as thoughts hits me like waves.
Suddenly, there's quick steps approaching along the hall. I couldn't careless who that person was as I continued to stare at my phone in hand.
"Come with me,now" Ric's deep voice shook me by surprise as he walked past my office cubicle. I looked up to see him walking towards the elevator, his hands dipped into his pockets.
I rose up,just as he stepped into the elevator and the doors closed. What the hell was wrong with him again? I didn't wait to find out from anybody. I wore my jacket and hurried to the elevator.