Episode 44

Chapter 44.
I stared back at Ric as I couldn't believe the words I think I just heard. Michael Amoretti killed his mother? But that doesn't make any sense. His mother is victoria. Suddenly,I felt like so many things are gonna make sense. But the way he casted his look down,how his fists clenched,haw the veins on his neckline popped,I knew I'd asked for too much,asked him to talk about something he'd probably not want to talk about.
"Ric,"I called softly and he looked at me "I'm so sorry. I never knew. . . I thought victoria was. . . "
"She isn't,"he cut me off "Victoria is just a golddigger who saw the opportunity to manipulate a lonely child and took it. I was at the hospital the night my mother died,"he shut his eyes like the thought of what had happened in the past hurt him "I was only nine. And I saw Jon Amoretti, Michael's father walk out of that room after injecting something into my mother's drip. I watched as my mother pale out until the RV machine's beeping subsided. That awful lines,the awful noises,keeps ringing in my ears"
I reached for his hand on his table and caressed in comfortingly "I'm so sorry,Ric. I had no idea"
"Jon had unfinished business scores to settle with my father. My mother always wanted to build a public care zone for the people. Hospitals, elderly homes,parks,daycares, orphanage homes,name it. And my father pursued her dreams. But it began to bring down the mafia family's businesses one by one. When my father had attempted to build the manhattan project,jon filed to shut it down. Because he was a powerful man,he did and it vanished. But that wasn't it all,he sent his men to kill him and everyone he knew,just to shut him up. But he was able to kill my father while my mother fled with us." His eyes finally met mine again before he added "I hate to think about this, Ashley. And I'm gonna make them pay,no matter what it takes,"he leans into the table "that's why I'm gonna fight for this project with all I got. That's why I'm gonna fight michael until he's gone, that's why I'm going over to take up the project myself"
"But you just said yourself how dangerous this is,why go there?"
His lips went into a smile "because fear is more dangerous"
He leaned back into his chair and picked up his wine. I looked down, suddenly feeling worse than I felt before. I shouldn't have been so hard on him. He's been through a lot. I suddenly understood why he's how he is. He's been driven into his lust for revenge that nothing else mattered to him. Now I know why he's so obsessed over the manhattan project,why it means so much to him.
I'd victoria isn't his mother then who the hell was she in his life.
"Who. . . "I was going to ask that question but he beat me to it.
"I heard you on the phone the other day, talking to your dad. I knew everything wasn't okay but I knew you'd never tell me if I asked. You hate me"
"What? I don't hate you. . ." Maybe I do. Just a little bit.
He raises a brow at me before adding "well. . . I'd like to be shown often how much I'm loved "
"I'd like the same too"
"Don't tell me you're in need of. . ."
"Stop!"
"Okay,tell me why you need to go to California"he said seriously.
I wondered if telling him was a good thing to do. But he did just tell me a story of his life,so. . . .
"My father has been having some, problems,Ric. Money problem. At first, I thought I sensed something was going on,you know? But he wouldn't talk to me. I was mostly on my own, especially. .. . . After my mom died,"I continued to talk,eyes staring blankly into air "I've had to live with so much guilt all my life,Ric,"I met his eyes now "so many things happened,dad lost his jobs and it was all an impact from mom's death. . . Which was my entire fault. I didn't know he was dealing with a notorious loan shark,Drako Black. He'd loaned some money from him in my expense and couldn't pay back. Who am I kidding,that's how they are. All of them. You pay them today, they'll always keep coming back, blackmailing and manipulating you"
"Ashley,"it was his turn to hold my hand on the table now "let me help you. "
I started to shake my head but he spoke again "can you just let me do this? Whatever this Drako guy wants I'll give it to him,no matter the matter, I'll pay. You don't have to leave and put your life at risk"
I stared unbelievably at him. Who is this man in front of me?
"Why?,"I asked despite myself "why are you helping me?"
He stares back at me for a moment before replying "I'm just. . . ,"He stops and chuckles "it's funny cause I really don't know. Or maybe I just hate to admit it to myself,so much that I can't bring myself to tell you why. Maybe this is my way of apologizing to you. Take it,"he turns his gaze away before adding "if you still think it necessary to fly to California then I won't stop you. You can. . ."
"I'm not going"I cut him off before I changed my mind. He obviously didn't want me to leave,he just doesn't know how to come clean and say that. Slowly,he turns back to me,his Adam apple moving up and down as he swallowed hard,his eyes holding surprise.
"I'm going to stay,Ric,"I added "my father and I were never in a good condition anyways"
If I wasn't paying so much attention to him,I would've missed the smile that appeared at the corners of his lips before they vanished again.
We stared at each other for what felt like ages before he said "you do know that you caused me a major problem right?"
I shot up, surprised "what is that supposed to mean?"
"Not you technically. Remember the ball party? How I told you Miranda fooled me? She used the identity of miranda Morales while working for Michael Amoretti. Her real name is Catherine. It all suddenly made so much sense, Ashley. Why they would wanna take down the project. But my team came back with a rather good news. They are requesting a meeting with me in London. "
"What? Why would Michael wanna do that?"
"Isn't it obvious? His cover with Catherine has been blown. Alvin came back from London and told me he met with someone. He said he worked with the environmental company and would like to see me in person and talk about the project"
"Well are you gonna go?"
"Yes."
"You know you don't really have to right?"
"Are you worried about me?"he gives me a sky smile.
I paused,not knowing what to say "all I'm saying is. . . . You need to think things through. "
"I know. I like to think we're back to normal now"
"Was there ever a time when we were actually. . . Normal?"
He starts to laugh. His laughter was contagious,I felt the urge to laugh too.
"I need you to call this man,"he finally spoke again "the man your father's owing. I wanna talk to him"
"Why? What are you gonna say to him?"
"To inform him that I'd be sending his money and he should tell me how he wanna pick it up"
"Thanks,Ric for everything. But I think I can handle that. I'll call him and tell him "
"Would you at least call him here? You don't exactly have much time"
Realizing that he's probably right,I nodded and retrieved my phone. I dialed Drako Black's number and he picked after two rings.
"What now Ashley?"
"I'm sending you the money. Any bank I can deposit it on?"
There's silence at his end before he replied "you do realize how much we're talking about here right? You think you can afford it?"
I opened my mouth to reply but Ric cut me off when he statched the phone from my ear and leaned back into his seat.
"Yes she can afford it,"Ric said into the phone,me too stunned to even say anything except to just stare at him.
"Alright,"I heard Drako's voice on the background "I'll tell you where to deposit the money"
"I'm waiting"Ric replied before taking the phone from his ear and pointing it to me. I quickly snapped out of my shock and took it from him.
"You didn't have to do that,"I said awkwardly,pulling back my falling hair while avoiding his eyes "thank you"
The former waitress comes back after a while,a big creepy smile on her lips as she looked from Ric to me.
"Is there anything else you want sir?"
Ric glances at her and replied "tell me,do you know any near by hotel here? Not a cheap one"
The waitress's eyes grows wide for a minute,the smirk on Ric's lips giving more meaning to what he just said. I couldn't exactly say the meaning I had to his statement bothered me. That's who he is anyway,he probably has a knack for this creepy waitress that he wanna take her home for the night. But when he turned back to me,his brow arcing questioningly at me,it was my own turn to google surprisingly.
"There is a hotel close by,"the waitress finally spoke,her smile seeming to fade away "you need me to book for you sir?"
Ric's eyes locked with mine,his smile still,he replied "don't worry,I think using my place would be better"
The waitress ran off afterwards and I remained staring at him.
"What are you looking at? You prefer the hotels?" He asked
For the first time I didn't know what I actually felt towards this man? Hate? Joy? Somewhere deep inside me I wanted to burst out laughing and slowly I was beginning to give in.
"Why did you do that?"
"Do what?"
"You know what I'm talking about"
"No I don't. But what I do know is . . . it's getting late. God,I can't believe we've spent nearly four hours here already"
I looked out and realized the day was getting rather dark. I needed to go home.
"Yeah,thank you for the meal,Ric" I replied, attempting to stand up.
He nods "I'll. . . . drop you"
I nodded too before walking out before him. It felt really awkward sitting in his car. The ride was silent, giving me all the time I needed to think over all he just told me. About victoria, Michael,the project. I couldn't help thinking about when he said "my mother fled with us". Did he have a sibling? Brother maybe? I could remember Trevor mentioning about his sibling once. Did he perhaps say sister? I can't really remember. All I know is that so many things aren't so great about Ric's life now,so many he's not showing and not saying.
He drove me to my apartment and I watched him leave before walking inside. As I stopped before my room door,my phone beeped. I stopped and checked to see that I got a message. It was from an unknown number.
I opened it and it wasn't so hard to know who it's from.
Message: this is Michael. I need you to meet me at the car warehouse in Real estates tomorrow. Don't keep me waiting.
And who the hell does he think he is?
Another message came in just as I was about pushing the door open.
Message : I thought you'd wanna know what this is about. It's about the manhattan project.
My eyes widened as I stared at the message contents.