Episode 45

Riccardo's POV.
That bastard.
I've always known that Michael was a filthy mafia prick. He'd do anything to get money. He'd kill anyone even if that cost more innocent people's life. Yes,that's who he is. But after all Ashley just told me,I felt this anger inside me. I've been so ignorant. Why didn't I figure this out sooner.
"Ric,"I traced my gaze back to Ashley as she called "I know that look. Listen,none of this is your fault"
I tried to speak but nothing seemed to make sense. I just watched her,hating myself even more for looking like an idiot in front of this woman. And as I watched her,seated across that table from me,I realized something. Ashley Shawn has been nothing but a complying and understanding woman to me. Asides the work we shared in common,she was always there. She was always looking out for me. She was a woman any man would wish to have by his sides. And she has not only proven her worth countless times,she has opened my eyes to realizations of what's happening around me.
Casting my gaze away from hers,I glanced over the table. I felt her hand slowly reach over to touch mine, my skin responding defectively to her touch.
"Ric?"That's when everything finally made so much sense to me. Michael Amoretti was just a camouflage that victoria used to get me where she wanted. It was her all along. She was playing her cards well and she just knew who to use and when to use them. She knew all the moves.
Victoria. . . . . That bitch. I'm gonna make her pay. She has finally drawn the line.
"I'm sorry,Ric. I shouldn't have. . . . "
"None of these is your fault, Ashley,"I told her seriously "and I appreciate your trust. For believing in me"
"All these bad blood between you two. . . I try to understand it but I can't,Ric. . . . No one should ever have to do this to anyone"
"You're so sweet, Ashley" I meant that. I wonder how it feels to live in such a world. Where you give and get love freely. No hate,no regrets,no shame,no nothing.
She casts her gaze down, slowly taking back her hand from mine. I quickly turned my hand from underneath hers, holding hers instead. She looks up at my face, obviously surprised at my action. But I just held her gaze,captured in them. She was a beautiful woman,so alluring,so vulnerable and unique in her own little way. What would it hurt to try? To actually admit to my fuelling desires for this woman?
For days after the very first party I took her to,I've had this urging hunger after her. After she got drunk that night and I had to carry her in my arms into that hotel room and lay her on that bed. It had taken all my willpower not to kiss her soft lips that night. She would get mad if she found out that I took advantage of her condition and the last thing I wanted was Ashley getting bad vibes about me. I'm already bad enough for her.
Now she's just at arm's reach,Ric.
I hadn't realized what I was doing,how far into my head I've went until I saw myself standing up and closing in on her. Her lips. . . . they were all I saw as I pushed myself towards her. She stared back into my eyes as she slowly backed into the wall. For a second I thought I saw fear in them but I wish that was just excitement. She wasn't like the other women who jumped on me at the sight of any little affection I offered and that just fucking turned me on.
My body ached to melt into hers,my hand ached terribly to reach for her waist and yank her closer,the little distance was bad enough. Just when she hit the wall and had nowhere else to go,I stopped, enjoying her uneasy breathing. Slowly and cautiously,I reached my hand up to her face,the first contact blowing my mind. As expected and anticipated,her cheek was soft and cold yet they warmed me up. I stared at her,lost.
Her lips drew me closer and closer until I was a line away from them. That's when I stopped. why wasn't she stopping me? Why wasn't she fighting me like she always does at work? Was she staying still because of the fear I instilled in her? Because I'm her working boss? Because she's scared to say no to whatever I'm about to do to her? Fuck me.
This is all wrong. There's no denying that I'm attracted to this woman and the only thing stopping me from having her right now was my respect for her.
"I'm sorry. . . "I whispered into her ears instead.
I moved away too quickly and turned around. If I stayed there any more longer,I'd be tearing up her clothes.
"I'm. . . . . .gonna go home"I heard her say quietly from behind me.
She starts walking out but I quickly turned and caught her hand.
"Ashley,"she stops to look up at me "I'm really sorry,a'yt? Just that. . . . .my head's a real mess right now and. . . . . ."
"I know,Ric. I'm not upset. I'm just running late for home. Katie would be worried"
"Okay" I nodded understandingly before letting go of her hand. "I'll drop you"
I walked out with Ashley, getting her into my car's passenger seat before driving her out and towards her house. The whole ride was quiet and awkward. I'm so stupid. I'm such an ass.
Was I seriously gonna kiss her right there if she had even let me? What kind of a man does that?
Pulling up in front of her apartment building, I urged myself to ignore the fact that she was about to leave and I wished I could do something about this,to revoke this,to make her stay.
"Good night" was the last thing she said to be before getting out and walking up to her apartment. And I just watched helplessly.
Fuck.
I drove back home,all the way drowning in my own thoughts. Pulling up in front of my house,I saw a car parked on the driveway. Jasmine. I must be very glad to see her again cause I was smiling the moment I walked inside and saw her seated on the lounge,a wine glass in her one hand.
"Ric" she called, holding up the wine glass to me before bringing it to her mouth.
"Jasmine. It's nice to see you again" I said honestly, sitting next to her.
"I haven't seen you in forever, didn't hear from you so I thought I'd swing by" she said.
"Thanks for stopping by"
"What's going on,Ric?"
"What do you mean?"
"Don't play pretense with me. You know better"
Chuckling lightly,I rose to my feet and replied "I don't know what you're talking about"
"See? That's what they say when they know exactly what you're talking about"
Walking over to the mini saloon near by,I asked "'they?' what do you mean they? Having boyfriend trouble again?"
"Don't change the topic,Ric" she soon walks to me, stopping before the bar table and placing her glass over it.
I sighed tiredly before pulling a high stool and sitting on it. She pulls another close and sat down, facing me. I retrieved a bottle of scotch and filled up a glass.
"Is everything alright?"Jasmine pressed, causing me to look at her.
This is jasmine. I can always tell her what's going on with me.
Shaking my head,I sipped the drink before replying "everything's such a big mess,Jas"
"Tell me about it,Ric"
"Ashley. . . . ." Damn,not Ashley. "I'm just really worried about this manhattan project,you know? Mom wanted it so much. I recently discovered that Michael Amoretti was behind the hold up in everything"
"The Amoretti mafia"
"Yes. I thought that was it. Typical michael trying to do what he does best:Get back at people,snatch what's not his. But I was so wrong. The true person behind everything is Victoria"
"Your mother?!"
"Technically,yes. My adoptive mother" the words rolled off my tongue bitterly and I felt the bile at the back of my throat. The thought of victoria being my mother bothered me in ways beyond depths.
"How did you know this?"
"I've been meeting this woman, Miranda Morales. We were into a few businesses. But it turned out she wasn't really the woman I thought she was. Her name is actually Catherine, hiding under the shadows of miranda Morales. She worked with Michael. I found out at this masquerade ball I attended in Paris with Ashley. Imagine my surprise. She was a lousy thief. But just yesterday,I found out victoria was actually the mastermind behind this"
"What? Why would she do that?"
"It's obvious, Jasmine. But there's a lot I've never told you since we met but I know one thing for sure. I'll surely make victoria pay"
"Ric you know how your relationship with your moth. . . Victoria is. And I know this project is very important to you. . . . . . . ."
"Yes, that's why I need to do whatever I can to get it. I'll be leaving for London soon"
Jasmine sighed quietly before I felt her hand slip over my shoulder "be careful, okay?"
I chunk down more alcohol,my mind suddenly drifting away. Ashley. . . . . . . . .
"So,"Jasmine cut through my thoughts "I saw you leave with your assistant earlier"
Feeling the tease in her voice,I looked at her to find a knowing smile lingering on her lips. Uh,here we go.
"What?"she asks,nearly laughing.
"What?" I asked, confused.
"I'm just saying. . . you've never looked so flustered about any woman before"
"Me? When?"
"Just now. This very minute. A second ago"
"Okay you're just being ridiculous"
"And you're just avoiding this talk because you're trying hard to deny the fact that you're attracted to your assistant"
I'm not trying to deny that,I would never.
"Don't tell me you're in love with her"
"Love?"I gave her a confused look "now that's a whole different thing"
"So you admit to wanting her sexually"
"God,Jas,no! I don't. . . "
"Then you have feelings for her"
"Yes! Okay? Fine!"
"I knew it. Ashley's a really beautiful woman,Ric. And I see what she's done to you. She's fixed you up."
I looked into thin air, wondering what she meant by that. Fix me up? I know exactly what jasmine meant. I'll never bring any woman to my house and she just saw me drive her out. The impression of the scenario makes me to smile.
"All I'm saying is that. . . . . I don't know how you treated that lady in the past and I'm not saying this to judge you but. . . I think she really cares about you,your work, everything and she's giving it her all. You should give her some credit sometimes"
She rises to her feet and patted my shoulder "good night,Ric"
I heard her clicking shoes against the floor die behind her as she disappeared.
Give her credit sometimes.
I let out a long sigh, remembering what I'd almost done earlier. It had taken all my man strength to retrain myself from grabbing hold of her body. What was with that woman that kept me coming and coming and coming?
She was unique, different from all the other women I've known. And that scared me. What I felt inside towards her scared me.
I could remember the days when she was so fierce and bold and would day whatever she wanted. The thought of those times causes me to smile.
Ashley Shaw.
What kind of a woman is she? She has invaded my life and for some reasons,I feel grateful. And tonight, she'd proven to be more than I thought.