Savior

Chapter Thirteen

As we set the table for dinner, I wondered how I should begin. Should I ask him directly about his purpose of living with me here? My eyes moved along with his every move. He put up the plates and then bowls, followed by spoons and lit the candles, although the last wasn’t needed since we had electricity. But because he insisted I let him set the table according to his taste.

‘Please have a seat.’ He said and pulled a chair for me.

‘What is the special occasion?’ I asked while sitting down.

‘My mother used to say, one should always enjoy dinner even when there’s no special occasion.’

I licked my lips nervously before asking, ‘Does she know you’re living with me here?’ He sat opposite me and just shook his head.

‘Wouldn’t she be worried?’

‘Even if she was I have no way of knowing it.’ There was sadness in his voice. ‘She’s not with me anymore, passed away when I was quite young.’

‘I’m so sorry.’

‘It’s okay.’ The smile he gave me was enough to tell me how much he missed her. I could only imagine a younger Sole going through the pain of losing a parent. I could resonate with the feeling.

He cleared his throat. ‘Let’s eat the food. I made all that you like.’ I looked at him in surprise.

‘You cooked?’ He nodded. ‘Is there something you can’t do?’

He looked up the ceiling thinking about my question seriously. This made me laugh. ‘Why are you laughing?’

‘You’re too cute.’ I said without thinking and bit my tongue.

Grinning he said, ‘Am I now?’

‘That just came out, I didn’t mean…’

‘Did you also not mean when you told your friend that I was your boyfriend?’

Twisting my fork in the spaghetti I said, ‘I agree there’s some sort of connection between us.’

‘So you do like me?’

‘That depends.’ I raised my head from my food.

‘On what?’ He asked.

‘Am I the only one who’s feeling the attraction?’

He took a pause before answering. ‘Certainly not.’ So he did like me too. But the question still remains, how can I be with someone

about whom I know nothing?

‘I want to know you better before we start any relationship.’

‘Okay.’

‘I know you name is Sole Accardi and that you’re probably the heir of some IT firm in the city but what else? I want to know about your family, your likes, dislikes, friends, exes…’

‘Hmm. Should I begin from the exes?’ He said playfully and I threw the table napkin at him. ‘Sorry. Well, my mother as you know is no more. My father has been non-existent in my life due to his busy schedule and there’s also a step-mother, with whom I’ve never had a proper conversation. As for friends, I don’t have many, a few here and there, but none that I talk to on a daily basis. There’s not much that I like or dislike. And as for exes, I had some but none of them were significant that I name them now. That’s everything about me, should we start dating now?’

‘Sole.’

‘Luna.’

‘I’m serious here.’

‘I’m too.’ I sighed and put the fork on the plate. Sole saw me sulking so he got up from his chair and came to me. Leaning forward

he said, ‘Bicycle.’

‘Huh?’

‘You were asking if there was something I can’t do. I can’t ride a bicycle. Dad was too busy to teach me.’ He pushed a strand of hair behind my ear and continued, ‘I’ll open up to you, just give me some time.’ He then placed a peck on my cheek and smiled.

Next morning I got up early as usual but this time woke up Sole as well. Though he didn’t look so pleased about it, I was sure he wasn’t going to complain later.

‘Can I know why I’m here six in the morning?’ He asked rubbing his hands together to keep them warm from the winter winds.

‘Just keep walking.’ I said and walked ahead. When we reached the backyard I said, ‘Surprise!’

His gaze moved from me to the bicycle in front of us and then back at me. ‘No.’

‘Yes.’ I grinned and pulled him towards the bicycle. ‘It’s going to be so much fun.’

‘I don’t think so. Didn’t I tell you I can’t ride them?’

‘That is exactly why we’re here. I’m going to teach you.’ I patted his back and he looked miffed.

Nothing I ever did before was fun than teaching Sole the twenty-five year old guy who was still a child, how to ride a bicycle. There were times when he couldn’t paddle well and fall or when he couldn’t press the brakes properly. It took me four hours to teach him but when he did learn he looked like a free bird flying in the sky. Shouting and howling, I could see he was enjoying himself. That put a smile on my face and I admired the child in him even more. How much had he held in that his face appeared lit up after learning such a mere thing.

When fully satisfied he got down from the bicycle and ran towards me. Before I knew it he had picked me up in his arms. ‘Sole, what are you doing?’

‘Thank you. Thank you so much. I’ve never….’ There were some unspoken emotions in his eyes which I understood.  

‘You can tell me everything Sole. You came as my savior but I can be your savior too.’ He put me down and then held my face close to his.

‘Hmm.’ Then he placed a soft kiss on my lips. When he stepped away both of were smiling at each other.

Present

Sole

‘These days you’ve been thinking a lot.’ Ricci said as he came in with the files I’d asked him to bring. He was right though, ever since I’ve met Luna, I’ve been doing nothing but assaulting my brain with either old memories or strange questions. One of the questions that are coming to my mind often is that why Luna and her cousin make it sound like everything was my fault?

‘Ricci, can you do a thorough investigation about these past three years in Luna’s life?’

‘Um…sure, but wouldn’t that be violation of her privacy?’

‘You’ve never said that when I asked you to investigate our competitors.’

‘Luna’s different.’

I tilted my head. What was he on about? ‘How so?’

‘She is someone you’ve hurt in the past.’

‘She’s the one who hurt me.’ I said between gritted teeth.

‘Well it doesn’t look like that. My intuition tells me there’s much more to the song than the chorus.’

I stared at him. He was becoming strange by the day. ‘Then find me the complete song.’ I couldn’t believe I was speaking his language. He nodded his head and then placed a card before me.

‘What is it?’

‘An invitation to a wedding. One of our investor’s son is getting married.’

‘I can’t go. Send them a gift.’

‘I’ve already RSVP on your behalf.’

He had guts. ‘Who gave you the authority to do so?’

‘No one. But your father had a close relationship with all the investors so I think you should maintain the ties.’

‘Yeah, so close were their relationship that none of them came forward to help him when he needed them to. They should be happy I’m still doing business with them.’

‘You should feel lucky they’re still investing in us.’

‘Ricci!’

‘I think now I get why misunderstandings could get in between you and Miss Agosti. You’re never interested in listening to the other

side of the story.’ He sighed and then left without saying anything else, leaving me there sitting with my mouth open. Is this how other secretaries treat their bosses?

But he gave me something more to think about. If someone like Ricci who’d never met Luna before could speak in her defense was I the only one seeing things from a different perspective than them?