Chapter Four
1056 Words
"Your tears are polluting this fountain water, you know," remarked the mysterious man. Adrianna panicked, looking from the man to her surroundings.
This was a secluded spot at the back of the Manor that she was sure not even the Desantos' immediate family knew about, and neither did their guests. How was this man there so casually?? And she hadn't heard him approaching?
She hurried her movements, trying to scamper to her feet, and begin mouthing off a thousand apologies-- But why? she had a sudden thought.
I'm going to end up being treated the same way regardless, right? This man would probably report her to the Mistress the first chance he would get. No amount of pleading or begging would get her off. She had seen it time after time, so why bother with the fuss? she thought.
The only thing I can do is get ready for the Mistress's punishment.
She rose slowly from the fountain, and mouthed a simple "Sorry" to the gentleman, bowing her head. The man proceeded to scratch his chin, and he had an excellent square jaw too, thought Adrinna. Adorned with the signature Italian stubble, neat and trimmed too.
"A simple sorry?" he asked. "I catch you desecrating a noble and sacred fountain of the Desantos, and all you have to say for yourself is a simple sorry?!"
Adrianna was hearing for the first time that the fountain was anything but a forgotten relic that Mr. Medardo brought back from Japan, but the man's anger was significantly felt. She put her hands behind her back, bowed even lower, and resigned herself to silence.
What else was she going to say? It would all end the same anyway.
"You dare not even reply me anymore?! For a maid?" added the man. Adrianna closed her eyes and flinched expecting the worst, but soon, she only heard a few "Hmm"s from the mysterious man. She looked up to find him staring at her, with a softer expression.
"Very interesting, Adrianna," he said, more relaxed.
"What?" Adrianna burst out without thinking. Does this gentleman know me?! How? I've never seen him before in my life--
The Sun was setting at that time, and just then, yellow golden rays sprayed from it, with one landing right across the man's face.
Then like a missing puzzle piece suddenly found, the man's brown eyes, the shape of his nose, the slicked-back curly hair, and wide swarthy lips, became eerily familiar to Adrianna.
This man bore a striking resemblance to Giorna!
"It can't be--" she muttered but stopped to listen to a commotion that had started brewing from somewhere within the Manor. There were the sounds of glass breaking, heavy footsteps, and the shrieking of some maids.
The next sound was what shook her brittle to the core. From somewhere in the rooms upstairs, there was a loud: "Where is she?! Where is Adrianna?!"
The man turned to her. "Looks like they're gunning for you. Been up to any mischief, lately?" he asked.
"I - I" started Adrianna, her mind wondering to what chore she had somehow forgotten, or one incomplete. There was none. But wait-- She covered her mouth. Had the Mistress somehow found out about her and Giorna?
The premise was terrifying to Adrianna, thinking about what the Mistress might do, that desultory part of herself still wondered "How could my life get any worse than it is now?" And she rooted herself to the spot. Waiting to see. She would find out soon that it could indeed get worse.
A few maids found them minutes later.
"She's over here!" they cried, but on seeing the man present with her, they suddenly went mute.
"Well, hello to you too" replied the man not really frowning or smiling. The next people that arrived were the Manor's security guards, and Giorna Desantos himself. He looked like a mad dog, waving his pointy finger at Adrianna.
"Where is it?!" he demanded.
"Where is what?" asked the mysterious man.
Giorna turned around and almost jumped back. "Giovanna! What are you doing here?"
"Pretty interesting response, Giorna. This is still my home, is it not, Brother?" asked the man called Giovanna. The younger brother of the Desantos family.
"Not since you embarassed the family name! If Father catches you here--"
"Well, that's all by the way, Brother. I'm more interested in what you're doing with this fine creature" Giovanna asked curiously.
"Not that it's any of your business," Giorna said, turning his head to face Adrianna again "But this 'fine creature' is a despicable thief!"
"What?!" murmured Adrianna.
"And also a liar! You want to play dumb? Where is the Saphirre ring that was on my desk?!"
"The Sapphire ring. The ring that has to be worn by the heir of the Desantos family at all times? That ring?!" asked Giovanna.
"She stole it off my desk" answered Giorna.
"I don't know what you're talking about!" screamed Adrianna.
Her hands and legs were shaking. What was going on? All eyes, from the guards to the maids, were on her.
"Liar!" bellowed Giorna. "The Sapphire ring was sitting on the desk, next to the MacBook and my coffee mug. It was there in the morning, and for most of the afternoon, but suddenly, when you left, it disappeared!"
"I don't know anything about any ring!" screeched Adrianna.
"You approached my desk. You probably saw it and planned it all beforehand!"
"What the hell? No!" cried Adrianna. "You were the one who sent me there in the first place to clean up the ashtray. I'm - I'm not a thief!" she pleaded with her eyes.
"I'm not listening to any more of your lies. Guards, take this woman immediately."
"Hold on, Giorna" said Giovanna.
Giorna looked at his brother with disgust. "Who are you to command anything here? Are you drunk as you usually are?!" he barked again.
Giovanna didn't seem phased in the slightest. "This is a serious accusation, Brother. Do you have any proof, besides your own biased suspicion?"
Giorna looked like he was about to erupt before a voice said: "Proof? There's proof, alright." It was a maid. She had been watching from the sidelines until now.
"The proof is, I saw her take that Sapphire ring," said Leila.
"Leila?" asked Adrianna in shock. "What are you saying?"
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