BILLONAIRE ROMANCE

Be a winner!

Massimo.-

— Massimo… wake up my piccolo…

I opened my eyes with difficulty, a blinding light was pointed directly at my face, making me feel lost. Where am I? It's the only thing I'm capable of wondering, my head is spinning, currently small memories flash through my mind in a fraction of a second. Nonno… the park, heart attack, monster… that made me jump up, thoroughly ignoring the dizziness that I was not allowed to stay sane, stay upright, I got up quickly, an unfamiliar voice alerted me immediately.

— Mr. D'Angelo, please calm down, you are not feeling well, you need to rest.

That order brought out my authoritative last name — Don't give me damn orders, Dov'è mio nonno? I said desperately.

The woman next to me, lowered her gaze to the floor, feeling nervous and somewhat anguished

— Lord… your nonno is dead this morning…

I knew it, I knew that he had passed away, it's just that… I needed to fully accept it, at times, small memories of Nonno came to my mind, making me feel devastated.

— Piccolo, let's go to the park. I need to speak with you.

— Of course non! — I hid how excited I was to hear that, any other place is better than being alone at home…

I have always liked the park, the flowers, the sound of the rain, the birds singing, moving from one side to another, the children with their energies of happiness, with effusive shouts and their imagination to be able to have fun, although… even when in the park I am only able to see the other children doing anything that allows them to have fun, since I am not authorized to share any type of action with them, I just limit myself to observing them, I have got used to it, to exclusively watch and enjoy the scenes that I would like to live. Being at home only reminds me how empty I am… how sad it is to live a life like ours, I see Nonno very little, Beatrice has always been with me, but… it hasn't been entirely enough, the park environment allows me to feel free In that sense, even when it is a superficial connection, I enjoy being surrounded by people who do not know me, who are unaware of my insignificant life, that I am a person who preserves everything, but still, I am lacking in something so important, love. … for them, I am just someone. There is no relevance, importance, difference, I am simply another boy…

— Massimo.

That call made my train of thought disappear to give all my attention to the only person in this world that I admire, my Nonno.

— Yes, Nonno? — I looked in his direction, trying to understand what he wanted to announce, you see… when Nonno Leonardo would like to say something, he always insists on walking in the park, it's his custom that I adopt with me, it's as if he I could understand that excessive and little habitual environment makes me feel better, which does not allow room for discouragement and discontent. Alone, he makes me feel comfortable with myself and I know he knows it.

Nonno had both hands together behind his back, giving him a cold, authoritative and voracious posture, making me feel much more intimidated than usual, I could see how he was debating whether to speak or remain silent, minutes later, he broke the awkward silence and said.

— Lately, I've noticed you… discouragement and discontent. I guess you're… sad or maybe a little disappointed in life – his gaze was lost, looking anywhere, showing disinterest – I don't want you to be weak – he continued – stop suffering from past events, instead of being in the kind of depression and mourning in which you find yourself, look for reality and affirm your future, become great, important, make a name, mark your legacy, keep my last name, stop behaving like an infant, you are the only one capable of preserving my legacy. Non mi deludere—sentenced.

That made all my past thoughts turn into weakness, that feeling pain for the death of my parents, that I can't hug them and feel their touch, that feeling lonely, that my reality is sad, is… weakness.

Those last words of Nonno's were in my mind, hanging around restlessly, repeating themselves over and over again.

Don't disappoint me…

— I would rather not be weak Nonno, I would rather not disappoint you — I said, immersed in my thoughts, I raised my eyes in his direction — I want… I want to be like you.

— Non essere debole.

Do not be weak.

— Don't be weak — I said, thoroughly ignoring the situation that was causing me right now — He taught me that pain is a damn weakness — I looked at my trembling hands and continued — weakness is for cowards — I reaffirmed, turning my hands into fists, pressing them hard.

Raise my face with authority, coming out of that abyss in which I have found myself again, to stand firm.

— Mr. Massimo… Are you okay?

I looked askance at the woman next to me.

“I'm Massimo D'Angelo,” I said, “when will Leonardo's autopsy be completed?” that expression was

so, cold that I could see the tension in her shoulders de ella at my answer de ella, leaving her completely out of control — when does Leonardo's autopsy end? I repeated once more with disgust, making her shiver with fear.

“I… I don't… I don't know, sir.”

— It's your job.

— I… — lowered her head, embarrassed by her de ella — I'm sorry… I'll go to notify the doctors of her request de ella, and I'll be right back… sir.

“Okay,” she said, while she adjusted my suit's tie again.

Hours later…

I was in the hospital, totally oblivious to what was happening around me, I was destined to wait for that answer I needed to get out of this disastrous place once and for all. Patience has never been my forte, so the waiting has been eating away at me and angering me to an unrecognizable level. I got up suddenly from that uncomfortable seat and tried to go to the reception of this site.

A red-haired woman welcomes me with a fake smile.

“Buon pomeriggio signore, how can I help you?”

She did not have the necessary humor to receive this with kindness and courtesy.

— I'm Massimo D'Angelo. I've waited two hours for an answer about Leonardo D'Angelo, I can sue them sackings, you know? — I expressed, while desperately looking at my watch.

Her face changed from kindness to amazement in a matter of seconds.

"Mr. D'Angelo... mie excuses..."

— If you want to keep your job, I recommend that you go and give me an answer as soon as possible — I sentenced — I have exhausted my patience in this damn place.

— Yes sir… — I lowered his head in surrender and I could see how technically he was running towards one of the many rooms of this site, minutes later, he returned with some papers in his hand – Everything is ready sir… you can carry out all the procedures for the tomb of the patient—she handed me the documents, looking fearful.

I would have liked that submissive attitude in different circumstances, right now, I just want to get out of this place once and for all, so I took those papers with disgust and headed towards the exit, without looking back. The icy air welcomes me, it is getting dark, I can once again admire this great city, I would like to be able to say that I feel sad, devastated or perhaps nostalgic, but no… Leonardo was right, we are incapable of feeling Anything if we intend to, we are made to pretend, even his last words haunt my mind.

I tried so hard to get the money that I wanted so much… I lost my life, I… I have nothing… my only son died and I just… I couldn't feel anything… I raised you to make you a son of a b***h… but only until now I can see the damage I've caused you son… you… have time Piccolo… you have time.

Furthermore, I shook my head vigorously, driving my thoughts away with that act.

— Concentrate, Massimo… concentrate.

I quickly fled from that place, I don't know for sure what I'm going to do right now, I can only understand that I need to take care of Nonno's grave, that's what I should do right now.

The next morning…

I was in the cemetery, staring at the tomb where Leonardo was just buried, listening to a sermon that only resembled nonsense idiocies, Nonno's employees were in front of me showing feigned nostalgia, approaching without hesitation, giving me feigned words of consolation, entirely ignoring my sneer at his empty, hypocritical words. The only person capable of feeling something for Nonno's death is Beatrice, who has grieved for her since she found out about it, at this point, surrounded by fakers wearing black clothes, showing pity and consolation, I can only think of the words of Leonardo D'Angelo just before leaving.

What have I done?…

I instinctively approached her grave, leaned over it, delicately depositing a rose, noticing the words engraved in the plaster.

Qui giacciono i resti di:

LEONARDO. F D'ANGELO

“Be a winner”

The words came out of me without thinking.

— An empire Nonno, that's what you've done, and I promise to honor our last name. I'm not weak, I'm a winner.

With those last words, I moved away and tried to get up, suddenly disproportionate raindrops tarnished me, completely covering me with the unexpected drizzle, I raised my face, I could see how most of the people ran to take refuge from the cold rain, look Nonno's grave once more, as the drops covered the flowers, wetting the earth, giving an air of nostalgia, Beatrice approached me with a large umbrella, taking refuge in it, she gently took my arm and said.

“Let's go home, Mr. D'Angelo.

I nodded once in her direction from her, and we walked away from that place.