NOT A LONG WAY FROM THE HEART

CHAPTER 3 SKILLET 1

A new apprentice had just come into town, his devotion to the business was so fiery that it took an upsurge in profits and the scale of transactions in recent weeks has been phenomenal. Another insightful addition by Fabio, as it was his aim to find an apprentice who could be efficient and he did in Skillet. Things striding so swiftly made Fabio think of giving the Dexce people a school, at least one of a better standard than they have. Bolita, on the other hand, is having a completely different thought, centred on Fabio's disposition and who he really is, as she's never asked him that question, or so she thinks.

Amigo also has ideas of his own, one of moving products to the other towns surrounding Dexce and if possible, beyond. Since he always felt somewhat inferior to Fabio, he decided to go ahead with his plan without divulging the same to Fabio in anticipation of coming out triumphant.

It was midnight. Bolita could barely sleep so she decided to walk through the path she usually strolls when she's out for a thought. In the opposite direction is Fabio, looking addled as they both bombed into each other in shock as they reflexed from it, Fabio easily showing the qualities that make Bolita sway every time she sees him. Things at this point got complicated for them as they both fought with thoughts about each other.

Moving things into the other towns without any delays, Amigo was exploiting his position and having the upper hand for once, which made him flustered. And very soon, other towns will get to know where such heavy products are coming from with a mind of their own to profit off it. But at this time, that never crossed his mind.

Bolita, still pondering over the fact that she and Fabio just ran into each other without a word having been said as they walked past each other. Fabio is rather more into the fact that he hasn't been around the business of late, and that's a worry for him, though Skillet is keeping him up to date on the operations; he would rather have the preference of observing it himself.

Fabio and Amigo had schemed to set up a more relishin’ pimp house, where they could have a plethora of clients. And Amigo will be out of Dexce to deal with the matter as planned.

Regarding such a plan, Fabio decides to bring in a third party to help facilitate the realisation of the project while Amigo is out dealin’ with it as well.

Another time for Skillet to unravel the secret like he used to. The numbers were slightly different from the previous records so Skillet decided to inform Fabio about this recent development. Though Fabio acted surprised when he heard this something was a bit off in his disposition, as if he knew beforehand of such a thing.

Fabio uses the opportunity of being available there for a business purpose to see his baby mama and his kid which no one knows about except his only sister. A knock on the door by Fabio, someone opens, it's Carodie, the mother of Fabio's child and he kisses her on the cheek since they began their platonic relationship some years back.

Carodie’s been filling Fabio in on what's going on in her life, she's been telling him how things with her brother have gone horribly wrong with his addiction to drugs and how she's turned into his provider. Fabio suggests that she cut him off but she's reluctant. Before leaving, he sees his kid and drops some money for upkeep.

Back in Dexce, Skillet is following the trail of discrepancies in the figures like a chartered accountant, which he is, but he knows better not to play with his forte in a work like this. Leading up until now, all he has come up with is that someone is diverting the products at best.

Fabio uses all the time he has left tryin’ to fetch the pool for the pimp initiative, but someone spots Fabio in his brown suit and not just any one, a mercenary who has been sent to eliminate him upon recognition. Fabio senses the threat of being followed by someone, so he immediately enters a hospital to evade a hit on him…but this isn't just about hiding because he’s intent on exterminating the man that’s sent after him.

Fabio's hiding in a power utility room in the hospital, and auspiciously for him, the killer came looking in there. Fabio’s already armed with hard, hard-wired rope, placing it over the killer's neck, and the struggle begins as they both try to subdue each other for survival, but Fabio couldn't relent on stifling the breath of his opponent. Fabio opened the door to leave after hiding the body properly.

Amigo brings a questionable suggestion into the picture when he decides to bring Bianca into the plans for working out the pimp capital and management. Fabio is making his way back to the Dexce town with his new associate which will help bring to fruition their pimp organisation.

Bolita has just heard of Fabio's intention to revive the schooling system in town, and she finds it very appealing as she is set to begin her teaching job after a very long, indefinite leave.

Dexce town is set for the busiest months it's ever seen in its existence, with the school upgrade and the pimp operation all taking a big toll on how Dexce will shape now, even though it's always had either of these things. Amigo sees Bolita, and he abruptly walks up to her; she almost thought it was Fabio before realising it was Amigo.

Amigo is always trying so hard to make Bolita see him as a nice guy, and maybe that could help him have a better chance at having anything with her.

Looking at her in a flirtatious way and trying to see her through with the books she's carrying. Asked her if she's in a relationship or something like that with anyone, Bolita appreciates the interest, but she makes it explicitly clear to Amigo that, for now, she's not looking to be in anything except a platonic relationship. Amigo seems to appreciate the sincerity, and they both laugh at a couple of jokes, and he leaves.

Fabio is just making his way back into Dexce with his associate for the commencement of the project at hand. Fabio, let's Amigo know that he is back, and he can come with his own pool party. Amigo shows up with Bianca, which of course is a surprise to Fabio at the time, as he wasn't really understanding what was going on. Fabio introduced the two of them to his associate, and they all went down to business next. After they all discussed and settled on how the project would begin and all other miscellaneous issues. Bianca walks up to Fabio to explain why she's here but Fabio doesn't really want to hear whatever she has to say right now.

Yes, it was already an anticipated couple of business months in Dexce, but with what's been going on of late with the people as well makes it even more of an understatement. Fabio, who's being recognised as the town lamb light, has already started impacting Dexton and its people since his arrival.

Skillet decides to tread carefully concerning this problem of figures dissimilarity, which could be a dangerous trail to follow as it has already proven to be when he asked questions about anything that could have affected the numbers.

Fabio thinks it's time, he freshens up and calls it a day until tomorrow at least, but the thought of wanting to see Bolita keeps him from doing so. So he takes himself out of the initial plan of resting and decides to walk, and he hopes to come across her like the night before. But after a long wait outside, he believes it is not to be tonight as he had hoped it would. He goes back to his lodge.

Fine and okay are the words mostly spoken at Dexce when a person is trying to express himself with high regard to their roots and Dexterian disposition which is of a modest inclination.

Nothing means as much to Fabio at the moment, and it's noticeable in his actions because he doesn't let anything out of the project affect his resolve concerning it.

Rumours of two people having a thing for each other have slowly been spreading around town, but those rumours died quickly with the unknown disappearance of a young girl, who had only turned 7 a few months ago, becoming an even more pressing issue.

Prayers have been made at the Faith Church. Fais bio is really desperate now to find out what happened with that young girl, as this problem is really f*****g with his business and just doesn't sit well with him that a young girl has been abducted or vanished without a clue. Though Dexce is a place known for its vile lifestyle and all things like this, it haunts its people or victims.

Bolita goes to relax in the garden and finds someone that she's never seen, and who looks like someone definitely not from Dexce. Bolita greets Bianca, and suddenly, Bianca almost falls down as she hasn't eaten for almost a day, making her very weak and pale. Bolita abruptly supports her with her hands and shoulder as she takes her close to the seats so she doesn't fall. After finding out that Bianca hasn't eaten, Bolita decides to cook something hurriedly for Bianca to eat to start regaining her energy.

Bolita looked very much concerned for Bianca and had questions to ask her because she didn't understand what a lady like this was doing in Dexce, and not to mention almost fainting as a result of hunger. After Bianca regained herself completely, she told Bolita of how she came to Dexce with Amigo and how she plans on regaining the love of her one true Fabio. Bolita was a bit shocked on hearing Fabio's name.

Fabio sent out his men into the bushes to search for the young girl and make inquiries if anyone had seen her. Even Dexce authorities were placed on notice about the issue and they have been on the search since. Skillet, still in his pursuit of the figures' misplacement, has just narrowly escaped death because he's forging closer to the peak of the tracks.

News of the girl's discovery is received by Fabio and he disseminates, the same to everyone else in town and happy faces is what the reaction is as everyone's grateful to Fabio and he goes further to throw a feast in celebration of the return of the young girl.

Bolita has been nothing short of impressed with what Fabio has been doing in Dexce since his arrival. She finally goes to meet him in his room, but Fabio was halfway dressed, Bolita for the first time saw what Fabio's chest and muscles really looked like as she gasps. Fabio welcomed her in and went to put on some extra clothe. Bolita expressed her admiration of what he did and other things like the school.

Fabio feels it's time, he decides to tell Bolita about his feelings and if she feels the same way about him at all. Bolita starts getting the chills from her feet to her head and she weakly nods her head with a bit of a smirk on her face. They both agreed on seeing out their differences and to try better at understanding each other.

“A milestone of development about to hit Dexce Town", that was a report on the television. The feast is just getting ready to begin, music is in the air already. The marked celebrant is dressed in a picturesque view for her win over being lost.

Bolita can't make it to the feast because she's sick and doesn't want anybody to know about it. So Fabio wasn't happy about it and he went to see her instead. Bolita sitting outside the house trying to feel better after taking some warm tea, then she sees someone approaching towards her but can't really see who it is until the person got closer and she saw it was Fabio with a bag containing food and drink from the feast, he brought some for Bolita since she couldn't make it there.

Fabio sat down next to her, smiling as he tried lifting her mood. He took off with a story of how he was really sick when he was a little boy and his mother got really worried because she felt he was going to die but he told her to be strong that he'll be better soon and she cried those tears of joy hearing him say it. Don't ever act sick when you're, Fabio said to Bolita. Bolita looked at Fabio with such fascination in her eyes almost going in for a kiss but Fabio restrained her which even made Bolita more and more intrigued by this.

Skillet still trailing on with the clues he's getting from following his findings without relaying to Fabio about any of this ongoing investigation he's on. He is strictly aware of the danger in this as he has faced one not long ago, if to mention.

Fabio is finally on his way to feast again from Bolita’s house and he hears a banging sound like one coming from a fire arm that has been discharged. He ducks trying to see if he's been shot but after some seconds of anxiety and search he isn't injured anywhere so it has to be someone else that's in danger but he couldn't check out what it was as he didn't know the exact spot it was happening so he decided to call Amigo and ask if he knows anything about it.

Amigo without any hesitation admits to sending 2 men to kill a rat in their midst which was a lie, of course. Fabio didn't ask more into the reply Amigo gave, he just took and went on his way to the Feast. Amigo was infuriated at how careless his men were handling the situation. He really called them to caution and asked if the job was done but it wasn't which aggravated him the more.

In Dexce as it is always known any celebration last till day break so the feast was going to be nothing of the opposite. Lots of eating, dancing and all of the usuals were going on. The celebrants family were so happy that they marked as a special day in their lives never to be forgotten. Fabio danced with little girl as well. His presence lifting the mood even higher. A speech was given by the family of the celebrant and others of Fabio impact in Dexce even though he's just been here for a couple of months, they all believe he has shown great care for Dexce and it's people which is why he is very much loved and admired.