CHAPTER5:Another night with Riccardo
1292 Words
The laughter between Bianca and Melissa continued all the way home.
There were lots of bags in the hands of both sisters as they walked happily, enjoying each other's company for the first time in four years. They both seemed exceptionally and genuinely happy. Melissa had been smiling intensely ever since she ended her call with Liam earlier that morning.
“You like him,” Bianca teased.
Melissa tried to hide her smile.
“He was just being nice,” Melissa said, blushing.
“Nice enough to spend an hour on the phone with you?”
Bianca smiled.
Melissa hadn't felt this safe with any man all her life. She thought about everything they had discussed on the phone.
“I know Liam must have missed me,” she said to Bianca.
“Love is a beautiful thing, baby sis. I am the lecturer of love,” Bianca quipped.
Melissa laughed softly.
“Tell me more about Riccardo. I haven't seen you talking to him on the phone. Bianca, are you sure Riccardo really exists, or did you just make him up to make us feel better?”
“Yes, he does. But he's married.”
Melissa's eyes widened.
“No, Bianca. That isn't advisable. Forget about him, and the right person will come along. He'll be head over heels in love with you. He'll call you every free second he gets.”
Bianca winked.
“Preacher of love!” she screamed.
Both sisters burst into laughter.
“I have fallen for him,” Bianca admitted. “He has everything a woman needs in a man. He's the only person who has ever shown me genuine care since I started being used by men. I can't resist him. Just the sight of him sends shivers down my spine. I only wish I could have him one more time.”
“This time, his wife might disfigure your face with one punch.”
They both laughed.
“Trust your sister. I've always been a tigress. She can't do such a thing. Why didn't she hold on to her husband well enough instead of letting him chase after me?”
Elena opened the entrance door slowly.
“Where is mine? If you didn't buy anything for me, I'll send both of you out of my house.”
She smiled.
“You can't carry such huge bags without shopping for me.”
“Mum, your package is here.”
Bianca handed her a large bag filled with expensive jewelry, shoes, and handbags.
“So, Mum, can you let us in now?”
Melissa groaned.
“It’s been a long day.”
Elena carefully opened the door, smiling.
“I’m sorry for waylaying you.”
They entered.
“Mum, check your things and see if you like them,” Bianca said as she headed toward her room. She was both excited and exhausted.
Elena noticed the excitement and blush on Melissa's cheeks as she answered her phone.
“Hi, Liam,” Melissa said before hurrying toward her room so Elena wouldn't eavesdrop on the conversation.
Elena felt relieved.
Melissa was gradually behaving like herself again. She looked happier than she had been in years.
This is a good day, Elena thought.
She had never seen her daughter this happy since her father disappeared.
Suddenly, Bianca's phone vibrated.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Riccardo.
Then her instincts told her not to answer.
The first ring stopped.
Moments later, it rang again.
She couldn't stop herself from picking up. She was hopelessly in love with this man. The bond between them was impossible to explain.
Her voice trembled.
“Riccardo.”
“Bianca, we need to talk.”
Her expression hardened.
“Now you want to talk?”
“Please.”
“Meet me tonight.”
Bianca hesitated.
“Where?”
He gave her the address of one of his private apartments.
Bianca quickly slipped a pill bottle into her bag.
She smiled mysteriously.
“I am going to deal with Riccardo for abandoning me for months.”
Then she ran out of her room.
Melissa, still on the phone, saw her rushing outside.
“Bianca!”
“I’ll be back tomorrow morning!” Bianca shouted. “Don’t wait for me, little bird.”
Elena stepped out of her room.
“Where is your sister running to so fast? I thought she said she was done being a plaything for men.”
“Yes, Mum,” Melissa replied absentmindedly, still talking on the phone.
Elena felt uneasy.
She dialed Bianca's number immediately.
“Where are you going?” she demanded.
“Mum, I just want to see Riccardo briefly.”
“But why at this hour?”
“Goodbye, Mum. See you tomorrow morning.”
The call ended.
An hour later, Bianca stood outside a luxurious apartment building.
The doorman recognized her immediately and allowed her inside.
She took the elevator to the top floor.
As she entered the apartment, she saw Riccardo standing near the dining table.
A half-empty glass of red wine rested beside him.
His face looked pale, tired, and weak.
Bianca frowned.
“What is going on? Why did you call me?”
“Am I not allowed to call you anymore?” he asked weakly.
Before Bianca could respond, he pulled her into his arms and held her tightly.
“I've missed you, my plaything.”
For a moment, Bianca felt at peace.
The distance between them disappeared.
“Do you only call me when you need me?” she asked quietly. “Or am I more than that? I need answers.”
Riccardo looked at her sadly.
The tension between them slowly faded as they spent time together, talking and reconnecting after months apart.
As the night wore on, however, something felt strange.
Riccardo seemed unusually weak.
Bianca herself began to feel dizzy.
She tried to ignore it, believing it was exhaustion.
But the feeling only grew stronger.
Soon, her eyelids became heavy.
The last thing she remembered was being beside Riccardo before darkness swallowed her whole.
---
Bianca woke the next morning with a pounding headache.
Slowly opening her eyes, she noticed the pill bottle in her hand.
Confusion filled her mind.
“What is this doing in my hand?”
She didn't remember using it.
Then panic struck.
“Riccardo?”
There was no answer.
She called again.
“Riccardo?”
His body remained motionless.
She touched him.
Cold.
Terrifyingly cold.
Bianca stumbled backward.
“Riccardo?”
Still no response.
Fear gripped her heart.
Her scream echoed through the apartment.
Tears streamed down her face.
“Did I kill someone?”
Questions flooded her mind.
Did I kill my Demi-God out of anger?
Did I write that note?
Did I really do this?
Why can't I remember anything?
Suddenly, the apartment door burst open.
Several security personnel rushed inside.
Everyone froze at the sight of Riccardo's lifeless body.
Then their eyes fell on Bianca.
And the bottle of pills in her hand.
“Put that down!” a security officer shouted.
She immediately dropped it.
A police officer stepped forward.
His expression darkened.
“Miss Bianca, you will need to come with us.”
“What are you talking about?” she cried.
Nobody answered.
The expressions around her told her everything.
They believed she was responsible for Riccardo's death.
It still felt like a nightmare.
Was Riccardo truly dead?
She couldn't believe it.
The man who had treated her with genuine kindness was gone.
And now she was being labeled as his killer.
Her world crumbled around her as tears poured down her cheeks.
“I didn't kill him,” she whispered.
But even she wasn't sure what had happened that night.
And that terrified her more than anything.
- Writer
