Four
1528 Words
Vincenzo’s POV
New York, USA
“Sir?” I answer, visibly frightened.
“Come to the family home at once,” He replies, and the line immediately goes dead.
It’s official. I am f****d.
***
Cassie’s POV
Los Angeles
A combined gasp ripples through the room.
No one could have seen this coming.
Marcus scoffs, his tongue pressing against the inside of his red cheek.
I can see the imprint of my palm, and I relish it so much it’s slightly disturbing.
“Cassie, you know you can’t quit,” he says.
“You’re nothing without me, and you know it. Besides, this is just business. No hard feelings.”
I nod slowly. Unfortunately for him, this time I see right through his gaslighting tactics.
“We’ll just have to see about that,” I reply defiantly.
“Marcus. Cassie. What’s going on here?!” His father, the president, demands, getting to his feet.
“Father, it’s nothing. Cassie was just-”
But I cut in before he can spin more lies.
“Why don’t you ask your son where he got—I take the tablet from Marcus’ hands and wave it at the old man—sorry, I mean, stole these designs from?”
Then I slam the device against Marcus’ chest, and storm out.
Emma is just outside, sipping coffee while gossiping with her fellow witch, Marcela.
I walk over, take Emma’s cup, and empty it on her.
“Are you crazy?!” She yells as the hot liquid splashes all over her.
“You wanted the job, right? Here you go.” I toss her coffee cup back at her, and leave for my office.
Once there, I pack everything that is mine, and leave without looking back.
***
Vincenzo’s POV
New York, USA
“Why do you look like you’ve seen a ghost?”
“Huh?” I turn. The sound of Rissa’s voice has just broken me from my desolate reverie.
I frown immediately.
“Change of plans. We’re leaving, now.”
“Wait, what?” She asks, still nude.
But the summons I have just received are enough to keep any possible arousals at bay.
“Was I not clear enough? Do I have to spell it out for you?”
“Woah, woah, I’m not the person behind that call you received, Vincenzo. Chill out,” she says, putting on her slip, and I nod, exhaling deeply.
“I’m sorry I just- I just have a lot on my mind right now. I’ll hit you up later.”
“Alright, take care of yourself, and whatever that call was about,” she says, leaving.
“If only,” I mutter, and grab a hooded jacket to go with my sweatpants. I leave my apartment hurriedly, and call the valet on my way down.
As I step out of the building, he pulls up in the red Mclaren I had placed on the bet with Lorenzo about the Asian chick. I chuckle dryly at the irony, and get in.
“Call Lorenzo,” I instruct the system, as I speed off toward the family home.
“What’s good, man?” He answers on the first ring, and I exhale deeply.
“Alfie’s calling me in,” I reply.
“And I just know that it’s something about that Asian chick.”
Lorenzo chuckles dryly.
“Ah, Mulan. What did you do this time, V?”
“Long story, man. I wish I had listened to you. My head kept warning me. Like, now that I think about it, there were so many red flags,” I groan, gripping the wheel harder as I accelerated further.
“I just hope Alfie doesn’t go off his rocker cause he's been warning me.”
“Sounds serious. Figure out a way to cut the story short.”
“This morning I thought she’d left, and I was entertaining this fuckgirl when-”
“She walked out of your bathroom.”
“Wait, what?” I squint, unable to believe my ears.
“You’ve been in this situation?”
“God, no. That’s a scene from my favorite author, Paris Hills. But how do you even get into such situations, Vincenzo? Your life has to be scripted,” he laughs.
“Hmph. Tell me about it,” I chuckle dryly.
“I just arrived,” I add, breathing deeply as the gates open up to me.
“Good luck, bro,” Lorenzo says.
“You’re gonna need it.”
I know I am, but I don't say it as I hang up and drive in.
***
Cassie's POV
Los Angeles, USA
It isn't until I get to a park bench and take a seat that the full reality of what just happened hits me.
I close my eyes, and exhale deeply. Once again, I'm left without a job.
Thoughts and fears of how I'm going to cope start to swirl, but I quickly shake them off.
“Not now,” I mutter, reaching for my phone. I need to escape reality for a while.
So I dial her number, and her name pops up on my screen.
Mia.
My BFF.
She picks at the first ring, but I speak quickly before she can download all the latest gist into my ears.
“I quit LND, and now I'm sitting in the park close to the office,” I say this, slowing down after each word for the gravity of the situation to sink in.
“Finally!!!” Mia cries, and I chuckle slightly.
She's probably not the best source of advice, but her support makes me feel like I made the right decision, and it gladdens me.
“Stay there. I'm on my way,” she says in a more serious tone, and I nod.
“Okay,” I smile, hanging up.
Mia never supported my working at LND. Well, at first she was just as excited as I was when I told her I'd gotten a new job, until the first day she met Marcus.
It was at a company dinner for a previous release. Since then, she basically danced a line between supporting me, and avoiding any and every talk about LND.
Just then, I got a text from her.
“I've got 5 clubs on my list for tonight. Pick our starting point before I arrive.”
And sure enough, she had attached the list.
I just smile, shaking my head.
“Party animal,” I text back with laughing emojis.
***
Vincenzo's POV
New York, USA
Some servants greet me as I get down from the car, and I nod curtly.
“Where's He?” I ask, trying to sound as carefree as possible, while hoping they buy it.
But they probably won't. Everyone fears Alfie.
“In His study, sir,” one replies, and I leave at once. I go in through the kitchen, and find exactly whom I expect.
Aida. She's basically the lady of the house, having been in service to this family for as long as anyone could remember.
“What did you do this time, my boy? Alfie's got that look in His eye.”
I exhale deeply, knowing exactly what look she's talking about.
“Aida, you have to help me speak to Him. This is all a misunderstanding-”
“Vincenzo!” His voice booms through the house, and I nearly jump in fright. Even Aida looks scared.
“I've never seen Him like this,” she confesses, increasing a fear I have been thinking has reached its limit.
“I will speak with Him, but go now and see Him.”
I nod, exhaling deeply.
“Okay,” I say, faking a smile.
“It's going to be fine, don't worry,” I pat her on the shoulder, but we both know whom those words are really for as I advance further into the house.
***
He is sitting behind his large oak desk, a large globe to His left.
He looks up as I walk in, and hits me with the look. All my movements cease. I don't think I'm even breathing.
Then I realize He's not alone. Mulan sits on the sofa to His right, and an Asian man who looks about Alfie's age sits next to her.
“Do you recognize her?” Alfie asks, and I swallow.
“Yes, sir. We-”
“Spare me the details, boy,” He cuts in mercilessly, getting to His feet.
“You have brought enough dishonor to My name,” He adds, walking around His desk, and moving to where the Asians sit.
“Wong, again, you have my sincerest apologies. I will make sure my grandson understands the gravity of what he has just done.
“Let us not let our grandchildren ruin decades of friendship and business relations.”
“How then do you plan to make such one as him understand what he has done?” Wong asks my grandfather.
Alfie turns to me, and doesn't blink once as He speaks His next words.
“By cutting him off from the family, and denouncing him as my grandson.”
- Writer
