TIT 4 TAT

Chapter 5

I jabbered a bit with Mandy and Bonny while Maria set out the takeouts we got.

Aunt Marilyn joined us for dinner as we all yapped away time, we wrapped up dinner and called it a night but my mind never left Roman.

“So are you going to tell about that s*xy man at the mall, I saw you talking to him.” Maria gave a cheesy smile as she pranced on the bed.

“Well, he’s someone I work for.” I started.

“Ouuu a client, I see, he was giving off these mysterious vibes.” Maria chuckled.

“You can say that again” I mumbled thinking about my encounter with him today.

“Maybe he’s your lost soulmate who gave up when you got married to Jeromy.” Maria chirped.

“Yeah and I’m Eddy Murphy.” I uttered sarcastically as we both chuckled, we jabbered a bit before Maria headed back to her room.

I shuffled in my sleep as my mind kept wandering off to our encounter, what was he doing to me and why was he here in France, I hesitantly drifted to sleep after a while of reasoning.

Morning came by quickly, I was going to roam my home town today, i freshened up and got dressed into a yellow floral gown, putting my shoulder length hair into a sleek bun as I adorned myself with jewelries.

I gazed at myself through the vanity mirror, I had forgotten who I used to be, This home embraced me with familiarity but I couldn’t just seem to remember what it was like before my accident.

I peeked at the room, the walls had cracks on them along with its yellow color looking faded from how old the building was, the wooden frame of the bed carved to perfection, the huge white rug beside the bed made the hostile room look welcome.

Maria and Aunty were accompanying me to some places I forgot about during my accident. We visited a museum to get started on rousing some memories, I learnt about my fascination for this museum, I would consume hours gazing at the art, sadly it didn’t seem to bring any sense of Deja vu. Our next visit was the Eiffel Tower, Aunt Marilyn mentioned my visit to the tower shortly before my accident.

We took some pictures before settling for ice cream cones. It warmed my heart watching Maria and aunt Marilyn so hysterical with each other, My mother passed away when I was ten, my father gave up years after, Maria and aunt Marilyn had been my support system ever since, they became the only family I had.

We strolled a bit before we decided to head home, we packed up our belongings to leave but I froze when I noticed Roman heading toward me.

“Can we talk?.” He quizzed as he glanced at me, I regarded aunt and Maria as they both silently cheered to go ahead. We strolled to his car, we got in and he drove off.

“Am I in trouble?” I asked in suspense.

“I just wanted to take you out for dinner”. Roman said, stirring confusion in my mind, that my boss was accompanying me to dinner.

The ride was thirty minutes long before we arrived at an elaborate restaurant, which was classy yet extravagant. We advanced inside and Roman set out a seat for me, This part of him was kind and gentle but it sent an unsettling feeling down my spine. He got seated as well and he signaled for a waiter to come over. We both placed our orders and sent the waiter off.

“Do you know me?.” Roman’s question sent me off, of course I knew you, I wouldn’t just accompany a random individual thirty minutes away from my family to an eatery I’ve never stepped foot in.

“What do you mean?” I quizzed.

“Have we had an encounter before you became my tattoo artist?” He cleared.

“I do deem you familiar but I can’t tell if we have,” I muttered.

“You were present that night, it was you who gave me that necklace, why are you acting unaware?!.” Roman accused as he struggled to keep his tone down.

“I must say I don't understand what you are communicating and I’d appreciate it if you don’t raise your voice at me.” I voiced as he sighed with frustration, the waiter walked over with our dinner and set it out for us.

“Thank you,” I mumbled as he walked away.

“Look I apologize for coming off too raspy, but I have one last question.” He uttered.

“Go ahead.” I anticipated.

“Were you in France five years ago close to a port on a snowy eve?” He asked.

“I was born here, I moved to Venice after I got married,” I mumbled as I played with the food.

•Roman’s POV•

She was married?, Where was her ring and why didn’t Gobert inform me of this? I went silent as we munched on our dinner, I needed answers, was she the one who made me fall in love with her at first sight just to hear she passed on days later, the information from the hospital said it was a French female and she was badly burnt, they were able to keep her stable for a couple of days before she passed but I couldn’t determine if it was her who passed or not.

I clenched on my fork as I struggled to conceal my emotions, I could notice her observing with a look of concern, if it wasn’t her then I didn’t want anything to do with her.

I hastily got up as I dropped the Cheque and dashed outside to get air, a while later she teetered out and headed towards me with a p*ss*d expression.

“First you accuse me, then you raise your voice at me, now you walk out, I didn't beg to be here.” She toned, her unmistakable French accent prying into her sentence. I stayed quiet for a while as I tried to organize my emotions.

“My apologies Halle, for bringing you out and treating you poorly, I hope I can make it up to you some other day,” I mumbled.

“I don’t know what you’re heading at but I’m very uninterested.” She said and it struck a chord in my heart for some odd reason.

I drove her home and watched her go in without a word. I lingered a bit, skeptical about leaving and hearing bad news. I drove home after some minutes, my mind never escaping her, she seemed to be the same person yet at the same time she wasn’t, seven years ago I fell in love, I didn't have a chance to tell her before she passed and i didn’t even know her name, it made me miserable each day, I became isolated from the real world, treating my workers like animals.

My heart softened at the sight of her, I took over my fathers business at a very tender age, running a mafia made me tough and heartless, I locked away my emotions and grew with an iron fist, all that effort fumbled when I woke up on that hospital bed and saw her ranting on the phone, my tough demeanor instantly softened as I gawked at her.

I couldn’t accept the fact that she had passed, I’ve sought her for seven long years then Halle comes along awakening things I locked away when she died. I couldn’t love another woman cause I would be betraying her trust. I drowned myself in liquor as I gazed out the window walls. I needed her but then again I couldn’t bring myself to betray my first love.

•Halle’s POV•

I thought back to our dinner as I shuffled in bed, he was out of his mind perhaps. I admit the necklace rang a bell but raising his voice was unacceptable, I didn’t want to carry on with these games he was steering at, Mandy was my only priority and I didn’t need anything distracting me from her.