CHAPTER FOUR: Dante meets Lorenzo
1648 Words
DANTE’S POV
I stepped into the school's bustling hallway, the excitement from the charity event filled the air. My tailored suit may have seemed a bit out of place among the colorful posters and child-sized chairs, but I was here not just for them but for myself also. The charity event was part of my campaign for Mayor for the state but it stemmed out of my genuine desire to support kids. I loved kids, there was just something about helping little ones that stirred a sense of purpose in me, something beyond politics.
Few minutes before I’d be delivering my speech, I left the hall, looking for a private place to make a call. As I walked through the almost empty hallway, my eyes caught a familiar young face. It was the little boy I saw in the mall two days ago. The little boy, not more than six or seven, paced nervously in the hallway, clutching a small box as if it held the world's secrets. There was something about the child that tugged at my heart, and I couldn't quite place it.
I wanted to continue on my way, to make my call and deal with the politics that awaited me. Yet, the nervous expression on the boy's face, the way he looked around with unease, made me hesitate. Against my better judgment, I turned towards him and knelt down to his level.
"What's up, little guy?" I asked, offering a friendly smile.
No reply. He simply frowned and turned his face away from me.
"Hello," I tried again, this time with a touch of warmth in my voice.
Still, no response. I could tell he was trying to ignore me.
"Let me guess," I continued, determined. "Your mom said not to talk to strangers?"
Lorenzo nodded, his expression revealing a mixture of caution and curiosity.
"But I'm not a stranger," I told him gently. "We met at the mall, remember?"
"Yes," Lorenzo replied, his small voice barely audible, "buf my mom slaffed you." He frowned at me warily.
I couldn't help but chuckle softly. "That's true, but that doesn't mean we can't be friends. It just means that your mom doesn't have to know."
Lorenzo smiled, revealing a few missing teeth. "Like a secret?” He asked hopefully.
“Yes, like a secret.” I replied smiling.
“I like secrets."
He said smiling widely.
I tousled his hair affectionately. "Well, that's good because I'm very good at keeping secrets."
"So what are you doing here?" Lorenzo asked with genuine interest.
"Like you, I came to present something," I replied, enjoying our secret connection.
"Oh," Lorenzo gasped, his eyes wide with surprise. "You have a project too?"
I shook my head. "No, I don't, but I have to speak to everyone in that large room." I pointed towards the hall where the event was taking place. "So I know how you're feeling about facing all of them. Are you afraid?"
Lorenzo nodded solemnly. "I am, but my mom says there's nothing to be scared about. But, sir, the room is so large and full of people." His eyes began to well up with tears.
I pulled him gently into a hug. "It's okay," I reassured him, "how about this: we just pretend that we aren't scared. We know we both are scared, but it'll be our little secret together."
"A secret?" Lorenzo echoed, contemplating the idea.
"Yes, a secret!"
"That's an amazing idea!" Lorenzo exclaimed, his face lighting up.
I couldn't help but smile. As I looked at the little boy's face, it struck me again - his features, his smile, there was something strangely familiar about him. The more I stared, the more I couldn't shake the feeling that he looked remarkably like me.
"Mr. Mortelli," Eduardo greeted when he got to my side.
I straightened my suit and took a step away from the little boy , giving my full attention to my personal assistant. "I'm listening."
"The Valentinos want you to call them," Eduardo began, "they said you've been ignoring their calls and not meeting their demands."
I lowered my voice, making sure Lorenzo couldn't hear. "Well, that's because their demands are stupid, and I won't be doing anything they're asking me to do. This company belongs to me, and the sooner they accept it, the better for them."
Eduardo shook his head slightly, not fully agreeing with my stance. "Sir, things don't always work our way. The Valentinos are powerful people. They could destroy everything we've managed to rebuild."
"Eduardo," I said sternly, warning him, "call them and tell them to stay away from me."
Eduardo nodded, his frustration with my stubbornness evident. He glanced back at Lorenzo and, in a somewhat strange move, decided to approach the kid. "Who are you?" he asked.
Confused, the boy replied, "Lorenzo?"
"Leave the kid alone, Eduardo; you're scaring him," I said, pulling my P.A away by his suit. "Let's go, or I'll be late for my speech."
"Lorenzo, see you inside, okay?" I told the boy, crouching down to his level. "Don't forget all I told you. Let's keep our lit—"
My words were cut short when I heard Eva's voice screaming from a short distance. At this point it was obvious the universe just wants to frustrate me.
"Leave my kid!" she shouted angrily as she walked quickly toward us.
For the sake of peace, I simply grabbed Eduardo's arm and hurriedly left her son.
As we walked back into the hall, Eduardo couldn't contain his curiosity. "Sir, who's that kid?"
I feigned ignorance, trying to brush off the question. "Which kid?"
"The one in the hallway."
"Just a boy I met in the mall," I replied curtly.
"Oh!"
"What's the problem?"
"Welllll… He looks just like you, sir. I don't know if you can see it, but he looks like a mini you. Like if you had a son, that's how he would definitely look."
My heart sank in fear as I heard those words. I had suspected the boy looked like me, but I was doubtful. Hearing those words from Eduardo's mouth confirmed my fears. The boy looked just like me.
I did some quick mental math. The boy was about 6 years old, which means, based on his looks, age, and the time I had been with Eva, the little boy could be my son.
Could be my son, and I hoped, oh I hoped that he was.
I just finished my speech and entered my car with my P.A as the driver drove us back to my company. As I glanced through the window my mind wandered back to what Eduardo had said earlier about Lorenzo. I couldn’t help but wonder if, just if he was mine.
FLASHBACK: Three years ago
I lay there, weak, surrounded by the sterile scent of the hospital room. I had just started recovering from a fatal car accident, one that had scarred me for life. I still had PTSD from time to time. I remember the frantic voices, the blaring sirens, and then the darkness. When I woke up, my body was struggling, and the doctor took the time to tell me about my body’s progress.
“Sir, what’s your name?”
“Dante,” I replied warily as I looked at my surroundings.
“Okay Mr Dante can you move your right hand for me.”
Realizing I was in a hospital as I saw nurses and doctors around me I responded to what the strange man instructed. For almost one hour, he continued with several more instructions to ascertain that I was fine.
“Mr Dante Mortelli. I want to take this time to firstly congratulate you. You were in a ghastly motor accident and you were unconscious for about one week, but the good news is that you’re totally fine. From the brain function tests and MRI we did there’s no permanent damage.” He paused.
“Thank you doctor.”
“However,” he continued sadly, “there’s some bad news.”
“What’s that?” I asked
“We ran some spinal examinations and discovered there were some damage to the spinal cord.”
“But I can walk right?” I asked him anxiously
“Yes you can walk, it didn’t affect any part of your movements. I’m afraid it was something different it affected.”
“What’s that?” I asked growing frustrated.
“It has affected your ejaculation. I’m sorry to tell you this but it’s medically impossible for you to have a child.”
“What?” I asked wide-eyed. He couldn’t possibly be serious. How could it be, I was just 28years old with no kids.
“I’m sorry Mr Dante but there’s nothing we can do for now.”
I had no idea when I burst out into tears. This was the one dream I’d always wanted. I love kids, immensely, so how? Just how could I live my life knowing I couldn’t have any.
The doctor's words echoed in my mind, shattering my dreams of a family. I couldn’t bring myself to even be with any woman, I wouldn’t want to deprive her of the chance to have a child.
Back to the present
Ever since then I had given up on the idea of having a family, accepting that it was something I could never have. But now, the mere possibility that Lorenzo could be my son filled me with hope.
Could it be? Could I have a chance at being a father after all these years? The thought consumed me as I stared out of the window, my mind racing with the implications of this newfound hope.
For all the hardships and betrayals that had come from the Armani family, maybe, just maybe, this could be the one good thing that came out of it.
- Writer
