Fire On Fire

Ripple Effect

As soon as the elevator doors close, and the lift starts going down, i take a deep breathe.

'I'll see you around'

His words echo in my head, and despite myself, a small smile appears on my face.

That thought both excites and scares me.

"Who was that?" Riley asks, and i look down at him.

"Just some guy that works with your Dad" i smile down at him, then look back up again.

Only now do i realise, that there is someone else in the lift, and i clutch Ri's hand abit tighter, wiping the silly smile off my face.

Ok, that was unexpected. He is the last person i expected to see again today, and here of all places. My heart is literally racing, from the shock of seeing him.

To think that i had spent months, fascinated by the idea of him from, Months thinking he was so unreachable, and out of my world, to suddenly be thrust into each other's lives like this.

Life is crazy Life huh?

But then my mind goes back to what he did this morning, and i frown.

"Let's go" Riley says excitedly, pulling me out of the lift when it comes to a stop, as the doors slide open.

Ok, let's go" i say, enjoying his enthusiasm, as i let him lead me out of the building.

*

I drive back home at the end of the day, arriving to an empty house.

After Nick and Ally moved out, everything just took a ripple effect, one thing leading to another, and our whole family dynamic changed there after.

Somehow Mom, convinced Dad to travel with her, and despite not being his his best of health, he agreed, both in hopes for rekindling their relationship and saving it from sudden death, so they are barely ever around at the mansion.

Lola is in college now, so she is only ever around during breaks, between each semesters. Which only leaves me and Aaron, but even him, after getting a divorce from Nicky, has been very inconspicuous with his movements, and is hardly ever around, so i often find myself here alone.

"Dinner will be served in an hour Mr. Marco" One of the maids says to me, as i walk towards the staircase.

"Thank you Silia" i say, making my way up the stairs.

I walk straight to my bedroom, taking off my watch, jacket, shoes and socks, and tossing them on the bed and floor carelessly, immediately I enter the room.

I pull my shirt over my head, and toss it to the other as i walk to the ensuite bathroom, and stand in front of the mirror by the sink. I roll my shoulders around, and stretch my neck out.

Staring at my reflection, a sudden image of wide brown eyes flash before my eyes.

I have not thought about the holder of those eyes, since this morning, when she rudely left me standing infront of the elevators.

Okay, maybe i deserved it.

It's funny to think, it was just this morning that we literally woke up together.

Antonella.

I think about every moment we shared that i can remember from last night, right up until this morning, then i shake my head and shake the thoughts out of my head.

I step into the shower, and let the warm water run over me, soothing my skin and helping me relax.

I am often very tired these days, because of my ever increasing workload, which is due to the fact that i finally made an effort to be more involved in the family business and ease some of Nick's workload.

I regret that decision everyday.

I liked to play by my own rules, do things at my own pace, and only do things that i am passionate about, but that is nolonger the case.

When Dad basically retired and everything started resting more or less on Nick's shoulders, Aaron and i decided to step up and be more involved in the family business, but even though it has been over a year since that decision was made, i am still yet to be well adjusted to my new roles and responsibilities.

And i admit there are times i have wanted to back out and quit, and do my own things again, but i can't do that, without looking like a complete douchebag, so i am determined to do better, plus there is just this feeling i get when i do the right thing, that makes it all worth it at the end of the day

Although, sometimes, i feel like i'm fast approaching my breakpoint, and something has got to give.

Oh, how things have changed, and i can trace back the beginning of that change to the moment Alaia came into our lives, it made Nick change, and that was the slippery slope, that saw the change in everything...the worst though, is that now this family house is fast turning into a ghost town, the quietness so loud. Long gone are the family dinners and drinks in the lounge after, loud voices, laughing or arguing in the hall ways...........

I have often considered moving out myself, to somewhere smaller, but then what will become of this place that holds so many memories for all of us, besides, Mom and Dad made me promise, that if everyone were ever to leave, i would continue to live here and make this place my home, a promise i don't mind keeping, but it does get too lonely sometimes, made worse by the fact that every inch of this place gives me back memories, both good and bad.

The bathroom fills with steam, as i continue to let my mind wonder in the past in nostalgia.

Later, i walk out of the shower, grab a towel and start to dry my hair, as i walk into bedroom.

Suddenly, I hate the idea of having dinner alone, and so, in a last minute change of plans, i decide to go out to eat.

*

"Hey Sof, Ri and I are going swimming, wanna come?" i ask, as we walk into Sofia's room.

"Going somewhere?" i ask, when i notice that she is busy getting dressed.

"Yeah, got invited for dinner with some friends" she says, flipping her hair back, and spreading her arms out, in a silent 'is this outfit okay?' question.

"Looks good" i say honestly.

She always looks good. Today, she is wearing a short black dress, with red high heels.

"Sorry, buddy....i will join you guys another day, ok?" she says, pecking him on the cheek.

"Ok, well, have fun" i say, as we walk out of the room and down stairs to the pool.

It's a huge pool, and so we stick to the shallow end, splashing around and having fun in the water. Despite the evening cool breeze, the water is heated, so i don't have to worry about either one of us getting a cold.

"Hey, just a few more minutes, then we are out ok? we have to get ready for dinner" i say to him, and he nods.

He always makes a huge fuss, and puts up a fight every time we have to leave the water, so i have to remind him a couple of times prior to leaving the pool, just to mentally prepare him.

Now that we're closer to leaving, i take it easy and swim to the edge of the pool, and relax, my body still submerged under water, but with my arms spread out on the concrete on the edge of the pool.

I close my eyes and let myself relax, and despite my better judgement, my mind wonders off to the image of a certain pair of grey eyes.

Despite my earlier fascination by him, the reality of what he actually represents, makes me realise he is all kinds of red flags to me.

He is a colleague of Sebastian's, they seemed friendly this morning, and anyone who is a friend of Sebastian, is someone i should should stay away from. He also deliberately lied this morning, and made things out to be what they aren't, so i guess that says alot about his character. He also seemed alot older than i expected, which is probably another reason to walk away.

But despite all that, i can't seem to forget how he didn't mind using my tooth brush this morning, or how he insisted on driving me home even though my uber had arrived, or the fact that he said 'See you around', despite the fact that i literally ignored him at Sebastian's office.

And then there are those grey eyes........I shake my head, literally, trying to remove the image out of my head.

"Everything ok here?" a male voice resounds, and i turn around swiftly, to find the face of Sebastian close to my head.

He is in a squatting position right next to me, holding his suit jacket in his hand.

"Hello" i mumble looking back at the pool again.

"Hai" he drawls.

" Ri....C'mon..time to go" i murmur.

Riley turns, and sees his dad.

"Hi dad" he says excited, rushing out to meet him, and i use the distraction to pull myself off out of the water, and quickly throw a tshirt over me, and wrap a towel around my waist.

"You guys having a late night swim?" Sebastian asks rhetorically.

He is looking at me as he speaks, but i let Riley answer on my behalf, as i pick up our stuff from the ground.

"I will see you two inside" i say to both of them, as i start heading for the house.

"Antonella....." he says.

"......Go on, go get changed, i will catch up with with in a second" he says to Riley.

I stand at a distance and allow him to speak.

"Look, i may have over reacted this morning.... i'm sorry" he says, in his classic manner, and waits for me to tell him that it is ok.

I almost want to laugh.

This is the same circle every. Singe. Time.

He 'overreacts' and apologies afterwards, and expects everything to go on like nothing happened, that's until he 'overreacts' again.

"Ok" i say, turning around.

"Antonella......Marco Bishop, it will be best if you stay away from him" he says randomly, i turn around again and find that he is now walking towards me.

"Why?" i ask faintly.

"Because i say so, because it's my responsibility to watch out for you, and he is not the kind of man you should be messing around with" he says.

I must have frowned, because he speaks again.

"Look, i'm all for that little defiant streak that you have, but this time, take my advise." he offers.

"Hey, dinner" Mom pops up around the corner, ending our discussion.

*

At dinner, Mom brings up the issue of me taking up a job.

"Don't you think it's about time you put that incredible brain of yours to work......what better way than working with family." he suggests.

"I agree, it will be nice to have you at the company Ella" Andy agrees.

I shift uncomfortably in my seat.

"Thank you, but what you guys do there, is not really my area of expertise....." i say.

"Honey, you are really smart, I am sure they can find something for you to do" Mom insists.

This is the longest i have stay here at any particular time, and i know Mom is desperate to find ways for me to blend in more with the family, and for some reason, she feels me working there will give our more common ground.

There is no way, I will voluntarily agree to this. No way.

"I will think about it" I say, just to close the subject.

*

I meet up with Aaron and Chase, at one of our usual restaurants.

As we sit down at our table, we spot Sofia Ventura, and her usual entourage at a table across the room. We nod and wave briefly before sitting down and carrying on with our evening.

Seeing her here, I can't help but wonder why she is never with Antonella, and it makes my curiosity about her grow, but I quickly squash the thought, choosing to focus on other things right now.

Eventually, the little group get up to leave, and pass our way, Sofia stops at our table, as we exchange greetings and pleasantries. I would normally stand up, when a lady approaches me when i am already sitting down, but Aaron stood up, so i decide not to.

"Well, it was good to see you....I have got to go, i have an internship interview tomorrow" she murmurs.

"Oh yeah, Your father mentioned you are job hunting, how's that going?" Aaron asks, unnecessarily keeping up here longer, despite her expressing her intention to leave, and i frown.

The girl has a little crush on me, Aaron knows that, and is always making the most of the situation to annoy me.

"Actually, why not just work for him" Chase asks, choosing to participate in this conversation, and gesturing for her to sit down.

She scoffs.

"Have you met my dad, i live with him, i would like to not spend all day with him too, or i will go crazy........" She chuckles.

".....Seriously though, one day, i will, for now, i want to have a different a experience.....I actually have a few offers already, but nowhere that i really want to go...But i need to decide soon, my parents won't stop taking about me and Antonella getting jobs." she murmurs.

The mention of Antonella gets my attention, and i sit up straight.

"What exactly are you looking for?" i ask.

"You know my major is business, so anything within those lines, but it will have to wait until the semester ends in two months" she says.

"I may know of some positions that are available at the company right now." I say.

"Oh my God, are you serious? i actually sent an application there for an internship, but it was denied" she murmurs.

Her enthusiasm reminds me why I always make an effort to avoid her. She is a nice girl from what I can see, but a little too much for me.

"Yeah, well, too bad you have school at the moment."i say, retracting my offer and trying to correct my impulsiveness.

"The semester closes in two months, and i would definitely be interested then" she says.

"I don't think the position will be available then" i utter.

Aaron looks at me with apprehension, wondering what i'm doing.

"Well, that's a bummer, but Antonella is definitely available at the moment, I know she is not looking for anything right now, but with a little convincing, maybe she can take up the job until the semester ends, then she can just quit, and then i can takeover from her, how's that?...." She suggests.

I like that idea.

"Whose Antonella" Aaron asks.

" My sister" she murmurs.

"You have a sister" He asks, rhetorically.

"Yes, and she is crazy smart, and has already got her degree, so i am sure she will not be disappointed with her services....what do you think?" she utters.

"Well, if she is up to it, you can have her come to the office on tomorrow at 10am...She will still need to go through screening like everyone else does, just to make sure her credentials check out" i say nonchalantly.

"Ok, great. Thank you." she says excitedly, before leaving.

"What was that?" Aaron asks, eying me.

"What?"

" That? You are in Human resources now?""

"What, are you not always saying i should be nicer to her" i murmur, and he frowns, but drops the subject.

*

Finally, I thought this day won't end. I crawl up onto my bed, and grab my phone and diary.

I have one text message from Carmen, and a missed call from Dad. I send them both a text message telling them I will call in the morning.

Despite my exhaustion, I grab a pen and open my diary.

I would normally put down my thoughts, feelings, or interesting events of the day, but i am too tired right now, so i summarize everything to one line.

Dear Diary,

'Last night, i realised, that it's funny how the most unexpected things happen, at the most unexpected times...but take anything away from me, take it all if you want to, but please, please, let me keep this one thing.....'

Ella.