The Italian Heir-CASTELLANO SERIES: MARTIN’S STORY

4

I liked living alone.

The peace and quiet that came with it seemed too surreal to turn down. Except that eternal serenity didn’t last too long for me, especially not when you have a bunch of clingy siblings and a couple of best friends who act like your place was their second home.

I would never admit it, but I quite like their company ever so often.

Steve was living two floors below and, so far, he'd made a habit of having meals at my place whenever he felt like it, claiming he hated eating alone. And today, he’s brought waffles with syrup and two steaming hot cups of lattes.

“Went for a jog, dropped by Ben’s for a breakfast pickup.” Ben’s was one of the coffee houses that we frequent and it was just round the block. Steve got us plates from the cabinet above the sink and set them down on the kitchen counter. “Thanks, but I’ll have to leave soon. There’s more ‘work’ that’s expecting me this morning.”

“You always say that.”

“Except this time, it’s more of a chore.” I buttoned the sleeves of my white dress shirt and Steve frowned. “Why do I have a feeling this has something to do with…”

“Erika.” We both said in unison. Steve stifled laughter and scoffed. “I’ve been meaning to ask, what did she ask you last week that got you all sour faced?”

“I most certainly do not have a sour face.” I said, perplexed as I smoothed my hair carefully, not wanting to ruin the blow dry.

“Oh sure you don’t. But go on, what big favor did Erika ask of you?”

And I told Steve what she had been bugging me about since last week. He only listened quietly, chuckling once or twice. “And while I’m at it, I might as well tell you that Zoe Blunt is back here in New York and we were at dinner last night.”

“What?” Steve looked surprised, his fork dropped from his hand and clattered noisily on the ceramic ware. “No need to be so stunned, I left shortly after dinner began. We didn’t say much to each other either.”

“Dinner? You had dinner alone with her?” he looked at me like I was mad to be even associating myself with my ex.

“Chaperoned by our fathers.” I scoffed derisively. “It felt like some sort of reunion that I didn’t sign up for.”

“Well, what’s she doing here then? Last I heard, you said she left for Melbourne studying or something?”

“I guess I’ll only find out if I had bothered to ask her what she was doing here in the first place, but fortunately, I didn’t and do not care.” I took a seat opposite my friend and forked a bit of pancake into my mouth although not exactly hungry.

“Timely, isn’t it? Her arrival here in New York?” Steve frowned, popping the lid of his coffee cup and stirred the light brown liquid slowly. “What’s timely?” I glanced at my watch while taking a sip of my coffee. I was probably going to be late and Erika might just give me a rather pompous lecture on tardiness—what with her being the intern. Boy, she was going to gloat.

“Dude, you probably don’t know this, but many businessmen and women have got their eye on you. With talents and expertise from a kid that’s only 23, it’s probably no news that those people might have heard a thing or two about Castellano Holdings’ Board of Investors being reviewed.”

“Clearly, the idea of privacy does not appeal to everyone.”

“Things like these aren’t exactly private when those shady investors get a little antsy and might have dropped an accidental hint or two at their weekly golf game.” Steve shrugged as if he were there to witness it in person. The way Steve was putting this, it was as if everyone wanted to know what went on in the Castellano Tower, since we value privacy in all ways very much.

“You’re saying that the Blunts are here for business matters and not for old time’s sake?” I asked. “Of course not Castellano.” He gave me the are-you-for-real look. “How long have you known Zoe, really? You don’t think she knows, aside from the fact you’ve been ignoring her, she, too, is aware you’ve been preoccupied with more workload and that proves her suspicions that those hearsays were correct. You are her next target, unfortunately. Everyone wants in on a ‘C.H.’ partnership and they all know they’ve got to go through you.”

“How do you manage to figure out everything so detailed?”

“Hey, that’s because I know women better than you, ambitious women especially.” I knew he was talking about Rhea. “There’s nothing wrong with being ambitious, but it’s one’s motives throughout the whole process.”

I had now emptied out my cup of coffee and was getting ready to leave my place. “I hope you’re wrong about this one,” I said, throwing my coat over my shoulder. “Because I’d hate to turn down two women in less than a week.”

“Don’t let Erika hear you say that.” Steve pointed his cutlery at me. “Tell her I said hi and good luck on her first day of...what did you say she was doing there again?” he asked.

“Internship.”

“Rigghhhtttt.”

**

“Well well, someone told me that reporting time for work was at 8 yet you strut in at 8:10 as if you were some runway model and have everyone literally look up from their work at hand just to greet you.” Erika smiled sardonically as she got up from the lounge chair, her arms folded—clearly she still did not look too happy with her ID picture.

“I’m only 10 minutes late after you, Erika. Don’t exaggerate. John,” I nodded at him while he brought in his tablet to give me my usual agenda-of-the-day briefing. I can’t pretend I did not notice another backpack on the couch next to Erika’s black tote.

“Oh? So how come the rules do not apply to you then?” she asked again. John had a look of worry on his face, as if worried I would snap at Erika’s impertinence. Clearly, he didn’t know Erika wore the pants in our friendship—I’ve secretly always considered her wiser in different aspects of our lives.

“Because sweetheart, I’m the boss of this floor, also, technically work starts at 8:30, I just thought you’d be late if I mentioned the exact time.” I grinned rather arrogantly and that caused her to roll her eyes, her jaw twisting in vexation. I hope she even saw the back of her brain doing whilst doing so.

“Um, Mr. Castellano. There’s one little thing you should know. Miss Crawford isn’t the only one here for an…”

Just then, there was a knock on my door and the two of them had their heads turned. The two looked rather worried as well. I immediately had a bad feeling about this.

“Well, John. I think I should explain it myself to Martin.” Erika said nervously, the spunk she had seconds ago dissipated just as quickly. “I still don’t know why you had left that bit out from Mr. Castellano. It’s really important that he knows the people we let in on this floor.” John said to her as I nestled myself in one of the lounge chairs, eyes scanning through the detailed agenda, casually looking at Erika while she squeezed her elbow.

“What are the two of you on about?” I asked, feeling a little left out that my secretary and best friend were having a little private discussion right in front of me. The knock came again and I told the person to come in.

I didn’t recognize the platinum-blonde-haired dude that stood outside my door. I also noticed the female employees were openly gawking at the newbie from where I was seated. He did look alright, in terms of height and body build, his jawbones were angled sharply and had the typical boyish charm every young girl would fall for. Although this one had a confused look on his face.

And then it hit me, this must be Lucien—the French exchange student Erika was talking about in my car last week.

“Erika, is he…ohh…hello.” The French accent rolled thickly off his tongue. Yeap. That’s definitely the French kid alright.

“Let me guess, you forgot to tell me you were working on this assignment in pairs?” I shifted my attention now to Erika and John pressed his lips in a thin line as if bracing himself for what was next. But what I had said next surprised the both of them, rising from my seat. “You must be Lucien, I take it?”

I made no move to shake his hand although I stood close enough with the three of them. Erika was now staring at me, doe eyed, blinking rapidly to check if she heard me wrong. She was expecting me to lose my marbles to our uninvited guest, or should I say, intern? I figured if I'd already accepted Erika’s request to carry out her assignment here, what’s the harm to one more?

“Yes Sir, my name is Lucien Montague. A course mate and assignment partner of Erika’s.” he smiled at Erika, who paid him no attention and was still speechless. Assignment partner, huh? Can’t figure out how Erika left out such critical information about having an assignment partner. “Now that settles it, I assume you too are here for your internship then?” I asked.

“Intern—what?” Lucien asked as he stared blankly at Erika, then me. “It’s a…why don’t I explain to you later Lucien?” Erika said kindly and John stared at him pitifully. “I’ll take it from here John, you know what to do.” My eyes shifted towards Erika’s ID card and John nodded. “Yes Sir, I have both their student portfolio and letter from Cornell explaining why they’re here. I’ll excuse myself now.” He said as he passed me the tablet he was holding so tightly earlier.

“And that’s what you’ll be calling me from now and not 'smartin pants'.” I whispered to Erika when Lucien averted his eyes from her and followed John walking to my door, “Not a chance.” She hissed.

“Erika tells me that your assignment requires you to work with esteemed business personnel, yes?” I said, settling my briefcase and tablet on my desk and I sat in my chair. Erika wanted to roll her eyes once more at the way I had just called myself. “Yes Sir.” Lucien nodded, unsure of what was to come. “Great, so tell me, what do you expect to learn from me?” I asked nonchalantly.

He looked like he wanted to say it was all Erika’s idea on who they should pick, but instead his answer—I would not deny it, took me by surprise.

“Erika says you’re the youngest, the most brilliant man she’s ever known (Erika’s red face showed she wished Lucien had left out that part) who graduated earlier than any of your course mates because of your skills and knowledge in business and is now working as a Financial Advisor at one of New York’s largest companies. I wanted to see for myself if what she had said was true.”

“On normal occasions, I would have said I do not have the slightest interest nor the time to spare just to prove anything to anyone for that matter. However, seeing that you are still a student and you’ve managed to land yourself a spot here on my office floor for an assignment, let’s just see how much information and knowledge you’re able to absorb in a span of 4 weeks, that is, if you can keep up with my pace.”

Erika and I exchanged eye contact and she must have remembered the challenge she had so boldly posed the other day when I told her I didn’t know if she had the energy nor the mental tenacity to keep up with the way I did things.

"Try me, Castellano, because right now I never wanted anything more than to see you eat your words when I truly emerge triumphant, knowing that I am also no less than you as a business major."

Lucien stood there, bold and unwavering. He didn’t look like he was about to eat his words either. I like this one. Least he’s had the balls to speak sensibly, no doubt a little cocky on his first day. “We look forward to working with you, Sir.”

It was weird being called that. I was two years older than they were, assuming Lucien was also 21, like Erika. “Now, as for seating arrangements, Erika, you’re here with me, Lucien, you could work with Jackson from Marketing. I’m sure there’s many things you can learn about me from that man about the way I run things around here. Laptops will be provided for both of you—my company values its privacy and other office supplies that you may need while being here. If there are any questions you would like to ask, send me an email. Never perform a task with a mere assumption, am I clear?”

They both nodded.

I hated that I had to speak to Erika this professionally, but for the sake of Lucien, I will. I’m sure Erika has told him a thing or two about me and he, too, might be wondering…who speaks to their best friends like that?

I explained to Jackson what I needed him to do and that Erika would attend most business meetings with me. Both tasks weren’t menial but one is just as demanding as the other. If they want to learn what goes on in this company, then they shall. Because I would not have them stand around just shredding papers or sit behind one of my employees watching them work behind a computer, taking notes.

Work started at 9:30 for me this morning and John was back from the Human Resources department with two Macbooks and a brand new ID card for Lucien (John got his photo from his student portfolio he brought). When Erika saw that Lucien had a better photo than hers—one where he didn’t have his eyes half closed, she cursed under her breath and asked as to why I used the worst photo of her I could ever find.

People on my office floor knew who Erika Crawford was or at least the ones who worked there the longest—they'd seen her way too many times walking into my office ‘visiting’, but that wasn’t the same for the whole company. There are 1000 employees here, to be exact, no, 1002 now with the two interns on all 50 floors.

By lunch, everyone (including the cleaners) knew there was a certain girl named Erika and a French boy, Lucien, that had just started their ‘internship’ here at Castellano Holdings.

Even my parents seemed to have heard the whole fiasco and mom had to hide her excitement about seeing her goddaughter walking through the corridors on the 50th floor today while I was showing Erika and Lucien the meeting rooms where the top management would meet. “Mom, be professional about it please.” I warned under my breath, especially with Lucien staring at the exchange between two women.

“Martin did mention to us that you’ll be, uh, interning here, isn't it? But as for you?” my father’s eyes now trained on the platinum-haired boy, smiling kindly. “Good afternoon Mr. Castellano….” Then he stopped himself, looking at Erika for help. People often get confused as to who they should be calling Mr. Castellano when both father and son were in the same room.

“Please, just call me Ethan will do. This is my wife, Elizabeth.”

“The founders of the company,” Lucien stupidly said. I said stupidly, well, because he had this silly little awed look wherever he went, or whenever he looked at Erika. “They’re my parents, Lucien, and yes, you may address them as Mr. and Mrs. Castellano,” I said.

“Yes Sir.”

My dad raised an eyebrow at that term while my mother sent him a little side-eye glance. I knew all too well what they were thinking. ‘Our little boy has all grown up’. God, I hate it when I can literally read my parents' minds sometimes and this…wasn’t the only instance.

“I suppose you’re heading to lunch too.” Dad now turned to me. “We won’t be in your way, our mother and I are on our way to lunch with Marco and Ana.”

“Uncle Marco is here in New York?” Erika interjected and my father nodded. Even being entirely non-related, Erika was rather fond of my father’s best friend. Marco, who had married dad’s sister—Anastasia. The two had a brawl (mom told us) when dad found out about the whole fiasco but became their best man at their wedding.

Today’s lunch was new. I usually eat alone, mostly. Don’t ask me why. Because usually I wasn’t just eating, I was also working at the same time (urgent matters would come up). Sometimes—like last week, my siblings would drop by for lunch after their classes.

We took the elevator down and the glass doors slid open in the lobby. It was relatively empty now.

Straight ahead, my eye caught the sight of someone that I knew all too well who once again showed up, unannounced. Zoe was dressed in a black dress paired with red heels, her hair was pulled back into a low bun which made her look much older than she did. Half of her face was hidden under those massive shades she was wearing.

That woman was persistent as heck.

“Good lord, what is it with unwanted guests today?” I muttered under my breath as I glanced over at Madison—the receptionist who had a phone pressed to her ear, probably dialing my extension.

“I suppose I’m not the only one who left out a little detail of an important matter, huh?” Erika’s voice was hollow, as if she cared very little about the appearance of my ex. Lucien looked at her quizzically, thinking she was talking to him. “Quick, the other exit.” I murmured, taking Erika’s hand in mine without giving much thought, because all I wanted to do was to get out of there.

“Martin!” her voice echoed through the lobby and Madison held her phone in mid-air, wincing as she watched the stranger approach towards one of her bosses.

“Too late smartin pants.” Erika said under her breath. “She’s seen you and is gliding towards you.”

She strutted towards us, her red heels clicking against the marble tiles clearly gloating at the close-to-nothing. It was as if her vision of anything or anyone else was blocked, she could only see me and ignore those who were standing on the sides.

“I figured if you weren’t picking up my calls, the least I could do was to come here myself.” Zoe’s voice was placid, there was no inkling of annoyance in her tone. “No guests are allowed to venture into our building without prior appointment. I’m sure you do know that’s always been every company’s basic security protocol?”

“Really? Are you going to continue acting like strangers still even after a friendly dinner last night?”

“Nothing about that dinner was friendly, I trust you read the room, Zoe.” I said listlessly, but I felt my grip clench around Erika’s smaller ones, which gave me away when Erika let out a tiny yelp. Only then did Zoe turn to the side, her eyes glided slowly towards our intertwined hands, then she finally willed herself to look at Erika. “If it isn’t your little best friend again, Monica, was it?”

“Really?” Erika smiled. “To think you’ve gone away for years with the excuse to pursue higher education, the least you could come back with was better manners, pity.”

Lucien held a fist to his mouth to stop himself from laughing. I too, on the other hand, had forgotten just how smart-mouthed Erika Crawford was. She was not one to back down when it came to situations like these, which explains why at most of middle school she was my—as much as I hate to admit it, I sort of saw her as my superhero at that time.

If Zoe was offended, she did not show it one bit but took a step forward and towered Erika easily (she was wearing sneakers), “I wouldn’t be so smart mouthed if I were you, besides, you’re not qualified to interfere with business discussions seeing you’re just…a student.”

Steve was right. Zoe had finally revealed the real reason why she had come all the way to New York and had been persistent in her appearance wherever I went.

“Student or not, she’s now an employee under my watch. I would appreciate it if you understood that to me you’re just an outsider.

Like everyone else, if you want to discuss business, please make an appointment with my secretary and he will provide the necessary arrangements for you. Now, if you will excuse us, we’re on our way to lunch.” I said nonchalantly, as pleasant as I could make of myself trying to ignore the fact that my ex had just bested my best friend.

“Fine, if that’s what you’re so adamant on doing—following protocol, then I shall do the same too. But just a forewarning Martin, I assure you I did not come here without a thought-through business plan and I’m betting my whole company on this that it’s an offer you won’t be able to decline.”

That got my attention. “Your company?”

“Yes Castellano.” she mused, as if finding my ignorance funny. “If you had stayed just a little longer at dinner, you would have heard that my father has just recently promoted me as the acting CEO of Blunt Corp.”

“I see, congrats then.” I nodded. “Come on Erika, you must be starving.” I said, squeezing my best friend’s hand for support. I hadn’t even realized that my hand was still in hers or whether the weird disappointed look on Lucien and Zoe’s faces when they saw our intertwined fingers. I let go.

Acting CEO? Zoe? I wanted to laugh and scoff all at the same time. Why? I’ll tell you why. She’s always been daddy’s little girl. She didn’t need to work hard like everyone else to get to where she was. She was arrogant and she would do anything in her power to make sure she got what she wanted.

Don’t ask me why I dated her. It wasn’t some righteous reason. At that time, I saw some qualities I liked in her. I liked that she was ambitious, she was skillful and, most of all,she never wavers in making her decisions. Once she sets her mind on something, not even God himself can change it. Not even I could change her mind to keep our relationship.

The silence between the 3 of us on our walk to Subway was deafening. I had a feeling Erika had some questions to ask but she refrained from doing so. So she occupied herself with speaking to Lucien, laughing about something funny.

It was her thing, Erika could read the room if she knew I didn’t feel like talking about something or even bother explaining myself. So I made the first move this time.

For the longest time, I knew Erika and Zoe just couldn’t get along, but about what exactly, I did not know. Blame me for being oblivious to everything around me while Zoe and I were dating. I may have disregarded Erika’s feelings once or twice when she told me what she felt about Zoe, just because I thought she was overthinking it.

Zoe did not live in Melbourne all her life although she was originally born and raised there in her younger years, but she moved to New York shortly with her mom ever since her parents separated. It was through High School that we met (she’s been switching schools an awful lot), but nothing really happened between us until Cornell.

Erika stayed away from the two of us for the most part while we were dating. She hung out with Rhea, Steve and the Westwick twins and avoided me and Zoe like the plague. For what reason? I did not know. I’ve been meaning to ask but I had forgotten all about it ever since the breakup, but now it seemed like the perfect time to ask her, but I was sure even if I did, that wouldn’t guarantee me the answer I wanted.

“Hey, if she offended you in any way…”I began. Having another person in our midst, aka Lucien, it was very difficult to speak to Erika privately. But I felt this couldn’t wait. Erika wasn’t exactly a patient person either.

“She didn’t. But I think I offended her this time round.” She answered softly, pursing her lips as if recalculating her actions. “Please don’t tell me you felt bad for her.” I pressed. Erika waited for Lucien to place his order before she turned around and answered me.

“A bit, honestly.” She squeezed her right elbow, the way she always did when she was feeling uneasy. “I mean, the woman has flown all the way from Melbourne just to see you, probably repeatedly, and gets rejected time and again. If it were me, I’d be mad.”

“Erika.” I sighed. “Look, I don’t feel good about what I’m doing to her either. But I think she made it perfectly clear 3 years ago that there was no need for us to see each other anymore and I made sure I kept my word in cutting off all forms of contact. Right now, what’s ironic is that she’s doing the complete opposite of what she’s asked of me.”

Then I gave a brief explanation why Steve thinks the reason as to why Zoe was here in NY and what had happened just two days ago at the Investors review meeting. Erika nodded and had a concerned look like she understood. But what she had wanted to say next was interrupted by the man behind the ingredient bar. “Good afternoon Miss, what would you like to have?”

“We’ll discuss this later.” Erika reminded me and I nodded. For some reason, I wasn’t even against the idea of discussing business with my best friend today. Maybe, just maybe, a student’s advice on business would be better than my own.