The Italian Heir-CASTELLANO SERIES: MARTIN’S STORY

16

I didn’t sleep a wink, which explained the silence on my end being the car which Zoe and I were sharing a ride in. Our destination on the GPS console was led by a little blue arrow towards Blunt Corp. where her father would be waiting for us. He wanted to formally introduce me to the team who would be handling this project on behalf of Castellano Corp.

And it was a huge one.

“You’ve not said a word to me ever since we left breakfast. Please don’t tell me you’re still sulking just because I insulted your girlfriend.”

I sighed inaudibly and shut my lids, head tilted towards the car window, hoping to absorb as much light I could after having been in an enclosed flying bird for more hours than I should. Leaning the back of my head against the headrest, I stretched my feet discreetly. “If only Erika cared about any of those mean things said about her, then I’d react to it. However, I assure you, Miss Blunt, mere calloused words could not possibly hurt the woman so easily.”

“Okay, say she’s broad minded then.” Zoe said with a hint of sarcasm in her tone. I could feel the leather seat stretch and dipped and while she moved in her seat,she was looking right at me. “Although…I had also realized you did not bother to correct me.”

“As if you could stand the idea of being corrected, Zoe.” I said mechanically, hoping she’d shut up a minute so I could have a small, undisturbed moment of peace.

“You didn’t deny it when I said she was your girlfriend.” She pointed out. Guess that little nap was not happening anytime soon.

Turning to look at her, I lifted a brow. “Oh god forbid anyone will actually think you’re in a relationship.” she added. I made no attempt to correct her. Hell, there’s no crying need to explain myself to her as to why I decided to remain silent on that matter. My soul was willing, but my flesh was weak, so I asked. “May I know why the sudden outpour of interest in my love life? Last I remembered, you said you wanted nothing to do with me. I’m sure that includes my privacy.”

Her jaw ticked in displeasure, and she leaned back in her seat and stared hard at me. “Do you want to know why I left you?”

“Breathless and wondering,” I remarked. “Although, I can’t help but point out that you always have fresh new things to add to the list of why you left me.”

She rolled her eyes and actually glared at me. “You’re so bloody arrogant and closed off. The things that sprout out of your mouth would always be something malicious or sarcasm or, even better yet, you make everyone else look and sound stupid just by talking to you because you think you know it all.” She said contemptuously, her eyes were boring holes into mine while I remained perfectly silent.

Zoe’s driver’s eyes lifted momentarily towards the rearview mirror, then back to the road once more. Her little outburst may have been the only interesting reaction coaxed out of her that has entertained him ever since he became her driver. Nevertheless, he never looked up again.

“But the funny thing is, you’re not even the least bit sorry that you are the way you are and, for some sick, twisted reason, everyone seems to think that our breakup was entirely my fault! That I was the crazy b***h in the relationship that hurt and broke both of us. Perfect Martin Castellano could do no wrong in the eyes of just about anyone!” she let out that last bit shakily—her cheeks were red, and her eyes glinted with the formation of tears in them.

“Zoe,” I said calmly after what felt like an eternity. She had an indignant look on her face that told me she still had more to say but whatever it was, it was unnecessary because the two of us had a clean break. Well, at least, it was her idea of a clean break.

“Do know it was never my intention to hurt you with any of my words, but I am the way I am, there’s no sappy story behind it. I may be harsh and straightforward because I have people that need my mentorship and guidance—employees to watch over to make sure they do exactly what I tell them to prevent them from making the same mistakes I did. Not under my watch, they’re not. I’m not out here to please anyone with what I say or do, so don’t expect me to constantly sugar coat things. And I’m sorry; I should have told you I was nothing like what you expected me to be. Like I said, I couldn’t care less about living up to someone’s expectations.”

Squaring my shoulders, I continued. “Our relationship wasn’t falling apart to begin with. It was fine and I liked it that way. I loved you once and I was sure I let you know that I did, so please don’t start pointing fingers because it was you who decided that you wanted to walk away. This relationship has long sailed and there’s no reason as to why we should have taken this unnecessary trip down memory lane.”

The car halted in front of a grey, expensive building with the words Blunt Corporation above the main entrance where people were filling in with heads buried in their phones and tablets paired with a coffee cup on the other hand.

I was glad that our arrival signaled the end of our conversation about our past because I wasn’t sure how much longer I could stand being in such proximity with an ex. I checked my watch the moment we stepped out of the car, silently counting down the hours that I could just retire back to my room for that long-awaited rest, but I had more important things to do.

Of course, as the gentleman my parents raised me up to be, I waited for the woman to exit the car from her door, but I kept my distance. The last thing I needed was her handbag to come flying in my face and be called colorful names.

Two men in dark suits approached us in stealthy synchronized strides and greeted us wordlessly with their arms signaling in the same direction of the grand lobby. If it wasn’t for my tiredness, perhaps I would have admired the interior design and high ceilings a little more.

Heads turned, one after another, as they watched us walk towards the main doors of the building. I don’t enjoy attention in all honesty, but I was used to people staring all my life--especially when my parents were Ethan and Elizabeth Castellano. Being in the limelight was something conventional.

“My father’s waiting for you on his floor, he’s ecstatic at the fact you flew all the way here and is determined to walk you through what we’re doing for your company.” Zoe explained mechanically, unbothered to look at me as soon as the doors closed, leaving the two men outside while they took the next one. I nodded curtly and looked ahead, watching one floor after another descend below us as the metal box ascended upwards.

“There is someone else I’d like to meet.” I said casually. “What is it?” her voice remained monotonous as she answered. “The person who drafted your business contract, who is he?”

“Why do you ask?” she asked in a mildly defensive tone.

“I’m curious, because as far as I know, the contract was far too elaborate to begin with. There were certain demands I could not agree with.”

“But yet you signed it. It’s sealed and done.” She turned to me, her brows knitted together and her forehead creased in confusion.

“I know I did.” I said with a small smile. Sensing her displeasure, I continued. “You don’t have to worry about me backing out on this business deal. I gave you my word and you have it.”

She didn’t seem satisfied with my answer, but nevertheless, she kept her composure. Lord only knows how much this woman wanted to hit me with the large Celine tote that was dangling in the crook of her elbow.

The doors slid open and we stepped out and we were led by another two men who were waiting on the platform. The floor was relatively empty yet just as magnificent as the lobby with its expensive carpeting and large antique vases and portraits that hung on the walls. A blind person could easily tell that this floor belonged to the man who ran the company.

“Miss Blunt, a moment please.” A man appeared from the hallway that seemed to run endlessly, treading carefully towards the future CEO of the advertising empire. “What is it?” she asked, halting in her steps. “Your cousin from Italy is here to see you. She’s waiting in room 4B”

“Ianna?” she asked. “Yes, Miss Blunt.” The man answered.

She nodded and dismissed the man. “I’d like to join you, but I’ve not seen my cousin in ages…” she trailed. “Please, I insist. I think I can handle a simple meet and greet with your father.”

“Don’t get too cocky. He’s not always that nice to his competitors in the business world.”

“Yet he flew all the way to New York just to talk business with me, what do you have to say about that?” I said plainly. She looked so done with and turned to the men who had been tailing us, “I’ll join you in a moment, please, show this man the room my father’s in.”

I was then led by two men through the opposite direction of the hallway. Zoe had left to—a right turn, then left, and we finally stopped in front of the meeting room with double doors made out of glass that were tinted.

Using a hand each, they pushed against the heavy gold door handles and ushered me in wordless courtesy and returned to their post outside the door once the heavy wood closed behind me. Mr. Blunt was nowhere to be seen but someone else stood in his place at the very end of the fully furnished meeting room.

I was positive that I was not in the wrong room but this woman who had her back against me, was. The woman turned around to look at me. I was unbuttoning my outer coat just as I was about to take my seat at the very end of the table. I was tired and I just wanted to get everything over and done with. “Miss Blunt did not mention we’d have an unexpected guest for this morning’s meeting.” I began, my voice came out sounding mildly irritated.

“It’s not her fault. No one knows I’m in here with you.”

I looked up from what I was doing slowly, quirking a brow in plain boredom as I observed the woman carefully. Dark hair, grey soft eyes with fine crow’s feet around her eyes as she stood tall in a shimmery tweed jacket and pencil skirt.

Something about this woman screamed familiar and my curiosity was clawing at me to find out. But if there’s one thing you need to know about me, it's that I felt the need to always keep up in the know. So, I asked.

“Who are you?”

“You do not know who I am?” her Italian accent ran thick as she spoke, a tinge of hurt rose from the back of her throat and she didn’t even bother to hide it. “Am I supposed to?” I said flatly.

She approached me carefully, the sound of her heels muffled against the expansive carpet that ran throughout the large room; her eyes never left me. I rose to my feet immediately and she halted in surprise.

“Look, I don’t know who you are, and I don’t have time to waste speaking to a woman who took at least 7 minutes just to tell me who she is. I didn’t fly more than a day just to play ‘guess-who’ so you can keep the suspense to yourself. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be on my way.” I straightened my jacket and traced my footsteps back to the entrance.

“Martin!” she said firmly. “You’ll want to know who I am!”

I stilled and c****d my head to the side as she called out my name sharply. “If you thought I needed to know, you would’ve already told me.” I stated placidly.

“How is it that you can’t recognize your own mother?” The woman was hurt alright. I could hear it in her voice, but strangely, I felt no form of remorse whatsoever when I had treated her so coldly. The revelation, however,…

“The one person in the world I dread meeting.” I spoke, turning around in full form. Her eyes were glistening with tears now. My hands were clammy and I can’t deny I was shaking a little—not because I was shocked, but it was more of my anger that surfaced that I never thought I’d have for this woman.

My mother, no, the woman who carried me for 9 months and left me without another word with a young couple who were newly dating and then gave them much trouble with the press by sprouting baseless accusations, rocking their entire career and relationship in the process. This woman, who claimed to be my mother was the one who did not want me yet, felt the need to show up after all these years (and it’s not even April fools) just to tell me what I never wanted to hear in this lifetime or the next.

Did this woman really expect me to choke in sobs and ugly cry in front of her when she revealed who she was to me? Did she even deserve an ounce of my emotions, not that I have any to spare?

“How can you say that, Martin? Despite what I have done in the past, nothing can ever change the fact that I am your birth mother.” she grits out, her hands shaking as they attempt to reach for me.

“I’ll say whatever I want to say just like you did whatever you wanted to do then.” I spoke nonchalantly, taking a step back. “Did you already know who I was?” she asked, looking embarrassed as I tried to avoid her.

“No.” I admitted. “But that’s only because I did not bother to look you up, Rachel Moretti, nor do I feel the need to go looking for someone who did not want to be found. I’m sure you abandoned me without another word in my father’s penthouse, ring any bells, no? Surely your memory should serve you well if you do remember the fact that you indeed have a son after all these years.” I offhandedly said, stuffing my hands into the pockets of my pants indignantly.

“I could give you a million reasons as to why I had to leave you, but I know that’s not what you would want to hear. But at least I’m here now, and I just want to see you in person, to see how much you’ve grown in the last 20 years. I’ve missed you so much.” She could no longer hold her tears as they ran freely down her sharp cheekbones. I realized I had her eyes. I hated them.

“Of course, you did have your reasons, but to me they’re just mere excuses. I can’t relate nor would I even attempt to do so. If you knew you couldn’t have me then, you would’ve been more careful about your choices if you knew you could never deal with the aftermath. Although I never knew you then, that doesn’t mean I want to know you now. You wanted to see me and you’ve got your chance. I have nothing else I wish to say to you. Let’s not make this a habit of meeting up.” As I turned around to leave, the double doors swung open and a stunned woman stood on the other side.

“Zoe.” I said.

“You.” Zoe’s eyes were hard as they looked towards the Italian woman who stood no more than 5 steps away from me. “You’re…you’re Martin's…” she couldn’t finish her sentence; her eyes glanced towards me then back at the woman.

The older woman wiped her tears hastily and sucked in a deep breath, calming her nerves. “Zoe.” I tried to reason but she pushed away my arm and advanced forward.

“You made me break up with him because you knew he was your son?” Zoe spat venomously. “That was the reason?” her voice raised as she ground out harshly.

“Yes, and I only did it for your own good. You were too unfocused on what’s important,” Rachel answered, not sounding a bit apologetic. My eyes now focused on Zoe, whose hands were shaking with rage and suddenly it clicked. All those times, when Zoe would cuss out ‘that woman’ but never once say her name, else it would leave a distaste on her tongue. The same woman who was her father’s partner (and in the sheets) that seemed to have so much control over Zoe’s life was none other than Rachel Moretti aka my mother.

“That Italian w***e you were always cussing out at, it was her?” I hissed under my breath. “That was before I knew she was your mother.” Zoe shot back. Rachel’s placid look hardened the moment she heard her other name. “Well…not that I minded.” I added.

“She!” Zoe pointed now at Rachel who all but stood calmly in her 4-inch stilettos, waiting to be yelled at. “You had no idea how many times this woman had threatened me with my future placement in my father’s company if I still hung around you. At first, I thought she was doing it in goodwill, but it seems to me that wasn't the case because, in reality, you wanted the position yourself! You low-life, cheap, narcissistic b—”

“Zoe!” I said sternly, which took them both by surprise. “Outside, now.” I pulled at her wrist along with me and she had no choice but to leave the room. “Let go of me Martin, I’m not finished.”

“Yes you are.” I said calmly. “Tell Mr. Blunt we’ll reschedule this meeting to much later, his daughter and I have some further issues to discuss about the contract.” I hastily told one of the men who stood watch by the door, and he answered a quick ‘yes sir’.

“Are you kidding me right now? You’re siding with her after what she did to me? Oh you have no idea who the hell you’re defending.” Zoe said as soon as we were standing alone in one of the many hallways. The route alone was confusing. I was sure no one would know where we were except the security watching this feed. “I have a rough idea,” I said.

“I’m not siding with anyone, Zoe. I’m stopping you from sprouting things you can’t retract, after all like you said, she works and sleeps with your father. Who knows she might use what you said against her?”

“She wouldn’t dare…” Zoe insisted indignantly. I lifted a brow.

“But she was daring enough to put one foot into your personal life, telling who you should or should not date and god knows what else she’d be able to do with that sort of authority.” I stated simply. The anger in Zoe’s eyes dissipated and she finally looked at me, her words hung in midair. Finally relenting, she admitted. “Well, that was my f*****g mistake.”

The air of silence became our closest friend as we both stood opposite each other, both leaning against the walls, avoiding all forms of eye contact.

“I was embarrassed.” She finally broke the silence after what felt like forever. I didn’t speak but gave her the room to continue. “The reason why I’ve never introduced you to my father or to any members of my family was because I was embarrassed of them. Did you honestly think all these come without a price? This fancy office building? Our family’s assets? Properties?” she snorted derisively, as if speaking about her family made her ill.

“My father left my mom for that woman, yet he’s not gotten around in making her presence known. Kept her by his side like the w***e she is—sorry, now that I found out she’s your mother…” she trailed.

“It doesn’t bother me,” I said nonchalantly.

“What my father has is money. And what she has is ambition. Lord only knows what she intends to do with my father’s company, the fact that she sidelined my mother, acts like she doesn’t even exist. I hate what my father did to my mother. I hate it more that he’s given this other woman so much authority to do whatever the hell she wants to, let alone call the shots in his daughter’s love life, so I gave him the ultimatum.”

Zoe’s head hung low as she spoke. I knew she didn’t want me to see her crying.

All these years, she'd not told me a bit about her family, yet I had all these assumptions about her, thinking she didn’t take us and our relationship seriously. But the truth was that she was doing so all for the sake of protecting her family’s reputation, and she didn’t think all these things were even worth sharing, because just talking about it made her upset.

It was only today that I saw a different side of her, vulnerable and afraid.

She was only human.

“I told my dad that I’d leave for good, that he could, for all I care, disown me all he wants, and he would never have a legitimate heir to take over Blunt Corp. That he could have a child with a woman that he never married, yet that child will never be acknowledged in public because my dad has done a splendid job of playing pretend of happy family to gain business for his multi-million corporation.”

“In short, you threatened him,” I stated.

“Wherever I’ve got the balls to do such a thing beats me too.” She admitted, finally looking up and smiling a little, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Truthfully, he did take me by complete surprise by saying yes to all my demands. But of course, I hid my excitement all too well. Because whatever it is he has promised to give me has indefinitely given me the upper hand to get rid of that woman’s influence here bit by bit. In a way, you could say I’m about to declare war.” She said in a frosty tone. “Don’t even try to stop me.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.” I answered succinctly. “Cat fights are the next scariest thing after my mother yelling at my siblings.”

She snorted in laughter. I was glad she was back in her usual life again.

“Does it bother you one bit that she’s your birth mother and someone else has literally just told you all her plans to get rid of her?” she asked curiously, folding her arms across her chest. I stuffed my hands into the pocket of my pants, staring at the top of my loafers.

“Something that I did not bother to ask or find out in the last 20 years will never bother me now. As far as I’m concerned, I will only acknowledge Ethan and Elizabeth Castellano as my parents, and it will stay that way. But what I’m more interested to know is why, after all these years, she decides to show up—and it’s not even Thanksgiving yet.” I said composedly, genuinely curious at that last bit.

“I’m sorry.” Zoe bit her lip, looking uneasy. “I brought you here for a meeting with my dad to talk about plans but that happened. Should we reschedule instead?” she suggested.

I shook my head. “We’ll do what we came here for. This isn’t the time to show signs of weakness. Between both of us, I think it’s time you needed to prove that you’re indeed capable of taking over the position you asked for. Don’t let others tell you otherwise.”

“Despite us being all broken up, I can’t help but think if we had stayed together for much longer…”she trailed.

“I’m not sure Erika would appreciate hearing that bit.” I grinned, taking the lead down the endless maze of hallways.

“Miss CEO, you coming?”