Rollercoaster With The Mafia Tycoon

Chapter 3. Iris’s departure from the orphanage

As she packs her things the twins rush in, to hug her.

"Why do you have to go Iris. We're going to Miss you" they both cry even though Iris can't hold it any longer as she burst into tears alongside them.

Elisa and Elsa are one of her favourites although Elisa was wheelchair-bound and Elsa had a speech problem. Both their problem can't be fixed because of financial resources from the start when they arrived here.

They were left in front of the orphanage gate and she was the one who saw them on her way back from school. Nobody knows where their real parents are, like nearly all of us here. And the twins are inseparable and anyone who wants to adopt the other must go with the other twin.

Iris loves and admires their love and commitment to each other but now she’s leaving to God knows where to finally face her destiny in a new life and home. She’s heartbroken as she hugs them tightly promising to visit frequently.

“Promise us you'll come visiting. Don't leave us like our parents did, ok? Elisa requests. "Sure my dear, I will always visit. You two should take care of yourselves and please don't fight, ok?. You're the big sisters here now and don't give Miss Rosa any troubles, ok? She ruffles their hair. They are like her little sisters.

"Yes Iris” they were just 10 years old and she knows one day they too will be given out for marriage but she hopes that things get better before then.

She walks out to see him waiting outside leaning on his Jeep.

"Are you done? I don't have all day" he enters the Jeep. She follows him. The driver turns the ignition and drives to her new home. During the whole drive, he utters no word to her.

Halfway to his house his phone ring and he’s needed urgently at the office. He transfers to another car whilst the driver takes her home. Iris is startled.

~~~ ~~~

Gabriel walks into his office with Diane solely behind him with piles of files almost too much for someone to handle. He unbuttons his suit and sigh.

“Sir?" she calls. The look on his face is so exhausted but at the same time he looks scary. The office stresses him more. The cup he drank coffee since morning is still laying there with files scattered all over his table.

"Clear this up!" he yells and she starts cleaning the table and taking away the cup. After she’s done she takes the file and tries to explain the details of the file to him

"Sir, this is the overall account from the sales department and from what I see the the numbers are dropping and the Dragon empire is asking for an emergency meeting with the board this evening" she explained in the best way not to infuriate him the more.

“What! Why let me know this? I have been in the office since morning and on my way home you call me to inform me of this bullshit!!! Where's Jimmy?. He's the head of the sales department and if the customers are complaining then it's he fault. Resolve this nonsense by tomorrow and tell the ‘Dragon empire’ that I can't squeeze in time for any meeting right now" He stood up taking his suitcase.

“But sir, they're waiting for you in the board room?" She tries to convince him. Unfortunately, once he's set his mind on something then there is nothing one can do to change it.

“Send the memo to their emails" he step out walking to the garage. His wonderful physique can't hide his anger. He’s passive-aggressive. Walking into the elevator his phone rang to see his dad calling he declines it putting back the phone into his pockets but then again it begins to vibrate again. He annoyingly picks it up "Yes Dad? He said curtly.

"If this is about the family business dad please am not interested. Collins can do the honours" The ding sound brings him back to his senses as he heads to his car outside.

It's 6 pm already and Iris is all alone at home waiting patiently for his return. His butler makes sure she eats dinner. After which she seats on the couch staring at the door occasionally, waiting for a strong built man to walk in.

Sleep has a full grip on her that she can't resist any longer with her head moving backwards. Naya Orissa can't help, and the young is pretty stubborn. Naya Orissa walks up to her. She has always been with Gabriel since he was a little kid and he’s like a son to her even in her old age.

"Iris dear, why are you still awake? You're dozing off my dear" She asked with her weary yet bold voice. Iris jerked up a bit frightened. "No Ma, I'm good just waiting for Mr Gabriel to come home" she inhales the peach scent of the woman giving her a bit of camp vibe.

“Gabriel might not be home tonight,my dear" Naya Orissa wraps the cotton scarf around her shoulders. “But he should be home by now. His dinner is yet to be eaten" Iris worries.

Naya Orissa looks at the young girl and wonders what she’s still doing her by this time of the night. By her judgment Iris is probably 17 or 18 yrs old. Just like her granddaughter, Mary. Her presence in the house is yet to be known but deep down she has a feeling that Gabriel’s girlfriend.

“My dear he has a a lot of villas around where he can spend the night or perhaps he might spent it in the office so waiting for him is pointles. You should have a nice rest since you just arrived" she suggests.

Iris feels uncomfortable staying in his house in his absence. Untill she see him with her two eyes, she won't sleep. She fears something might have happened to him and she’s definitely too young to be a widow.

“No ma, I'm doing fine. You look exhausted go sleep Ma’a" she replies with a polite tone. The woman is an elderly woman and Iris finds it heartbreaking to find her working h to death instead of relaxing at home and letting her grandchildren or children take care of her.

There's dignity in ageing especially when it's surrounded by love and no work. She looked around the magnificent house which screams money. It’s late and all the workers have retired.

The long curtain covers the beauty of the full moon that shone dazzlingly. Naya Orissa has gone up to sleep as well. Iris looks at the round clock that clings to the walls with spikes of diamonds and precious stones on it.

She tours around the house and sees a huge picture of Gabriel and his parents with the man that came the other time with him today to take her from the orphanage. I

"So they are brothers, I thought as much" she murmurs while touching the big frame. That is when the door slams. She hears and rushes out to see an exhausted Gabriel.

"Sir?" She calls. He turns immediately to see who spoke. It was 2 am already and he didn't expect her to be awake. His forehead rumples in layers, he’s frowning

“What are you doing up this late?” he asks. “I decided to..." she tries to tell him the reason she had to stay up but she's lacking words. “Don't wait for me next time" he bypasses her and enters his room and she regrets why she stayed up all this while.

He removes his clothes. A reminder of his meeting with his father and their illegal business. He wishes to tell Iris about his other job and that the office work is just an undercover to deceive the authorities but he’s very sure that she won't agree to stay. The girl has some sort of strong principle that the nuns have embedded in her. He guesses.

"You had a meeting with the Taiwan investors to grow our business, you should come back and work with the family" his father's word echoes inside his head. This has been the family business for years and it was his responsibility as the first son to take over the family business his father inherited from his grandparents.