THE MAFIA’S HEIR

BIANCA’S POV

When I said I had a boyfriend? Trust me, that was a lie. A really big lie that was needed in order to dodge the slap of being rejected by him. Yes, I’d rather be in a delusional relationship, than to let Manuel tell me that he was sorry he couldn’t be in a relationship with me. That would have been quite the embarrassment for me.

“Don’t take what happened between us both too personal. I was only angry because being my by side the night after I lost my innocence to you, was the simplest gesture you would have given. I felt stupid for letting you take something as important as that from me, without the slightest feeling of gratitude. But since you have explained what really happened, we’re cool.” I said.

“We are?” He asked in suprise, and it only made me dramatically roll my eyes. I was right after all. He never really wanted to date me. Look how his expression gave off excitement, at hearing me say we were cool. “That’s…. that’s nice. Thank you Bianca. I’m glad that we can finally put this past us. I had been so worried the whole day.” He gave a chuckle that made me want to cry. I was really a fool for letting him have his way with me. But now, the mistake was already made and I couldn’t turn back the hands of time.

“Yes, we are.” I bit out. Not waiting for him to say any other thing, I walked away, heading towards the beach house. I was extremely tired and hungry after staying out all day. The best thing I could get right now was a warm bath, a good meal, and a great amount of sleep.

It was as if God had paid extra attention to my pleas, because as I got to the entrance of the beach house, Eleanor and a few of Manuel’s men all rushed out. It was weird to see but for the first time, Manuel’s men had shown some kind of emotions towards me.

“Where have you been?!” Eleanor asked in worry.

“The boss had been extremely worried about you madame.” One of the men I had come to know as Phillipe, said to me.

“I’m sorry I got you all worried unnecessarily. I’ve seen Manuel as well.” I clarified, and he nodded. He took a few steps away from me, the rest of the men who had surrounded me followed suite, leaving just Eleanor and me.

“You look so tired and hungry.” She muttered. “Come, have a warm bath and eat something really delicious. And then, you sleep.” She added. “Your eyes look so heavy.”

“Thank you.” I smiled in appreciation, and followed behind her, as she led the way into the beach house. One after the other, I had my bathe, ate, and slept. In my sleep, I wondered why I couldn’t stop seeing a particular face. Anthonio. I hadn’t been able to reach out to him before this crazy Manuel had me abducted. When I had woken from my sleep, I made a mental note to myself to call him when I got back home. We had just a week to be here, and I hoped it was going to be just a week. Atleast, above anything else, I was so glad I got to talk to my parents.

God! A lot had happened since I had left home. Here I was the whole time, thinking that my cousin Mila, was doing okay and was worried about me. Little did I know that her son had actually been kidnapped the same day as I, alongside her husband’s sister; Peggy. What worried me the most was that even until now, they were yet to be rescued. At that moment, I couldn’t be more thankful that Manuel had helped me reach out to my parents. I had clearly reduced the weight and heartache they felt concerning our disappearances. I could feel my heart drop to the pit of my stomach as I imagined how Mila would be feeling at the moment. Dabbing away the tears that had started making its way to my eyes, I stepped out of my room from some fresh air. It was the middle hours of morning already, and the sun was already becoming harsh.

“Bianca!” I heard my name, and I knew it was Eleanor.

“Eleanor.” I replied as she slowly made her way to me from the other beach house. Why did she look somewhat confused and disorganized. I looked down at the long floral skirt she had been wearing, and a side was hiked up than the other.

“You’re awake?” She gave a nervous smile, and I nodded.

“Where were you?” I asked.

“Me?” She pointed at herself, making me chuckle. She really seemed disoriented this morning.

“Yes.” I nodded, keeping my eyes locked with hers.

“Oh? Oh yeah!” She chuckled. “I was at the other beach house. I went to check in with Mr Manuel to know if madame Alexa safely got home yesterday.”

“But I thought she was going for a business meeting?” Seeing that there was definitely something that she wasn’t ready to talk about, I laughed off my question. “She probably decided to stop by at home first.”

“Exactly!” She grinned, looking everywhere else, but at me. Just as I was about to say something else, she spoke. “You look brighter this morning. I guess you’re well rested now.”

“Yeah.” I muttered. Half happy I got to hear my parent’s voice, and half sad that my cousin’s life was a mess. “I spoke with my father yesterday.”

“Really?” Eleanor squeaked, looking suprised and guilty. Why?

“Eleanor? What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing!” She waved it off. “Mr Manuel called your parents?”

“Yes he did. And I know that something is definitely wrong with your mood, so just say it.” I pressed. Seeing I was very much insistent on knowing what was going through her mind, she sighed as her shoulders slumped in defeat.

“I’m sorry Bianca.”

“Why?” I asked, a bit confused.

“The reason why I hadn’t been able to call your parents…”

“That’s because your phone had fallen inside a drum of water.” I helped.

“No. Yes. Well, no.” Why was she being so indecisive? “Well, Manuel had warned me not to let you get across to your family with my phone. So when you started being insistent about reaching out to your parents, I purposely dropped the phone into water.”

“Eleanor!!” I shrieked in disbelief.

“I’m sorry.” She muttered.

“Was that why you refused to help me get an update about the travel ban update?” I asked, feeling quite betrayed.

“No, no! That wasn’t it. I sincerely forgot to check.” She hung her head in remorse.

“Fine then!” I spat. “I would go see Manuel myself.” I snapped and began walking away from her, when Phillippe walked out from the same corner she had walked out from, moments ago.

“Good morning Madame.” He said, giving me a small wave. But I could care less about his greetings. His boss was making me very furious.

“Is Manuel inside?” I asked.

“Oh, no. The boss left very early this morning.” The moment he said that, I stilled in my place. Left? Manuel had promised to stay on the island until the ban was lifted.

“He left?”

“Yes, for just a brief business in town. He would be back before evening.”

“Ohhh.” I muttered in understanding.

“Calm down.” Eleanor walked up to meet me where I stood. “He only did so after he realized the travel ban had been implemented, and there was no way you could fly back home the next day.”

“So it was best to leave my parents in worry?”Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

“No!” She raised her hands in surrender. “No. He talked about being sure that your boss was going to reach out to them, and probably make something up. I guess they have finally told your parents the truth, for you to have spoken with them already.”

“Yes, my parents know now.” I sighed.

“I’m really sorry Bianca. I just couldn’t go against Mr Manuel.”

“It’s fine.” I nodded in understanding. Suddenly, I felt a pang in my stomach, signaling hunger. Slowly sweat began to break out on my forehead. “Is there any food? I’m hungry.” I pouted shamelessly, making her laugh.

“Of course, there is.” She replied. “Come on.” She pulled me with her, back into the beach house. It was when we had gotten in that I realized something was off. If Phillippe said Manuel had left in the morning, and Eleanor had told me she had gone to enquire from the same Manuel if Alexa had gotten home safely, then…. Eleanor had lied. But why?

.

.

Later that night, I walked up and down the length of my room, being consumed by boredom. Deciding it was best I talked to my parents again, I made my way to Eleanor’s room, but was suprised to see she wasn’t there. Where was she then? I walked out of her room and the beach house in entirety. Just when I stepped outside, the cold night breeze kissed my face, and the first person I saw was him. I hated how much my breathe hitched whenever I saw him, regardless of the fact that my brain screamed at me to kill every emotion I had towards him.

“Bianca.” He called out, walking closer to me with his hands in his pocket.

“Good evening Manuel.”

“Hey.” He smiled, making me angry. I hated when he made himself look so handsome. It was hard to not want to embrace him and sniff in the scent of his masculine cologne.

“Have you seen Eleanor?” I asked.

“No, I haven’t. You need anything from her urgently?” He asked, and it suddenly occurred to me that I was yet to confront him about a certain issue.

“Oh, yes.” I grinned humourlessly. “I was hoping I could call my parents with her phone, since she doesn’t really have to avoid making me reach out to them anymore!” Slowly, his eyes widened in realization and his smile dropped. I thought as much.

“God.” I muttered in disbelief. “How could you?” Angrily, I started walking off, but thankfully, he followed me behind. So there was no ‘getting lost’ today.

“Bianca can you listen to me please?”

“Well, I don’t want to.” I replied, not turning to spare him a glance.

“Bianca, stop now!” He roared so suddenly, making me shudder and stop in my tracks. It took me a couple of seconds to get over his tone. He walked up to me, and looked down at me. “Now, listen to me.” He ordered, making me scoff.

“I wouldn’t listen to you, just because you asked me to! I have a mind of my own.” I bit out. I honestly didn’t know why I felt so angry. Maybe it was because of the fact that he had indirectly rejected me yesterday, and made me lie about having a non existent boyfriend. Now, I had to force myself and act like I was cool with everything that had transpired between us, when I just wanted….. I just wanted… when I wanted him to beg me to have him.

“Bianca…” He chuckled humourlessly, clearly trying to beat down his temper.

“You were so cool with having me chained up here in your island, while my parents stressed their minds out with worry?”

“I was wrong to have done that, and I’m sorry!”

“You don’t even sound sorry!” I sighed in exasperation. “I guess it’s so easy for you to say those words even when you don’t mean them right?”

“Bianca, watch it!” He warned, and I only raised my chin higher in defiance. “Nobody regards me like tha…”

“And I don’t care, Mr Don.” I said, suprising both him and myself. He had no idea that I knew he was in the mafia. Now he did.

“Wow, Bianca.” He muttered. “You always suprise me.” He said, stepping closer to me.

“Pleasure.” I replied. On hearing my reply, his countenance gradually began to change, as he drew closer to me.

“I could kill you and bury your body on this island, and no one would ever question me.” He threatened. To be honest, I was scared. Really scared. For the first time, he was showing me that side of himself. But somehow when I was around him, I had this silly urge to be stubborn and challenging, regardless of the fact that I liked him.

“Then you haven’t met my father.” I muttered, not backing down. I looked at him in the eye, daring him to act out his threats, even if deep down I was frightened to my bones. We stared at each other for some seconds, before he released a chuckle.

“Like I said, you always suprise me.” He shook his head, almost in disbelief. He was probably expecting me to cower before him, but that wasn’t my style.

“Don’t you think it’s so funny that you had been so scared of men who had abducted you, but somehow, you aren’t scared of their boss who sent them? Very funny.” He added. “Or maybe, I’d blame experience. You haven’t seen the deathly side of me, Bianca. I hope you never do.”

“I doubt I would run into you so much after leaving this island. There wouldn’t be an opportunity for you to show me that side.” I retorted.

“Biancaaa…” He drawled. He sounded like he was warning me, but I was suprised when he smirked. “I had come to ask you to walk with me tonight.”

“And I was going to decline.” I shrugged. He looked at me for a moment, before releasing a sigh. He had probably realized I wasn’t going to let things go so easily.

“I’m truly sorry for what I did. I was wrong.” He looked like he had swallowed a large morsel of pride to say that to me.

“Okay.” I muttered in response, trying so hard not to smile.

“So?”

“So what?”

“Look…” He released a breathe to show he was running out of patience. Wow. “Bianca, I do not like begging.”

“Neither do I like to be begged. It’s so bothersome.”

“Walk with me.” He ordered, disregarding my statement. He walked ahead of me and I guess I heard him mutter something that sounded like ‘I’m never a bother to anyone’. I guess I trampled on the young mafian’s ego after all. Interesting.