Antonio returned home that night, he met a device on his table. He glanced at it for a while before going to take a shower.
When he was done, he came out of the bathroom. Antonio wiped his hair dry with a towel, he passed the device again. He sighs in exhaustion.
Antonio picked it up and played it. "A cup of espresso and a croissant" Melissa's voice came from the device.
"Of course right away" Another woman said. The sound of a door opening and closing was heard. "I wonder what Antonio would like to eat... Oh maybe I should call him" Melissa said.
A car came screeching to a stop. Antonio heard Don asking Melissa for the shipment heading for Japan but Melissa refused to talk.
Antonio heard her grunt and groans in pain each time the machine goes off and on. The part that made him lose his mind completely was when he heard Don cut Melissa with a flaming knife.
He could hear the sizzling of her skin. "So she's innocent.... She's just the victim of foul play" Antonio said to himself.
He immediately calls Arturo. "You called Boss" Arturo said. "Find Don immediately.... I want his head on a stick. He has touched the lions eyes, now it wants to bite back" Antonio said. "Right away boss" Arturo replied.
The next morning. Melissa sat on the couch with Sunny and Ariana. "You know we haven't discussed about your marriage with Roberto" Sunny said honestly.
"I don't know what came over me..." Ariana said. "When will you be moving in?" Melissa asked.
"This morning" Ariana replied. "That sucks. How are we going to see you now?" Sunny asked. "Come on Sunny, you speak as if she's traveling out of the country" Melissa said.
"You guys can visit weekends tho" Ariana said.
Melissa sighs. "By the way... What happened to you Melissa?" Ariana asked. "Well long story short. I was kidnapped, electrocuted, cut like minced meat because I'm some how close to Antonio" Melissa said as she demonstrated with her fingers in the air.
"Shit.... When did all this happen?" Sunny asked in a panic. "Yesterday actually.... And I quit.... Unfortunately Abuela didn't like the idea" Melissa said.
"That's messed up" Ariana said. "Enough about me... How's your job at the flower shop Sunny?" Melissa asked.
"It's lovely. I'm use to the smell of the flowers... My allergies aren't as serious as before" Sunny said. "I'm happy you're able to move on from Alejandra" Ariana said.
Melissa nudged Ariana on the arm. "What? It's true, ain't it?" Ariana said trying to defend herself.
"I'm proud of Sunny nevertheless.... I know you will excel greatly in your journey" Melissa said.
Sunny hugged Melissa and Ariana before leaving for work. Few hours later five men appears infront of the door. They came to escort Ariana to Roberto's penthouse. Melissa hugged Ariana tight.
"Don't hesitate to call if anything become complicated" Melissa said. "Sure thing boss" Ariana replied.
Ariana left the house leaving Melissa home alone.
Afternoon came quickly, Melissa was too busy watching telenovela. There was a knock on the door.
Melissa cursed under her breath. "Who could it be as such an hour.... Sofia doesn't return home till six in the evening" Melissa said to herself.
Melissa opened the door to find Antonio leaning casually on the wall. The door closed shut in his face.
Antonio was stunned. "Did she just close the door at my face?" Antonio asked in amusement.
"Shit... What is he doing here?" Melissa asked herself. There was another knock on the door. "Melissa we need to talk" Antonio said.
Melissa looks at the room that looked like a tornado swept across the entire house. Dishes scattered in the sink, clothes lay on the floor like the map of the entire continent.
"You shouldn't be here... I quit remember?" Melissa said as she gathered the clothes from the ground. She threw them into the bathroom.
"Unfortunately" Antonio replied with dread. Melissa ran to the sink to pick up the dishes from the sink but she tripped on something that looked like a dolphin, maybe a chicken. She isn't sure, there was no time to check what it was.
She placed the dishes inside the kitchen cupboard. "How did you find my address?" Melissa asked still arranging the room.
"It's in your file" Antonio replied. "Why are you here really?" Melissa asked. "It's improper for me to be answering your questions outside your house, when I can just come in" Antonio said.
"I don't want to talk to you.... Infact I don't want to have anything to do with you. The relationship of boss and employee ended yesterday" Melissa said as she took the ice cream from the couch.
She turned off the television, she made sure the room was manageable before going to the door.
"Let's discuss this like two adults" Antonio said. Melissa slowly opened the door.
"You have five minutes" Melissa said. Antonio entered the house.
He looks around trying to memorize every single inch of the house. "Your house is lovely" Antonio said.
"Cut to the chase..... What do you want Antonio Castello?" Melissa asked. "About yesterday.... I thought you betrayed me, that was until Abuela gave me the recording. I felt like..... Don crossed the line. He hurt you.. no one hurt anyone close to me" Antonio said.
Melissa scoffs. "You say that like it's a good thing"
"Melissa... I didn't mean to hit you. I was enraged when I was told that you went to meet Don... I waited for you to tell me. When you didn't, it made me a little bit suspicious..."
"I mean I take you to witness every operation that's being carried out" Antonio said. "I never asked to be there... Bloody hell I was kidnapped.... I never asked to be involved in your shit" Melissa said.
"I know... I know... I thought... I thought you only got close to me because you were a spy" Antonio said.
"That's why I left... To save you the stress" Melissa said. Antonio walked up to Melissa, he held both her hands.
Antonio held her like she's a fragile glass that can break at anytime. "Does it hurt?" Antonio asked in a whisper.
"A little" Melissa replied awkwardly. Antonio slowly kissed the bandage on her arms. "I will personally kill Don for touching what belong to me" Antonio said.
The word belong to me sent shivers down her spine. She badly wants to ask him what he meant by that but she just want him to have his moment.
"May I see it?" Antonio asked. Melissa nods in affirmation because her voice could betray her.
Antonio leads her to a chair. He slowly unwrapped the bandages, he saw Melissa's hands were swollen and the skin was red.
Antonio's hands trembled by the sight. He can't believe someone got hurt because of him. Not just anyone, I mean he wouldn't give two shits if it was anyone else.
But for some reason it killed him that Melissa was hurt. Antonio slowly blows both her hands cool breeze with his mouth.
Melissa watched Antonio, a man who commanded boardrooms with a glance. A man who can have someone dead with a single word is trembling in her house.
"Sir.... You need to return to the office" Melissa said. "Come back to the office" Antonio said. "You slapped me" Melissa protests.
"You slapped me back.... So in a way we are even" Antonio said. "Sir....."
Antonio cuts her off. "Call me Antonio" He said.
"By your name?" Melissa asked. "Yeah, you called me seconds ago" Antonio said casually. "Fine Antonio"
"I'll see you at work tomorrow" Antonio said. "No, I want a compensation" Melissa said. Antonio looks at her in confusion. "What could that be?" He asked nevertheless.
"I want an endless supply of that chocolate drink I like" Melissa said. "You mean the one imported from Milan?" Antonio asked. "You still remember?" Melissa asked.
"Of course.... You're the only reason I buy that stuff" Antonio said honestly. Melissa smiled at those words.
"Thank you... That's nice of you" Melissa said. "I'll see to it that you get them tomorrow morning" Antonio said. "Thank you" Melissa said.
Antonio hugged Melissa, She froze from shock. Antonio pulls away. "I'll see you tomorrow then" Antonio said. "Sure thing... I mean you've literally just bribed me" Melissa said. Antonio chuckled softly.