Cesaro Mizra
Blinking, I look at the woman again. They say seeing is believing, but I could not believe what I was seeing. If someone had told me, I would have accused them of being a liar. Looking at the bunch of roses I had gotten for her, I toss them in a nearby garbage disposal before storming towards Lydia and a man who I saw on several occasions.
She told me that she had lunch every day at Niks Café. My meeting with Mr. Lee had ended earlier than I expected it to, so I decided to surprise her. Instead, she surprised me.
I recognize the man as Dr. Roderick. We met him the day my father was first admitted to the hospital. He was also there the night of my party. I saw him after that witch left me standing in the hallway. At that time, I thought that she was involved with him, but now I remember how I saw Lydia coming from the same direction right after.
Anger took over my body as I approached the two. They look like the perfect couple. It was as if they were in their own perfect world. No wonder Lydia seemed so distant. Father's instincts had been right all along.
"Look what we have here." There was a third chair at their table. I took a seat in it, leaned back, and looked at Lydia.
Her eyes went wide and her mouth agape. "Cesaro," she stuttered out as my eyes held her captive.
"How long?" I asked in the same tone I would use on people who get on my wrong side.
"Listen, Mr.—" Roderick began.
I narrow my eyes at the man who swallows the rest of his words, looking back at Lydia. "I said how bloody long?!"
The people in the cafe were now looking at us, but I don't give a damn.
"Please, Cesaro, don't make a scene."
I stare at the woman. My face was void of emotion. I could tell by the look in Lydia's eyes and the way Roderick was avoiding eye contact that I made them nervous.
"Me? What, don't you like being the star of your own show? How long has this been going on, Lydia?!"
"I met him one day after we arrived," Lydia says in a whisper but still loud enough for us to hear.
I nod, comprehending this new information. Two months then, two months since the woman I thought was the sweetest has been screwing around behind my back.
"Cesaro I'm sorry. I should have told you I wasn't in love with you anymore. I was wrong for going behind your back."
I nod once more. "And you're saying this because you got caught, right?"
"Ces—"
"Shut up, Lydia." Getting up from the chair, I turn my back to them and say over my shoulder, "You'll see your things on the side of the road when you arrive later."
Roderick's car drove behind mine. I could see them trying to keep up with my driving through the rearview mirror. Pulling into my driveway, I got out and slammed the door. Lydia runs behind me in her seven-inch heels. I wonder how she did it without breaking her ankle.
"Cesaro, you wouldn't."
"My word is my bond, Lydia, and I wouldn't break it for a low-life woman like yourself." I walk in long strides, entering the house, not once looking back at Lydia, who struggled to keep up.
"Cesaro, you know those clothes are expensive. Why would you even think of ruining them?"
"I know damn well how expensive they are. My monthly statement made sure I knew how much."
"Please don't," Lydia grasps onto my arm, pulling me to face her as we enter the main bedroom.
The glare I gave her was deadly. It made Lydia let go, instantly taking a step back. "Why shouldn't I? Enlighten me, my love. Tell me why I shouldn't do something that will hurt you as much as it hurt seeing you push your tongue down another man's throat?"
Instead of an answer, Lydia took another step back. "I argued with my father so many times because of you. Do you know why?"
Another step back.
"Because somehow he knew the type of person hidden behind your sweet facade, but you fooled me, Lydia—you fooled me real good."
Turning from her, I went to the closet and took most of her clothes in my arms. Lydia wasted no time kicking off her heels in order to run after me. She manages to grab a pink designer top from the pile. She continued to plead, but all went to deaf ears. Walking out to the backyard, I toss them in a large metal bin. Grabbing a match, I hold it to a green snake print dress, watching it catch flames before tossing it in the bin, allowing it to give the others a taste of its flaming kiss.
Lydia watched from behind with the pink top clutched to her chest; she was in tears. I roll my eyes at her.
"Please don't," Lydia begs while I approach her. Instead of focusing on her, my attention stayed on the name-brand top she clutches like a newborn child.
"Cesaro, don't do this. Please," she demands. I grab it from her hands with such force it pulls her forward, almost making her fall on her face.
Lydia fell to her knees and cried while watching her clothes go up in flames.
"It's good to see that materialistic things mean so much more to you than I did," I say, before leaving her behind.
Reina Reigns
I smile up at my new boss, who was telling me a joke while I did some filing.
"That's such a fail; please save your reputation by not sharing that with anyone else."
"Oh, come on, Reigns, is it that bad?" Drew asks, and I nod in reply.
It has been six days since I started working here, and so far I love it. Mostly because my boss wasn't ignorant and his girlfriend wasn't a cheating bitch who liked to air her dirty laundry where there would be a significant possibility that the public would see. Drew had also insisted that I call him by his first name instead of acknowledging him formally.
Drew sighed, leaning against the filing cabinet. With a sad look on his face, "Gemma also hates my jokes."
I chuckle before pushing the drawer back in its place, now giving Drew my full attention. "Then it's a good thing you're making good money being an entrepreneur, considering stand-up comedy is not your forte."
"Ha ha," Drew playfully rolls his eyes and then walks over to my desk, popping his butt down in the chair.
I fold her arms, staring at my blue-eyed boss, who looks quite comfortable in my chair. "Don't you have a business to run or something?"
In the blink of an eye, Drew was now standing, patting down his light grey suit. "Crap. I forgot Gemma wanted me to have dinner with her parents tonight."
"Why do you look so nervous? You two have been an item since what, high school?"
"Seventh grade."
"Then what's with the look? Unless you two decided to put off the 'meeting the parents' part of the relationship until years into the relationship."
"Her mom hasn't gotten over the part where her daughter chose to be with someone who doesn't share the same religion, and a 2021 BMW and a trip to Tokyo didn't win her over."
I place a hand over my chest in mock sympathy. "I feel for you. Say hi to Gemma for me."
Drew nodded, walking backwards. "Lock up for me, will you?" He threw the keys, which I successfully caught.
"Will do, boss." I smile with a wave.