Got hurt

(Alana)

“Are you certain, Alana…did he want you to work with him?” Brigitte asked while we ate lunch, I just explained to Brigitte what Rocco did, the guts he had to propose a job to me. Not just once, but a few times. It had been a week, and I was getting irritated. First, he pulled a lousy stunt by giving me that dress

“He's pathetic, I wonder why he's highly praised,” I saw all the reviews about his company and work. And they were extraordinary, it seemed he was more than successful. Brigitte frowned and ate her food. We were having lunch at a reserved restaurant. After a long day of work. I was free since Ricardo didn't need me

“Forget him, you are better off working with our boss…” Brigitte remarked with a smirk and stared at me questionably, like everyone else. She also suspected me of having a relationship with the boss

“Don't tell me you think, I'm so loose,” it was hard to say anything when all the employees kept talking behind my back about going out with the boss. Only if they knew he was my husband

“Well, most secretaries the boss hired ended up desiring to be with him…do you know one of them, even went as far as proposing to him,” Brigitte whispered while covering her mouth halfway as if she didn't want anyone to hear her. It was hilarious,

“It's just gossip…the boss is married,” I said in between chuckles and took a sip of my orange juice. Brigitte frowned and arched his brows suspiciously at me

“Oh really, you are pretty, a boss is a man…yes he's married, but you know how these men are,” Brigitte remarked with a slam of her hand on the table. I wanted to laugh, she was overthinking things

“Tell me about your husband…the main reason you are divorcing him,” I asked trying to ignore Brigitte's questions, she frowned and picked up one fry and stared at it

“It's nothing, I found out marriage isn't my thing,” she simply said, and I was even more curious. We were close, although it seemed both of us were ready to open up to each other

“Did you marry for love or was it forced?” I was curious to know if they were forced to marry like I was. It didn't feel right that she was divorcing her husband just like that

“Love, let's just say I realized not all that glitters is gold…” she said, waving her hands in the air dramatically. I was confused, if they were in love what went wrong

“But marrying the love of your life is the sweetest thing… I mean the feeling of knowing the man you married is the one who understands you,” I said, imagining what it would have been like if my parents let me marry the man I wanted. I always imagined such a life for myself, unfortunately, I was wrong

“You think so?” Brigitte asked me and I nodded instantly. If I were given a chance, I would have chosen to fall in love with a man and then marry him

“We grew up together… we fell in love…but after a while, that feeling disappeared,” Brigitte muttered and lowered her head and started playing with her fries. I didn't know that, did this mean Brigitte and Camilo were childhood sweethearts

“But how can you divorce when you have known each other for so long…” if they knew each other since they were kids? Then their lives had to be stronger and their bond unbreakable

“Sometimes it doesn't go that way, at times marrying a total stranger is better…that way both of you can learn to understand each…trust me love grows stronger,” Brigitte glanced up and said with a smile. There was sadness in her voice. Although she was smiling her eyes were empty

“It's okay, I didn't mean to intrude,” I said reaching for her hand, I didn't mean to intrude or pry into her affairs. It seemed there was more to the story, and it hurt Brigitte

“Don't worry… I already decided…we just weren't meant to be,” she said, still smiling and removed her hand from my hold. I stared at her for a while and got back to eating. If only she knew how unhappy I was because I was forced to marry Ricardo. She was married to a man she had known all her life, she didn't know how it felt like to be rejected

“Come on, I have dinner later on… my mother-in-law is still forcing things,” Brigitte said once we were done. I nodded and called the waiter to bring our bill

“I'll pay,” Brigitte said, but I already took out Ricardo's card. I forgot to give it to him, but since I had it. I decided to use it

“Don't worry, I'll pay,” I said and handed the card to the waiter. He stared at me for a while before taking it

“Thanks,” I said and waited for him to bill it. While Alana was sipping on her juice. Again Brigitte was surprised, this wasn't it. Maybe she was just seeing things. Again, Alana was using their boss's card. It was peculiar, not just her but other employees didn't stop talking about how the boss favored Alana.

“So, your mother-in-law…doesn't want you to leave her son,” I asked as soon as we left the restaurant, it was getting dark, and I needed to get home

“She still thinks we are meant to be together… Camilo is annoying," Brigitte said disdainfully, I understood her. And it was good she was liked by her mother-in-law

“Just think about it, okay, divorce isn't something light,” I said cheering her up just as we stopped when a black car drove by and stopped at the sides

“Rude,” Brigitte muttered, seeing how they nearly hit us. I shoved her away, and we were about to go to her car when a man stepped out of the car. I recognized him right away

“Madam,” the man said with a bow and gestured to me in the car. I glanced at Brigitte and found him staring at me

“I have to go, I'll see you tomorrow and don't forget to be polite,” saying that I made my way to the car. I forgot, Ricardo said something about going out to dinner to meet his friends. As soon as Alana left, Brigitte went into deep thought. Something was wrong with Alana, she was hiding something.

____

Ricardo and Rocco sat across from each other. Both men had stern expressions on. Dennis was standing beside Ricardo, while Alessio stood beside Rocco. The tension in the room was heavy. The two men never sat at one table and didn't destroy each other

“How pathetic are you, Ricardo… I do what I want and if you can't keep up…why bother,” Rocco said disdainfully. Ricardo only came to negotiate with him and nothing else.

“Stop crossing me, and I'll let this slide,” Ricardo muttered sternly, he didn't come to exchange words with Rocco. It was pointless. All he wanted was for Rocco to stop meddling in matters which didn't concern him

“With the money, you can do anything… I only bought what I needed…don't tell me your company is going through sh*t, and you can't flaunt yourself anyhow,” Rocco countered back with a sinister smirk

“This is my last warning, stay away from my business…we don't want your little family getting split again,” Ricardo said sternly, he was angry, but he chose to keep calm.

“You can threaten me all you want…you won't have it easy…you had your laugh in the past just know this time… I'm not going to spare you,”

Ricardo knew what was happening, and thereafter, he left there and went back home. Although, he had to cancel going to dinner. He let Dennis call Camilo and told him to excuse him and pressed to host dinner at his house.

Alana reached the house, she headed straight upstairs to get ready, she didn't see Mrs. Marks anywhere to ask if Ricardo was around. She went straight to Santiago's room, but she didn't find him anywhere; hence she proceeded to take a shower

Immediately, she pushed the bedroom door open. Alana was startled when she found Ricardo undressing

“I'm sorry, I didn't mean…” she stammered while looking the other way. She didn't know he was around. Ricardo only glanced at her and averted his eyes

“Are you getting ready for dinner?” She asked when she noticed he was only wearing. He didn't answer her, but sat on the bed and picked up a file. Alana was troubled

“Is something wrong…” she asked, not sure why he was not talking. Alana stared at him when she realized he was failing to move his hand. she quickly rushed to him

“How did you get hurt…why haven't you bandaged it yet," she dropped to her knees and grabbed his hand and started checking it. His hand had a large cut in his palm. It was fresh and blood was coming out a little

"How can you be so careless…for a grown man, you hurt yourself, " Alana scolded as she glanced at him and found him staring at her. She stopped and realized what she was doing

"I'm sorry, I didn't…" Alana muttered and slowly got up from the floor and prepared to leave when Ricardo grabbed her hand, pulled her down and pushed her against his chest, caging her in his arms. Alana didn't know what was happening.