Chapter 57: Fool
Carmen
Before I left his room, I made sure to try and convince him that unleashing the pictures was a bad idea, only to leave when he made it clear that if I stayed, we would simply go again.
It annoyed me as I settled back in my bathroom, in the tub with my eyes closed, wondering what I was doing wrong, especially since it was clear that even with all the deals, he still had the power.
For how long am I going to continue playing nice? I wondered, aware that it was just until we found my father’s killer or I killed Bianca, something I was more than willing to do as I stared coldly at the ceiling of the bathroom.
It was exquisite and screamed luxury, which I enjoyed. But beyond that and the fake comfort I now enjoyed, I hated the feeling of being at someone’s mercy.
Play nice, Carmen! Play nice! You’ve done this before! I thought to myself, getting out of the tub and drying myself. I wore a nightgown before sliding back under the sheets.
But I had just fluttered my eyes open the next morning when I felt the urge to go online. The curtains were drawn open to ensure that I woke up the moment the sky brightened. Immediately, I picked up my phone and began to scroll through different news outlets for what I was searching for, which didn’t take too long to find.
The pictures were all over, with Nico outrightly claiming that indeed he was in a relationship with the woman in the picture, who was the love of his life. The romance was buzzing, especially as my eyes scanned the rest of the statement he made.
"Carmen Castillo is my friend and not my lover. The person in the picture is a different person," he said even as I scrolled faster, devouring more of what was written there. The reports were different, but they practically said the same thing.
Yet what pissed me off was the fact that Nico had the idea and had implemented it without seeing a need to inform me about it face-to-face. Moreover, he had even lied to my face. The plan was good, yes? But I was mad that he kept on lying to me.
A bitter sting caught in my chest as I recalled Bianca’s words, "You’re a fool if you think he needs anything from you! He’ll use you until you’re no longer useful!" My heart raced faster as I wondered if the desire card he kept on playing was also merely just a lie.
Scrambling off my bed, I paced back and forth in front of the window as different thoughts slid through my head, and still I thought harder. I had no leverage on Nico apart from the fact that he desired me, and was that really all?
A mafia Don that could have any woman he wanted... my heart thumping in my chest as I realized that I was being played for a fool.
Am I a fool?
Thinking harder about it, and still it was hard to say that Nico had lied to me. His eyes. His touch... freezing at a spot as I realized what he had done. He hadn’t lied, he had simply used the truth to cover up his intentions.
Did he want me? Yes! But was that all he wanted? NO! Gritting my teeth together as I realized what an absolute, complete, and utter fool I had been, telling him my intentions without holding back. He knew about my father’s businesses—enough to take them from me if he wanted.
He’s a mafia Don of the west, which is closest to the north.
Dropping to my knees as I covered my face while facing the closed floor-length windows, I breathed in as I realized that it was more of a struggle than I expected. Anger flooded my veins as my head pounded like a second heart.
Killing two birds with one stone! Realizing that he wouldn’t have even needed to try all that hard. He would help me kill my father’s killer, get rid of Bianca, and just when I thought we had settled as friends with a past, he would get rid of me too, taking the two territories for himself.
It was a long game! A very long one, but clearly one he intended to play because he knew I would fall for it. Recalling my father’s words as I knelt there, heart pounding in my chest—
"Violence? Violence is easy to defend against. You can see the attack—it hurts! The one you need to watch out for is the one carrying flowers, care. The daggers hidden in discussions are the ones you need to avoid."
Slowly, I got on my feet, and even then, my legs still felt weak as I leaned against the railing of the window, staring out as I thought slowly through it all.
"He knew I was going to be kidnapped, and he allowed it even if he didn’t do it himself. Selling me to the auction was not to ward off the others but to give me a sense of hopelessness, especially when he offered help," chuckling to myself as I realized that I no longer thought myself to be his prisoner, not recalling when last I wanted to escape.
"Well played! Fucking well played!" staring out the window as tears filled my eyes, struggling not to look around the room for cameras as I realized that I hadn’t even checked and swept the room for that, including listening devices.
If there was one thing I had known from following Nico, it was that he wasn’t careless. Not in the slightest bit. He knew about Vera even before I told him, and somehow he knew about my conversation with Bianca.
Staring hard at the trees outside my window as tears filled my eyes, but I refused to allow them slip down. Resisting the urge to check my purse or jewelry for bugs, which I was already convinced I was going to find.
The deals were simply words, and Nico wasn’t someone known for keeping his word, that much was known.
I am a fool!
The first thing was to figure out how it happened, and I didn’t have to sit by the window still for too long before the answer smacked into my brain.
I am attracted to Nico. Immensely! Even more when he made it clear beyond a doubt that he desired me. He treated me well, and it was nice knowing that someone powerful was watching out for me.
It made me... lazy.
Leaning back, I simply stared at the clouds, trying to empty my mind for what I was going to have to do. What I was going to have to tunnel through! Because if Nico thought only he could play games, he’s dead wrong.
Gritting my teeth together, I ignored the anger that boiled within me and the urge to dive right towards his room or study like I would and demand an answer. Something I still intended to do.
But first, I needed a plan! A semblance of a plan! One that ended up with Nico losing and me winning. One that ended up with me not dead in a ditch after he got everything he ever wanted.
You’re not the only smart one! I thought to myself as I rolled my hands into fists for the barest moment before I breathed out with tears running down my face.
"Father, I miss you!" I whispered loud enough for whatever listening devices to pick up on it as tears rolled down my eyes, aware that going forward I would have to continue acting like I did before without acting different.
More tears of anger flowed even as I continued to speak like I was speaking to thin air, "...Father, I can’t believe you’re gone!" I whispered louder as I mentally cursed Nico in my head with everything I could summon.
I cursed him and I cursed him, and still it wasn’t enough as the tears continued to slide down my face without stopping until I heard a knock on the door.
I wiped my face, trying to settle myself before I got up from where I was seated and headed straight to the door.
Pulling it open and not even surprised to see Vera standing in front of me. Nico hadn’t replaced her. She bowed her head with a polite smile on her face.
"I’ve healed enough to return to work," the smile on her face brighter, almost like she was satisfied to see my eyes red enough to show I’d been crying.
"I’ll come at intervals to help you with anything you need. You can also press the button on the wall or ring for me," she said as I nodded my head. Done speaking, she turned around to leave even as I leaned against the doorway and spoke, ensuring that my voice sounded absolutely gutted.
"Have you ever lost a father?" I asked her, watching her freeze before she left, her eyes scanning me for a moment as I continued, my gaze mostly fixed on the floor.
"Have you ever lost a loved one?" I asked her, wanting her to see exactly what I wanted.
A grieving young woman.
