Her misunderstanding

[JADE]

"Un croissant avec un cappuccino, s-il vous plaît." I smiled at the girl who was working in the cafe, about to serve me my croissant and Cappuccino. She smiled back before giving me my order. I went to sit at a table at the back after paying her.

4 years. It's been 4 years since i left and did not bother contacting my friends. The only person i have been in touched with is my father who is still married to Irina, much to my dislike. I still haven't told him about Blake's death. All he knows is that Blake and i are living our best lives in France.

Sighing, i turn to look outside the window where several people were walking, talking with each other happily. The atmosphere in France was amazing to say the least- People are so friendly here and i was actually happy with my life but unfortunately my happiness was short lived when I received a phone call from my dad, demanding my presence back home. Thankfully, I managed to convince him to let imaginary Blake stay here.

Taking a sip of my coffee after eating the croissant, i gave the girl one last smile before walking out the door, knowing this is my last day here. As i was walking in the direction of the parking which much to my dislike was behind an alley, i could not help but feel as if someone was following me and i knew, i couldn't be wrong. Someone for sure was following me.

I turned in the opposite direction i was walking to and hid in a corner, waiting for my stalker to pass by. It did not take long before he did, I grabbed him by his arm, twisting it behind his back before pushing him against the wall. "Why are you following me?"

"I mean no harm-" He started, "Your father only wanted to make sure you're safe and wanted to remind you that you have a flight tonight."

"I told him i understood, didn't i?" I released the man, not detecting any trace of lies in his tone or features.

"It's just a reminder...." He trailed off, looking anywhere but me. "Next time, ask him to fucking text me or call. I mean, that's why phones are for." Nodding, he ran off to god knows where while i continued my way towards the parking lot, to my car.

~

Tapping my nails on the little table infront of me, i waited for the flight attendant to open the champagne bottle. She has been opening it for 2 minutes by now. "Give me that bottle." I said, she quickly placed it in my hands and stood nervously beside me. Within 1 second, i popped it open.

"Let me know if you need anything." She smiled at me, i nodded with smile and she left. I started reading a book i brought with me and before i knew it, darkness invaded me.

~

"Miss Carrington, we landed." I felt someone nudge me slightly. I slowly opened my eyes to see the flight attendant looking at me. "We've landed." She repeated. I nodded before thanking her and walked towards the stairs.

Im not going to lie and say i did not miss this atmosphere or the people here- my friends. I could not help but wonder what Enzo's reaction would be upon seeing me. Would he kill me too? Would he be happy? I did not know and wasn't exactly excited to find out either. The plan was to avoid Enzo as much as i could or im gonna end up killing him or blurt out how he killed Blake.

I guess we will see what's waiting for me.

[Lorenzo]

Four whole fucking years since Jade disappeared for I don't know what reason. 4 years and i still think about her every damn day. I would be fucking lying if i said i was not falling for her.

I slept with numerous girls to get her out of my mind, killed several people and none of those helped. At first, i thought she found out that Blake was dead and needed some time for herself but then, after 1 whole year passed, ive come to the conclusion that it was more than that.

It hurt that she left without a word, a text or tried to reached us- By us i mean, Nick, Hunter, Liam, Seth and Amy but no, she did not fucking bother. Yes, we were all hurt by her departure but i did not show it. None of us went back to school after she left, well, except Amy.

"Boss-" A familiar voice interrupted my thoughts. Glancing at the man, i noticed it was Diego, a new recruit. He was 18 years old and i would be lying if i said that kid wasn't good. I looked at him, waiting for him to talk. "Mr Carrington invited you for dinner at his house tonight."

I raised a questioning eyebrow at what he just said. "What's the occasion?" I questioned. It was surprising, yes. After Jade's departure, her father and i have been doing business together but i wouldn't exactly say we've become friends. Just business partners.

"He said you will find out when you come." Diego shrugged and left after earning a nod from me. Sighing, i thought about the possibilities of what i will be finding out. Could it be Jade's return?

I let out a heavy sigh before glancing at my watch, 5:00. Getting up from my chair, i made my way to my room to take a shower and prepare for the dinner tonight.

~

[JADE]

"You have no idea how much ive missed you." My dad said, engulfing me in a hug within 2 seconds of me setting foot in my house. "Ive missed you too, dad." I returned the hug before breaking it to look at my surroundings.

Nothing much has changed to be honest, everything was pretty much the same. Im surprised Irina hasn't turn this house into barbie playhouse otherwise, i was gonna have to stay in a hotel.

"Jade-" I mentally rolled my eyes at her voice- speak of the devil, they say. "How was France? And how is Blake?"

"Fine." I replied, glancing at her. She was smirking at me and the way she said Blake did not go unnoticed by me. She shrugged before turning her attention to my dad who was looking at us with a questioning stare.

"Did you tell her about the dinner tonight?" She asked my dad who shook his in denial while i looked at both of them in confusion. "What dinner?"

Dad sighed before a smile took over his features. He looked absolutely tired and i would be lying if i said i didn't feel bad for leaving. Managing a mafia all by himself without Blake by his side must have been really tiring and with that, he has a wife like Irina.

"I have invited Lorenzo for dinner tonight as you're back. I thought it would be nice for you two to see each other again, it has been 4 years after all-" He started, making my eyes widened at the thought of seeing Lorenzo after 4 years. "And he has been helping me with all the mafia business while you and Blake were gone. Now, go get ready, he should be here in any minute now."

I cleared my throat before putting a neutral face back on. "I'll go get ready." With that, i rushed to my room and closed the door shut.

It's fine. I'll get through this. How hard can it be meeting someone you totally ghosted after finding out he killed your brother- for 4 years? Can't be that hard, right?

~

Glancing at myself in the mirror, i smiled at the red dress i wore, it was absolutely beautiful. Once satisfied with my look, i went to stand on the balcony to calm myself down before going downstairs. I was nervous, really nervous and scared. Yes, scared. I did not want my dad to find out Blake is dead, he will have a heart attack and i might lose him in the process- but i also know that he will find out whether i like it or not and it better be from me.

I can't believe what dad told me earlier, about how Lorenzo has been helping him with the mafia business. I couldn't believe the guts of that man, not only did he kill my brother but he is playing innocent infront of my dad. But then again, exposing him means telling the truth about Blake which again, is something i could not risk my dad finding out about, not now anyway.

As i turned my heels to go back inside, the screeching sound of a car stopping earned my attention. Looking down, i was met with a well dressed man in a suit coming out of the car. A man whom i'll recognise anywhere. Lorenzo himself.

Once he was not longer in sight, meaning he entered the house, i immediately went in my room as images of him next to my brother's dead body displayed in my mind over and over again. Taking a deep breath, i opened the door and made my way downstairs.

[Jade]

Chatter could be heard from downstairs, Lorenzo's voice along with my dad's and Irina's. They greeted each other before making their way to the dinning area while i was standing upstairs, leaning on the rail, watching their exchange of words and once they took their seats, i decided now would be a good time to make them aware of my presence- more like make him aware of my presence.

With a deep breath, i mustered all the courage i could before walking down the stairs. The clicking sound of my heels against the floor was the only sound i heard as my gaze was fixed on the steps i took to avoid embarassing myself by falling. It was the last thing i needed.

"How is the busi-" the all too familiar voice of the man i do not want to see tonight started but immediately stopped when i entered the room. I knew he stopped talking because he saw me, at least, im guessing considering i still haven't looked up from my heels.

Silence filled the place, i finally looked up and met the gaze of Lorenzo. His jaw was clenched and eyes was widened. Was it anger? Surprise? I could not tell and i did not want to know either. At this point, i just wanted the ground to swallow me, i wanted to have some power of becoming invisible, that would be fucking amazing and really helpful right now.

"Jade?" He broke the silence, uttering my name and man, did i miss hearing him say my name or the nicknames he used to call me by. But now- i look at his face and all i can see are the images of him kneeling over my brother's dead body after he tortured and killed him but of course, i had to manage to keep a neutral face on and fake a fucking smile before replying, "Lorenzo."

His grip on the fork in his hand tightened as i walked closer to the table and took a seat- the only seat available which was much to my discomfort, next to him. My father on the other hand looked pleased to see me and Irina just had a smug look on her face. By the look on Lorenzo's face, i could tell he had tons of questions- questions im not ready to answer yet, questions i do not want to answer. Hell, talking to him isn't even on my agenda right now.

"Let's eat before talking. I know you children have lots of catching up to do." My dad said with a smile. Not bothering to reply, i started to dig in my food as did the others. I was hungry, this is the first nice food im eating since i got back. Why not cherish it just because Lorenzo is disturbing me with his presence? Keeping a neutral face on and acting like i did not notice Lorenzo burning glare on me, i swallowed the food before taking a sip of my wine.

"So, Jade. How was France?" Irina asked, smiling at me. It was no angelic smile, more like an evil one. I faked the best smile and interested face that i could, "France was amazing. It is such a beautiful and peaceful country, the people there are absolutely kind and amazing- helpful even."

"And how is Blake doing? Your dad said you mentioned he is into art now? I would like to see his drawings." sometime." She took a sip of her own wine. Enzo furrowed his eyebrow in confusion and turned to look at me before a frown took over his features. That was all it took for me to figure out that he knew but of course, he would not want me to figure that out so he did whatever a fucker would do- he shrugged it off and replaced his confused face with a neutral one and got back to eating.

"Yes indeed-" i started, giving Irina my full attention as i studied her, she was asking a lot of questions about Blake, it was almost like she knew and i was going to get to the end of this. "During our stay in France, Blake took an interest in art, he started painting and it is absolutely amazing. His drawings are beautiful, he has become an artist in a matter of four years and i could not be prouder." The lies came out easily.

"Is that so?" Lorenzo seemed stunned by my art of lying but he knew better than to question it. I glared at him before going back to ignoring him. "Yes."

"Im thinking of retiring." My dad thought of out, earning my attention as well as everyone else. "Since you were clear on how Blake had no interest of taking over, it goes to you, Jade." His next words make me smile, my dream was finally going to come true but in that dream of mine, my brother was standing next to me, by my side but now, all thanks to Enzo, i could not have pleasure of that.

"Could i talk to Jade in private?" Lorenzo asked, looking at me with his heated glare, daring me to refuse. I sighed knowing this moment was going to come whether i liked it or not. "Let's go to my room." I sighed, getting up from my seat and went to my room, knowing Lorenzo is following behind me.