THE MAFIA´S FATALE

I flipped through my appointment book looking for my next client who I was meant to visit and check on, it did take me a while to look for it and finally saw it laying on the floor next to my refuse bin.

A loud sigh emitted from my throat, I remembered the party Melchora, my childhood close friend had forced me to go to, I wasn't a party type, not also a social freak but being a psychologist and a counsellor had made me indulge in one social activity and the other.

I brought my palms to my forehead, "goshhh", I hissed. I was having a hangover from yesterday night, my head was hurting as fuck.

I walked towards my door, opened it and slammed it shut, heading to my kitchen to make a black coffee.

Black coffee isn't my favorite, and I sucked in making it, but being friends with Melchora meant having more hangovers like though you opted in for it.

Even when we didn't go to parties, it was a Saturday ritual we performed every night to drink and get drunk, just to avoid depression, I had solely marked Saturdays off from my working days and no money whatsoever could make me to change my mind.

I have everything I want, from an estate to fleets of cars, I had securities, I always wear the latest Fenty products, that's my favorite clothing line, the CEO was just so good at what she does.

Everything life has to offer, I have all of it, "crazy bitch, you fucking forget you don't have love", I remembered Melchora's words as it kept reverberating in my head.

I don't even know why I remembered those stupid, silly words of hers. I knew within me that I really don't need love, I had given love so much over the past few years, that I had forgotten to check up on myself, I forgot what it was to love myself.

Now, just for you to know, being a psychologist, counsellor and finally a best selling international writer is not what I achieved in one day, neither was it love that made me to keep pushing and fighting to be where I am today.

In the next three or four months to come, thereabouts, I ain't even sure of my birthday month. I laughed over it in my head, knowing for sure that Lucy has that in mind, but I am so sure that I would clock twenty-eight before the year runs out.

I was not happy that my parents are not alive, but situations has made me accept it all, and I can't help it, but sometimes I am so happy that they ain't with me, if not they would have made a reminder of my unmarried state like a mantra in my head.

I stood in front of the kitchen door as I rested my head on it, my head really hurts so much, I wonder if I would be able to make it to the electric kettle.

Saturdays and Sundays are the days I have my workers the privilege not to work, within me I know I'm a very good and soft natured lady, because not all house owners would give their workers not even a day off from work.

Looking at my situation right now, I feel so bad for letting them to stay two days off from work, I ain't felling so good at all, I slumped down to the marble tiled floor of my pavement which led to my kitchen.

I had to regain some energy and little strength which would take me to the other end of the kitchen, I stayed on the floor cradling my head in my both palms, after twelve minutes, I felt like the pain had subsidized a little bit, I got up and walked into the kitchen.

I brought out a satchel of black coffee from it's bag and dropped it into my glass cup, I plugged the electric kettle to the socket for it to boil, after which I added the hot water into the cup and allowed it to stir for a few short minutes.

When it had cooled down very well, I brought it to my lips, used my other hands and closed it over my nose, I hated the smell of black coffee, it always made me feel like throwing up and I really did not think I had such time to waste, cleaning myself over and over again.

I took it all in one gulp and sat back on the kitchen counter, I shut my eyes trying to cool and calm my thoughts.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I woke up to see myself sprawled on the floor beside the kitchen counter, I felt better than I was when I woke up in the morning, the coffee had really made me feel better and also made me sleep like though I was born for that.

I dragged myself up from the floor as my legs came in contact with the glass cup which I had earlier used to drink my coffee, I bent down picked it up and dropped it in the washing sink after which I left for my room.

I needed a long shower, I could perceive the odour oozing from my armpits, from the vigorous dancing which Melchora Adams had made me do, and the saliva in my mouth tasted different and smelt different.

I perceived the foul odour when I sneezed, I used my hands to cover mouth, only for me to bring it up to my nose, "yuckkk!!!!", I cursed.

There was no need to remove the robe, I wore only my lacy pant to sleep, that's why I woke up this morning felling so chilly and cold.

I walked gingerly to the bathroom and slid into the jacuzzi tub, I took a very long bath and also washed my hair thoroughly.

I never used my hair to fool around, it was one particular thing in my body that I loved and cherished so much, I had a very small frame of body, back then when I was in highschool, I was called "Là pètîté", because I was the smallest in the class.

I have a silvery hair, which some people always mistook it for being dyed, sometimes it always turned into an argument, and I'm like, "if you are fucking sick about my hair, you should go fuck yourself", I had rather thought them jealous of my hair.

After scrubbing thoroughly and rinsing the bubbles off my body, I slid out of the jacuzzi, picked up a towel and headed out of the bathroom.

I dried myself off the water and went to my drawer to pick my hand drier which I used to dry my hair. It wasn't a hard task for me, as my hair is very soft but also thick, and lastly, yeah, it was fucking long, I always made sure I trimmed them once every two months.

I let the towel slid off my body as I picked up my robe and put it on. I went to my baby drawer, yeah I call it my baby drawer, cause that's where I keep all my cosmetics, lotions and the rest, lastly my face wipes.

I took my body cream which I rubbed, I was going to go downstairs to take some refreshing air, and the cream helped to protect my skin against sunburns, I also took my sun shades out from my Louis Vuitton bag.

I packed my hair up, since it was so sunny and my hair always made it so easy for heat to start clustering on my skin due to its thick nature.

I was about to walk through the door, when my phone rang. God, I had almost forgotten my phone.

I walked to the headrest of my bed, it was from Ellie Santiago, my eighteen years old female client.

If there was something you need to know more about me, I was one sassy little annoying human being, yeah very annoying that sometimes I ask myself, "Cassandra Cortez, why are you so fucking annoying and arrogant?".

If ever Melchora should be there while I soliloquize with myself, she would end up saying, "you ghats to be annoying, arrogant, because you have everything life can offer, and you know it was so hard to be up there", that was her words of consolation to me.

No matter how arrogant and rude the world see me to be, they still come to me for marriage, emotional, psychological, physical and even spiritual counselling.

People could just be so bad mouthed, and finally, when my therapy works out for them, they tend to start praising you and criticizing others for the bad things they had talked about me, when they themselves are included.

I let the phone ring, until the third time, halfway through it's ringing, I picked it and waited for the caller to talk.

"It's Ellie", the caller said.

I knew she is the client I was going to meet before the week runs out, but I feigned ignorance, like though I haven't even heard of such name before.

"Ellie?", I asked.

"Yeah Ellie, I had earlier booked a session with you, it was going to be a private one, I had told you it could be weeks or even months", she said with a happy and cheerful voice.

The wall I had built around myself crumbled by a piece, I remembered I was just like her, when I was young and foolishly drunk in love and very stupid, I had forgotten to read the signs around me to know that I was entering a very deep pit, which had only taken God's Grace for me to be out of all the mess I had put myself into, all in the name of Love.

"Ohhhh, you are Ellie Santiago right?", I asked, being tired of acting nonchalantly.

Truth to be said, out of all the clients I ever had or got in contact with, hers, Ellie Santiago has been one I have been so anxious to get into.

Reasons why I was so eager to meet her and help her by giving her therapies, one is because, she is eighteen and just about to take a very wrong decision which would change her life negatively as fuck.

Two is because of how eager she seems to get into this marriage, I feel like there's more to it, it's either she's been forced or she just doesn't know what she's getting into, a lifetime companionship.

I really don't think she thought about it so well.

Three is because, I know she has a very good chance of meeting people in the future and I really don't want her to rely on any man for her daily feeding.

The fourth reason is because, her so called future husband would only give her children and material gifts, but what of love?, she sure knows that the man won't give her something even small which could be ascribed to love.

I had made stupid decisions and carried out unthinkable actions, but I had vowed on my mother's grave never to let someone fall into such trap, I won't ever allow that to happen.

"Please I want to know if you would still make it on Wednesday, so I could book a flight for you", Ellie had said to her.

I had wanted to postpone it until Friday, so that I won't work on Saturday and Sunday, since I had strictly made it known to them that I don't work on such days, but hearing the voice of the little girl, which I do not even know for sure, if she's already eighteen years, I decided I would make it up to her in any way or manner I could be able to do it.

"I would be travelling on Tuesday, it would be better that way, so we could start our sessions the following day, being Wednesday, I do hope you are okay with that?", I asked her, waiting for her reply.

Truth to be said, I knew she was going to be more than happy that I decided to come on Tuesday and that was just what happened.

"Ohhhhh. my. God, will you really be coming here on Tuesday?", she asked.

"Yes Miss Ellie, or are you not okay with that?", I asked her.

"Noooooo, you don't mean to say that, I am more than okay with it, I am just so happy, thanks a lot Mrs Cassandra, I am so grateful", the young girl thanked.

I raised a brow at her mention of Mrs, I didn't even want to remember all those.

"It's Miss", I corrected.

"Ohh sorry, Miss Cassandra, please if there is any special service or request of yours please do let me know and if you would be lodging in a hotel, please also let me know.

Our house would accommodate you, it's a very big one, but I understand you would feel uncomfortable staying in a family house that's why I asked if you would want to stay in a hotel", she said.

"Miss Ellie!!?, if I should lodge in a hotel, what would be with the therapy sessions, there would be so much loss for you, you have to be around me very often, so we could understand and relate with each other very well.

I won't mind at all staying in your future husbands', family house, I really don't mind as long as he does not bite. Or does he?", I asked her.

"No, not at all, just that I really don't know how to bring up the topic, we really don't talk to each other, and I really don't know his mood, so.... I can't say at all if he would bite or not", She replied.

"Miss Ellie?, we really have much to talk about, there is need for reformations, you need to start building a very healthy relationship between you and your husband, I know it would be hard for you to do, that's why I decided to come earlier before things get out of hand.

Miss Ellie?", I called.

"Yes... I'm all ears, everything you say, I am hitting down", she answered.

"You really jot down?", I questioned.

"Yes I do, so as not to forget", She explained.

I thought that she was just the younger version of me, from how I jot down stuffs to how I read them over and over again.

"You know what Miss Ellie?", I piped.

"Huhhh", she muttered.

"This would be a very big secret between both of us, your husband should not know I would be coming back on Tuesday, secondly do not ask him about my reservations.

He has to take it in as no other choice, since I came without him knowing, if we do like that, he would have no choice than to let me stay in the house, don't you think so.", I stated.

There was a little silence between both of us, I knew she was thinking about the offer I made. it did not take me much to count one and two, to know she's afraid of her husband, I wondered why she is afraid of the man, she's about to get married to and still can't leave him.

I made that as a point A, which I would love to look into, to be able to elaborate better.

There was one thing that kept kicking in my mind, I wanted to know why she so much feared him.

"What's your husband's name?", I asked.

She inhaled sharply and loudly, before finally giving me an answer to my question.

"DON RODERIGO DE ALVA", she said.

I stilled when I heard the name, DON RODERIGO DE ALVA, I knew I had heard that name from somewhere. The name brought back memories I had tried so hard to forget.

A very dangerous man who hides under the guise of being a philanthropist.

I felt a frission of alarm ring in my head, not only because of his name which brought back past memories, but because of the fact that I would be staying with him under the same roof.

It was to do with the man himself, he is inherently dangerous, when Miss Ellie had inhaled sharply before calling his name, I knew that by instinct, that he must be a very dangerous man, even in that brief moment.

I pointed out and reasoned that there was only one reason why she must have still been stuck with him, either Miss Ellie's father owes Don Roderigo a very huge amount of money or he tried intercepting Roderigo's shipments and was caught.

It was either Mr Santiago, the father of Miss Ellie pays with his life or the life of a very loved one of his. So the selfish, greedy and callous Mr Santiago readily gives out his daughter, Miss Ellie to the cold-hearted Don Roderigo.

Now she knows why Miss Ellie feels stuck in the marriage, what was worse at that is the fact that she's just eighteen.

The Spaniards!!, very ruthless set of people, who don't even value the girl child, moreso the Mafias. The Alvas are the most dangerous and well known Mafias in the whole of Spain.

She was sure of one thing, that the discussion she had with Miss Ellie would definitely get to Roderigo, so the earlier for her to bring the discussion to an abrupt stop, the better for her.

"Nice name, Miss Ellie, we would talk more when I come over", I said to her and immediately ended the call.

My hands shook when I brought the phone down from my ear.

I brought my hands to my flat stomach as I palmed it. I hated him, I still hate him.

No matter how he thought he must have helped me, I hate him so much and I swore within myself that I won't let him go through this marriage.

I would make sure I cause a scandal for him, one that would bring discomfort to him, for the rest of his life.

I checked my phone to know what time it is, Perez had earlier told me he would be coming for the photo shoot today, although I had earlier blatantly warned him that I don't work on Sundays, but the Photographer is just too stubborn.

The photoshoot was scheduled to hold by 4pm, and it was already 3:23pm, I made a mental not to myself to better go upstairs and prepare for the photo shoot.

This is the sixth time my picture would be used as both front and back cover for Vogue Magazine, a very well known entertainment industry.

The first time they had requested for me to be the cover for their magazine, I was awed, speechless, dumbfounded, words can not express how I felt, but after featuring in their magazine for like three times, it became a normal expectation and routine for me, No Cap about that.

I tied the rope of my robe which was undone by me and headed back into the house to prepare for the photo shoot.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Thanks for sharing this beautiful pictures of yours once again, we are so privileged having you in both the front and back cover of the Vogue Magazine, I hope this partnership would last really long", Perez, the photographer said.

Over the few years I had worked with him, those were his key words and pick up line, so whenever he wants to start his speech, I end up completing the lines for him.

I won't bite about much, but he's one boring dude, I got to know about, he's got the hots for girls, but I never for once imagined having something intimate with him prior to the business relationship we had.

He's handsome, but.... when it comes to approaching a lady, he messes up big time with his faltering voice and words.

I reached over and gave him a handshake, because I know he won't ever accept a hug, a very shy one also at that.

After little talks and thanks you for the business deal drinks, I finally went over to slam my door shut.

I was hungry as fuck and just could not wait for Monday to reach, so I could see someone who would do the cooking. I was damn tired of everything.

While still in deep thoughts, I remembered my client's yet to be husband.

He is not good at all for her, I swore that even if it meant disrupting the marriage on their wedding day, I would do that without giving it a second thought or being remorseful about my plans.

I quickly turned on my phone to call my driver, since I had given him a place to stay as long as he keeps working for me.

I wanted him to order food for me, I would have gone but ever since the incident that happened last eight years, the thought of riding a car makes me sick, riding a car has grown in me like a phobia.

ΩΩΩ~~~ΩΩΩ

It was late at night and I was bored as fuck, very tired and aslo angry at myself. Yes, I was angry for not making a thorough background check on my client, I always made sure I did that in the case of my former clients, but I really did not know what had pushed me off from not attempting a thorough background check on Miss Ellie.

If I had done so, I really would not be thinking how I would be living and dining with the Devil Himself under the same roof.

He had taken a part of my life, I wished what he had done, was done by me, all I ever wished he took it off my hands, I really can't exaggerate how much I hate him, and how I would stab and slash him to pieces if I was to be given a chance, I would readily accept it and do it over and over again.

My heart thumped loudly in my chest when my alarm rang, which signified that it was already 12am of a new day, which is Monday. I began a count down, which left me with only a day more for me to head back to Spain.

After the hurting and past memories which I went through in Spain, I decided to move to Trinidad, not only to forget about the past, but to heal from the aches in my heart and to start up a new life.

I smiled seeing where my optimistic nature had pushed me too, so deep in thoughts that I didn't know when I slept off.