Chapter 19 : Why A Butterfly
Chapter 19: Why A Butterfly?
Sophie
“You have gotten closer to them.” Sarah said.
“There was a huge ass man standing guard outside.” He added and I gasped.
“What?”
“He said he is here because the Rizzo's ordered him to keep you safe.” I frowned.
“Maybe because your door wasn't locked when I came in.” She picked up a chocolate muffin. I nodded, biting into the chocolate goodness.
“Yes, I couldn't last night because I was drunk as hell. They could have taken a key and locked it.”
“Maybe they didn't want to take it without your permission.” She said, as I handed her one cupcake. There is no way in hell would I be able to eat all of these on my own. She smiled at me in thanks.
“Probably, I should thank Adriano.” I searched for my phone on the bed.
“Sophie?” She called casually. I hummed in return, finding my phone on the night stand table.
“Be careful.” She muttered.
“Okay?” I frowned looking up at her.
“What is wrong, Sarah?” She sat down beside me, biting her lower lip.
“I was worried about you.” She admitted.
“And the Rizzo's don't have the best reputation.”
“They are nice to me.” I muttered, frowning.
“There is more than you aren't telling me.”
Something flashed in her eyes and she smiled at me, one of her ‘I am sorry, I can't tell you smiles.
“I will see you kaywe, that is your gift.” She nodded towards the big red package on the counter.
“Merry Christmas,” she stood up and grabbed her jacket from the hanger.
“Wait, Sarah.” I got out of the bed and walked inside my small closet and picked up the box. She frowned, eyeing the box.
“You got me a gift?” I nodded.
“You will like it.” I gave it to her.
“Merry Christmas.”
She smiled and ripped it open, inside was a leather jacket I had painted a few days ago. Daisies were made on the back, her favorite flowers and her favorite quote was written in cursive.
‘It isn't what we say or think defines us but what we do.’
“Sophie,” she shook her head, blinking rapidly.
“Fuck, come here.” She hugged me, I chuckled and hugged her back.
“You are going to make me lose my bad girl edge.” She chuckled, letting go of me after a minute.
“Let's go eat more.” She nodded.
“Yes,”
I didn't have a gift for them, I didn't know if we were at that stage in our friendship where we exchanged gifts and more importantly, they didn't seem like the people who exchanged gifts with friends. I was in Angelo's office with him. The scary guy who had been guarding my door had dropped me here, instructing me to go up without asking anyone. Adriano and Luciano were finishing up a meeting. Angelo’s was dark as well with dark velvet curtains guarding the transparent wall. The large desk had too many files arranged neatly with his computer and a wall that was filled with more pictures, like the ones in Adriano's living room and bedroom. I looked down at the large velvet box.
“I know you like rings, you always wear them.” He said.
“We picked some out, we got some custom made.”
“Which ones?” I asked and he smiled, looking proud of himself.
He pointed at three of them, the first one was a simple black ring with a small gold butterfly pressed on it. Small threads of what looked to be gold too were attached to the ring with a diamond at their end and I could tell just by looking at it that it was expensive. There was another completely white with swirls of silver in it. There were thin black rings above and below which were attached to it with silver bars, creating a beautiful gilded caged-like appearance. This ring was a little narrower than the first one. The next one was completely black with small diamonds pressed to the surface and very small roses made with gold pressed on them. This ring was a little narrower than the other two. I pointed at the first one.
“You,” I muttered and then the second one.
“Luciano.” I said, pointing at the third one.
“Adriano.” he looked surprised.
“What gave it away?” He asked and I shrugged.
“I don't know.” He watched me closely and then a smile broke on his face, his dimples showing.
“Damnit, baby girl. I was going to make you guess.” He opened the case, inside were like fifteen rings. He took his ring out and took my hand in his. He slid the ring on my thumb and kissed my knuckles. I bit my lip and he smiled at me.
“Looks beautiful.”
“Thank you,” I whispered.
“It is really pretty.” I traced the butterfly on it. It was tiny and beautiful.
“Why a butterfly?” I asked.
He took my hand in his again, holding it with both of his large ones. He brushed his thumb on the ring.
“As a child I loved butterflies, the garden behind our mansion had them, many of them. My…” he sighed, shaking his head.
“My father hated it. One day, I entered his room and there the butterflies were, in a large display on his wall.”
Angelo.” I whispered. He shook his head again as if to get the memories out and look at me, smiling softly.
“You can give me the feeling I always get when I play with the butterflies in the garden, Sophie. I have chased that feeling for so long.”
My heart felt full and my eyes burned with tears.
“T…that is the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.” I admitted.
He gave me a rare grin and then his eyes fell on my boots. I looked down, one lace was undone. I bent down to tie it but he picked me up and sat me down on his desk. My eyes widened as he crouched down in front of me to tie the lace. Just then, there was a knock on the door.
“Come in,” he replied, his fingers working with the lace.
The door opened and the mean lady from the tour day entered the office dressed in a striking dress with her hair up in a professional bun. I was wearing a maroon skirt with a t-shirt and my large coat was on the couch. She looked at me and Angelo who was finally done with the lace. He stood up and turned to look at her.
“Yes, Evelyn?” She looked at him in disbelief but then composed herself.
“You asked for Mr. Brown’s file.” He took it from her.
“Leave.” She left, closing the door behind her.
He kept the file down on the desk and looked at me, still sitting on his desk. His eyes fell on my legs that were covered in stockings and then the ring on the thumb.