Theressa could punch Marcelo right now, she could but he's not in a good shape. She thought she had been forgotten, she thought her whole existence had been wiped away from Marcelo's memories.
Her heart dropped a million times as she stared at Marcelo. Who had a smile on his face, a genuine smile, a rare smile and Theressa got lost in the beauty of his smile. Despite her annoyance at getting deceived, her heart warms at Marcelo's smile. She could get a seat and paint his perfect features.
Kayden was out, Marcelo had asked him to excuse them, before his pretentious act went off.
The two were the only ones in the hospital room and suspense filled the room as their words hung in the air.
"I'm sorry" Theressa muttered, her eyes displaying the depth of guilt she felt.
"For?" Marcelo questioned.
"For everything, for the ruins…" Theressa trailed, tears had begun to slip down Theressa's cheek as she spoke between sniffs.
Marcelo said nothing in response as he turned away, facing the window, gazing at the clouds.
"You know, at first, I thought I could be without you, I never knew you were going to have this much effect on me" Marcelo muttered his words low but audible enough for Theressa to hear. A mix of disbelief washes over Theressa. Theressa brow knitted as she questioned herself if she heard correctly,
"Since you came into my life, my life has been a mess, my plans ruined" Marcelo continued as he turned back to Theressa. Their eyes meeting Theressa had lost the hope his statement was beginning to build. Why would she expect Marcelo confessing to her in such a moment? If Marcelo was to order to never return to his life, Theressa was willing to oblige, as she couldn't bear to be the cause of another problem on Marcelo's path.
"But I don't want you to leave," Marcelo stated in an almost hush tone, his voice laced with an undertone of desperation and longing. Theressa sensed something else in his tone Fear. Marcelo was scared? It just didn't sit well with Theressa, she has never seen this side of Marcelo before and so she's conflicted.
"I don't want to lose you" Marcelo continued and Theressa felt a rush of emotions, lost in words, she didn't know what to say or how to respond. Theressa was still, her heart beating rapidly that she wondered why she hasn't been rushed into the hospital yet.
"Marcelo," she stammered.
Marcelo groaned as he sat up, he seemed to be in pain, Marcelo had risked his life to save Theressa, a common staff member, his ex secretary. Was that supposed to be normal?
Theressa had helped him up, their gaze locking, and Theressa attempted retracting her hand from Marcelo held unto her.
"Theressa" Marcelo called, his features and his voice soft, his thick brows furrowed, his eyes wider than usual as he searched Theressa's face for any sign of reaction
"I want us-"
"Sir" Kayden called from the other end of the door disrupting Marcelo and Theressa's conversation, Theressa was disappointed but she thanked Kayden at that moment she had never feared a confession in her life before, but this was different.
Marcelo shut his eyes as if trying to ease his frustration, taking out a breath he parted his lips to speak.
"Come in" Theressa beat Marcelo to it as she forced her hand out of his hold.
Marcelo's jaw clenched, reflecting his effort to control his emotions.
Kayden walked in with a tab in his hand, his muscles tight, Theressa could already sense the emergency in Kayden's features.
"An emergency meeting has been called, the news about your accident reached the ears of the member and now they are seeking to fill your spot until you are fully healed"
Marcelo winced, the pain shot through his whole body as he tried to force himself up.
"We'll have to surprise them with my presence then" Marcelo stated, his eyes narrowed into a sharp penetrating stare, lips pressed into a firm thin line, his demeanor confident and composed. Marcelo's plan didn't sit well with both Theressa and Kayden, there was no way his presence would help in any way, he would still be replaced, because he's yet to be well.
"But sir," Kayden began.
Marcelo had attempted to lose out the bandages.
"You can't go in this state" Theressa interrupted, her brows knitted together in a furrowed line, a clear sign of her confusion and concern, her eyes widen slightly her features contorted with disbelief and disapproval, a poignant reflection of her inner turmoil, a silent plea for Marcelo to reconsider his plan.
"When I get back, we'll go on with our conversation" Marcelo declared, a small smile on his lips as if assuring Theressa he would be alright as he tore off his hospital wear.
"How about Kayden and I attend the meeting?" Theressa uttered, both Kayden and Marcelo turning to her with a questioning look.
"I get you want to pay me back" Marcelo began but was interrupted before he could complete his statement.
"How about I fill your position instead" Theressa suggested, her gaze lies a glimmer of intense focus as if peering into the depth of her own mind.
Theressa did think of it as a return for Marcelo risking his life for her but the greater reason was Marcelo risking his life, this is definitely the time for Marcelo to lay low, Theressa was well aware of how risky the mafia world is but she couldn't let Marcelo stand at the verge of life and death again.
"You can't Theressa it's too dangerous"
Marcelo rubbed his face with his palm in frustration.
Kayden stood but sided with no one despite knowing that Theressa's idea is a brilliant one.
"Can you trust me? Nothing is going to happen to me and you don't have to lose your position to one of your enemies" Theressa asserted, her voice rising, displaying her inner frustration.
"It's not just about trust you know nothing about this world" Marcelo said but just as he finished his statement Theressa picked up, her tone laced with determination.
"Mr Richard, debt collector, embezzles from the pay and accuse the debtors for not paying according to agreement and then he kills them, Isabella, plans heists extorts and smuggles, work in H&E law firm and is the lawyer used to cover up the atrocities committed, Sofia, uses her charm to seduce and manipulated enemies but was suspended after her trials to to train under aged girls. Luca the tech savant, hacked into your system once and the mafia leader, Marcelo Tolomeo had used him step as a stone to power, as he killed his only surviving parent, and made his life miserable but still let him work, Joe Williams" Theressa paused, guilt clawing at her chest.
"Was hired to kill the mafia leader, Marcelo Tolomeo and then Joe, the ex Mafia leader, uncle to the present mafia leader" Theressa was done listing almost half of the mafia members, she had gone beyond the documents passed to her, it was evident.
Kayden and Marcelo were stunned by how much Theressa had gathered no lies, Theressa a was a fast learner, but her list had shown them how much she is good at digging for information, a key aspect in the mafia world.
"And so? You have no basic skill" Marcelo said, almost dismissing Theressa's suggestion before she spoke up again.
"Then train me. Teach me on how to be a mafia leader"