CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY

CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY
MELO
I’m already awake when Damien drives in. 6 a.m. sharp. He's punctual, that's a point in his favour. My sleep has been messed up again. While, I was away, sleep was something you get so you don't die. My body got used to not sleeping and I can't turn it off.
Since I came back, I've been lying awake in bed, holding my wife and praying she wakes up so I can 'wake up'. Since I have an excuse today, I don't bother pretending not to be awake. I quietly slip out of the bed so I don't wake Bella up.
I stand, roll my shoulders once before I head for the door and the meeting waiting for me. There's a dull ache on my shoulder where I was shot. I shouldn't be using it as much as I have since I came back but I've always been stubborn about resting to heal better.
Damien is talking with the guard at the door when I meet them.
"I can't be he one to wake the boss up. That's Marco or Rocco. And I can't wake Marco up because he didn't tell me anything about you coming here this morning."
Damien exhales loudly, clearly frustrated. "The boss…"
"It's fine. I told him to come. Wake Marco up." I tell the guard who goes off immediately to get Marco.
"Good morning boss."
"Good morning. So you really want to do this?" I ask.
"Yes boss. There's no going back for me."
I chuckle. "Alright, your funeral."
Marco joins us then, looking tired as hell.
"Good morning boss." He greets.
"Good morning. Please show him around. Help him settle in and put him with Isaiah."
Marco nods and turns to Damien. "Let's go."
Marco walks away muttering something about his sleep with Damien following closely behind him.
I enter my office and start going through my mail. I wrote a few emails to some clients who I couldn't see because of distance and some of them have responded. I get busy and start replying to them. After replying emails, I start looking at the reports from the pharmacy.
The door opens and Isabella enters carrying Carina in her carrier. I didn't realise I've spent more than an hour here.
“Good morning,” Isabella says softly.
"Good morning baby, how are you?"
She walks closer, adjusting the carrier slightly. “I'm fine, have you been up long?"
She puts the carrier on the table and bends down to kiss me.
“Long enough.” I reply when we break apart.
Her eyes linger on me for a second. Watching and checking for something I don't want to know. I hope she finds it so I don't have to talk about Russia.
"Anyway, we were about to leave for the restaurant and we came to say goodbye."
"Do you have to go? I'm home all day, why don't we spend it together. We could go to the theatre. It's been ages since I went."
I became happy in life and didn't need the theatre anymore.
"I would but we have a reporter coming today to do a piece on the restaurant for the paper."
I nod in pride. "I'm proud of you, baby."
"Thank you. "
I nod toward Carina. "Leave her with me today.”
She blinks, caught off guard. “What?”
“I’ve got her,” I say, standing up. “I’m not going anywhere today. I want to catch up."
There’s a pause. "I've never gone more than an hour without seeing her. I don't think I can do the whole day."
I smile and pull her down so she's sitting on my thighs. "I know. Please let me have today."
"Are you sure you can take care of her for the day?" She asks.
I try not to get offended by the question. I was away for three months and before that, I didn't have any experience with babies.
“She’ll be fine with me,” I add, softer this time. “I can always call if I have questions or you can call me if you miss her "
Isabella shifts her weight slightly, and I know I have her.
"Okay. I'll leave her here. Call me if anything happens and you don't know what to do."
"Sure."
"The chef knows where her milk is, in case she gets hungry. She knows temperature to warm it too."
"I'll make sure to ask."
She sighs and puts her arms around my neck. "I'm sorry I'm acting crazy. It feels strange."
"I know baby," I say softly. "You had to do it alone but I'm here now and I've got you."
She kisses me passionately and I hold her tighter.
"Melo, you're hard." She says into the kiss.
"I know. Don't worry about it."
"I have to go to work before CeCe comes. I really, really don't want to bump into her."
I sigh then release her. "Go before I change my mind."
She laughs and gives me a kiss on the cheek before she stands up from my laps. She blows a kiss to Carina and waves at me before she opens the door and walks away.
I gently move the carrier over to myself. "It's just the both of us here today, baby girl."
Marco and Damien come back a few minutes later. Marco has two coffee mugs in hand and he gives one to me. I thank him and take the cup of coffee. I need to be alert.
"We're done with the tour. I think he's ready now."
"Good. Did Isaiah like him?" I ask.
"He says he's adequate."
We both laugh at that. Adequate is high praise coming from Isaiah. Marco puts his cup down and looks down at the baby. Damien is very careful not to look at her.
"You can look at her if you want. I won't kill you for looking at my daughter Damien."
He relaxes and comes closer so he can look at Carina.
"It's crazy how much she looks like you." Marco says.
I smile with pride and he shakes his head. It is amazing how much of my features she gets everyday. It fills me with pride every time I look at her.
The phone rings and I answer it.
"Boss, CeCe is at the gate again. She says you asked her to come."
"Tell her she just missed my wife and that she should come back tomorrow, same time."
I end the call and Marco laughs. "CeCe?" He asks and I nod.
"She has to know by now that you're messing with her. How long do you think you have before she comes begging to be released."
"I don't know. It could end tomorrow and it wouldn't faze me. She just has to apologise to my wife and she won't have to do this ever again."
Marco nods and Damien just stands in the corner, his face blank. He's not trying to appear like he's listening to our conversation. Another point in this favour.