Antonio sat in his office with Margaret sitting opposite him. He was going through a paper in his hands while Margaret sat, watching him read.
He raised his head up after he was done and stared at Margaret.
"This operation is a serious one. We would be smuggling in lots of cocaine and other hard drugs" he said.
"I know, Antonio," Margaret replied.
"And so I can't trust you with the job," Antonio said.
Margaret's eyes flew open. "Why?"
"Because you ruined the last one," Antonio replied. "I wouldn't want you ruining this because I won't forgive you like the last time"
"What happened last time was a mistake, it won't happen again. You need to trust me, Antonio" Margaret defended.
"I trusted you the last time and what happened? You fucking messed things up" Antonio retorted.
"I made a mistake just once" Margaret said, her voice slightly raised, anger simmering inside her.
"I've always been competent before that incident and you know that. That's why I am your personal assistant"
"Luca will take care of things this time," Antonio said nonchalantly.
Margaret scoffed.
"So you think Luca is better than me now? I was with you before Luca" she said bitterly.
"And now, Luca is way smarter than you," Antonio replied harshly.
Margaret was surprised at his response.
"You've changed Antonio, this is not you, this is not the Antonio I know" she said.
"I'm still the same Antonio you know. This is business, I wouldn't let sentiments ruin business for me. I barely managed to clear up your mess the last time, I don't want such happening again" he said.
"And if you want me to trust you with secret operations again, you need to prove yourself to me"
"How do you want me to prove myself to you when you don't even give me a chance?"
Margaret asked, throwing her hands up in the air as she spoke. She's obviously frustrated.
"You always know how to prove yourself, Margaret. You're good at that" Antonio replied.
"Fine, you can give the job to whoever you want to. You're the boss anyway" she said.
"I'm glad it's clear to you now"
Margaret hissed out loud, picked her bag up cat walked out of the office room, slamming the door hard behind her.
Antonio shook his head then pick up the other paper laying on his table and started scanning through it.
GEMMA
I was preparing lunch with Nanny Emilia in the kitchen when we heard the sound of car horns outside the gate. We heard the electric gates opening immediately after that.
"Isabella is back," Nanny Emilia informed me.
I nodded my head at her, agreeing with what she said.
"I'll go and bring her in," I offered.
"Okay dear, do so" Nanny Emilia replied.
I rinsed my hands, untied my apron, hung it properly on the door and left the kitchen. I walked to the sitting room and out of the main door.
Isabella was just walking into the compound with the help of the gatekeeper. I walked to meet them.
"Stevo, thanks, I'll take her from here" I said to him and he let go of Isabella's hand.
"Good afternoon Gemma" Isabella greeted.
I noticed she's not smiling or grinning happily like she used to do.
"Good afternoon Little Miss," I replied.
She always giggled whenever I called her "little miss" but this time, she wasn't giggling at all.
"Did anything happen at school? I asked with concern.
"No" came her short reply.
I opened the door and we went in.
Nanny Emilia was in the sitting room when we came in.
"My darling is back" she called out and smiled sweetly but Isabella's cold response made her frown.
"Bella, what's wrong?" Nanny Emilia asked.
"Nothing Nanny. I'm fine" she replied.
"Gemma, finish up in the kitchen. I'll take Isabella to her room and get her out of her school uniform" Nanny Emilia said.
"Okay ma'am" I replied.
Together, they went up to Isabella's room while I went back to the kitchen. Few minutes later, they both came downstairs.
Isabella went straight to the sitting room and turned the TV on while Nanny Emilia came back into the kitchen.
"Something is really wrong with Isabella, I had to force her to come downstairs to watch her favorite Cartoon" Nanny Emilia said.
"Really?" I asked. It was a surprise as Isabella didn't need anyone to force her to watch cartoons, it was something she enjoys doing.
"Yes. I would just call her teacher later to know if something happened at school" Nanny Emilia replied.
I nodded my head.
***
Later, when I went to the dining table to set the meals on the table, I heard light sobs coming from the sitting room.
Inquisitively, I tiptoed to the sitting room and saw Isabella sobbing softly with her eyes still glued to the TV. I quickly glanced at the TV to see what was making her cry and saw that a chubby girl was being bullied by her classmates.
I frowned at the sight, she shouldn't be watching a cartoon like this. Then I went to meet her.
"Isabella, darling, why are you crying?" I asked calmly as I sat beside her on the couch.
Her sobs increased and I held her lovingly on her cheeks, causing her to stare directly into my eyes.
"You know you can talk to Gemma, right?" I said.
She did a few hiccups before she opened her mouth to speak.
"I got bullied like that in school today. Amara called me fat in school and my classmates laughed, including my friend, Aria" she replied, still sobbing.
The fact that her friend laughed really hurt her as she increased her sobs again.
Anger simmered inside of me.
"Who's Amara?" I asked.
"A girl in my class. She Just hates me and I don't know why" Isabella replied.
My thoughts wandered to what Antonio would do if he should see his precious little princess crying like this. I wasn't sure he would spare Amara, even if she's still a child.
I took a deep breath and searched for words to say.
"Amara is wrong. You're not fat, instead you're a healthy, beautiful and adorable little girl. Do you know you're so beautiful?" I asked and she stared at me. Her sobs seem to have reduced.
"Do you remember you told me when we met for the first time that I'm pretty but you're prettier because your daddy told you that you're the most beautiful girl he's ever seen?" I asked.
She nodded her head at me.
"You're right, your daddy is right. Isabella, you're the most beautiful girl I've ever seen" I replied and smiled sweetly at her.
"You think so, Gemma?" She asked, her eyes shimmering with hope.
"I know so," I replied. "Come here" I said, spreading out my arms for a hug.
She embraced me and I patted her back and soothingly stroked her hair.
"It's okay, stop crying. Big girls don't cry" I teased.
She released herself from the embrace, looked up at me and smiled sweetly.
"Thank you Gemma," nanny Emilia said, smiling sweetly.
I never knew she was standing and watching us.
"Thank you Gemma," Isabella repeated and hugged me again.
I held the little girl tight in my hands and heard the door opening but I didn't pull away. It couldn't be Antonio, he doesn't come home this early.
"Gemma," Nanny Emilia whispered. It was a whisper but I could clearly hear it.
I looked up, then following the direction of her eyes, I glanced at the door.
And standing by the doorway with his taunting eyes brooding anger, his muscles in his jaw clenching and unclenching in anger was Antonio.