Chapter 53 3 months later
Angelo
The past couple of months have been the hardest. I've tried to sleep, but everything that happened; the week I did the unthinkable keeps coming back to haunt me. To make matters worse, I miss Cleo, and she still doesn't want to see me.
The week she gave birth, our babies were put in the NICU. I had to wait a while before I could see them, but I eventually got to see them. Our babies are Pisces twins born on the 16th of March. Pio looked like Cleo, and Pia looked like me. Both babies had the upper lip beauty spot, which surprisingly Cleo and I had too. We still don't know what happened to Rachel, but both my parents moved to the lake house, leaving me with Giovanni.
Giovanni misses Cleo more than I do, but he still manages to call her using my phone, and they talk for hours. He even gets to have weekly dinners with her—and I’m not invited. Nicolai drives him. Paul and I are back on talking terms and we are back to being best friends.
I also went back to work at Massa as CEO. Cleo is still heading up the communications division. I still don't get to see her because her deputy attends the status meetings. He reads off her notes because she emails them to me the day before the meeting.
I have Cleo on all three social media platforms. I need to keep track of her whereabouts and what she's up to. Her mother is raising Pio and Pia. I get to see them whenever I want because she still loves me like her son. Cleo has kept the night I acted out of character quiet and to herself.
My mother has apologized to Cleo numerous times for what she did, but Cleo still keeps her distance. My mom also gets a chance to take care of the twins; they alternate monthly.
I had another late meeting, and Gio was at a sleepover, so that meant I would go home to an empty house. I didn't have to deal with "Club" politics; Carlo had things under control. When I made it downstairs to the parking bay, I saw Cleo's car, and I decided to go back upstairs to go see her. There was no one in the building, and the thought of Cleo being all alone didn't sit well with me at all. I love her, I'm still in love with her.
I've sent her roses and orchids every day with a message. Today I sent her deep red short stem roses in a vase with a note saying that I'm thinking of her and the babies. As soon as she got the delivery, like clockwork, she sent me a text saying; "Thank you, that she appreciates the thought and the flowers." Today, I also sent her a box of Swiss Chocolate caramel and salt flavored. Every time she says thank you, I text back asking her how she's feeling, and she always says she's fine and asks me the same question... Every time I type a paragraph pouring my heart out, telling her how sorry I am and how much I need her, I end up deleting the paragraph, saying: "Fine, thank you. Have a good day."
When I walked in the office, Susan was walking out. When she saw me, she smiled and waved at me. She gave me a wide-eye look and took out her phone, pretending to make a call to someone important.
I walked straight to Cleo's office, and her shutters were partially open. When I opened the door, she didn't look up but spoke.
"Sue, I said you can go home, angel. I will be fine. I have the weekend off anyway, and the twins are at Rosa's. Since you're not responding... I will eat something and don't say I am too skinny."
Why isn't Cleo eating? I am going to give Sam a piece of my mind. We both have the weekend off for the first time in a long time without the twins and Gio around. Maybe we can focus on us. I smiled at Cleo, but she didn't look up from her notebook, so I spoke:
"Well, Miss Kwena, Sue went home, and we are the only ones left in the building. Where is your assistant?"
"He took an early day."
Cleo looked up, and I noticed she looked like she did when she worked as Ruth's assistant.
Walking over to her shelf full of flowers, I couldn't help but smile.
"I love your arrangement of flowers. You must have someone seriously stalking you to have so many roses and orchids."
"He won't stop sending them, and it's been going on for the past three months. The red bunch he sent today confused me, but I liked the pink and white tulips."
"Did you at least thank this irritating man?"
"I always thank him, but I get the feeling he's not being honest with me."
Cleo closed her notebook, and I sat on the couch so that I can see her face.
"Really?"
"Yep, he is constantly stalking me on all my social media platforms and liking every post."
Cleo slid her notebook in her bag and started packing up her desk. I guess some things never change.
"So you know this admirer?"
"Yes. He's the father of our twins."
I looked up and locked eyes with Cleo. I promised myself I wouldn't cry, and I held my tears back and pinched the bridge of my nose. She walked from behind her desk with her bag and car keys.
"Why haven't you blocked him?"
Cleo sat at the other end of the couch with her legs tucked to the side, looking at me.
"I don't know. Maybe he had more to say than; 'I'm fine, have a great day'."
I moved closer to Cleo, and she didn't move back. She was wearing black skinny jeans, white sneakers, and a rose pink V-neck long-sleeve top. She looked at me calmly, which was a relief.
"He isn't fine, Cleo. He misses you like crazy. He has never stopped loving you and the kids. He needs you. He wanted to tell you that he was drugged when he acted out of character. He's asking for one more try to fix the mess he made and forgiveness. He's far from fine and wants to just spend time getting to know you again and ask you out for dinner... I'm pretending to cope, and I'm barely hanging on. I didn't relapse. I'm so sorry I hurt you."
Cleo winced and looked at me with sad eyes. I couldn't hold back the tears, and I started crying. I couldn't let her see me like this, so I stood up and made my way to the door to walk out. When I turned around to say goodbye, I felt Cleo's arms on my waist, and I hugged her back tighter. When she let go, I let go too, trying not to push too hard; she might run. She stepped back and looked at me.
"I forgave you on the Friday our babies were born, before the NICU. I love you too, and I miss you more."
I leaned down to kiss Cleo, and she kissed me back and pulled away. She then retrieved her bag and walked out.
I stood by the threshold of the door, and I must have looked confused because Cleo turned around and giggled.
"Is that it, Cleo?"
"No."
She walked out the office, and I followed her to the elevator, waiting for her to say something.
"I asked you to go out to dinner with me, and you haven't replied. I will get down on my knees if I have to, and security will think other things..."
Cleo looked at me and laughed. I gave her a peck on the cheek. I was so happy to see her smiling. She looked adorable with her curly short hair and glasses.
"Hmm."
I slid my hands around Cleo's waist, and I whispered in her ear:
"Even though I prefer you all curvy, you still look beautiful."
"You are being charming."
"I'm only trying to get you to say yes."
The elevator bell rang, and we both walked in. The doors closed, and the lift started its decent.
"Cleo?"
"Angelo?"
"I miss being called Blue."
"Angelo?"
"Fine. Can I at least cook dinner for you at the house?"
Cleo shook her head and froze.
"No. I can't, Angelo. Anywhere but the Villa."
Cleo said it in a shaky voice, and I knew she was scared. I was afraid to scare her again. I gave her a hug and a kiss on her temple.
"I'm so sorry, Bella. The penthouse?"
Cleo nodded.