The Next Day
ROSALINE
"Melinda"I forced out a casual smile to her, rising up from my chair in the cafe.
She walked over to me with a smile on her face and we hugged.
"I missed you, girl" she kissed my cheek and I kissed her cheek back.
"Trust I missed you too" I said as we disengaged from the hug.
I sat back and Melinda sat opposite me with a worried look creasing her forehead.
"I was worried after you called me yesterday. You sounded like you were in some sort of trouble."
"That is because I am in some sort of trouble but it is nothing for you to be worried about yet."
"Yet? What is going on?" Melinda asked and I sighed.
"Nothing dangerous, hopefully." I shrugged.
"Does Rick know about the situation?"
"No, and I don't want him to know for now. This entire thing might be just me over reacting so I will be needing your help for now, okay?"
"Alright. What do you need help with?" She asked.
"Just give me your phone. I need to send a text." I replied.
"Oh" Melinda reached into her purse and pulled out her phone. She unlocked it and dropped the phone on the table.
I dropped mine beside her phone and looked at her with a faux smile.
"Why don't we order something?" I asked.
"Oh yes, for sure. Coffee would do, right?"
"Yes, that would be perfect" I reached for the phones and picked hers instead of mine.
I quickly texted the message to the anonymous person and dropped the phone back beside mine.
I knew that Russo definitely had his eyes on me right now. He hadn't bother stopping me when I was leaving home but I knew he was definitely around here somehow. I could not let him know that I had used Melinda's phone to send the text message. Russo could be crude at times.
Melinda ordered coffee for the both of us and as soon as the coffee arrived, I picked up my cup and 'accidentally' spilled some of the coffee on my dress.
"Oh my" I faked a gasp and got up.
"I am just going to clean this" I said to Melinda and picked my phone up from the table.
"Be careful and be safe" Melinda said to me and I responded with a nod before heading towards the washroom.
I had been to this cafe several times and I had only had to say a few words to the owner to get permission to use the backdoor.
I detoured and went for the backdoor. I had sent the location and venue to the anonymous person and I only just had to get away from Russo to meet him.
I pushed the backdoor open quickly and hurried out but froze immediately I saw the man in front of me.
It was Russo.
"Going somewhere, Sunshine? I could help you with a ride." He looked at me and I gulped down hard, my toes wishing to curl in my heels.
"Russo, why are you following me?" I asked as firmly as I could.
"Where are you off to?" Russo questioned and I glared at him.
"I am going to meet no one and even if I wish to meet someone, is it that much of your business, aren't you supposed to be busy lording over a multi billion worth company?" I shot the question back to him with confidence.
"You want to meet whoever talked to you? Fine but you aren't going to see some bastard I know nothing about alone. Are you even thinking this through?" He was approaching me as he spoke.
"You could get killed, you know how these things work, Caramia!"
"Yes! I know how these things work and that's why I am staying away from you!" I let out.
"What do you mean?" He stopped in front of me, his gaze fixated on me. His brows were arched.
I drew in breaths and breathed out, trying to calm my myself down.
"You are going out there to meet someone I am so fucking sure you know nothing about! And you are going there without anyone with you to protect you! Do you realise you are walking into a fucking death trap?!" He raised his voice.
"And aren't I in a fucking death trap by staying here with you?! I don't want to fucking die in your hands, Russo El Massimo!" The words left my lips before I could stop them.
Heavens! I had probably given him a hint. I shut my eyes tightly and held back a groan at my stupidity.
When I opened my eyes a few seconds later, Russo seemed to still be processing my words.
"You think I will fucking kill you?" He took a step closer to me and I quickly backed away.
"You think I want to kill you? You think I will hurt you, Caramia?" He sounded so sincere but I should know better. Manipulation, lies and deception was easy for every powerful man. Russo himself had let me know that.
Russo covered the distance between us and I backed away until I had my back against the wall.
"What the fuck did that bastard tell you?! If I ever wanted to kill you, Caramia you know well enough how easy it is for me. Do you really think I want to kill you? Do you think I would ever dare to hurt you?"
"Fuck!" He groaned and ran both hands through his hair, tugging hard at his hair.
"Please... Please stay away from me" I whispered to him, feeling my eyes fill up.
I slipped away from him and walked back into the cafe through the back door, not daring to turn back to look at him as I shut the door behind me.
I headed into the washroom and washed the stain off my dress, biting hard on my quivering lips.
I splashed water on my face and closing my eyes, I could see the look on Russo's face when I had told him he could kill me too.
He had really looked sincere.
"Please someone or something, help me out." I let out a small whimper and splashed more water on my face.
I gritted my teeth together, not wanting to let tears run down my cheeks. I wasn't going to cry again here.
I returned to Melinda and she was still there and I was really glad she was there.
"You are back?"
"Yes, let's just say things didn't go very well. Can we go to your home?" I asked.
"Sure thing but are you okay? You know you can talk to me if something is off" she replied and I flashed her the fake smile.
"I am fine, Mel. At least I will be fine very soon."
"You're still staying with Tim, right?" I tried lightening the mood.
"Sure, Tim is making plans for us to get married soon" She giggled.
"Oh my, I can't wait for your wedding!" I said excitedly. At least I tried to be appear excited. I was happy for Tim and Melinda but I was just too bothered by the troubles I had.
"I can't wait too." we both got up from the chairs.
"Let's go home. You look like you need a good rest, Rosa."
"I need it more than you think, honestly." I agreed.
*
I gulped down hard. This was definitely the safest way to go ahead with this. Russo had been quite right. Even if I wanted to find out more of the truth, going to see someone I didn't know alone was too risky.
And that was why I was going to have a video call with the person instead, with Tim's phone.
I was alone in a room in Melinda's room. I calmed myself down, assuring myself I would take wise decisions based on the truth I would be finding out.
I called and waited with hitched breath for the face that would show up on my screen. The call was picked up and a quite familiar face popped up in front of me.
"Rosaline Massimo"
"Mr. McAllister??"