I’m going to expand what my grandfather’s father built. I’m going to exceed everyone’s expectations and then some. I’m exceptional in what I do. It’s the only thing I have a control of, its outcome, its future.
Stepping out of the steam shower, I walked over to the medium-sized walk-in closet adjacent to the bathroom. The call from my uncle’s wife, Seraphina, baffled me. If my uncle wanted to talk, he could’ve called himself. Was he sick?
Both of my maternal grandparents died before I was even born. After mum died, he was the only relative I was close to in my mother’s side. I’m close enough with my uncle, Luciano Vittori, my mother’s only brother. We catch up once or twice a year. He’s a busy man as well. He runs the family vineyard in Tuscany. Luciano and Seraphina used to be such a happy couple, they once reminded of my parents. But all that changed when my seventeen year old cousin, Alessandro, crashed his brand new Lamborghini into a tree going one hundred twenty miles per hour on a curved road. Aunt Seraphina died that day as well. She was never the same. The sunny person turned solemn and bitter.
I dressed in light blue dress shirt and black trousers. I needed a shave but I don’t have the time to do so.
I need to get to Rome as soon as possible and get this over with.
The past two weeks have been such a nightmare. The news about Chad’s suicide attempt took a toll on my sleep. I kept going in circles about his actions. The lively man who was once robust and full of life decided he no longer wanted to live. When I saw him earlier, I became angry. Why didn’t any of us see this? Were we that selfish that we couldn’t see our friend was going through pure utter hell?
Sienna adores Chad, we all do. But they were closer—they were each other’s confidantes. Chad became a part of our circle, became a friend. The fact of him being g*y didn’t bother me a bit. True, Chad tends to be flamboyant, but that’s just a part of him. The other major part that others can’t see is the man behind the persona. The man who’s devoted to the people he cares about, the gifted man who has an eye for beauty and captures it exceptionally, the man who was crying out for help and left broken to be alone.
I knew all four us felt guilty. Our faces said it all. The minute Chad comes out of his coma I will keep a closer eye on him and make sure he gets all the help he needs. I knew he will come through. That man may be broken right now—but he has the spirit of a fighter.
I summoned Richard to wait for me outside the building and started to make phone calls. Mentally delegating in my head which ones should be taken care of first and which ones can be done last. I have a photographic memory and I’m a whiz when it came to numbers or I wouldn’t be nicknamed “genius” by the Times magazine if I wasn’t good in what I do.
I’m hoping to be back by seven tonight and see Chad again before I head out to Marbella tomorrow morning. I’m exhausted from all the country hopping—but I’d rather deal with that than with my emotions and where my thoughts lead to. It never did solve anything.
Getting out of the car I climbed the stairs of my G650 Gulfstream jet customized and fitted to my liking. I was greeted by a hot willing stewardess, a Nordic beauty. I smiled back at her. I might need a distraction later.
Seated and situated, I dialed Toby. The moment he picked up, I forgot about the Nordic beauty hovering about the cabin. I had informed him about the flight to Italy earlier in the hospital and he seemed intrigued and asked what Luciano wanted and I told him I had no clue. I notified him that my assistant, Luke, will send him a few emails and those needed to be done urgently. Before cutting off the call, I heard a familiar laugh in the background, Sienna. She was laughing about something Lucy had just said.
My heart contracted with the sound of her laugh. How I’ve missed that laugh. I pressed the bridge of my nose trying to reign in the emotions welling about.
Damn, that wretched witch of a woman.
But I’d rather die than admit that to her or to anyone. We were in the same circle of friends. We have to endure being in each other’s company. I might as well get used to it. I will be seeing a lot of her very soon when Chad awakens.
4
Sienna
“You’re leaving? You’re not staying longer?” I asked Blake, my voice slightly pleading.
I just saw you—you can’t surely leave?! I yelled in my head.
“I have to go to Rome for a few hours. I’ve been summoned by my uncle. I’ll be back when I can.” That sounds very important. I remembered him speak affectionately about his uncle—but his name escapes me.
“Oh, right. Um have a safe flight then—wait—do you want to go get some coffee before you leave? I haven’t had one yet—”
I was going to just say goodbye—but my heart won out. I wanted to catch up and see how he’s been. He looked so gorgeous. He still is the most beautiful man I’ve ever laid my eyes on, though there’s a hint of darkness shrouding him now that wasn’t present before. He seem hardened—cold and severely detached from me. Gone was the man who gave me those knee-buckling god-like smiles and earth shattering kisses.
“No. I’m busy. I have to go.” His rejection was the nail in the coffin. I should’ve expected this. In the back recess of my mind, I did—but when it finally happens in my reality, a fresh set of pain racked through my body. I mentally prepared myself for this—but this ache—this rotten, putrid feeling that’s gripping me is crushing and unbearable.
I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand when tears threatened to fall.
I can’t break down and think of myself, Chad needs me. It’s Chad that I should focus my energy on, not my irrevocably broken relationship with Blake.
I made sure my thoughts of Blake were shoved in the back of my mind and my tear ducts were dry before entering Chad’s room and bravely faced Luce and Toby.
“Hello! How’s Chad doing today?” I greeted the pretty couple.
Luce jumped out of her chair and hugged me tightly. “Blake was just here, did you manage to see him on the way out?”
“Yeah—it was awkward to say the least.” I gave Luce and Toby a sad smile.
“Don’t worry—you two will come around. You guys were close friends before. It’s just, you know—things are still new and still need getting used to,” she smiled encouragingly at me.
I gave her a peck on the cheek and murmured “thank you” and sat next to Chad’s bed. He still looked a little lifeless but his lips are gaining a little color. That’s a good sign right? He’ll bounce back into full health. I just know it.