Sitting on a wooden chair, he was unable to move as his body was completely chained in ropes. Almost an hour ago, he was doing his job of snapping pictures of rich and famous people and their whereabouts but now he had found himself in this dark and inky room which was looking like some kind of old and abandoned storehouse, completely chained in ropes.
The entire place was reeking of blood, dirt and terror which frightened him even more. The only source of light was a dim lamp illuminating over his head. Where was he? And why was he here?
Suddenly his ears got filled with the sound of those heavy footsteps coming closer towards him and then that strongly expensive and manly cologne grazed against his nostrils before that huge tall figure came in front of his vision.
Because of the darkness, he could not see the face of that burly muscular frame standing before him.
"Who are you? Let me go from here," that man yelled while struggling in those ropes. Finally the lamp above him turned vigorous and spread its light all over that room, even on the face of that frame and that chained man's blood ran cold in horror by seeing that face.
"Mr Riccardo Alfanso," he uttered, petrified. Fear immediately engulfed his eyes which filled those dark brown orbs with satisfaction. The corner of his mouth tugged upward as he heard that man taking his name in utter horror, like he had seen his death in front of him.
Two of his men came forward and stood behind him.
"He is Thomson Leu," he heard his second in command, Dario, telling him.
"It was him who took pictures of yours in that club last night and then tried to circulate it in the public," his smirk turned iniquitous after hearing Dario but his mouth didn't utter a single word whereas his eyes were busy in analysing that fear in that man named Thomson's eyes.
Riccardo Alfanso was a very well reputed and big name, not just only in the business world but even outside it but that same exact name was enough to shiver the dark and feral walls of the underground which considered him as a vicious and most deadliest sinner of their world. But this man dared to expose his sinister side to that world which considered him as a highly reputed and powerful businessman.
"He took your pictures of entering into that club last night, boss,"
"I was just doing my work, Mr Alfanso. Nothing else," Thomas tried to defend himself. His tearful eyes were begging to him because he was aware of what brutality that brown eyes owner was capable of doing to him because he had seen it last night with his own eyes and made that mistake of trying to tell about it to the outside world.
"I ….. I have nothing against you. Pl…please let me go," he pleaded with him who was still staring at him silently until.
"Please, let me go. I have a family. I was doing all of it for them, Mr Alfanso," a tear slipped down from that man's eyes as he begged him. His words caused his smirk to completely fade from his face.
Lifting his hand up in the air, he signalled his men to free him from his ropes through his fingers. His men immediately followed his unsaid words and untied that man.
Thomas stood up on his feet as he felt like his words had really affected him and perhaps he was not that brutal and cruel as he was thinking of him. He had a heart which melted in the name of his family.
Again using his fingers, he gestured to that man to leave. Thomas joined his hands in front of him. His happiness knew no boundaries as he felt like getting saved from the mouth of his death.
"Thank you so much, Mr Alfanso. Thank you so very much for sparing my life," saying that Thomas twirled around and attempted to run away from there as soon as possible.
He had just reached the door and was about to step out of it when he heard the loud sound of that bullet shooting from a gun and he felt something getting painfully pierced inside his back. His whole body jolted in pain, like something started burning inside him, especially on his back.
With his jiggling legs, Thomas turned around and saw that predatory crueller aiming his gun at him which was still evoking smoke. Death was ghosting in those dark brown eyes of his whereas a fatal grin was playing on his sadistic face and at that moment, he saw the deadly reflection of a grim reaper in that sinner's serene demeanour.
"I am also doing it for my family," he finally unlatched his mouth to make those words fall out from it in his rapacious deep voice and then once again, he pulled the barrel of his gun. His bullet got pierced inside that man's heart which immediately started leaking blood.
He saw him falling on the ground with a loud thud and witnessed his soul getting snatched out of his body through his eyes. He grinned, diabolically by seeing his lifeless opened eyes which could be terrifying for any normal person but it was not for him.
Stepping closer to that man's dead body, he saw his reflection flashing on that man's soulless eyes which gave him the satisfaction he was craving to have and that was who…. RICCARDO ALFANSO was….a treacherous sinner wrapped in the facade of a saint.
Even for once, believing in his worst could be less harmful but even as a mistake, falling for his good was nothing but a sin…just like him.
"Burn his body alive. No traces should be found," he commanded, looking at his man, Dario. He nodded at his boss.
"Boss, your wife, Mrs Alfanso is continuously calling me as she could not reach your phone," Dario informed him, earning a curt nod from his boss.
Turning around, Riccardo walked out of that storehouse. He took out his phone from the pocket of his coat while walking towards his expensive dark black car. His driver opened the backseat door for him.
Getting inside his car, he switched on his phone and saw his wife's ten missed calls and 5 messages which made him clench his jaw.
He was ordering his driver to drive away when again his wife's name started flashing on his phone's screen. Exasperated, he finally picked up the call.
"How many fucking times I have to tell you to not call me when I am at work, Valery?" He growled, irritated and enraged. His driver started the engine as per his order.
"I am sorry, Riccardo. It was just I got worried because you didn't call me after reaching Spain," he heard his wife telling him.
"Cut this fucking sweet bullshit of yours and come to the point, Valery," he warned her because he knew she had some intentions behind her desperate calls. After all, they both were married for almost 2 years now. He was aware of her nature and character. He heard her sighing on the other side.
"Tomorrow is the inauguration of my exhibition hall, so…."
"I will reach Italy tomorrow, so stop fucking calling me over and over again," growling that he hung up the call and exhaled a heavy breath.
Leaning his head against the seat, he spread his legs wide and just closed his eyes. Italy….his home country but did he miss anything about his home? No fucking way but at that moment, he was not aware that that thought of his was going to change completely tomorrow in that inauguration of the exhibition hall of his wife….
……………..
"Wow, Aniya. This painting is looking really very beautiful,"
A smile formed on her face, hearing her friend, Niova, praising her painting.
"Do you think anyone would like to buy it in that exhibition?" She asked, a little self dubious. No doubt she used to love art a lot, especially giving a picture to her emotions with the help of her painting but still, she lacked confidence in her own self a bit.
"Of course, Ani. You took 4 months to complete this painting of yours and it's just looking magical," Niova tried to boost her confidence.
"And that's why look, it got selected for such a big exhibition centre in just one application," Aniya heard her
"The Valery Alfanso exhibition is going to be one of the biggest exhibition centres in our country and your painting got selected for tomorrow's inauguration ceremony. So this proves the worth of your painting,"
Aniya flashed her a smile and nodded. Maybe, Niova was actually right. She should feel confident about her hard work.
"I just hope someone would buy it tomorrow for a good price so that I could use that money for Flora's treatment," she uttered, honestly. She did earn well but still it was not enough for the expensive treatments of Flora's diagnosis.
"Hope so. You will receive the highest bidder for your hard work," Aniya smiled at Niova's words and then looked at her painting. Hope so, she would get a great possessor for her possession. Only if she knew.
"Has Flora fallen asleep?" Aniya nodded at Niova's question.
"Yes, I made her sleep early today because tomorrow she has an early appointment with her doctor in the morning and for that reason, I have also taken a day off tomorrow from my work as in the morning, I have to take her to her doctor and in the evening, I have that exhibition,"
"Oh…okay. Don't worry, I will come with you if you want," Niova's words melted her heart. She was really an amazing friend and had always supported her in her good and bad. Aniya had met Niova in a restaurant almost a year ago and from that they both became very good friends. She even took care of Flora when Aniya went to her work without asking her a single question. After her daughter, Niova was a blessing in her life.
"No, I can manage the doctor's appointment in the morning but I will be grateful if you could come with me to that exhibition," she requested as she knew she needed someone to handle everything there in that foreign place.
"Come on, Ani. Just treat me with a burger and a lot of kisses from my princess, Flora, then watch me sell my neighbours house for you," both the girls chuckled at Niova's sarcasm.
"Okay then bye. I will see you tomorrow, Ani," Aniya wagged her head at her which made Niova leave.
After locking the doors and windows, she went to their bedroom and found her little angel peacefully sleeping. Aniya slipped down beside her on the bed and under the duvet.
Gently pecking the crown of her daughter's head, she engulfed her into her warm arms because she was her life. Flora slightly shifted and hugged her mother by wrapping her legs and arms around her.
"Good night, momma. Love you so much," she uttered in her half sleepy baby voice. Aniya smiled and started patting her back.
"Good night, Ora. Love you more, my baby," saying that she closed her eyes and went to her sleep while thinking about tomorrow as it was going to be a very big day for her which was the truth. Tomorrow was going to be a life changing day for her.
A day which was going to light up a new beginning for Aniya Meier by ending her with the darkness of Riccardo Alfanso.
Next DayHis private jet landed inside the boundary of Italy. Dozens of cars and his men were already waiting for his arrival. Stepping out of the jet, he shielded his dark brown eyes with his dark shades. His men turned alert and lowered their eyes in front of him and he, without saying anything, straight went towards his car. His guards and men followed him. His car finally drove away, followed by the rest of the other cars.Trailing his eyes towards the window, he saw the beautiful morning sky. The sun was illuminating, birds were flying. Looked like his home had also not missed him at all, just like him. In fact, his absence had made everything more beautiful here. Fair enough because his mere iniquitous aura held the power of staining even the invisible walls of the air.The vibration of his phone made him look towards it and he saw his wife's message. Without even making any efforts to open it, he completely ignored it because he knew she had messaged him to remind him of her da
"Please welcome, Mr Riccardo Alfanso and his wife, Mrs Valery Alfanso…." The manager's voice reverberated in that hall which made Aniya slowly open her eyes. She tried to look at that star couple entering that hall but her eyes couldn't reach them as the guests of that exhibition inauguration ceremony had started gathering in front of that couple so that they could greet them.Aniya could not see them as they were standing at quite a distance from the door but then she felt those sudden tingles emerging inside her tummy."Oh…no…" her voice made Flora and Niova to look at her."What happened?" Niova sent her a confused look."I need to use the toilet immediately," Aniya answered, holding her abdomen. Niova gave her a disbelieving look."How come you always get the urgency of doing the wrong thing at the correct time, Ani?" Aniya scowled at Niova's sarcasm. Her face twisted as the tingles accelerated."Shut up, Niva. I need to go,""Are you planning on running away?" Niova looked at he
"How dare you hurt my child?" Aniya's yelling resonated against the walls of that exhibition hall. Her sea-green eyes were fuming with rage as they glared hard at the manager in front of her. She could endure anything, any kind of pain but she was not capable of bearing a person raising even his eyes on her daughter with a wrong motive, letting someone to harm her in any way was not even a question. The manager looked at Aniya, shocked. He could still feel his cheek throbbing under his palm. She had hit him real hard. "I asked you something… how dare you to even think about hurting my daughter?" She seethed out, enraged. Every single person present in that hall watched her in utter silence, even him. "How dare you behave so brutally with her? People even think twice before dragging an animal like this but you were dragging a 3 years old kid so harshly? How filthy you and your thoughts are?" Aniya had lost her mind after seeing those deep red palm and fingers' print on Flora's arm.
"Aniya, that was not necessary," Aniya heard Niova telling her. They both reached Aniya's home after leaving that exhibition hall. Aniya didn't answer Niova and continued to tenderly stroke her daughter's head who had fallen asleep on the bed. Receiving no answer from Aniya, Niova sighed. She sat beside Aniya on the bed and placed her palm over her shoulder. "Ani, I know I could never even imagine the pain you must have felt after witnessing these marks on Flora's body but …." Niova halted. She was not sure how she should make Aniya understand the consequences of the massacre she had created in that exhibition hall, especially with Riccardo Alfanso. Aniya's eyes shifted from Flora's face towards her arm. She had already treated those marks of that manager's hand on her arm but they had still not faded completely. A tear slipped down from Aniya's eyes. She knew she might have behaved redundantly outrageous in that hall. People around her might think that her reaction was unneces
"What? But how could they do this to you?" Aniya heard Niova uttering in a displeased tone. She had called Niova this morning so that she could take care of Flora in her absence as Aniya was heading to her office. After receiving her termination letter this morning, she decided to go to her workplace as soon as possible and demanded an explanation for this action of theirs. How could they do this to her? If she really lost her job then it would turn her life upside down. "I don't know, Niva. Why have they done it to me?" Aniya spoke, buttoning the button of her formal red shirt which she had paired with a black skirt. "I received that letter this morning but for what reason they have done it, it's not explain in that letter," Niova sighed, hearing Aniya. She was looking extremely worried and tense which was understandable for Niva but then something clicked in her head. "Ani, do you think your sudden termination has something to do with what had happened last night in that hall?"
Cladding in a plain white knee length maxi dress, Aniya was combing her hair while looking into the mirror when she heard Niova's question. "Are you ready to leave?" Aniya dipped her head hearing her which made Niova sigh. "Think one more time, Ani. Do you really want to go and meet Kael Bruez?" Niova questioned, extremely worried. A heavy sigh escaped from Aniya's mouth. Niova had told her the type of work Real Bruez did. He usually dealt with illegal businesses but had a very high reach in the business world, so that was why Niova suggested Aniya his name for help in her situation but now Niova was somehow regretting it and Aniya could clearly understand her fear and worry. Aniya opened her mouth to answer but before she could do that Flora came inside the room, rushing. "Momma, that cartoon ended," the little girl informed as she was watching a cartoon film in the hall. The little girl's curious eyes looked at her mother. "Momma, where are you going?" Flora asked, seeing her mo
RED STONE CLUB Aniya read those bold letters, printed on the top of the gate of that place in front of her eyes. She reached that address which Niova had given her. Taking a brief glance around her surroundings, she somehow started getting off vibes from that place because she was aware of the possible things which might be happening inside that place but she couldn't just judge everything in her present with her past. Besides, she had to meet that man for the sake of her daughter's life and nothing and no fear of her could overpower that intention of hers.Exhaling a heavy sigh, she stepped inside that gate where the two bodyguards in the gate let her get inside after hearing her name and watching her face because she was all over the news after her first and last encounter with Riccardo Alfanso.Swallowing hard, she clutched the strings of her purse which was hanging on her shoulder. Dozens of men were present there who were looking like some kind of group mates. They all were glan
Stepping out of his exorbitantly lavish car, he watched the guards of that club bowing in front of him because they knew better than to have an eye-contact with him. Dario stood behind him and then witnessed his boss going inside that Red Stone Club. He fell into the line behind him. "Welcome, Mr Alfanso," as soon as he stepped inside the hall of that club, he saw Kael Bruez approaching him with a polite grin. His dark demeanour tense up the entire surrounding around him. It darkened that already gloomy place more. "I am so glad that you accepted my invitation," Kael uttered, extending his hand towards him for a shake. His serene brown eyes trailed down towards his extended hand. Kael was waiting for his response and he received it through his words. "I believe in doing everything for a reason, Kael Bruez," Kael finally heard his deeply calm voice before he witnessed his eyes shift back on his face from his extended hand. "And we both know…you have my reason here with you,"his to