0°Celsius: Chapter 7
He knows.
Alessandro’s POV
Sapphire Brown
When I hear her name the first feeling I feel is betrayal….
Betrayal for playing with my heart like a child plays with a toy.
Betrayal for pretending to be the girl I would fall for and not what she was.
Betrayal for saying that she loved me when she only loved my money.
I still remember that day like it was yesterday.
The day our paths crossed and got tangled.
Flashback 3 years back……..
‘Bon appetit’
A simple cafe with a simple name.
With wonderful food and service.
It was located in the heart of the city with business skyscrapers all around it.
I was having a simple meeting with my associates when a girl came with our order.
She looked down minding her own business like we were minding ours.
But soon our businesses interfered as her hands slipped the glass of coffee and it landed straight on my Armani suit.
Before I could look up to see her face she ran at full speed towards the main counter.
My associates started shouting behind her and stood up from their seats.
Every eye in the cafe turned towards us and I sighed.
They were attracting too much attention for a petty matter.
‘Gentlemen please calm down, this is a mere suit.’
I told them.
One of them handed me a napkin and said.
‘But Mr Romano how can you be so calm? The girl just ruined your suit and ran away like she didn’t do anything. She can’t even afford this suit with her yearly pay!’
‘Mr Drake it’s fine..’
As I was cleaning my suit with a napkin I completely blocked whatever they were saying
Suddenly I saw slender fingers holding a wet cloth helping me out.
They were so gentle like they were touching a million dollar statue which would break if she applied some pressure.
The stain was being stubborn but she still continued with her gentle assault.
I finally looked up to see her and my hands stopped.
She was already holding my gaze with her hazel eyes and I must admit that she looked different.
Different from the other faces I see caked in make up and altered by surgeries.
She had a different kind of innocence on her face that can easily be distinguished from a thousand others.
Women I mostly meet are sexy or hot but she was an exception.
They are bold while she is weirdly shy,
They call for attention while she ran from it,
Their voice held confidence while hers stuttered like a kindergarten kid.
‘I am really sorry!!..I Didn’t meant to..I got ..my foot stuck in the chairs leg ..and I lost my balance…This shirt must be very ..expensive…I can’t even afford it and I just stai-‘
So cute
I thought.
Stuttering is not a symbol of weakness as some people think ..it simply means that a person can’t convey his/her message as they are not able to find correct words.
In short their brain outruns their tongue and what comes out are mixed senseless crooked words which make no sense at all.
Cute …isn’t it?
‘It’s alright..don’t worry ..this is just a mere shirt!’
I smiled up at her and she looked surprised but returned it.
‘Are you sure. I mean it must be worth thousands of dollars..’
She values money …and it’s good that she knows it’s worth.
How each penny is backed by hard work.
‘Worth of clothes is defined by the person who wears them not the other way round….ragazza carina.’
I was taught well by my mother how to be ethical even when no one around you is. How money can buy you enough but your personality can turn heads and give you respect.
The manager arrived who was the same lady with specs.
‘I am really sorry on her behalf Sir…we will take full responsibility for her actions..’
I looked at her and she refused to meet my eyes.
She was definitely shy.
‘It’s alright…this was just an accident so don’t blame her for anything whatsoever…’
I said referring to her.
‘..No ..sir I won’t …then she is forgiven I guess?’
Manager looked expectantly at me.
‘fu perdonata nel momento in cui posai gli occhi su di lei’
(She was forgiven the second I laid my eyes on her)
I gave her a smile and she looked confused.
Good that she doesn’t understand Italian or else she may think I was flirting with her. while I was just speaking the truth.
I held out my hand for her to shake.
She wiped her sweaty hand on her apron before shaking my large strong ones.
I noticed her actions and a small smile escaped my lips.
She was something else.
‘Nice meeting you Bambino…I am Alessandro Romano’
‘I am…Sapphire Brown Mr Andro.’
Beautiful name…but what surprised me more was her boldness to give me a nick name at our first meeting.
Andro
No one ever called me this but it sounded strong and sweet coming from her lips
And I must admit I liked it.
I made my way out followed by my associates but not before giving her a genuine smile to see her beautiful smile in return.
Flashback over
Right now I was seated in a hospital room next to Sapphire who I brought here as soon as she fainted in my arms.
The party ended early and everyone left except mom.
The scene was scary as hell.
The white foam coming out of her mouth.
It could only be poison.
But why would she?
‘She must be taking drugs! I am sure ,what else could it be!’
Mom said as I was busy staring at her pale face.
The doctor entered with a clipboard in his hand.
‘Mr Romano a high dosage of drug was found in her blood leading to a severe case of poisoning-‘
‘See Alessandro I told you!! She is a spoiled brat !! Hell she even started taking drugs god knows what other illegal activities she is involved in!’
O god no!
She would never take drugs.
I think I know her this much.
The doctor interrupted mom.
‘No miss Clarissa ,the drug found in her system is a medicinal drug given to those with weak heart and prior history of panic attacks.’
On hearing these words my heat skipped a beat as I remembered the words she once said to me.
I can’t have panic attacks till you are here by my side Andro…your Love gives my heart it’s heartbeat.
So she was not faking to get my sympathy.
She always did have panic attacks.
But the words she spoke were they true?
No they were just an act.
Stop reasoning her actions …
I have moved on from her..
Andrea is my everything now.
No matter what I won’t commit the same mistake.
Once a betrayer is always a betrayer…
But I will take my revenge from her.
I will teach her how it feels to be abandoned by someone who is your life.
To drown in bottles of vodka to ease your pain.
To think about ending your life when they leave you.
To see everything you ever made crumbling down just like you.
‘I am not the same Andro anymore Sapphire.’
I said as I tucked her fringe behind her ear.
‘I will turn my back on you when you need me the most…I will break your soul to leave you lifeless…I will not kill you but make you hope for death…..I will kill you just like you killed me…’
‘But the only difference between you and me will be that I will not come back when I am done with you… I will not come back seeking forgiveness like you came..’
‘Simply because what you did was betrayal and what I will do will be karma.’
With this I left her room and ordered all the guards.
‘No one is to stay here by her side..I pay you all for your work not for babysitting others…now go back!’
As I was leaving a nurse stopped me.
‘Mr Rossou are you sure no one is to stay with the patient…I mean if she needs anything urgently..’
‘Yes.If she needs something what are you here for? The service charges you added in that 2 page long bill is not just for the name of it I think…if it is then get ready for loosing your job as this hospital will be closed the second I sue it in court.’
Her face paled and she started apologizing.
‘No..Sir..I didn’t mean it that way…we provide best service in the entire country….’
With this I exited the hospital and sat in my Lamborghini when my phone rang
Andrea.
‘Hello..’
‘Alex how is she!?’
She asked her voice filled with worry
‘She is out of danger Andrea. Calm down..’
‘O thank god!! I was so scared …but what did the doctors say?’
‘She had some overdose of her daily medicine. Nothing serious’
‘Oh okay…are you coming home ?shall I keep the dinner ready?’
‘Yes please my stomach is dying of hunger..and please prepare my favourite today…’
‘Okay I’ll tell the maid…and don’t use you phone while driving …just please leave your business talks for 20 minutes.’
‘Okay cupcake. Anything else?’
‘No that’s all…okay Bye love you.’
‘I lov-‘
Beppppp—-
Call disconnected.
She never lets me complete …always in a hurry to cut the phone call.
I have scolded her so many times to listen to other persons bye before disconnecting but no she is to stubborn to abide.
But with time I don’t mind her stupid actions.
Instead I just smile when she does them like I am smiling right now.
With this I started my engine and left back my past to go to my future.