The Good News

I looked at his car leaving the estate. And, without wasting a minute ran for my cell phone. I dialled for David. I wonder why he wasn't picking up. It was Monday and this weekend was the longest. I walked to the window again but this time to see if I could locate David outside. And, right before I could lose hope I found him walking away from Mr Lucca.

"Hello," I heard the voice and stared at him wondering if I should do what I was going to do.

"David…" I wonder how to say this.

"…I need your help?" I tried to keep my voice balanced.

"I am here. But I am busy with Mr Lucca on the lawn."

"Can you see me? Right now,…please." There was some silence on the other side before he whispered,

"Fine…I am coming in the house…"

"No…you can come to the study right in front of my room. If someone asks tell them I called for you." There was again silence. He looked in Mr Lucca's direction who seemed busy having his tea.

"Fine," I heard David say and let my breath out.

I walked out of my room and waited for him. The weekend was never-ending given Matteo wanted my attention all the time. Not for a single second, he wanted me away from him. He had been more weird and creepy in his actions. I don't know what he wanted anymore. He wanted me to show how I love him all the time. He wanted me to be grateful and I feared that at any moment I won't be able to fake my smile well and he will be able to look right through it.

I heard some steps coming and stood from my place to witness David coming in. "Hello, Mrs Lucca." I didn't want him to call me Mrs Lucca.

"I want your help," I said and walked past him to see if there was anyone outside the study. The bar was empty. Well, it had been empty for weeks now.

"Yes…I am listening." I looked at him wondering if I will be able to leave this place.

"Matteo…isn't what he seems. This…this family isn't what it seems. And, I can't stay here anymore. The sooner the better…please help me get out of here." The lines on his forehead only got deeper.

"What are you talking about?" I didn't have time to explain it to him.

"Can't you see?..." I wonder how he didn't notice but then I had been working under Mr Lucca for some time too and I also didn't suspect anything suspicious until the day I said I do to my husband.

"These people are corporate criminals. This money…is not clean. And…Matteo might kill me one day too. This cell phone…I didn't have this cell phone with me. He only gave it to me three days ago…he trusts me now and I don't know until when…so, I want to run away from here…"

"What do you mean when you say kill you too?" He cut me off making me recall the fall I witnessed.

"He has killed people…I have heard him talking and...I don't think I should mention who…please help me, David..." The bits of everything that happened in these last months came to bite me hard. I couldn't help but hold my neck as I tried to breathe. "...You seem to be my last hope right now...I would have not dragged you into this mess if I had any other option."

"I don't know what to say…do you have any proofs to support your allegations." I looked at him dumbfounded. "I…I have heard everything…witness many things."

"And, what I witness was you being very rude to Mr Lucca. I have heard mean things…and seen you acting very unusual."

"This is what he does…they make the other person seem rude. You only need to look deeper. I…can't tell all of this to my mother. She won't be any help. But you are here…the least you can do is to help me get out of this house. I…I will go anywhere. I will manage somehow but here…I will be killed sooner or later." The day he killed his friend without giving a second thought still gives me shivers.

"I…I don't know what to say…but…maybe you are overreacting. Corporate crimes…or whatever it is…I am sure they are still very much abiding by the laws. And,…there are things that I have heard about you too."

"What things…" I wondered,

"I…have heard that you were having an extramarital affair and you almost eloped with that person. And, to keep you here…they had to confiscate your cell phone and guards are ordered to not allow you outside." I looked at him talking and was this close to losing my mind.

Is this what is told to most of the staff? Is this how they look at me? And, now all the eyes they give me make sense. Unknown anxiety settled in me. I could see that he won't help me now.

"This…this is not true." I finally found my voice and shook my head in denial.

"I…I want to believe you too. But…I have seen you getting ready to marry a person you barely know. I…can't decide. Maybe you should hire a lawyer for you. And,…from where I see…Matteo only wants to save his pride. If you want to get out of this marriage…settling it with your husband is the best way."

"No…no, no, no, no, no,…you are lied to…I needed money in the past…but now I am completely trapped here…kept here without my will…look…I don't have any lover. And, even if I had…don't you think I should be freed? And, they have no right to keep me as a captive."

"Or maybe they aren't letting you go…because there are some legal bindings. I…I don't know…what…what exactly you think I can do for you?" He asked and I took two long breaths wondering what he can do. I didn't have my passport with me.

"Maybe…you can drive me out of here. Arrange a place for me to hide for some time. I…I am not much familiar with this place or the people here. I don't even know the language. And, you see...this is one of the reasons that I couldn't escape from here." He looked at me as if I had gone mad. Even I could tell how illogical I am sounding.

"Ok?...you do sound…convincing but…I have never noticed anything suspicious about this family. From what I see…is that your husband is a little controlling and you don't want it now. But even if this is the case I don't think you should run away…you should rather…"

"I have seen him killing people." I pleaded and tried to make my point. My revelation did make him look weird at me. He seemed shocked and his eyes remained widened when he finally managed.

"Are you serious?" He asked and I shook my head in disbelief.

"Why I would lie about something like this?" I asked back.

He seemed puzzled and nodded his head. "Ok?...give me some time to see how can I help you…though…I am still having a hard time believing you but…"

"Please…try to look around you more carefully and you will…find absurdity everywhere…and,…please…I don't have much time David…I need to get out of here as soon as possible…I…I am pregnant."

"Don't you think…Matteo should know?" He asked and I couldn't help but look at him helplessly. I wish I could show him what kind of demon he was.

"I can't hide this fact from him for long. And, this is the reason that I can't stay here anymore." He walked closer to me and resisted for a few seconds before coming to wrap his arms around my shoulder. "You…you don't worry. I will see what I can do for your situation." He said and after days I could see I wasn't alone.

He pulled away and was about to leave when I stopped him, "David? Don't tell anyone about this…"

I don't know why but I was putting all of my hopes in him. "…This entire staff here is only loyal to Matteo." He looked at me for a few seconds and nodded his head before leaving.

In the evening, I was waiting for Matteo as usual. It's been one hour and I couldn't wait to have some food and walked down to grab an apple to munch. The moment I got down I noticed two bags near the entrance. David soon appeared with another smaller bag and I asked the moment our eyes met. "What's happening?"

"Mr Lucca is going back to the US." My heart skipped a beat listening to the US. How much I longed to return to my country…to my people. But was it possible? If I decided to run away from Matteo…I can't go and live with Rachael or my sisters. It will only put their lives in danger too.

Before I could get out of my thoughts I found Mr Lucca wheeling his way out. "I didn't expect you to say farewell to me." I looked at him for a few seconds before asking,

"Why are you leaving?" I don't know but somewhere I wanted him here if I had to tell Matteo about my pregnancy.

"Well, I only came here to see you two. But it seems nothing is changed and you are very slow in advancing." This got the lines on my forehead but maybe he noticed David standing close.

"Take my luggage outside." David left getting one more bag and before he could make his way out all of us found Matteo coming in.

David didn't stop and walked out while Matteo was quick to ask his dad, "You are leaving?" The way his walk got jumpy mirrored his excitement as he took the two stairs down.

"Yes…and, after me…take care of your wife. Give her some attention."

"Oh don't worry about her. I am taking good care of her. Isn't?" Matteo looked at me and I smiled.

"This is the best gift you ever gave me, dad." His hand slid onto my waist while his eyes stayed to roam over my mouth. I looked at Mr Lucca to break the moment.

"Have a safe journey." I bid my farewell.

"Yea, that too…but in case your plane doesn't land…don't worry about the matters here."

This made me look at him in shock but he was quick to smile. "I was kidding. My dad knows that."

"I really hope that next time I see you two you gave me an heir." I looked at Matteo to gauge his reaction. His smile was intact as he whispered,

"Well, for that…you gotta wait a lot." Mr Lucca smiled and only I knew what it meant. David came back and looked at Matteo without blinking.

"You were waiting for me?" Matteo whispered in my ear and didn't see David's constant stare as he came to stand behind Mr Lucca's wheelchair.

They left and I tried to walk behind Mr Lucca's wheelchair.

"Where are you going?"

I looked at my back and stared at my hand that he had caught. "Won't you welcome me home?" His stare was accusing.

"Of course, I was waiting for you…Matteo." I smiled walking closer to him. I could see a strange madness in his eyes. As if he would kill me the very next moment. As if he was waiting for my one mistake. His eyes…suffocate me.

"How was your day?" I rubbed my hand on his shoulder coming closer to his mouth.

"It was usual…until now." Both of his hands came to knead my ass pulling me in. But then his eyes got still looking at something behind me.

"What are you doing here?" I turned too to spot David.

"I am asked to stay here for a day. I…I will return tomorrow to my last post." David stuttered and Matteo smirked all the while moving me to stand beside him. Recalling what he did to his friend I didn't want his mind moving back to David or how he was used to be my colleague.

"You used to work with my wife, right?" Matteo asked and David looked at me before looking back at Matteo. "Yes,"

"Do you…like her?"

"No…I…I have a girlfriend." My body got relaxed and that got me Matteo's eyes.

"If you know your place…you can stay here…and, you...my darling, enjoy bossing around him." He turned me around and we started making our way back to our room.

"You didn't tell me what you want for the gift." He asked and I looked at him with a smile before starting, "I would like a diamond set."

"Well,…then, I do have something perfect for you in my eyes." He mentioned while I let my eyes roam to David standing behind us as I turn to take the stairs to my room.

I stared at the huge necklace that he took out of his safe. I recalled it was the same one from the gala. It was the first time that he opened the safe in his study in front of me. The safe was hidden behind the left wall. This safe was as big as the wall. It had pieces of jewellery and files. Some very old watches and more jewellery. Unlike my jewellery these were huge.

"I…this one is very expensive Matteo. I will consider it mine…but you should keep it here. This way it will be safer." I tried to reason as he walked to me and only stopped standing behind me. I pressed my mouth knowing he won't listen.

"Let me see if your neck is worthy of this piece…" There was no mirror and I grazed my hand on the necklace before Matteo came to stand in front of me.

I stared into his eyes. He seemed amused. "I like it,"

"Yes,…it's nice." I looked at the jewel. With him…I knew I had to keep myself busy. Or I would let my worries float on my face.

"I am talking about your neck...and, tomorrow after your surgery…we will get you right according to my taste. I looked at him shocked. If it was the case I had to tell him before we could leave for the surgery.

The night passed. I tried my best to discuss how I am not ready for the surgery but my opinion didn't have any authority. My only card was to tell him about the pregnancy. It was obvious that surgery couldn't be carried out. I remember the doctor telling me that they can't perform on a pregnant woman.

The morning arrived and I couldn't help but stay tense. "What the hell are you doing?" He hissed the moment I got his tie knot wrong for the third time. I looked at him pleadingly.

"Don't give me these eyes. You know…I want your obedience all the time. I am the man. And, I will have to have the last say." He jerked my hand away from his knot and turned to look at the mirror to get his tie right.

"Get your shit together. I…" He turned to look right into my eyes before uttering.

"…won't like to lose all of this progress between us." He left and I wonder what he was talking about. It was all the same between us.

I walked beside him as we walked to our dining hall. My hands got sweaty. I looked around me. Two maids were working to get the cushions on the sofa right.

There are people Julie. You can't do it in the room but you can do it here. You can…tell him before he will have to receive this information from the clinic.

"Call for my wife's driver," Matteo ordered Colombo and I took the seat. He picked up the newspaper and laughed. "You are on the cover. It's from the gala. They can't stop talking about it even after five days." He smiled before taking a bite of his sandwich.

I inhaled sharply. I can do it. I will have to tell him before he gets to know about it from anyone else. I kept my hand on my belly. I...I promise,…nothing will happen to you.

One of the staff came to stand beside me and spread the butter on the toast for me. "You called for me," David asked entering the dining hall and Matteo looked at him offended.

"Yes…but I will tell you what to do when I want to tell you what to do. Colombo…why the fuck he is not taught well." Colombo passed a hard glare to David and I only got my hands cold. The words were at the tip of the tongue. Words that sure would destroy everything.

I looked at Matteo. He seemed pissed and shook his head in disbelief. "I wonder where Peter is. Why is he not here? Call him Colombo?"

Colombo left and he looked at me. "I won't be there with you in the clinic. I hope you already knew that. Tell them…anything. Tell them I was busy with the charity. You will go with this…David. He…can assist you in the hospital if you are to stay in the clinic… "

"Matteo…" I tried to speak but he was quick to cut.

"I am not finished. Can't you do one thing right?..." He seemed pissed and all of my confidence went into the drain.

"…Your car will arrive by night…and, train this driver of yours. From the next time, he will be your responsibility. And, you…" He looked at David before adding,

"…You will serve her and follow her everywhere like a shadow. I will call you if she doesn't pick up…and, I dare you to make any mistake. One mistake…and, you are out." He added and threw the newspaper on the table before picking his specs.

My mouth was dry. Even the air around us was thick. I looked at his hands. He went for the juice, and I knew that his breakfast would be done in only a minute or two.

"You want to say something?" His deep voice was making it more difficult for me,

"Yes," I managed but only find him continue eating.

"I am…I am pregnant." This got his attention finally. His eyes bore onto mine. I have imagined thousands of reactions he could offer me. But this one didn't surprise me too. His solemn attitude was scaring me without any failure.