Deceptions of the Heart

I hate you, I love you

Roxanne was laid on her bed with a feeling of euphoria. This feeling wasn't caused by nothing else than the moment she spent with Richard in the small storage room of the bar. The moment was repeating it's self in her mind and wouldn't let her sleep. At the same time though Max's words were echoaching in her head.

"... Not just because he's involved with the mafia but because he will hurt your feelings as well..."

"... You're too innocent Roxanne..."

"...Even a criminal like me understands your place..."

"...I can't tell you what I have planned for him but for your own good..."

"... Stay away..."

Max's words were stuck in her head and they were making her rething her choices during that moment. The main thought that was torturing her mind was a certain question. Why did Max care about her? So what if her feelings got hurt by Richard? It wasn't his business was it? Let alone that he visited the bar out of nowhere just to tell her this. It was true that him and Roxanne had interacted in the past but not as much. It was true that he had a weakness for the girl. It was true that he often prevented his wife from spitting out degrading comments about her in front of her. The question was 'why?'

As the young woman was thinking about all of this she noticed a silhouette sitting on the window fame of her bedroom. The silhouette seemed familiar to her. Here assumptions turned out correct once she heard the voice of a certain man.

"Having trouble to sleep again?"

Roxanne blinked twice hoping to see the man clearer. The silhouette got off the window frame and stepped into the small area of the bedroom that was illuminated by the moonlight. Max was standing in front of Roxanne's bed.

There was a moment of awkward silence. The girl's eyes widened in shock. After she regained her composure she spoke.

"What are you doing here?" She asked.

"I was thinking to pay a visit" replied Max nonchalantly.

"How did you know where I live?" Roxanne asked once more.

"A magician doesn't reveal his tricks" Max said with a tone of mischief as he walked towards Roxanne's bed. "I came to talk with you about the earlier events" he continued as he sat on the bedside of her bed. "Don't forget, I'm a mafioso".

Roxanne moved slightly away. A part of her didn't trust this man.

"What events?" She asked then.

Max decided that he didn't need to think of his words. He had to tell her the truth.

"About our talk earlier" he replied.

"What about it?" Roxanne raised an eyebrow.

"I think I told you not to approach Richard again. Yet you seem like you had your fun with him". Said Max with a stern tone in his voice.

Roxanne's eyes widened in disbelief.

"What do you know?" She asked with a tone of fear.

"You think I am a fool!? Of course after such a warning the only normal thing was for me to stay and watch you!" Snapped Max.

The girl felt both angry and embarrassed knowing that someone was watching her during a private moment.

There was another moment of silence between them. Max decided to break the ice.

"Me and my wife fought. But in our relationship this is something normal. Though this time it was... Worse. You might not care about that but it concerns you in someway. I still don't know what you found in that man..." He spoke with a soft and sad tone.

"I still don't get what you mean. What's so bad about Richard? How does your fight with your wife concern me? Did they do something that I should know?" Roxanne asked with a strong hint of curiosity in her tone.

Max didn't reply. He stood up from the bed and walked towards the door.

"I won't tell you" he said. "Find out on your own. I'm sure he will be more than willing to tell you the truth" was the last thing the male said before he leaves.

Roxanne was back in her thoughts. Max's words were now mixed with his previous warning. All of the recent events were showing up one by one in the girl's mind. Once again she thought about her encounter with Richard and how things ended up between them. She was confused. Max said that he fought with his wife. It was a normal thing for them given Lizzy's character but this time it was worse than any other time. It was something that concerned her just as much. What could it be? Could something have happened between her and Richard? Max also said that she would learn a 'truth' from Richard. What could he be hiding? Her emotions got the best of her. She didn't know where to lean on. Her relationship had turned into a love-hate one.