Wildfire

(10)

Kenneth Deora

It was nearly 5 PM. Was this when people had lunch? I didn't know. But I called her anyway.

Ring... Ring... Ring...

"Talk." Her voice was exhausted but urgent.

"So eager to hear me talk, Wildfire?" I tried to get her to get a little bit calmer before inviting her.

She took a second before she replied. "What do you want?" Ouch. "Lunch?"

"Isn't it too late for lunch?" She asked, seemingly distracted. "Yeah but you said-" She cut me off with fast words "Fine. I'm hungry anyways so meet me near the forest east end."

"Okay but why are you in a forest, Wildfire." I asked, getting ready to leave and grabbing my keys. "Do what you're told Deora." Ouch ×2.

"Okay jeez. I'll be there in 10." I was there in 5. Desperate. Oh shut it. You like her more. You do. Shut up, we're one person.

I left my car and brought her to it. "You're dropping my car back home later." She grumbled. "Okay."

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Mariana Montanari

We ended up going to a drive through burger place. I kept reading Gianna's text as they popped silently on my screen.

Something about when she'd find the other men or what if someone figured it out.

It was almost impossible to have figured it out. I didn't kill them like I killed work enemies. I tortured them. Made them remember what they did. And then regret it. They always regret everything before dying.

I flipped my phone when Kenneth returned with burgers. "I didn't know what you liked so I got chicken with fries. I can change them if you want."

"It's fine." I say unwrapping the burger and opening it to remove the tomatoes first. I liked tomatoes but I kept them away from my burgers.

Right when it was about to fall on my leg Kenneth caught it in a napkin. "I didn't know you're not a fan of tomatoes." And he didn't because I didn't tell him of course. "Don't worry about it."

We ate in silence other than his failed attempts to start small talk that I was too tired to engage in.

I never thought I'd be in a car with a man again but here I was eating a fast food burger with Kenneth Deora.

None of us mentioned what happened at the club- "About last night, Mariana." Just when I thought. "It's fine. I know it was-"
"I meant it." ....a mistake. Did he not think it was a mistake?

"You meant what?" I asked, expecting him to call it a mistake or a drunk decision. "That I'd love to be yours. And if you don't want to have anything there's nothing much I can do about it. But I really wish you would." He said in one breath like stopping would've broken the spell.

His phone rang before I could say anything. I silently thanked my stars cause I didn't know what to say.

He looked at the screen cursing under his breath "I'm sorry I'll have to take this, Wildfire."

He picked up and whatever the person on the other end said made his face turn into utter shock.

"Lucas Carlin? Are you sure?" His tone was firm, laced with professionalism. Much different than the way he talked to me. I knew if he said "jump" the person on the other end would ask "how high?"

Seeing CEO Kenneth Deora in his glory was something else. I'd never admit it but I knew for sure he was damn good at his job. Sure, I shot him a few times for messing up but everyone needed a little push.

"No I can't. Send a bouquet." He sighed before hanging up. I should've probably spoken. "So.... What happened?"

"Lucas Carlin has gone missing. He owed a hefty amount of money to my dad so that's gonna cause problems within the company." His voice was back to gentle. Almost like he had a special voice for me.

"About what you said." My heart raced thinking about what he said. The thought of having something... someone... it sounded almost foreign. I'd given up things to the point where losing them doesn't hurt anymore and having them doesn't heal. But when I see him. I feel.

I feel like he is something I want to have. I haven't wanted anything in a long time so now when what I want is asking me to take him I wasn't going to say no even if i'd have to lose him when he finds out.

"Yes." I just hoped the inevitable ending that awaited this decision won't be as painful as I was forecasting it.

"I don't know what exactly I want with you. But I damn well know I want something, Kenneth." I breathed. I have never admitted to wanting anything let alone a person. This was overwhelming.

"Anything you want, Wildfire. Just tell me what you want; I'll be it. Whatever you need me to be. All you need me to be. I'll do it. I'll do anything."

I internally thanked my stars when he leaned in to kiss me cause I had nothing I could've said to him in that moment.

The rest of the meal was more talking. I told him a little about the mafia while he talked about his business.

Not once did he bring up his dad while talking about it, which was weird since he made this business from the ground up.

Nor did he bring up the rumours of him killing his dad. I would've believed it if I didn't know men like him. And I knew for a fact that Kenneth could not hurt a fly to save his life.

He might use his wordplay and ruin someone's life and reputation but physical torture or killing wasn't something he was capable of.

He dropped me home promising to bring my car later. Which wasn't a problem really. I could've easily sent someone to get it but when I said that to him he insisted on driving it home himself. I didn't really mind.

I turned on the shower. A little too hot to be considered comfortable. But I let it run down my back causing slight burns.

It felt good. It felt like home. After all, I can't be blamed for my home being hell.

I went back to work after the shower with just an oversized shirt. I didn't need clothes to be at home anyways.

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