Dollface

Part 60

This was the first time I had been away from Simon in two months.

I miss him...

A violent thunderstorm broke out around us, and it was raining heavily outside. It somehow made my mood worse. A few hours later, I was sent to my bedroom because my interest was disturbing my sleep.

When I was in my room, all I could think about was Simon; his touch, his scent, his voice, his eyes, and how devastated I would be if something happened to him.

As I walk into my bathroom, the first thing I notice is the now clear mirror, stained with Simon's smeared handprints. My jaw then drops to the floor as I spot the very noticeable hickey on my neck.

Oh, you're kidding. Please tell me my dad didn't see it. Oh please, please, please.

Well, my hair must have covered it or else my dad would have completely freaked out. It would have rained hell on earth. I would never have heard the end of it.

After brushing my teeth and washing my face, I curl up into a ball under my covers. It smells like him, like the familiar scent of aftershave and Prada that made my heart skip a beat.

~~~~
I wake up the next morning to nothing but an empty bed and silence, I feel sick. Two months ago, I would have wanted nothing more than to wake up to a peaceful morning. But now, I just want him next to me.

I get up and push my body off the mattress, sighing heavily. I then lazily walk to my bathroom and try to cover the hickey on my neck with makeup, it tried my best and I think it turned out fine. I rub my eyes, leave my room and walk down the quiet hallways.

Downstairs, the men were all glued to screens, just like the last time I was here.

M: Miss? I thought we said you should sleep?

Marco sees me as I enter the living room and wrap my arms around myself. I look around at the men who don't acknowledge my presence as they were also diligently focused on their screens.

I: Yes, what time is it?
M: It's 10:20 twenty, they slept for four hours.
I: Four hours is enough.

I reply with a sigh and take a quick look at the guy in charge of Simon's microphone, he seems casual and relaxed. good.

M: Simom seems really important to them.

My eyes immediately snap back to Marco as I rub my arms up and down as if it's cool even though it's not.

I: He took care of me... I'm grateful.
M: I guess. He did a very brave thing.

He comments casually, his eyes fixed on his feet, but then he looks at me.

M: Look, Miss Gates, I'm not an idiot, I know where love is and where it isn't. Gratitude and love are two very different and different things.
I: Love?

I stammer out, stunned, as if that wasn't already established between Simon and me.

I: There is no love between us.

Marco looks at me in obvious disbelief and shakes his head respectfully.

M: I have to disagree with you, Miss, you don't need to hide from me.

He speaks quietly, quietly enough to make the conversation audible only to the two of us.

M: I get that feeling from both of you. It's very obvious, but everyone else here is immune to everything these days, their eyes on the money.

My eyebrows raise, wondering if I should say something back. Deny the idea or admit it. I stick to silencing myself because I tend to screw up almost everything.

M: I'm convinced, I don't have to deny that I don't think it's good, but at the same time I think it's all good here.

And with that, he nods and walks away. I look in his direction, deep in thought, not knowing whether to be worried that he suspects, or relieved that at least someone else knows. But from his words, I'm pretty sure he'll keep it to himself.

?: Okay.

One of the men announces as the others turn in their seats to look at him.

?: We'll lose all communication with them in 15 seconds.

I get up and wait for the 15 seconds to pass, trying to suppress my fear they won't be back until dawn. But there's this voice in the back of my head reminding me there's a chance they won't come back at all.

That he won't come back...

?: If my calculations are correct, we should turn communication back on in three hours and ten minutes.

The rest of the discussion is just between my father and the others who get up to follow. They leave their facility there while I sit down, trying so terribly to avoid negative thoughts.

All power in the house was then turned off and men were dressed in suits and guarding the house on high alert. Nothing was interesting in that living room, so I go back to my bedroom and roll back into bed.

The darkness of the room through the closed curtains and Simon's cologne consume me. I refuse to pull myself out of the blankets I've wrapped myself in, finding it the only way to stay calm.

A knock on the door jolts me out of my little doze.

I: Yes?

I call.

M: It's me, I thought you could use some company.

For once I'm happy and find it kind of nice of him to talk to me. I sigh heavily and let him enter. He comes in, though I can barely see him. I frown slightly as I hear a thud on the floor and I see his figure sitting on the floor.

My soft laugh almost echoes in the silence.

I: You're sitting on the floor?
M: It's inappropriate for me to sit next to you. Although I know you wouldn't mind if it was Simon.

I blush in the darkness and snort at his mockery.

I: Are you teasing me?
M: No.

He chuckles softly as I roll onto my back and stare at the ceiling, there is a minute of silence.

I: ...do you think the mission will work?
M: You mean do I think Simon will make it?
I: No-i-ugh, shut up.
M: Everything will be fine, I assure you. I've seen all the tasks Simon has completed, it's pretty impressive, but that's beside the point.

I take a deep breath and turn around to look at him.

I: Thanks Marco. You're actually a pretty nice guy, but you should try to be less annoying.

I laugh as he lowers his head, smiling.

M: I've been told before.
I: Really? By who?
M: My wife.
I: Wife?
M: Mother of my two little ones, yes.
I: You have children?

I raise my eyebrows in shock, I didn't expect that. He seems pretty young to be married, let alone a father.

M: Two girls, Charlotte and Lucy, twins actually.
I: Then why are you here? You shouldn't be here.

The room goes dead silent for a moment before he speaks again.

M: Not exactly...
I: What? Why?
M: I was recruited by your father before they were both born. I didn't even know my wife was pregnant... she thinks I'm dead. And the girls don't know I exist.

I frown in sympathy, remembering what my father does when he recruits his men. Just like he did with Simon and Johnny. He removes all evidence of them being alive, practically erasing them from existence. Johnny's family doesn't know he exists, and the world doesn't know Simon exists. It all makes sense now.

I: My father...
M: Unfortunately, but no disrespect to your father. He's the one who helps me smuggle extra money into my wife's account so she can keep my girls fed and healthy.
I: I'm sorry.
M: No need to apologize, miss.
I: No, seriously, I'm sorry.

We don't say anything along those lines after that. I grow more and more sympathetic to him inside, but I don't mention it. In the lightness of our pleasant conversation, I let my anxiety rest and eventually fall back asleep.