Veitato: LUST IN THE FORBIDDEN ADVENTURE

148: Confronted

My weary and hungry eyes was fixed on the tray of food placed before me. The tantalizing aroma of the meal wafted through the air, filling my nostrils and stirring my empty stomach. Hunger gnawed at me irrationally, reminding me that I haadn't eaten since yesterday afternoon when I had last spoken to Massimo.

The food before me was a plate of unappetizing colors and textures. A hot lump of potatoes sat next to a piece of steamed broccoli, while a slab of overcooked and garnished chicken laid forlornly on the side.

My hunger fought against my reluctance to consume such dish, but I knew I needed to nourish myself or I would die of starvation, it's almost ten and my rumbling stomach might burst soon.

Reluctantly, I picked up the fork and began examining the chicken in particular.

It looked so golden and full. I had taken one big bite when the door creak and the devil who kept me here came in.

I looked up, my gaze meeting the chilling eyes of my unwelcomed visitor and former best friend.

She looked so pale and concealed under her make up. I took a bite of the chicken and grinned. "You come to see me everytime, anything you want to tell? How much does it burn? Too hurt to cook a big fat chicken?"

"Shut the hell!" Gladys cussed but didn't move forward.

"It's just a question, girl. Are you obsessed with me?" I joked.

I wanted her to flare up and say somethings to me, tell me Luciano isn't dead, tell me he's fine and okay, I wanted her to spill a lot of things.

Gladys wore a self-assured smirk, refusing to be offended, her lips curling into a sly smile.

"Oh. I understand, Tiffany. And the reason why I come to see you always; I couldn't resist the opportunity to check in on you. After all, we have a common interest, don't we?"

I frowned, my brow furrowing in confusion.

"A common interest? I don't understand. What do you mean?" I asked, my voice laced with apprehension.

Gladys leaned against the doorframe like a whore, her eyes glinting with a dangerous glimmer.

"I want my place back, Tiffany," Gladys stated matter-of-factly and sounding like a murderer who wasn't in anyway remorseful. "I am the talk of the school now, my name, so irritably said, is on the lips of everyone because of you!"

"You also wronged me, Gladys. You started this whole mess, not me, you did!" I gave all my bottled up rage to say that and it hurts.

Gladys ignored me and continued. "With the attention that video is getting, Zino will undoubtedly see it, and he'll come running back, demanding his rightful territory, including his kids. You and your dead, blown up brother, that you killed."

My heart skipped a beat as the name hung in the air. Panic surged through me making the food on the plate seem even less appealing. My greatest fear is father knowing about what led to Luciano's death, the whole sex issue, the video and everything. Biting my lip, I looked at Gladys and mustered the courage to ask, "Why are you so obsessed with me, Gladys? What have I ever done to warrant this animosity? Why, in the first place did you post my pictures?"

Gladys chuckled darkly, her voice dripping with scorn. "Tiffany, darling, to be very honest with you, this has never been about you. You are just an unfortunate obstacle in my path, and a gateway to gain what I truly desired. Once I have the information I need, I will negotiate with Zino and reclaim some of the properties my late parents owned. Power and control, my dear. That's what this is about, it was stolen from me."

My eyes widened at Gladys's audacity. The gravity of the situation began to sink in. This was unbelievably evil. "I hope you rot in hell, Gladys. Your greed is beyond repulsive, it sickens me! You could kill, destroy, just to get your hands on things that could burn in a twinkle of an eye."

Gladys maintained her composed demeanor, her gaze. She watched as I picked at the now tasteless food on the plate and didn't leave.

I couldn't help but speak again.. "Tell me, Gladys, are you a lesbian? Is that why you're so obsessed with me? I need to know the real reason."

Gladys let out a chilling laugh, the sound bouncing off the cold walls. "You think this is about attraction? No, Tiffany, this is about the power I see in you. You possess something that I don't, something intangible yet desirable. And I want it for myself, I so want it."

Her words were so evil, I wished she ended this as soon as possible. "When do you plan on killing me, Gladys? It's clear you want me out of the picture so you can take what's rightfully mine without any obstacles. But, I'd rather die in the hands of a serial killer than die in your hands."

Gladys eyes glintied. "Killing you was never part of my plan. There's something far worse I have in mind for you. I want to capture your vulnerabilities, your fears, and expose them to the world. I want to watch you crumble under the weight of your own lies, I want you to weep, till you weep blood."

Her words sliced through my heart like dagger stabs.. "Well, Gladys, you won't get the satisfaction. I won't allow you to break me, but you can have me." I was moving closer to her, moving seductively, I stopped and she came very close. I didn't waste time, I spat on her. The next that followed was her scream.

My laughter filled the room and Gladys turned to say something else. "I need something I can post online to humiliate you and I will get it." With that, she left the room, leaving me to gather my strength.