The Mafia's Flower (ON HOLD)

Chapter Eight

"You can't keep this up for long, you know? Sooner or later, you're gonna have to talk to him."

"Well, I choose later," I said but my voice was muffled by the crunching sounds of my breakfast in my mouth.

Belinda gave me another look, the same look she'd give whenever we talked about this same topic. It had been three days since my birthday and the incident and ever since then, I'd made it my utmost priority to avoid Michael and dodge him at any cost. Whenever he was in a part of the house, I made sure I was at the end of it. If I sensed him even coming my way, I'd look for the nearest place to hide. And if I'd ventured to even hear his voice, I'd made sure I was nowhere near him. It was safe to say that I hadn't spoken to him nor let him see me for the past three days. I still hadn't gotten over how ashamed I was for my behaviour the other day and was even starting to doubt if I'd ever get over it.

"Don't be ridiculous," said Belinda.

"I'm not... I'm just not ready to see him yet," I said honestly this time, putting another biscuit into my mouth before sipping from my ginger tea.

"It's been three days Fiona. Three days and you haven't talked to Mr. Valdez. Don't you know how worried he is about you?"

I gave her a look this time- a doubtful one. "He's not that worried about me."

"Seriously? Do you know how many times I've had to lie for your ass now? Every single time he asks me where you are, or if you're feeling okay, or why you won't come down and I'd give a pretty lame ass excuse... each time."

"And I'm forever grateful to you for that. Really, I am. But I just need you to understand that I'm not just ready to face him yet. Not yet."

"You have to one way or another, Fiona," said Joan this time. She'd gotten in on the gist yesterday when she (and everyone else in this house) noticed that I and Michael didn't seem to be on good terms which was quite odd when compared with how normally things were between us. Taylor and Matt didn't bother to ask what was going on as they felt it wasn't their business but I think it was just mostly a guy thing to stay out of matters that didn't involve them. Joan on the other hand insisted relentlessly that we let her in on the gist and after threatening me with disclosing wherever I was to Micheal, Belinda finally told her about it and thus, we three were currently in the kitchen conversing about the matter at hand. Me munching on my breakfast while Belinda was busy cleaning the counters and shelves with Joan slacking off and neglecting her duties as she sat over at the end of the kitchen.

I sighed and fixed my eyes on the remaining three biscuits on my plate. "How do you expect me to talk to him again after that? Like... like what do I say? What would I say that wouldn't make the air awkward? Besides, I'm sure he already thinks of me as some sort of—of—I dunno."

"You and I both know that Mr. Valdez can't ever think ill of you. It's one of the most impossible things in the world," Joan said.

"Oh c'mon now, you're just being hysterical." I said in return.

"No really, it's the truth. We all know how much he cares for you. After all, we've never seen him treat another soul the way he treats you. I mean, you guys are on first name basis. Only people very close to him get to call him by his first name." Belinda added.