Delicate Beauty (Mateo love story)

Chapter Seven *Edited*

"Bloody hell, Kenneth, how many cocktails have you had? It's not even mid-day yet."

Kenneth dramatically rolls his eyes, "I need something to get me through the day, I've had a hard few days." Liam nods with a smile as Kenneth perches himself on one of the many chairs, a scowl resting on his face, "put the kettle on will you" he holds his head, clearly the nights events had caught up with him with a good old-fashioned hangover.

Liam frowns as he sees a note placed on the desk next to their rarely used appointment book, the note hadn't been there last night. His eyes scan the note, each word shooting daggers into his heart.

My dearest brother,
I have been forced to write you this letter as I fear my words will fail me if I were to try and tell you in person. I am leaving Benidorm to return to the UK, please do not come after me. I cannot tell you my reasons but I hope that you read this with understanding. Tell dad that I love him and that he will always be beautiful in my eyes. Liam, please don't change who you are, stay true to the person you have always been. I am so proud of you both and I love you. Please Tell Mateo that I do this for him, this is best for all of us. Your biggest fan, Angelica. Xx

A tear falls as Liam reads the last line, his brain finding it hard to understanding her reasons for leaving. She had seemed so happy here, she had made friends, and a career in her short time here. Her and Mateo had something building between them, something that could have been amazing. His heart broke at the realisation that his father still didn't know, how would Leslie react to the news that his only daughter had left with just a note as what appeared to be a final goodbye?

"Liam? What's wrong? What's happened?"

Kenneth frowns at his friends tear stricken face, taking the note from his hand and reading it for himself, even Kenneth had to admit that her sudden leave was a shock. He embraces Liam as he sobs, he already misses the brunette beauty, so he can't imagine how Liam must be feeling. "I have to show my dad, he deserves to know" Liam's voice was soft but broken, his pain more evident in his voice that ever before. Kenneth nods as he follows Liam to the bar outside where Mateo and Leslie stood sorting through the crates of alcohol.

Liam sighs as he seats himself at the bar, the note firmly in his grasp as he calls for his dad and Mateo, he felt that they both had the right to read the note, since they both were written into it. Leslie stood at hearing his sons voice call him, Mateo following suit, "what's wrong son?" Liam shakes his head and hands the note to Leslie, his father's expression drops as he read the note, Mateo reading it from over his shoulder.

Shattered.

That's exactly what Mateo's heart felt like. A pang of pain shot through his heart at the realisation that his Angelica had gone, left with nothing but a note remaining, but why? He wracked his brain for any reason, anything at all that could have been the cause for her wanting to go back to the UK.

"I don't understand, she seemed so happy" Leslie's voice mirrored Liam's, a look of sadness plaguing their faces as they stood shocked. Leslie didn't know what to do, he didn't know if she had already left or if she was somewhere in Benidorm waiting for her next flight home. He couldn't understand, his brain was failing to comprehend all the information being fed to it.

"This isn't like her, she would have spoken to me, she never would have left without saying a proper goodbye, man" Leslie shakes his head in disbelief and hugs Liam who is still silently sobbing.

Mateo still stood behind the bar; his body frozen in shock. He didn't know how to react, he couldn't understand the sad feeling that was picking its way through his heart, he had never felt this before. He liked Angelica, he wanted to make her happy and maybe grow with her. Now, that opportunity had been taken away, his Angelica had been taken away. He frowns feeling as though he was missing an important detail, something felt off about the whole situation. His mind flashes back to the previous night, the man that had been chasing Angelica. Her ex, he had wanted to take Angelica away, keep her to himself against her will. His mind clicks as he puts the pieces to the puzzle together, her ex, he must have taken her with him. He abducted her, that's the only thing that would explain the note.

"Leslie, she has been taken against her willingness" Mateo frowns as he speaks directly to Leslie, "her ex came for her, she come to me for help. He intimidated her, he must have taken her to the UK like he wanted" Leslie's frown deepens, Mateo's explanation being just clear enough for him to understand.

"Darren."

Leslie nods remembering his daughter's ex-boyfriend, he had only met the lad twice but even then, something had seemed off. He couldn't deny the off feeling he felt about the note and her sudden disappearance. Mateo seemed sure of this ex taking her, and Leslie believed that Mateo was telling the truth.

"Leslie, the next flight to London is at 12:35pm, you only have forty minutes roughly," Kenneth informs after checking his, "you'll never be able to make it."

Leslie nods confidently "watch me." he takes off running towards the exit.

"I'm coming!" Mateo calls.

"Me too!" Liam agrees. They both chase after Leslie quickly.

"Oh, for God sake!" Kenneth hurries after them with a margarita in one hand.

Mateo would keep his promise, he would find her and he would protect her.

I'm coming Angelica.