Personal Assistant (He Really Loves Me: Book 3)

Chapter 5

Two days later as Christina sat beside a sleeping Theresa, Mario walked into the room with a dapper and older man trailing behind. With a closer look, Christina instantly knew it was his father (the eyes said it all).

“I knew I’d find her but I didn’t expect it this way. For fifteen years it was like she disappeared off the face of this planet and even if she did use my money to sponsor her getaways I still couldn’t find her.”

“At least be happy she’s alive, Dad.” Mario growled.

“Be happy? Alive? With how estranged se was from me, she might have well been dead!”

“Excuse me Sir, with all due respect, could you keep your voice down?”

“And who are you?”

“Christina Lopez. I’m your son’s PA.”

“If you are just a PA, I suggest you keep out of my family’s business.”

“I would but your wife asked me to stay.”

Father Fuertes turned to Mario, “I thought you said she couldn’t talk?”

“She can’t,” Mario seethed, “she can still write.”

“Hm.”

“Christina, could you excuse us for a moment?”

“No, only Mrs. Fuertes can tell me to leave because she asked me to stay.”

“Leave!” father Fuertes shouted.

“I said no!”

Mrs. Fuertes stirred and slowly opened her eyes. She squinted until her eyes had focused and was quickly into silent hysteria. Christina tried to calm her down and soon a doctor and nurses flooded the room pushing Christina, Mario and father Fuertes out.

“Really Dad, you couldn’t stand in there for one minute and be concerned for Mama?”

“Concerned? That’s a good question.”

Mario sighed and left the area.

“Really, what is your problem?”

“I think I’m at liberty to not answering your question.”

“Well fine, then listen. You have a wife in there that, despite what the doctor said, went you through a big ordeal. You should be happy that it wasn’t anything major or then there would have been some serious complications and decisions for you to contend with. I don’t care what problems you and Mrs. Fuertes have but for the sake of her health try to resolve them,” and walked away with giving him a chance to rebut.

Outside, Christina found Mario standing by the rental. “I thought you’d already left.”

“I was just about to call you; I need you to come with me.”

“To go where?”

“Just come with me,” and put her into the car.

Father Fuertes was allowed to enter Theresa’s room after she reluctantly agreed to see him while calming down. As she saw him, she instantly wrote on her erase board.

“You finally caught me; what do you want?”

“Nothing much. Where were you all this while?”

“Why would you care?”

“Just answer the question please?”

“I was wherever you couldn’t find me, but it wouldn’t matter; you virtually never notice me.”

“Lie! I notice you…”

“Don’t start; you know it’s true. Other than today when was the last time you saw my face?” He was silent. “See Antonio, you can’t remember. It was fifteen years, eight months, four days we haven’t seen each other’s faces. The question I want to ask is what happened to us?”

“How would I know?”

“Oh you do know Toni; the word is work. Work, work and more work. It was wonderful those first few years of marriage, YOU were wonderful but after I decided to give you money to start your business and had Mario you forgot about me…literally. Every time I tried to get your attention, you either evade me with work or with Mario and that pissed me off…” she flipped the board to the other side to continue writing, “… and what really hit the nail on the head is when we realized I couldn’t have any more children, you completely cut me off and that was the worst feeling you ever gave me and because of that I had to leave…” Antonio stopped reading and walked out of the room. Theresa set the board down as tears ran down her eyes; that was hard for her to write. She still loves her husband but his pride is what will determine the outcome of their nearly two-decade marriage.

Christina was shocked; the afternoon she spent with Mario was actually sweet and romantic with the boat ride on the river passing Castel Sant’Angelo, visiting the coliseum, the exquisite lunch complete with ice-cream and pictures. Who knew he had it in him, she thought but it was not over yet for Mario said he had one more thing to show her. They were at the Piazza San Pietro.

“Oh Mario, this place is beautiful.”

“I know; that’s why I brought you here.”

Mario watched as she traced one of the columns. She looked delighted in a serene, peaceful way with a pinch of sensuality, and there was no way he would miss that but what else is funny is that she hasn’t the slightest clue that today is her birthday when she’s the one who complained to him over it. During his admiration, an old stunted man came up next to him.

“Your wife looks like she’s enjoying herself.”

“I’m sorry?”

“Your wife, it’s nice that you did this for her, she seems happy.”

“Oh no, she’s not my wife; just a…friend.”

“Now son, I know it’s not my business but that was not what I saw coming across here. Go for her already, she won’t go anywhere unless you let her.”

Before he could reply, the old man vanished like if he was never there to begin with. He looked back at Christina and saw she was still fascinated with the column; he went up to her.

“Mario! Don’t scare…” and kissed her, deeply, slowly as she melted into him.

“Happy birthday Chrissie,” and kissed her again.