43

Tomas.
I ordered my men, along with Carl, to take Jennifer and her ex-boyfriend to the basement, ensuring that they were both cuffed tightly to prevent any chance of escape until I figured out what to do with them. Jennifer was crying heavily, her voice trembling as she begged for my forgiveness, her eyes brimming with tears that seemed to reflect her desperation.
“Tomas, please! I love you,” she pleaded, desperation clear in her voice, tears streaming down her face like a relentless waterfall cascading down a mountainside.
I stared at her, my expression hardening with each passing moment. “But I don’t trust you, Jennifer. If I can’t trust you, then I can’t love you,” I replied, my voice laced with anger and disappointment. I turned my back to her, unable to face the pain I felt inside, a mix of betrayal and confusion swirling within me.
“Now, take both of them down to the basement,” I commanded my men, my tone leaving no room for argument, the finality of my words hanging heavy in the air.
At that moment, Amanda stepped closer, her gaze fixed intently on me. She placed a hand on my shoulder, surprising me with her touch, a warmth that contrasted sharply with the cold atmosphere. When I turned to look at her, she offered me a soft, reassuring smile that momentarily disarmed my anger and frustration.
“Tomas, please come with me,” Amanda said gently, her voice soothing as she took my hand and led me toward her room. I hesitated for a moment, my mind racing with conflicting thoughts, but she pulled me inside and shut the door behind us. I stood there, confused and uncertain, tucking my hands into my pockets, feeling a mix of emotions swirling within me.
She smiled again, stepping closer, and I could feel her warm breath as she locked eyes with me, an intensity that made my heart race. Suddenly, she wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me closer. My eyes widened in surprise as she moved her hands down to my waist and began to lift my shirt. I quickly placed my hand over hers, halting her movements.
“Um, what are you doing, Amanda?!” I asked, bewildered by her sudden boldness.
She giggled, the sound light and playful, a momentary distraction from my turmoil. “You need to relax, Mr. Tomas,” she said teasingly. With that, she continued to raise my shirt, her intentions clear and her confidence evident.
“Stop, Amanda!” I said, narrowing my eyes at her, trying to regain control of the situation, my heart pounding with a mix of anxiety and confusion.
She covered her mouth with her hands, trying to suppress a smile, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Mr. Tomas, please let me take off your shirt. I just want to give you a massage. You’re acting like a shy virgin,” she laughed, stepping even closer, her playful demeanor disarming.
“What? Massage me?!” I exclaimed, incredulous at the suggestion, my mind racing with the implications.
“Yes, Mr. Tomas. I can’t help but laugh at your expression when I touch you. I’m sorry!” she replied, still giggling, her amusement infectious and momentarily lifting my spirits.
Finally, I managed a laugh too, the tension in the air easing slightly. “Sorry, I thought you were suggesting something else. I mean… oh, it’s nonsense. Sorry for misunderstanding,” I stammered, feeling a bit embarrassed.
She stopped laughing and raised an eyebrow, her expression shifting to something more serious. “You mean having sex with you, Mr. Tomas?!” she asked with a playful smirk, her eyes glimmering with mischief.
I sat up straight, surprised by her boldness. “Yes, exactly! That’s not what I meant!” I stammered, trying to clarify my thoughts.
“Mr. Tomas! Do you trust me?” she asked suddenly, her tone serious and searching, as if she needed to know where I stood.
“Huh?! Is that even a question?” I responded, raising an eyebrow, the sudden shift in mood catching me off guard.
“I mean, I wasn’t loyal to my boss. I chose to help an innocent girl, so I guess you don’t have to trust me. That means I have a good heart, and I will never accept you or any other man hurting an innocent person. So, why am I here?” she asked, her eyes fixed on mine, sincerity evident in her gaze, and I felt the weight of her words.
I sighed, feeling the weight of my decisions pressing down on me. “You’re right, but I can’t help but feel drawn to you. You remind me of my mother-sweet, yet protective of my father. Maybe I’ll think more about this after dealing with Jennifer. But I need to relax for a bit; this whole situation is overwhelming and exhausting.”
She turned to me, her eyes sparkling with determination and understanding. “That’s why I’m here, Mr. Tomas. Please take off your shirt and lie on the bed. I’ll get some oil and be back in a moment.” She walked to the washroom while I removed my shirt and lay face down on the bed, covering myself with a blanket to shield my vulnerability and protect my pride.
“Here I am! I found this oil. I think it will help relax your muscles,” Amanda said, returning with a bottle and a bright smile, her enthusiasm contagious and refreshing.
She began to move her hands over my back slowly, her touch warming me and easing my tension, a gentle pressure that made me feel momentarily at ease. I closed my eyes, trying to relax as she spoke softly, her voice a soothing balm.
“Mr. Tomas, please don’t hurt Jennifer. You can’t punish her for her past, and you can’t force any woman to love you,” Amanda urged, her voice gentle yet firm, her words resonating deep within me.
I opened my eyes and turned to face her, narrowing my gaze. “She’s a liar! She wants to put me in jail. She was hiding secrets from me. She’s not as innocent as you think. I can’t overlook her betrayal,” I shot back, my frustration boiling over.
Amanda cleared her throat, her expression serious as she regarded me. “And what do you know about me? You seem to think you have me all figured out,” she raised an eyebrow, challenging my assumptions.
“What do you mean, Amanda?” I asked, intrigued, sitting up next to her on the bed, curiosity piqued.
“I mean everyone has secrets. Everyone hides something. That’s a part of life. I know you’re hiding things too, Mr. Tomas. You fooled her and didn’t tell her the truth. You didn’t tell her you’re the mafia king. For God’s sake, how could a woman handle that?” she challenged, her eyes piercing into mine, searching for honesty.
“Do you have secrets, Amanda?” I asked, wanting to know more about the woman before me, feeling a strange connection between us.
“Of course, Mr. Tomas. I have three secrets, and I ask you to respect my privacy. I promise to tell you everything at the right time,” she replied, her tone serious yet inviting, a hint of mystery lingering in the air.
“Three secrets? That’s more than I expected, but I doubt they’re as serious as what Jennifer was hiding,” I said, feeling a growing interest in her story.
“Actually, my secrets are bigger than Jennifer’s. That’s why I’m asking you to forgive her. Life has treated her badly. She lost her parents and her home. She was a victim. She was involved with one of your gang members, so you bear some responsibility for what happened to her. Please, have some mercy. I’m begging you-try to forgive her to be forgiven,” Amanda pleaded, her eyes darting away as if the weight of the world rested on her shoulders, and I felt the sincerity of her plea.
I moved closer, cupping her face in my hands, turning her gaze back to me. Her eyes were red, as if she was fighting back tears, and I felt a pang of empathy. “Okay, Amanda. I promise I’ll think about it,” I said softly, hoping to ease her distress.
“Now, Mr. Tomas, this session is over. You can use my bed to rest and refresh your mind. I’ll take a walk and check back on you soon,” she said, standing to leave. I grabbed her hand, making her pause and look at me, curiosity etched on her face.
“Who are you, Amanda? Do you have a man in your life?” I asked, wanting to know more about her and what made her tick.
“Yes, Mr. Tomas. The love of my life. No one could ever take his place,” she replied, a hint of sadness in her voice as she left, shutting the door behind her gently, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
—
### Jennifer
Tomas’s men threw me into the basement like garbage, cuffing my ex-gang member next to me and binding me without mercy. I had no idea what Tomas had planned for us, but I was sure that the consequences would be tougher than I could ever imagine, a storm brewing just beyond the horizon.
It was dark-no lamps, no light, no windows-like a huge jail cell with an iron gate. My body trembled; my hands were cold, and I couldn’t move freely. I sat on the floor with my back against my ex’s, feeling the weight of despair pressing down on me like a heavy blanket.
I tried to shift, but the ropes were tight, binding my hands and legs together, restricting my movements. The situation was suffocating, especially with the uncertainty of what lay ahead, the darkness closing in around me like a thick fog.
“Jennifer?” my ex called out, breaking the oppressive silence that filled the room, his voice echoing in the stillness.
“What the hell do you want from me?!” I shouted in frustration, my voice echoing in the dim space, my anger flaring.
“Why are you talking to me like that? I’m not the one who got tangled up in the mafia king’s life and acted like his fiancee!” he retorted, his tone mocking and irritating.
I rolled my eyes, irritation bubbling within me. “What are you talking about? How do you know all this?!”
He laughed mockingly, a harsh sound that grated on my nerves. “Do you think I didn’t keep an eye on you? I may have run off with the money and drugs, but I was always watching. I know everything. You got fired from your journalist job for that stupid article about Tomas. Then Carl offered you a position as his private assistant, and you changed your look to something unrecognizable. I was shocked to see you like that. But I didn’t expect you to get engaged to Mr. Tomas!” he sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
“Yes, very smart of me, considering I’m here handcuffed in this dark basement waiting for his punishment!” I shot back, furrowing my brows in frustration, my heart racing with indignation.
“What do you mean, Jennifer?! You thought you could fool him and put him in jail! Why did you do it?” he asked, incredulous, his tone accusatory and accusatory.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. “You’re the one who sent me to hell! You were responsible for this! You forced me into dealing drugs and threatened me with death if I refused. Just when I thought I could start anew with Tomas, it turned out he was the main reason for all the misery in my life. If there hadn’t been a mafia king and drug deals, I wouldn’t be in this position. And now you expect me to overlook his identity and love him? I can’t love someone like him!”
“But you said you love him, Jennifer!” he pressed, a hint of desperation in his voice, as if he were trying to make sense of my feelings.
“Maybe I was going to fall for him, but that was before I learned the truth and before I met Jack again!” I lied, hoping to bait him into revealing more information about what he knew.
“Oh, Jack! Your first love!” he scoffed, amusement creeping into his tone.
“Stop! This isn’t funny!” I yelled, my patience wearing thin as anger surged within me.
“But it’s the truth, right? How could you fall for a gay guy? Can I ask you one more question?” he said, his curiosity piqued.
“Yes, keep it short and get to the point!” I shouted, my frustration boiling over into exasperation.
“Why didn’t you fall in love with me? I treated you well when you were hopeless and homeless. I didn’t force you into anything. So why didn’t you love me?” he asked earnestly, his expression shifting to something more vulnerable.
“At first, I was still in love with Jack. I admit it. I was crazy about him. When you came into my life and helped me, I tried to forget Jack. But something held me back. I was looking for safety, a job, and a home-not love. But once I found my footing, you dragged me back into your illegal dealings,” I explained, my voice steady despite the turmoil within me.
“But why did you tell Tomas you weren’t a virgin and that you slept with me? You know we didn’t!” he smirked, a glint of triumph in his eyes.
I grinned, a hint of defiance in my expression. “Yes, I know. But he’s always looking for an innocent girl to break down his walls. The truth is, he can’t fall in love with any woman, even a virgin. Besides, I may not have slept with you, but I did with Jack. He was my first.”
“What?! You had sex with Jack? But you said he was gay!” he exclaimed, disbelief coloring his tone, his expression shifting to one of shock.
“I don’t know! It’s killing me! I don’t understand how we were intimate if he didn’t love me! He was so romantic, and we were together many times. When I saw him again, he fought for me, insisting he wanted to protect me!” I confessed, my heart racing as I relived those memories, a mix of longing and pain washing over me.
“Okay, I see now. I guess Jack was fooling you,” he said, a hint of pity in his voice, as if he were beginning to understand my predicament.
“What?! How?” I asked, my eyes wide with disbelief, unable to fathom what he was suggesting.
“I suspect Jack isn’t actually gay. He was just trying to protect you from something-maybe that’s why he pretended to be in a relationship with a man,” he theorized, his expression serious and contemplative.
“Are you kidding?! I saw him kiss his agent in the kitchen!” I countered, my frustration bubbling to the surface, the memory fresh in my mind.
“This is confusing, but I sense there’s a secret here. Anyway, I’m sorry, Jennifer. To be honest, I’m not a bad guy. What I did was out of desperation. When I met you, I wasn’t in love; I was just kind. But I figured you might discover my real job, so I forced you to work with me to cover my tracks. After all, I couldn’t trust you. Then Jack came to me and offered money to stay away from you, but my greed got the better of me. I was selfish. But I’m not an angel; I’m a drug dealer. You should expect this from me,” he explained, almost pleading, his guilt evident.
“You’re trash!” I screamed, my voice echoing in the dark, my anger spilling over.
“Thank you, but that’s not the point, Jennifer. I’m confessing because they might kill us any minute, so please try to forgive me.” Tears streamed down his face as he begged, desperation evident in his eyes, and I felt a pang of confusion.
“Why are you crying now? Your tears won’t fool me. If I forgive you, God will never forgive me,” I yelled back, my heart racing with anger as I fought back my own tears.
“Okay, at least look at the bright side. Jack came to me and paid to keep away from you. That means he might not be gay and truly loves you. He was trying to protect you, even from a distance. Do you understand?” he reasoned, his voice softening as he spoke.
I cleared my throat, my heart heavy with conflicting emotions. “Maybe you’re right. I wish I could see him one more time to know the truth,” I said softly, a glimmer of hope breaking through my despair.
“I’m sure he’ll come for you, Jennifer,” he said, and I started to cry heavily, struggling to breathe as the gravity of our situation weighed down on me, a mixture of fear and longing consuming me.