46

Tomas.
“Tomas?” Suddenly, Maya burst into the house, hollering my name as if it were an emergency. The sound of her voice echoed off the walls, filling the space with a sense of urgency that was hard to ignore. It was predictable that Maya would come; she always did when things got complicated. But I didn’t expect her to arrive so early. I spun around, my mouth agape in surprise, grinning foolishly at her sudden appearance like a child caught off guard.
“We need to talk, discuss a few important things,” Maya insisted, her tone serious yet tinged with urgency. The gravity of her words hung in the air, making the atmosphere feel heavy and charged. I stared at her in wonder, taking a moment to process what she was saying before stepping closer. “Do we really have a debate to talk about? What exactly do you want to complain about? Or is it just your qualms that you need to air out?” I gazed at her, my curiosity piqued, trying to decipher the underlying tension in her demeanor.
Maya grumbled, “Your skepticism is killing me, Tomas.”
“Oh, incredulity is just my natural instinct,” I leered, a smirk forming on my lips, enjoying the back-and-forth.
Maya inhaled deeply, frustration evident on her face, “Why do you treat me like garbage? You keep insulting me and humiliating me at every turn!” she shouted, her voice rising in anger, each word piercing through the air like arrows.
In a sudden rush of emotions, I slapped her face. She glided down onto the floor, staring up at me, shivering from shock. A strange silence enveloped us, heavy with unspoken words and emotions.
Then I leaned down closer, looking her in the eyes, “Do you think you can manipulate me, Maya?” She startled at my words, her expression shifting to one of disbelief.
I exclaimed, “Do you really believe that I don’t dare to shoot you right now? Why are you overacting like this? Why do you want to make yourself into the victim and act like you’re not guilty?” I shrieked, my voice echoing in the room, filled with a mix of anger and confusion.
“Do you want me to smash your fucking empty head, huh?” I smirked, feeling a rush of power coursing through me, a dangerous thrill.
“But I love you, for God’s sake!” she screamed, desperation thick in her voice, making my heart skip a beat.
“Oh, what courage! Shut your mouth or I’m going to pull your stinky tongue out!” I yelled, the tension thickening in the air, making it almost palpable.
She came close to my leg and begged, “I’m sorry, please forgive me. I can’t live without you.” She was pleading for my mercy, her eyes glistening with unshed tears that threatened to spill over.
I looked away, turning my face in disdain, “Oh, do you really think that I could forgive your sins that easily?! You should be thanking God that you are still alive!” I smirked, furrowing my eyebrows in annoyance, feeling a mix of triumph and irritation.
Mark came closer to her, bending down to take Maya’s hand and help her stand up. “Stop torturing yourself, please. Why are you overwhelming yourself like this?” Mark said gently to Maya, his voice soothing, a stark contrast to the chaos surrounding us.
“Yes, listen to him, Maya. After all, you left me to be with Mark, and you chose money over everything else, so why do you regret your decisions now?” I smirked, enjoying the unfolding drama, relishing the power dynamics at play.
“Because I love you, Tomas,” Maya screamed, and her tears began to flow heavily down her cheeks, glistening like diamonds against her flushed skin.
“Are you dumb? Deaf? Do I need to cut off your ears?” I yelled at Maya, my voice rising again, frustration boiling over.
A minute later, Jack rushed inside, his face filled with urgency, the tension in the room shifting yet again.
“Where’s Jennifer? I want to see her now!” Jack demanded, forcing his brows together in a fierce scowl, determination radiating off him.
“Shut the fuck up! Don’t you dare shout here! Don’t forget that I’m the mafia king!” I shouted back at Jack, my voice booming with authority, demanding respect.
“Okay, I can’t forget that Mr. Tomas Charl is the most dangerous man in the whole world. Could you please let me meet Jennifer?” Jack asked, his tone desperate yet respectful, his eyes pleading.
I huffed, crossing my arms defiantly, “No!” I exclaimed firmly, relishing the power I held over the situation.
Amanda came next to me, her expression serious and unwavering. “Mr. Tomas, could you please release Jennifer and her ex? At least listen to her words. Everyone is here now; give them a chance to speak.” Amanda commanded me, standing her ground like a soldier ready for battle.
I glanced at Amanda, baffled, “Actually, Amanda, I don’t know why I treat you respectfully like this! I don’t even know why I trust you!” I said, my irritation rising, a mix of confusion and anger swirling within me.
“You shouldn’t, Mr. Tomas,” Amanda mumbled, her voice low but steady.
“What did you say?” I stared at Amanda, trying to gauge her seriousness, wondering if she was really challenging me.
“Please let your men release Jennifer, and let’s face them and collect all the pieces of the puzzle to solve this mess and find the truth,” Amanda informed me, her tone earnest, as if she were a general rallying her troops.
“Oh yes, Amanda, the truth! And you will tell me all your secrets!” I smirked, spinning my head away from her, the arrogance of the moment filling me with a sense of invincibility.
“Yes, Mr. Tomas! I will inform you of all the hidden secrets, even about Jennifer and Maya, and Selena if she comes!” Amanda stepped closer to me, staring deeply into my eyes, her gaze unwavering.
“What? About Jennifer, Selena, and Maya? How do you know about them?” I asked Amanda, widening my eyes in disbelief, my mind racing with possibilities.
Amanda rotated around me, coming close to my earlobe and talking in a low, warm voice, “I know more than you think, Mr. Tomas.”
I cleared my throat and shouted to my men to go and bring Jennifer and her ex up here. I took my cell phone and called Selena to come over, feeling the tension rise like a tide, ready to crash.
Amanda smiled and stretched her arms up, giggling, “I accept the challenge, Mr. Tomas. You called Selena too! So let’s keep it clear… Let’s wait for her as well. By the way, don’t you think you forgot to call someone else too?” Amanda laughed hysterically, her eyes twinkling with mischief, her playful demeanor a stark contrast to the chaos around us.
“Someone else? Who?” I rolled my eyes, confused, trying to keep track of everything happening.
“Come on, Mr. Tomas! Mr. Cercus!” Amanda mocked, her laughter ringing in my ears like a bell tolling.
“What Cercus! Jack and Maya said in the same breath,” I exclaimed, widening my eyes in disbelief, the absurdity of the situation hitting me.
I narrowed my eyes at Amanda. “Who the hell are you?!”
“You will know everything; just remember that I will never hurt you! I will protect you; just try to trust me,” Amanda said to me, her voice steady, a soothing promise amid the storm.
After a few tense minutes, my men came back with Jennifer and her ex-dealer. I commanded them to release their hands from the handcuffs, the tension in the room thickening like fog rolling in.
Jack rushed to Jennifer, kissing her hands tenderly, and she stared at him, shaking from a mix of emotions. “What are you doing, Jack?!” she exclaimed, confusion written all over her face, her eyes wide with shock.
“I’m sorry, Jennifer. It’s all my fault. I have to tell you the truth. I’m not gay; I lied to you to let you go out of my life. You were so innocent; I couldn’t handle watching you suffer after the last scandal. I know it was a bad decision, but at that time, I thought it was the best idea. I regret what I did. But you have to know that I have never fallen in love with another woman; I loved you and I will love you forever. Please forgive me,” Jack said to Jennifer, tears streaming down his face, vulnerability spilling out in his confession.
Jennifer slapped Jack’s face, staring at him in disbelief, then hugged him tightly and started to cry heavily. “You stupid jerk! How could you do this to me? Do you know how I felt? Do you know how I suffered? Do you know how hard I tried to forget you, but I couldn’t?!” she shrieked, her voice filled with raw emotion, each word a dagger to his heart.
Jack kissed Jennifer’s forehead and held her upper hand gently. “I’m sorry for everything, Jennifer. You are the love of my life; I will protect you no matter what it means. I will do everything to be with you,” he promised, his voice sincere, determination clear in every syllable.
“Oh yes, Mr. Strong, you have to face me first!” I murmured, enjoying the chaos unfolding, the thrill of the drama invigorating me.
“I will, Tomas! You will never take my Jennifer from me!” Jack shouted, staring angrily at me, his resolve clear, the fire in his eyes unwavering.
“I’m not interested in her; don’t worry! It’s all about what she did! And how I will punish her for her mistake! She was unfaithful!” I smirked, feeling a sense of satisfaction at the turmoil, relishing the role of puppet master.
“Hey guys, please stop. Miss Selena has arrived,” Amanda informed us, breaking the tension momentarily, like a cool breeze on a hot day.
Selena entered the house, looking around at all of us with a strange, wondering look. “What’s going on here, guys?” She raised an eyebrow, confusion etched on her face, sensing the electric atmosphere.
“The crazy woman asks! Don’t mock!” I smirked, enjoying the drama, the chaos swirling around us like a tempest.
“What?!” Selena asked, her eyes darting between us, trying to piece together the puzzle.
“Mr. Tomas, where’s Mr. Cercus? We can’t start without him!” Amanda asked, staring expectantly at me, her expression serious.
“Cercus!” I shouted his name, and he came running from upstairs, clearly flustered, his hair out of place, looking like he had just come from a battle.
“All this time, and you were hiding in the same house, Mr. Cercus!” Amanda smirked, satisfaction radiating from her as if she had solved the riddle of the Sphinx.
“What? How did you know about that, Amanda?” Cercus asked, bewildered, his confusion evident.
“I can smell your scent, Mr. Cercus! Did you forget that I worked for you for two years? I’m not a fool, and you can’t trick me,” Amanda said confidently to Cercus, her conviction unwavering.
“Okay, let’s begin,” I chuckled darkly, “The game will come to an end. Now all of you stand next to each other. Say the truth or die.” I screamed, the severity of my words hanging heavy in the air, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife.
I took my gun and started pointing it at all of them, my heart racing with adrenaline. “Now all of you tell me one truth. Let’s start with you, Selena,” I yelled, my voice filled with authority, the room hanging on my every word.
“Well, Tomas, nothing. I was in love with you, and I was hoping to make you fall in love with me; that’s all,” Selena admitted, her voice steady, her eyes meeting mine without flinching.
“Next one, Maya, your turn,” I said, scanning her face for any signs of deception, trying to read her thoughts.
“Well, Tomas, I made a deal with Mark to make you fall in love with me and then take your money, but I fell for you instead,” Maya informed me, her tone serious as she met my gaze. I nodded, acknowledging her honesty, the air buzzing with unsaid emotions.
“Jennifer, you betrayed me and tried to put me in jail! So what’s your excuse? I was good with you!” I asked Jennifer, my voice low and dangerous, the threat lingering like a storm cloud.
“Tomas! I can’t say that I hate you, but I don’t love you either. In the beginning, your strange personality attracted me, but after I met Jack again by coincidence, I realized I hadn’t forgotten him at all. This wasn’t the main reason to write about your identity; the main reason came after what happened to me on the island. I discovered that you are not in love with me, so how could I trust a mafia king who plays with guns and is thirsty for blood?” Jennifer said, defiance in her eyes as she faced me. I grinned, barely containing my anger at her words.
“Now your turn, Amanda!” I spun my head around, glancing at her, feeling the weight of the moment pressing down on us.
“No, Mr. Tomas, I’m the last one. I’m the one who will solve this puzzle. You have to make Cercus tell everyone how he is still alive until now. You have to tell everyone why Mark is still calling you daily and meeting you secretly!” Amanda laughed, a hint of mischief in her tone, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
“Holy shit! How could you know all this stuff? Are you a ghost?!” I shrieked, completely taken aback, my mind racing with disbelief.
“No, I’m not, but please let everyone know; it’s the game of truth now, and you said to tell you the truth or die,” Amanda stared at me, her resolve unyielding, a warrior ready for battle.
I huffed, then I pointed to Mark to start talking and explain, eager to unravel the tangled web before us.
“Okay, I’m working with Tomas, and we didn’t finish our relationship. He was the one who asked me to test Maya, and then after she realized she was only looking for money, he decided to throw her away,” Mark explained, his voice steady, the truth spilling out.
“It’s your turn, Mr. Cercus!” I asked Cercus to explain, feeling the weight of the moment pressing down.
“Okay, it was just a game. Mr. Tomas wanted to know if Jennifer was collecting data about him to tell the cops or to write about his identity or not,” Cercus said to us, his tone serious, each word measured.
“Well, now your turn, Mr. Tomas!” Amanda pointed to me and mocked me, staring deeply into my eyes, challenging me.
“What? Me?” I asked Amanda, feeling the pressure mount, the spotlight burning bright.
“Yes, Mr. Tomas. Tell me, which one of them is a liar and which one is telling the truth from your opinion? Who is the cop here?” Amanda asked me seriously, her gaze unwavering, the challenge clear.
I pointed my gun, walking next to Maya, then Selena, and then I stopped at Jennifer. “I guess Jennifer, and all the evidence points to her. She wrote an article about my identity,” I glared at Amanda, feeling confident, ready to strike.
“Wrong answer, Mr. Tomas. Pick another one,” Amanda said to me, giggling and shrugging her shoulders as if it were a game, the thrill of uncertainty electrifying the air.
So I stepped forward to Selena, “Then Selena, because she disappeared and then came back suddenly. But I don’t think so,” I said to Amanda, feeling uncertain.
“Pick another one, Mr. Tomas…” Amanda urged me, her eyes locked on mine, the challenge still alive.
I furrowed my brow, stepping to Maya, “It could be Maya; she’s so evil, but she knows that I’m the mafia king from a year ago. Why now?” I asked Amanda, frustration creeping in.
Amanda stared at me, her expression serious. “Mr. Tomas, please point your gun at me. None of them are the cop. It’s me. I’m FBI,” Amanda said to me, the revelation shocking me to my core, sending a chill down my spine.
“What?!” I was stunned, my brows furrowing in disbelief, the world spinning around me.
“Yes, Mr. Tomas, but before explaining everything, you have to listen to my three hidden secrets. The first one is: I’m FBI, but I resigned after I discovered that you are the mafia king. The second one is that yes, I’m the one who slept with you before, but I didn’t have the courage at that time to confess. The third one, why didn’t you notice after all these years that the girl who wrote the letter for you is the same girl that slept with you that night? How could you not notice that the right upper side of the letter says AMA and the bottom of the other left side of the letter are the same! Check the letters, please,” Amanda said to me, staring intently, her eyes piercing through me.
I was shocked, glued to my place, my mind struggling to comprehend what was happening. I couldn’t handle it anymore, so I opened the letters I had been keeping in my pocket all this time and checked the upper and bottom sections. She was correct! Amanda is my unknown girl who wrote the letter a few years ago! She’s the one I love! I whispered, mumbling in disbelief, the truth crashing down on me like a tidal wave.
I widened my eyes, “How could I know that you are the same one? Maybe you stole the letters, and you noticed that!” I asked, curiosity overtaking me, the pieces of the puzzle slowly falling into place.
“You know that it was me. Someday you would notice me! Remember those words, Mr. Tomas?” Amanda giggled, a hint of mischief in her eyes, the playful glint almost disarming.
I cleared my throat and threw my gun down, walking slowly towards her, the tension easing. “Oh Amanda, it’s you?! Then why didn’t you appear? Why didn’t you say anything to me?” I asked softly, my heart racing, the emotions swirling within me.
“Because I thought that the girl you never noticed must be something important to deserve to be with you. But I didn’t expect I would find the man I loved, a mafia king! Could you believe that? I worked hard to be a police officer and an FBI agent, and all I realized from that time was that I wasted my time! I was working in the opposite direction! But after I discovered the truth, I found that I couldn’t put you in jail. I was dreaming of you every day and every night!” Amanda explained to me, her voice filled with emotion as she started to cry, the weight of her words hanging heavy in the air.
I hugged her tightly into my arms, bending my arms around her waist, feeling a rush of warmth and understanding. “I will never let you go, Amanda, never,” I said to her, kissing her cheeks gently and wiping her tears with my hand.
She pushed my hand away smoothly, looking into my eyes, her tears falling on her cheeks.
“I lied to you, Tomas. It’s not just three hidden secrets!” Amanda told me, her voice trembling.
“What?!” I raised my brow, confusion swirling in my mind.
Amanda took her cellphone and opened the album. “Come here, Tomas, please take a look…” Amanda said to me, her expression serious.
I was shivering, my heart racing, hardly breathing as I lost my words, stuttering. I leaned my head close to the screen of her cellphone, feeling anxious.
“Who is he?!” I raised my eyes to look at Amanda, stuttering in disbelief.
“Remember two years ago! Our one-night stand?! I was a virgin! You were my first and my last man!” Amanda glanced at me, sidling closer.
“Then who is he?!” I widened my eyes at Amanda, feeling a mix of emotions.
“He is your son, Tomas!” She sighed, her voice filled with both joy and sadness.