(NFTMB)Chapter 96
Alessandro
(See For Yourself)
I was with Niccolo and Valentino in my office as we waited for Niccolo’s hacker friend to get us an image or any ID related thing about this Green Eyed Monster of a person.
I was curious and itching to know.
“How much longer do we have to wait for this?”. Valentino asked as he was tapping his fingers rhythmically on my desk.
Niccolo rolled his eyes before pulling out his phone.
“Look! It’s only been thirty minutes and you’re already whining Valentino. Have you no patience?”. He asked while setting the phone down on the table.
“Ah, whatever!”
“Are you alright, Valentino? You seem a little out of it today”
“Yes. I’m fine. I’ve just got a lot on my head.”
“Anything you need I or Niccolo’s help on?”
It’s strange to see him swimming around in his head. He’s usually very present and very active in any conversation.
“No, I’ve got this. I’ll be fine don’t worry about me”
“Are you sure, Valentino?”. I asked him
“Yes. I can handle this”
“If you say so”
“Yoo, I forgot to tell you Alessandro. I ran into your crazy neighbor, Castleford”.
“What is he up to now?”
“Carlo drove me out the other day to go see my friend who would get the footage for us. On the way Carlo stopped at the gas station and I saw Castleford running out of the store like he was being chased by hounds.
He was in such a hurry that his plastic bag tore open and everything he got was practically on the floor. I guess he’s an alcoholic now with how much alcohol he bought”. Niccolo said while laughing.
That sounds just about wrong. Bernard Castleford doesn’t drink. He doesn’t smoke. He literally lives a very meticulously healthy lifestyle.
“Are you sure it’s him?”
“Of course it’s him. I would recognize that goatee and crazed look from anywhere”. He insisted
“Description fits but Castleford isn’t really a drinker actually. He’s always been the healthy type. Alessandro you remember you used to make fun of his lean stature and his healthy lifestyle thing”. Valentino said.
He has a very good memory because that was the truth about Castleford. I used to ridicule him due to his looks and stature.
He was lean and almost skinny actually.
“Yeah I remember. Valentino’s right about that one. Bernard hardly drinks. He’s always into mineral water or juice. As weird as that sounds”
Bernard Castleford, being at business parties and luncheons, hardly drinks or eats anything that he didn’t probably scrutinize and deem healthy enough to enter his body.
Fitness, gut health, vegan and the sort. That was him.
He can’t even hold his alcohol. The guy is a total wuss and a weirdo with really high business acumen. That’s what kept him where he is now.
He’s good at business, that’s why he’s my rival and one of the most successful businessmen in the world.
“Well I’m telling you guys what I saw. You can ask Carlo too. He had alcohol and toiletries and scissors and a whole lot of medical looking things in his bag that tore open in public. I’m telling you that this guy has gone nuts”
“Nobody is doubting you, it’s just that it still seems a bit unusual and unlikely to see Castleford stray from his religiously healthy ways and embrace the brown liquid. Well, kudos to him. At least he finally grew up and stopped bring a freak.
“Yeah right. The man I saw looked scared and nervous as fuck. He looked around in fear and panic after his supplies were exposed. I bet I could take him on there and then”
“Of course you can!”
“Maybe he’s afraid that people are gonna see him drinking.”
“Valentino has a point there. He’s known as a stiff health geek and a weirdo nerd of some sort. His new obsession leaking out from the bag and being exposed to the public where paparazzi might probably be lurking around might have made him nervous. He’s got no balls ”
“That’s right”.
“Who knows what happened to the upright business man for him to sully his ways and throw his dignity and morals away like that.”
“Must he something huge. Maybe his business is collapsing. Or maybe his finance and assets are dwindling”.
‘Mhmm. Possibly mid life crisis. He’s too old to be going through a heartbreak”
Niccolo laughed at my comment.
“That’s correct Alessandro. He’s too old for that. Besides, who’s gonna love someone like him? He seems too nerdy and stiff”
“Don’t forget his wife”
“Oh yeah. The queen of the lunatics”
“Exactly”
“She gives me the creeps”
“Whatever it is I’m sure it’s got him feeling very desperate and helpless. And it makes me very happy. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Castleford’s time is here”
“Serves him right.”
“Fuck this!”
I looked at Valentino as he pulled his hair in frustration before running his fingers down his face.
Something is very wrong with him.
“Hey, what’s your problem anyways. You almost gave me a heart attack”. Niccolo said in annoyance.
“I can’t do this anymore.” He said
What is really wrong with Valentino? What’s been going round his head all day? He’s not been his usual self.
Guilty conscience? Well I would like to know the crime first. I know he’s hiding something from me.
He’s been trying his best to act normal in front of me.
Some sins just are unforgivable.
“What are you talking about?”
“I kissed Victoria at the party”.
And that was it.
My suspicions that night were just proven right with those words he just uttered.
I’m not surprised. I’m just kind of relieved that it was just that.
I expected this, for some weird reason I did. They just got along really well right from the start coupled with the fact that she has Laura’s features.
My wife looks a lot like his dead girlfriend.
“Hey, what are you doing?”. Niccolo whispered while nudging him by the side as Valentino kept his eyes on mine.
I see. They both knew about it and kept it from me.
They hid this and lied to me straight in the face.
Wow.
“You knew about this too, Nic?”. I asked him with a smile on my face.
“Sorry, Alessandro. I didn’t want you to get mad”
“Now I get it. That must be why you shot Jasmine. She walked in on the two of them and must have threatened to tell me what they were doing behind my back in an event I was hosting. You really insult me, Valentino”
With how quiet they were with their heads hung low, I could tell I was right.
Yet again, I was right.
“You’ve kept this affair you have with my wife secret for a long time now. Why do you suddenly want to rat yourself out? Guilty conscience?”
I don’t even know how to react to this news considering that I myself am a cheater as well.
Do I scream? Do I shout? Yell loudly and break things? Would that not make me a hypocrite?
I’ve done way worse things than this. I’ve been having an affair actually affairs and cheating on her with numerous women then why do I feel bad about this.
It can’t be because she did it with my brother, no. I slept with Sofia and Roberta who happened to be sisters though it wasn’t intentional because I had no idea.
“Fabiano overheard her talking to me about it and now is using it as a way to control me”. He said
“Is that so? How come he heard about it?”
“I just told you now that Victoria was saying it.
She followed me into the darkroom and saw Laura’s photo so she kind of freaked out and got mad and started yelling at me not to come close to her and accused me of using her and all.
That’s how he heard about it”
“How did he know to find you in the darkroom at that exact moment and why you?”
“I don’t know. How am I supposed to know? Maybe he had a strong hunch”
“No. Not a hunch. He had a clue that finding you two together was going to lead to a discovery and that’s why he followed you there ready to record your conversation with my wife”
“What are you talking about?”
“I don’t understand what he’s saying”
How can the two of them be so dumb and brainless? So very clueless about how cunning and deceptive Fabiano could be.
He’s got allies and one of them must have suspected the two of them.
“Someone doesn’t just stumble upon you with a recorder in hand and aiming to get something substantial when he only thinks you’re in the darkroom to get your photos.
Someone lurks in the corner with a recorder and waits till Victoria arrives only when he knows that you two will say something or do something that will be beneficial to his goal.”
“Ohhhh”
“So you’re sayinggg—”
“Yes. Someone from his own side already suspects or even knows that you both were having an affair behind my back. It’s either that or you already had a long standing relationship with Fabiano where he casually checks in on you at every time of the day for no reason”. I said with a shrug.
“No. Hell no! He’s never been in that darkroom and we’ve never had any communication in private since he returned. That’s why I was surprised to see him there. We are not cool with each other”
“Alessandro is right. Someone must have told him about the two of you and that’s why he’s been keeping an eye on you both”
“Geez”
“So what does he want you to do in exchange for him keeping your secret?”
“He wants the documents to your company and your properties and he wants you”. Valentino said with guilt.
“I see. I’m flattered to hear that he wants me. What should I do in celebration, Nic?”.
“Maybe we can catch his informant Sebastian and tie him up while I shoot him repeatedly to vent out my frustrations and pent up anger.” Niccolo said in anger.
“That sounds good. Great even. That’s a nice way to celebrate”
“Yeah. I bet it was that asshole that tipped him off. He must have noticed you both”. Nic said
“I’m sorry, Alessandro. I never meant for this to happen. I didn’t mean to betray you. It just happened. And I promise it will never happen again”
“Of course it wouldn’t. I’ll only forgive you for the sole reason that you are my brother and that it only happened once plus I’m not a saint myself I’ve messed around a couple of times. If I find out that it happened again, you’ll both be sorry”
“It would never happen again”. He said
He had better stick to his promise else I’ll forget he’s my brother and treat him like an enemy.
“I have one request please”
“What now, Valentino? You want the chance for a last kiss?”
“No! That’s not it. That’s not what I want.” He clarified
“Then what?”
“Just please leave her out of this. Don’t hurt her, don’t let her know that you know”. He asked.
I’m sure my face must be displaying the confusion I felt at his request.
“Just please, leave her out of this”.
“Whatever. It still doesn’t change the fact that she’s a cheater. Now she doesn’t get to play the victim card around me anymore”
He gave me a look of surprise.
“What? Isn’t that the truth? Isn’t that what they call people that do the shit she did?”
“She’s sad. Just let her be”
“That’s her business”
“Hey, Nic! Say something! What’s got you so fixated on your phone?”. Valentino said.
“You guys won’t believe who I saw in the footage”. He said in shock.
I sat up immediately with renewed vigor.
“He’s sent it?”. I asked
“Yes”
“Why didn’t you say so?!”
“Because you guys were having a moment and besides I was in shock!”
“Who is it?”
“Take a look and see for yourself”