“Perhaps Miss Melina is feeling ashamed to be seen naked in front of you after so long.” This is the tenth reason Leo has come up with in the past hour.
Thomas just told Leo what happened last night. He didn’t want to tell him, but he felt if he wanted Leo’s help in figuring out what went wrong, he needed to know what had happened.
“That’s impossible. I have fucking seen, kissed, and worshiped every inch of her body. That is the most illogical reason you have come up with.”
“I know, but….”
“But what?” Thomas barks, irritated.
“Please don’t kill me for what I am about to say, sir.”
“Speak.”
“Miss Melina may be a beautiful woman, but she has been severely tortured. I’m sure her body is covered in new scars, and someone like her would be ashamed to show her body to anyone.”
“Hmm,” Thomas rests his chin on his fist and ponders over Leo’s words.
“You said she suddenly changed the second her clothes came off, right?”
“Yes.”
“There’s no other reason, sir.”
“You might actually be right, Leo. I can’t believe I didn’t think of this.” Melina had a few scars while they dated, but those ones were barely visible. The new ones she has now are really visible because they’re new. Thomas finally understands why she refuses to let him to see her naked. He’s thankful that he didn’t push her too hard last night. He would’ve been very sorry.
“That’s totally understandable, sir.”
“Thank you for helping me figure it out. You can take the rest of the day off.”
“Thank you, sir.” Leo stands up to leave.
As Leo walks out of Thomas’ office, he thinks of how to convince Melina that she’s still fucking beautiful to him, even with her body covered in scars. He also thinks of ways he can make her believe it as well. A knock at Thomas’ office door interrupts his train of thought.
“Come in,” Thomas says, and the person pushes the door open and walks in.
“Melina,” Thomas jolts from his seat. She’s the last person he expects. He even expected her to avoid him for days after what he did yesterday. He still can’t believe how foolish he was.
“Hi, Thomas,” she says, smiling softly. Thomas’ heart swells seeing her beautiful smile. He missed her smiles. She’s wearing a blue silk floral print dress that hugs her like a second skin. She looks gorgeous.
“What brings you over?” he asks, walking to her by the door. He gestures for her to seat on the couch.
“I’d like to speak with you about something important.” she says, after taking her seat.
“Go ahead.” He takes the seat across from her.
“I want to return to the States.”
“What!” Thomas exclaims, shocked to the bone. He could not believe she had just said that. Does that mean she couldn’t forgive me?
“Don’t panic; I’m not going because I’ve decided not to be with you, but I need some time away from here and from you to think about it.”
Her words send a stray bullet through Thomas’ heart. He knew he messed up last night, but he didn’t think it would push her away from him this much.
“Oh.”
“Yes, and I know it isn’t safe because Rafael could still kidnap me, so I was thinking you could just arrange security detail to ensure that doesn’t happen.”
Hearing Melina mention Rafael and the security detail Thomas recalls what he should have said the first minute she mentioned her wish to go back. He was so hurt by her needing time away from him that he didn’t consider the consequences.
“I’m sorry, Melina, but I can’t let you return to the States.” He knows this could escalate her decision not to be with him, but Thomas doesn’t care. Melina’s safety comes first. I couldn’t be with her if she was dead.
“I know it’s risky, but I need the space.”
“I know it’s important you get the space you need, but I can’t, Melina. I can’t fucking risk it.”
“Leo could be the one in charge of my security detail. He will ensure I’m safe, and you trust him. I’m also comfortable around him.”
“Still not enough for me, Melina.”
“Thomas!” she says, raising her voice a little with a hint of anger in her tone.
“The Costanzo estate is the safest place for you.” He gets up from his seat, already done with the conversation.
“I know, but….” He cuts her off.
“No, Melina, we are done with this conversation.” He turns away from her and faces his office window, his back to her. It pains him that he couldn’t even give her such a small thing as time away from him and the place that held so many horrible memories for her.
For the first time in his life, Thomas wishes his lifestyle was different. So many problems Melina and he had wouldn’t have been.
He hears her footsteps approaching the door and waits for her to leave. As she bangs the door on her way out, the books on the shelves shake. Fuck! She is angry with me. She now has another reason to choose not to be with me.
MELINA
She spends the rest of the day annoyed with Thomas. She knew Thomas would be opposed to her leaving, but she believed she could persuade him otherwise. She is disappointed she can’t return to the States.
Melina steps out of the toilet after washing her hands. She walks to the couch in her room to continue watching TV with Franky, but she finds the sofa empty. Perhaps Franky went downstairs to the kitchen to get more popcorn.
Melina sits down and uses her phone to pass the time while waiting for Franky to return. Thomas gave Melina back her old phone. She’s so happy to have it back as she assumed he’d thrown it away.
A few minutes pass, and Franky hasn’t returned. Melina leaves her room to look for her. She walks downstairs and checks the kitchen, but finds it empty, so she walks back upstairs to Franky’s room to check.
Melina arrives at her room to find the door ajar. Her brow furrows, finding it weird that Franky would leave her room door open while she’s inside. Melina slowly pushes the door further open and walks inside. She calls out Franky’s name as she enters. Melina waits to hear a response but receives none. This makes her concerned that something has happened to Franky. She finds the light switch in her room and turns it on. A gasp escapes her lips when she sees the state of Franky’s room. Melina begins to panic and yells Franky’s name even louder.
The whole room is in disarray. The bedside lamp is broken, and some of the pieces are stained with blood. Melina is hoping the blood isn’t her sister’s. The throw pillows are on the floor too, and they appear to have been ripped open with a knife. What the hell happened here?
Melina checks the toilets and closet, but finds no trace of Franky. She runs out of the room and begins to look for her in other parts of the house. God! Please ensure that nothing happens to my sister. Please, I beg you, I can’t bear it if something has happened to her.