Quench My Fire

Chapter 28: Conflicting heart

Typical Ryder, his love for cappuccino has not changed a bit just like the old days. When all of us will choose to take espresso,americano or black coffee, he was all over cappuccino and I always wondered why he loved the coffee.

"What's your obsession with Cappuccino?" I clicked my tongue in distaste... He chortled. "Care for one?" He asked glancing at me.

"No thanks" I smirked at his direction before he smiled cynically coming back to the leather seat. He took a sip before turning to my side with an intense gaze and saying...

"Talk to this woman, leaving her behind won't solve your problem." he said sipping his coffee again.

My body strained at his words. I'm not supposed to be affected but here I am trying to get hold of my inner self.

He stared at me irrationally again and said "this woman has owned your heart right from the beginning and there's nothing you can do about it... trust me I've been there and no matter how you try to fight it, you'll always be at the losing end" he stated casually with his eyes still fixated at me. I remained silent.

He took his eyes off mine when he realized I didn't react nor respond to his words. He rested his head backward. " I know it's hard for you but trust me it will worth it"

I kept tapping my pen on the desk at my conflicting heart, allowing Ryder's words to sink into my head but will it worth it like he said? I doubt... If she can break me once, then she can do it again.

"Stop overthinking... She must have had her reasons for leaving you back then unlike me who was an asshole..." He paused, I knew he still carried loads of regrets for his actions in the past. For a moment he sounded vulnerable before masking it up again.

" She was your phone screensaver back then at high school, Stefano you don't make girls your screensaver despite how they flocked around you..." He recessed before turning to me "Then it made sense... You loved her and I'm sure you still do" He said making my heart pound erratically just at the word love

"Loving her is a losing game" I twisted my lips in distaste trying not to be affected by his words. A fickle smile formed on his lips as I gave him this 'what?' look.

"Huh-oh someone has been listening to Arcade" he said sarcastically. I shifted abruptly, I can't also believe I just said that so I tried to change the topic to make it less awkward.

"Why are you here Russo? I know it's not just about me being at New York" I stated as a matter of fact.

"Marco..." he stated rubbing his palms together, a habit I noticed from him whenever he was battling with something huge within himself .

"Marco? As in my Father?" I asked to be sure and he nodded.

"What about him?"

"I met him at the white House a week ago and I tried to speak with him but he ignored me like a plague and honestly it hurts" he wore this sad expression on his face. I sighed as I don't even know what to say.

My father being my father and before I could retort back my phone buzzed cutting my attention away from him. I looked at the phone Id... He's not a bastard... father!

"Care to explain why you left Italy for a month and apparently you made me a fool by coming back and forth with your jet at the weekend to the Mansion for me not to suspect huh? I need clear and fast answers... don't even dare to beat around the bush!" he shrieked on the other side of the phone as I sighed briefly. That was his own way of greeting.

"Buorgiono papa" I said... If I think that would calm him down then I must be mistaken... I said that to piss him off the more.

"Don't you dare try to change the topic Figlio" he shrilled. I smiled cynically.

"Nothing father, just wanted to check how my work here is growing" I stated and I didn't miss the brief stare of Ryder when I mentioned father.

"If I was a kid, I'll probably believe because the last I checked that business is growing really fast and does not require an intent monitoring my Son is showering to it right now..." I shifted uncomfortably.

Talking to MARCO ALCANTARA needs intelligence and cleverness because he will outsmart you at any wrong word you dare to alter.

"Father believe me" I muttered quietly after a short silence...

"There's more to it right? I won't force you to talk to me now but feel free to speak with me about it" he said in a calmer tone that for a moment I almost mistook it to be my father still talking.

" Okay Dad" I sighed

"That reminds me... I heard something else...what's with the groom's men that's flying around my ears?" I sighed again, this conversation will be longer than I expected as I glanced briefly at Ryder whose eyes is fixated at me with a curious expression.

Trust my father on news, nothing about me passes his ears. He took me in surprise that he took this long to realize I was not at Italy itself.

"Dad...we've gone past our rift" I tried to make him reason with me.

"Our? Or yours? And when did this happen? Answer me as I'm talking...since when did that Bastard Russo become your friend again?" my father cursed at the other end making me shift my phone a little far from my ears at his loud outburst and I'm sure Ryder heard it as well. I sighed squinting my face together.

"Father it's in the past already" I tried to make him understand but he wasn't having it.

"Get your ass down here to the Mansion at this moment!" my father commanded angrily cutting the line as if the mansion was a nearby place at New York.

I glanced at Ryder as I witnessed his sad and puzzled face.

I knew how close he was with my Dad in the past so I understand why my Dad is so angry with him but can they continue like this forever?

I stood up and placed all my files together before arranging them gently back at the cabinet, grabbing my suite jacket and moving towards his side as he gave me 'what am I doing' look.

"Rise...we're going to Italy" his eyebrow rose in confusion.

"We?" His eyeballs grew big as I nodded.

One more paper to go and I'll be back with my full update. I just hope you enjoyed this...

Please don't forget to vote and comment.

Love you,Ria🍒