Chapter 3 I Should Poison His Coffee

• Chapter 3
• THOMASINA
• I slept late after turning and tossing.
• The soft hum of engines woke me up. Talk. Steps. Laughing.
• Small talks, light steps and laughter coming from the driveway.
• I glanced at the clock.
• 8:32 am
• Lucia was still sleeping.
• I went over to the window and poked my head through the curtains. The tires of a fleet of black luxury cars crunched on gravel as they entered the circular drive of the Balotelli estate.
• Men in fitted suits emerged laughing as if they owned the world and everything there in.
• I didn't see any weapons out. Their postures were relaxed. This didn't look like war stuff, it was business, possibly even family, maybe coming to pay homage to the Lord And Master Of Crime.
• I was about to shut the curtains when I saw him. Elian, and my chest missed a beat and I feared that I might have a cardiac arrest.
• His presence was filled with something I couldn't place my fingers on and he looked dangerous and his jaw was sharper and broader than it had been in high school.
• However those lopsided smiles and storm-gray eyes remain unchanged. He was my first foolish crush. The boy who sketched skulls in his notebook while sitting behind me in economics. Once the boy made my heart skip a beat by offering me gum.
• He didn't even remember me that much and he probably won't really remember our time together in school. However I did remember him. I remembered everything about God. And here he was, in this house that is cursed, laughing alongside men who exudes death like cologne. I stepped back, my heart pounding and dropped the blind. This was not good. Because Elian was more than just a phantom from my adolescence.
• Wait . His name was Elian Octavio something. I shut my eyes trying to remember and then snapped them up with so much force.
• Elian Octavio Balotelli.
• Blessed Virgin Mary. It wasn't possible. Juan Miguel's brother.
• No, I was in deep shit. It was better for me to remain invisible. Particularly right now. Curiosity raged anyway. Did he know about me or Lucia? What was he doing here? I cautiously avoided the edges of the hallway as I slipped inside.
• As they got ready for the visitors, staff hurried across the marble floors. I remained small and silent moving like a shadow with my head down. There was safety in the kitchen. I was busy organizing trays and slicing fruit.
• The jitters subsided as a result. Until Angelo the head of staff for the estate looked in.
• “ Thomasina.” He yelled. “The dining room.
• Now. Mr. Balotelli needs coffee and a bottle of Martini for his guests.”
• The order made my heart sink. I wanted to argue, to plead but that would attract notice. I then wiped my hands, nodded and picked up the tray containing the fragile porcelain cups and silver pots.
• Do not be scared. I whiskey to myself.
• The dining room was filled with laughter and low voices. Rich, deep laughter.
• I came in like a ghost, unseen. professional. Keep it quiet, my head down.
• The scent of power, cologne and coffee filled the room. Juan Miguel sat with his eyes like twin blades at the head of the long mahogany table. Elian was smiling and lounging in his chair next to him. His shirt was unbuttoned at the collar and a dark gray suit. His eyes danced with a carefree gleam.
• I didn't stay looking or trying to know if he recognized me.
• I went from one guest to the next quietly setting out coffee. Their conversations weren't clear enough .
• The market in Barcelona—.
• Shipment was delayed but I informed them.
• Someone laughed and said “Your new girl is fast Juan Miguel. “
• “She’s here temporarily.” Juan Miguel said bluntly like he knew the man wanted to say something else.
• I did not wince, didn't pause what I was doing.
• Elian looked up as I got to him.
• His eyes narrowed as if he was trying to place me for a single moment. Keep your cool. I said to myself and poured his coffee and went on quickly.
• Even though he remained silent I could feel his gaze on my back. I didn't realize I'd been holding a shaky breath until I left the room.
• It was almost too close. My hand was pressed to my chest in the pantry. Being seen wasn't part of the plan, especially not someone from my past.
• Not by someone who might unintentionally reveal my secret. Elian Balotelli didn't really know me
• And that's what I planned to do and also keep it that way. And if he eventually remembers which I knew it might be impossible to, then doom would be knocking at my door.
• I went back to the nursery. Lucia was awake and she was playing with a stuffed lamb.
• As I sat next to her, I picked a doll and I caressed her hair.
• “Are you alright dear?”
• Her nod was solemn. The laughter was still echoing outside the door, the male voices. Elian owned one of them. I shouldn't have felt anything. But the anger in my heart hadn't subsided.
• I looked out of the window. I had made a mistake. I wished I had poisoned that cup of coffee