The Italian's proposal

Chapter 20

Chapter Twenty

Timothy

Timothy was on his way to Melody’s parents’ house; it was the only place he hadn’t looked for. He had called her countless times on her cell phone, wasting time dialing, knowing she wasn’t going to answer.

She was tired of him and his attitude and he knew it.

“Sir,” it was Clark, he was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he hadn’t realized they were already in front of Melody’s parents’ house.

The detective had done the job right.

She was there, she hasn’t been out all afternoon, not even to the porch.

“Shall I wait for you or come back for you later?” he didn’t know what the answer to that question would be either.

“Wait for me,” how about Melody refused to see him, she had her reasons. He screwed up big time. And Equilay Thompson’s Bahamas account confirmed it. He has been stupid, blinded by Gia’s infidelity and betrayal, he judged Melody without listening to her.

Now she was gone.

An innocent in a world full of bullets in the air.

She was hit by one, and unfortunately, Timothy was the one who pulled the trigger and sentenced.

“No,” he regretted. “Go. I’ll call you when we’re done.” He wasn’t going to leave without her.

He always had been known for being a confident man, but at that moment, with the documents the detective handed him half an hour earlier, he didn’t even know how to walk safely and calmly.

Regret and guilt were two things he never felt before, at least not to this magnitude.

He called Hamlet, asking for Devina’s number, which his cousin didn’t like, as he knew they didn’t get along, but in the end, Timothy was forced to confess that he screwed up big time.

Big and deep.

“Did you find her yet?” was the first thing she said when Hamlet put her on the phone.

“No. But you were right.”

“I usually am,” he imagined her smiling complacently, she was tremendous, that woman.

“I don’t know what to do.”

Admitting it hadn’t cost him as much as he imagined.

The truth was, if he was responsible for hurting Melody, it was appropriate to be just as responsible for apologizing and begging for her forgiveness.

He did not see himself as a man who would kneel before anyone, but neither did he see himself as one who would mistreat and hurt.

The last one already did.

It cost him nothing to kneel if necessary.

“The first thing is to talk to her, go over to her and tell her that you know she wasn’t the one who stole the money,” she told him after a while with the line silent.

“You make it too easy; don’t you remember how she beat you up for thinking I sent you?” she didn’t want to imagine what it would do to him if he didn’t tread lightly.

“It’s not that I forgot, it’s that she acted out of how we conditioned her. I realize this now.”

“What the fuck do you mean?” Devina seemed to have all the time in the world, whereas he, needed to figure everything out now. He was a pragmatic man of action, not one to make a mess and walk away without sorting it out.

“You accused her of stealing from you, of planning something as ugly as a three-million-dollar embezzlement, I tried to help her by giving her the money,” she sighed and continued. “I influenced her to believe you were trying to blame her even more. Melody didn’t see it as help, she saw it as a ploy to prove her dignity and her sincerity. Not as an escape, which was what I was looking for.”

“You wanted her to leave me?” he didn’t understand why Devina had stepped in where no one called her.

feel like Satan himself, like a deplorable being. He thought of the restaurant and how he gave her Equilay Thompson’s statement and how he smiled

didn’t know that about you, I’m sorry that...” he didn’t even know what to say

to Hamlet and then went back to him. “I know you like her, if you weren’t attracted to her, you wouldn’t be screwing your brains out

he

hopefully, hopefully, you’ll get her to

as he stood in front of the house,

to hit him with a broom, so be

watched Clark drive away, a part of him wanted to leave with him, take refuge in his penthouse and carry on as if nothing happened. But the part that contained his integrity,

he said when Melody’s mother opened the door for him. He recognized her, since the report given by the detective was

the look on the woman’s

said and stepped aside, making way for him, which he was curious about. He hadn’t expected such a

banging with frying pans

coffee or wine?” she asked after inviting

to the extreme, he tried to behave as affable as possible, but it was impossible for

A set of traditional mahogany furniture adorned the living room, giving it a contemporary and classic style, there were photographs of Melody and her sister as children, all the way up to their teenage years. He focused on Melody automatically, her face hadn’t changed a bit. She was smiling at the camera with all her teeth, even though she wore braces and her bangs on her forehead messed up in almost every picture.

in Italy and in Manhattan and most of the world. His last name opened doors for him, but it

And he was.

how petulant

discovering Gia’s infidelity, he lost his

why Devina judged him so harshly. Because in her eyes, he

he let himself appear to

been. I hope you can settle your differences tonight. I’ve always told her she should stop making such a big deal out of everything,” he realized at once to whom Melody came

amusing the way Melody communicates,” but he found it unnecessary to

a good thing. It’s not a good thing to be constantly drowning

beginning to think the woman wanted to tell him something else, but Melody’s father came out of one

meet you Mr. Redford,” he

house, he hoped not so much that his father would cut him down with a razor. The report said he was a surgeon, and one of the best in

union and love, that made him question why Melody left her parents’ house, even more, because being pregnant she did not have health insurance, being her father a doctor

the man shook his hand for a second and released him as he looked at his wife. “Did

amused, spreading

said as he agreed to sit down. “Where’s Melody? I need to talk

since you will be my youngest daughter’s husband, the least we can do is invite you to dinner, so we can get to know each other,” Melody’s father sounded more like an accusation

behaved, it gave him to understand that Melody hadn’t rant at him or told him what

that made him

hatred in others at the thought of him, though

I don’t think I can stay long,” he just wished he could talk to

you know where I can get my...?” the question died on her lips at the sight of him. Her eyes went from calm to immediately on

down to her breasts. She was wearing white tights, which came down to her knees, with a bunny face on her knees. He noticed her eyes; they were bloodshot and cursed himself for being

energy in the room grew heavy and it wasn’t just him

looked at him and the threat was implied in his eyes, but he still said staring at him. “Be incredibly careful with

to hurt her,” and he meant it from the

my family members care how rich you are, my

a hand on her father’s back. “Leave us alone for a moment, we’ll be on the porch. It’ll

parents,

told me your sister is coming for dinner,” Melody didn’t look at her mother, but it didn’t take it for him to realize something

made of brick, Melody sat there and looked at

contained all the family information of Equilay and Melody herself, bank accounts of both

was strong. One of the strongest women he knew, taking care of a child alone, never minding that the father was absent, shouldn’t be easy. He didn’t know the root of her relationship with that guy, he didn’t care about it either. It irritated him

“What?”

didn’t let her. “Look at me Melody, look me in the eyes and believe me when I say I’m sorry. I’m sorry for judging you lightly

stopped struggling and stare

“You...”

believe you. I know you had nothing

she let out a sob

I want you to know that I know I was a bastard, and I don’t deserve you to help me, or to marry me. I don’t deserve to have you even as a friend,” he knew he was babbling, but once he started, he felt

lifted her head and turned away as

you seen everything they say about me? That I’m a freeloader and a slut? You did that!” she began to draw in a forced breath, and Timothy worried about her well-being. “You feel good,

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255