"I just want a day where it feels like I'm not falling apart anymore"

4 years ago.

12:30 pm
A bungalow,
Miami.

*

She saw him again. He has always been there watching her, protecting her from all her demons. If she believed in something she would have considered him a god. She would have thanked him for staying- being there for her when others left. She loved him and longed for him.
Maybe that was why he kept coming back. But the only problem was that he was never close. He kept a distance, always outside and never coming in.
He was just there staring back at her when she looked out the window.

At first she thought it was just a mannequin and that her imagination was playing tricks on her. But whenever she smiled, he smiled. When she was angry, he was too. Almost like he was mirroring all her emotions. And she liked it.
He understood her.
He was her helper.

*

It was past midnight when the doorbell rang. She knew who it was and chose to ignore it but after a few minutes something pushed her to open the door.

There he was in all his glory, bearing gifts. A bouquet of roses in one hand, a Gucci package in the other. He wore the knitted scarf she had made for him last Christmas which he had remarked negatively on. But here he was, wearing it in the middle of summer.

It all summed up to one thing.
He had cheated...again.

At this point she had lost count of how many other women she had lost her man to. And she didn't need any neighbour to tell on him. It was obvious, so obvious that it made her question her intelligence. Why didn't she notice before? Or did she know and chose to ignore all the signs?

Regret. Hopelessness. Shame.

Those where the emotions she was hoping to see when she looked him in the eyes. But she saw nothing but satisfaction.

Sighing, she took the package and told him to throw the flowers away. Hearing that his facade slowly faded away and he was finally the boyfriend she dated for 8 years.

He shouted, screamed in her face, insults after insults but all she could think about was how he had forgotten once more that she was allergic to roses. He was finally done and she waited for him to storm out of her house as usual, which he did right after punching her. She fell on her back and groaned in pain but more blows to her face came repeatedly. She didn't scream, cry or make any sound. She just laid there, unmoving, clutching the package with all her might. He slammed the door.

After what seemed like forever, she finally got up, wincing from the sharp pain from her back and headed to the kitchen. She opened a drawer, took out the first aid kit and sat down to tend to her wounds. She felt the familiar pair of eyes staring at her. Turning she saw him again at the window. She gave him a small smile, but this time he didn't smile back. Something felt off about him. He had a weird look in his eyes...she couldn't describe it but it was enough to give her goosebumps.

But nothing could prepare her for the shock that came next.

Looking away from the pair of eyes, her eyes caught something. Shaking frantically, she reached for her phone in her pocket and quickly called 911.

Staring wide eyed at her was her bloody boyfriend's head in the hands of her helper.

4 years ago

00:00am
The Elite Hotel,
Sicily,
Italy.

*

The party was in full swing; suits mixed with evening gowns and expensive jewelries gave off an atmosphere that reeked of wealth. Business associates mingling with one another, women gossiping about the latest news or boasting off their wealth; but none of them actually owns the money they brag of.

Tamara sat at a bar, taking a sip from her glass. Looking around, she couldn't help but smile. This was the life she came for, the life she deserved. The life she always wanted.

Riches, cars, wealth, mansions, handsome men- everything.

In as much as she wanted the riches, she would rather die than rely on a man for it.

Her way of making money was different. People called her a gold digger, prostitute and what not but Tamara just brushed them off, such petty insult to give a woman like her. If they knew her well enough their insults would revolve around the word 'artist'. She specialized in the art of conning men.

But people didn't bother to know her, so she didn't bother to care about what they thought of her.

After much consideration, she has decided to let go of this life of wealth, for now. She was going to New York to meet her younger sister who she has been phoning and messaging for months now after she sent a scary "HELP" text months ago only to leave all her messages on read and ignore her call.

She glanced at her gold wristwatch and soon the atmosphere changed to one of excitement, everyone straining to see the person whose arrival caused so much attention.

Right on time, she thought as her ticket to her new workplace entered the hall.

Xavier Parker; jet black hair in a taper cut and white suit that complemented his dark skin. A very famous singer and model who can find his way into any woman's heart but has never taken anyone to bed. Someone who was nice, nice enough to throw an opportunity of a lifetime in your face. A mummy's boy, that's what his enemies call him because of his tight relationship with the person who made him who he is today, his mother, the infamous Gigi Parker.

Tamara downed the rest of her drink before approaching her date for tonight. Dressed in a short gold silk dress that stopped on her thigh, with a slit leading up to her waist that dangerously exposed her as she walked. Her dark complexion gave off a natural glow when the lights hit her, 6 inch heels that gave off a melodic rhythm with each step she took. Few men stopped to admire her beauty while some women whispered among themselves.

She stopped in front of a table with a group of men all in black suits who were in a deep discussion, she tapped one on his shoulder and the conversation stopped. The short older man turned, his dark look slowly melted into a loving gaze before he stood and excused himself. The leader of one of the most notorious mafia in Italy.

"What's wrong babe?", Antonio said hands moving to take its place around her waist. Tamara moved slightly, crossing her arms over her chest, lips in a pout. He frowned.

"Did someone disturb you? Just give me a name and they are going to be punished", he said. She only gave a dramatic sigh. 

"Oh I know what will cheer you up", he said, taking something out of his pocket, it was a gold case. Opening it, he withdrew the gold bracelet and slipped it on her wrist. "Does it make you feel better?" He asked, massaging her wrist. The bracelet held her full name in bold. Tamara snatched her hand away, ignoring the gift.

"Remember the promise you made me? About getting me a job in that industry up in New York?" Tamara said, pausing to see if his old brain will recollect the conversation. He looked down as if concentrating could bring back a memory that never existed.

"Its okay if you don't remember love, Xavier is here now so you can introduce me to him" She said wrapping her arm around his and walking a rather confused old man to Xavier. Due to her date's position in the society, the crowd around Xavier soon dismissed themselves. The old man stretched his hand to accept Xavier's in a firm handshake.

"Nice to meet you Antonio, smoking really didn't take your youth away from you", Xavier said tucking his arm into his pocket.

"You lying punk" Antonio laughed, he turned to Tamara wrapping an arm around her waist. "This lovely lady here is my girlfriend, Tamara Lindsley"

"Tamara" He tested it looking her in the eyes before looking her over and Tamara had never heard her name sound so sexy before. "That's a beautiful name".

"Thanks Xavier", she said also testing his name on her lips causing a small smile formed on his lips. Tamara felt the hand on her waist tighten.

"My girlfriend would really love to join your mother's industry" Antonio said clearing his throat.

Xavier looked a bit skeptical, eyeing her up. It was a makeup industry, and her makeup was flawless. He was still looking her over as if judging. 

"You aren't going to refuse me now, are you?", Antonio asked. It sounded more like a statement than a question.

Xavier thought for a minute. He took out his phone and dialed a number, after a brief conversation he ended the call and smiled at them.

"Well now you have the job Tamara"

It was that easy?, she thought, giving him a bright smile. Her phone vibrated and she checked to see an email from the headquarters congratulating her on her job acceptance.

She didn't really need it anyways. She just wanted to be close to her sister to see how she was doing.

"You look like someone I know" Xavier said, his eyes scanning her face.

"Who may that be?" Tamara asked, though she did not care. This was just a method of them trying to flirt with women.

"Do you happen to know Gabriela Rossi?"

Wait, that's my sister.

"Ye-"

"Or maybe not, I'm sorry" He said cutting her off ,"She is dead anyways"

This made peoples head turn, showing that most had been listening to their conversation.

"You mean the secretary to your mother, Gabriela Rossi?", A woman asked, eyes wide in curiosity.

"Yes 'the' Gabriela Rossi", Xavier said nonchalantly before grabbing a glass of wine from a passing waiter.

"How come it was never known?" Another lady asked.

"Since when?", Tamara found herself asking, her voice shaking. Her talent in hiding her true emotions working at its best because the calm expression she had on was a big contrast to the pain and heartache she was feeling within.

"I'm not sure, last 3 months or so" He said shrugging. Various gasps were heard but Tamara was screaming in her heart, she stumbled back a little but Antonio steadied her.

"Okay lets change this useless subject, its spoiling our evening" Antonio said, turning to take Tamara away, but was met with eyes blazing with anger. He frowned.

"Yes that's why it was never known", Xavier said nodding. "It was a useless occurrence that wasn't worth hurting over, right?" He let out a laugh and others laughed along with him. Antonio smiled and turned to take Tamara away, only to be met with no one at his side.

She zoomed off, eyes hurting from how much hate she held in. The urge to shoot, kill someone was overwhelming. If she had stayed there another minute, Xavier Parker wouldn't exist anymore and that bald son of a bitch of a date would also cease to exist. Their laughter echoed in her mind and she increased the speed. The sharp light from a car heading towards her momentarily blinded her, causing her to jerk off the road and step on her brakes, the car stopped just in time in front of a tree. The shock soon died down, and it was when she lost her senses.

Tamara screamed. The pain that she hadn't felt in years, the emotion that she had been struggling to keep within. The only person that caused her to change, to leave her old ways was gone. The reason why she got rich in the first place, so as to remove her from the harsh conditions she faced at work was gone.

It took time before she finally calmed down. With each deep breath came logic.

If Gabriella had died 3 months ago, then who had been reading her messages then? She had no one other than herself in New York. Where was her belongings, her apartment, her car? Or what if Xavier was mistaken? Or there's another girl who had the same name and same position at the same time?

She grabbed her hair in frustration, the thoughts were giving her a headache. She searched her bag for her credit card and fake passport but they weren't there; she stopped shocked. She had never forgotten her passport or credit card before and she was sure she had them at the party, her work never let her forget these two important things, so how did she forget it?.

Starting the car again she zoomed off to her house and later she found herself off to New York under a new identity.

The next morning, the news rocked the underworld. The dead body of Antonio Moretti was found in his room. He had nothing on except a gold bracelet on his wrist.

A bracelet bearing Tamara Landon.

Bae-ritto❤️

Originally Published: 12/12/24

Rewritten Version Published: 22/02/25