Melissa's eyes flutters open. "Where am I?" She asked as she examines the room.
This room doesn't look familiar at all. The entire room was decorated in black and gold.
There was no warmth inside the room despite the fact the sun was out. Melissa walked to a table where documents were laid down.
She slowly read each one, She gasped in horror. "These are shipments of guns and cocaine.... I don't understand... He does illegal businesses?" Melissa asked.
Antonio entered the room. "Ahh I see you've already seen the documents" He said as he enters the room.
Melissa was too busy staring at the documents trying to convince herself it wasn't real.
"I knew I should have put those away when I had the chance. Oh well there's nothing we can do about that now" Antonio said with the calmness of a cucumber.
"Tell me it isn't true.... Tell me it's all some kind of misunderstanding" Melissa said.
"How can I deny it when the truth stares you right in the eyes?" Antonio asked.
"So you.... You smuggle guns?" Melissa asked. "Smuggle is such a strong word.... It's more of a retail" Antonio said casually.
Melissa held the wall for support. She knew the Castello's were bad news but she wouldn't have imagined that they buy and sell guns.
"You didn't read the one on the back. I'm sure that will entertain you more" Antonio said.
Melissa looks at the documents with shaky hands. The documents contain the date, time and amount of children being sold and bought.
"This... Is.... This is...." Melissa struggled to make sense of everything. Antonio stood patiently watching her crumble.
"This is child trafficking.... You buy and sell children like chickens?" Melissa asked. "Oh cry me a river... If I didn't do it then someone else would" Antonio said.
Melissa couldn't believe this was the same man that comforted her hours ago. This man before her looked like a monster.
He actually spends time doing horrible things to children. He's putting them in the same situation she once escaped.
"Those children are being raped and sold to monsters" Melissa said. "Why should I care?" Antonio asked.
"I care... Because I was once in that position. I know what it's like to be raped and locked inside a dark room..... But monsters like you won't care" Melissa said
"I'm surprised you didn't notice it when you blindly walked into my room. It left me wondering if it was deliberate. I've been meaning to find out your motive" Antonio said.
"My motive?" Melissa asked. "Yes, your motive. You're too precise, too unpredictable. You've been working for me without expecting anything in return. It left me wondering whether you're a spy" Antonio said.
"Spy? What would make you think that?" Melissa asked. "Perhaps non of this is a coincident. You applying for a job in my company"
"Ariana applied for the job not me" Melissa said.
"Then you disappeared without a trace. You soon show up months later with Abuela. You became my perfect little secretary.... You were too perfect, too efficient... No one is too perfect" Antonio said.
"I had an emergency to take care of and Abuela, I met her by accident" Melissa said.
"You know I'm beginning to suspect, your little trip to China was also part of your plan" Antonio said.
"Have you gone nuts? Why would I plan for my friend to be abducted by her father?" Melissa asked.
"You tell me. You knew your little confrontation in china would be all over the news. You also knew that once Abuela sees it then she'll protect you no matter what" Antonio said.
"What are you talking about? I didn't know that, it was just dumb luck"
{What's wrong with him all of a sudden?}
"What exactly are you planning Melissa? If that's even your real name" Antonio said.
"I never had one" Melissa said. "What?" Antonio asked in confusion.
"A real name.. I never had one. I was never important enough for my mother to even give me a name" Melissa said as she gripped the documents tight.
"I didn't....." Antonio said but Melissa cuts him off. "You didn't need to know. I don't have ill intentions towards you or your family" Melissa said.
"You don't have what it takes to target my family" Antonio calmly said. "If you saw me as nothing but a threat then why buy me this hair clip?" Melissa asked.
Antonio paused. Melissa sighs in defeat. "I don't need your sympathy. I'm not a broken doll that needs protection" Melissa took off the hair clip and placed it on the documents before leaving.
"Melissa you of all people should know that I'm no saint" Antonio said. She left without another word.
Melissa left the building. She knew the Castello's did illegal businesses but to think they'll actually buy children like goods. The thought makes her sick in the stomach.
The next day Melissa got to work and pretends like nothing happened. She enters Antonio's office.
"Sir you have a meeting with the strategist team in five minutes" Melissa said as she adjusts her not so medicated glasses.
"Melissa... We need to talk" Antonio said. "We can put a pin on this but you need to get ready" Melissa said.
Antonio sighs. "Melissa about yesterday, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable" Antonio said. "You didn't sir"
Antonio looks at Melissa. "Follow me" Antonio said. "Now? But your meeting"
"Again with the buts" Antonio said as he adjusts his suit and left his office.
Melissa follows him from behind. Antonio took her to a warehouse were children sat on the ground.
She paused when she saw them. Antonio looks behind to see Melissa standing looking at everyone in fear. He walks up to her.
"Relax.... Let's go inside" Antonio said. "Why did you bring me here? Do you want me to watch you transact these children?" Melissa asked. "Just follow me" Antonio said.
Melissa follows him inside the warehouse. Abuela stood talking to a girl who seemed frightened.
"Abuela" Antonio said. Abuela turns to find Melissa standing behind Antonio. "What the hell is she doing here? What part of secret mission don't you understand?" Abuela asked.
"I know I know. It happened suddenly" Antonio admitted.
"Melissa... Antonio informed me of the misunderstanding but I never expected him to bring you here" Abuela said.
"So it's true... You sell children" Melissa said. Abuela laughs. "We don't buy them neither do we sell them. We rescue them and send them off to a better home" Abuela said.
"And the guns?" Melissa asked. "This idiot showed you everything didn't he?" Abuela asked in annoyance.
She took a deep breath. "We buy guns in exchange for the children" Abuela said. "You you give them guns and they'll give you the children? Why" Melissa asked.
"Because we can't risk hurting the children if we use force. This way they'll give us what we want without stress" Antonio said.
"I thought....."
"Just because we have a reputation of being the bad guys means we have no heart" Abuela said. "I was worried that you were hurting them. I couldn't stand that thought" Melissa said.
"Now that you understand, you won't look at me as a bad person" Antonio said. "Why didn't you explain things to me?" Melissa asked.
"Where's the fun in that?" Antonio asked. "You made me scared.... You made me see you as the villain" Melissa said.
"It just goes to show how quick people are to judge. It's better to be the villain then the hero, that way people won't expect much from you" Antonio said.
"Then why do you suspect me?" Melissa asked. "I just wanted to make the moment spontaneous" Antonio said.
"Alright, now that it's been cleared. Leave, I have some work to do" Abuela said.
Antonio took her outside where they found children playing around.
Melissa sat on the iron staircase. "Don't sit there" Antonio said. "I'm happy you're helping them" Melissa said.
"You sure you aren't sad that I don't fit the description?" Antonio asked. "I'm more than happy"
"Does this mean you'll accept the hair clip?" Antonio asked. Melissa paused for a while. "You're giving it back to me? After rejecting it?" Melissa asked.
"I told you... It's custom made for your protection" Antonio said. "Alright... If you're willing to give it to me" Melissa said.
"Alright stay still" Antonio said. He helped her pack her hair up and used the clip to put it in place.
For some reason he felt relaxed touching her hair. He wondered if this was a new hobby of his.
"You didn't have to do that" Melissa said. Antonio clears his throat. "You don't need to worry about that" Antonio said.
"Why did you show me the documents. A man like you won't keep important files laying carelessly around" Melissa said.
Antonio grips the railing. "For some reason I trust you. I mean you've witnessed most of the deals going on so something like this isn't a big deal" Antonio said.
"You trust me?" Melissa asked. "Ever since you didn't snitch to Don about the deals with the Japanese Yakuza.... I knew you were someone worth keeping" Antonio said.
"I never asked to be involved in any of this" Melissa said. "I know... This isn't easy for you but you're safe with me" Antonio said.
Melissa massaged her head. "I've been meaning to ask you about yesterday. What happened?" Antonio asked.
"I.... Um...." Melissa stuttered. "I totally understand if you're not comfortable talking about it" Antonio said.
"No.... If you can trust me with such a secret then I'll trust you with mine" Melissa said as she takes a deep breath.
"There are memories I don't wish to remember. Most times it's being triggered by events..... It makes me..... Suicidal....." Melissa said.
"It only hurts if you bottle everything inside. It's tired of being hidden" Antonio said.
"I know.... If I let it out I might go crazy... I might end up killing myself. I don't want to hurt the people closest to me because of this" Melissa said.
"Whatever happens always remember that there are people here for you. Including me" Antonio said.
"You?" Melissa asked. "Of course... I'm your supportive boss after all" Antonio said. Melissa gave a small smile. She knew she couldn't tell him the entire truth.