LOVESTRUCK

Antonio woke up with a headache the size of a country, but at least he felt good. He spent the weekend in his gym battling the urge to relapse after waking up curled like a ball on the floor in his room. It had taken all his willpower and surprisingly the haunting image of Red to overcome his urge.

He stepped out of his room all set for work. He mostly worked remotely but had decided to go into the office today. Tried as he may, he couldn quite convince himself that his sudden desire to appear in the office was totally genuine, and had absolutely nothing to do with the thought of seeing the red haired beauty again.

Walking down the stairs, his nose picked up the smell of waffles and he salivated. It looked like Edith was cooking, he thought hungrily. The last time he had eaten a proper meal was a vague memory to him. Not even Edith had been able to make him take a food break from his gym throughout the weekend.

”You
e up at last my beautiful boy ” Edith said with that maternal smile she reserved solely for Antonio. ”Come, sit and eat ” She continued practically dragging Antonio to the dinning table. She had finally gotten hold of him after trying and failing to get him to eat all weekend. She wasn going to let this opportunity pass her by.

”Look how sunken your eyes are Antonio. Do you want to give me a heart attack? ” she questioned stacking a pile of waffles on his plate.

”You know if you put any more of that waffle, I might just combust ” Antonio said amused. Edith ignored him and focused on the task at hand. He was going to eat until she began to see his colour radiate again. She finished stacking the waffles and added chicken to the mix. She whipped out the butter and syrup combo, making sure everything was perfect.

”Now eat ” She commanded as she stared fiercely at him. Antonio chuckled, touched by her care. He had always felt blessed for having Edith in his corner. He felt lucky he had two set of parents, his birth parents, and his lovely Edith and Paul. Edith hovered around him until he ate up every last piece of his food. She smiled warmly at him when he was done.

”You look better already my child ” She said pulling him into a hug. ”I don want to see you sad anymore. Everyone that knows you knows you
e being set up. You respect women far too much to ever think of bringing harm to them, so stop being sad. The truth is never hidden in the shadows forever. It will eventually come out and you my son, will be exonerated. ” Edith said in tears. She wished she could take his pain away. She had read so much misinformation about him on the internet and it broke her heart. It wasn enough they had labelled him the handsome devilish scum of the earth. Granted he had gone through one long year of immense grief, but he had come out headstrong. No one knew the details of what that boy had gone through save for the family, yet the media intent on making him out to be the spoilt, unhinged billionaires son drover her crazy. She missed her bright eyed Antonio. Her lively boy that cracked jokes and had everyone in a chokehold with his effortless charms.

”Its okay Edith ” Ill be fine. Its just silly gossip. Itll all pass in good time ” Antonio reassured stroking her hair. He looked at the once jet black hair that had completely turned grey. She was getting older but still insisted on taking care of him. He was touched by her kindness and vowed to make her proud just like he had done many years ago.

”Fine, you go ahead now. I don want you to be late ” she said patting his back.

”Thanks again Edith ” he said and immediately left for work.

Antonio got a message from his cousin Mariano as soon as he alighted from his car in his personal office parking space. He hadn heard from Rian since he said he was taking a short vacation to get over his heart break. ”Typical Rian ”, Antonio thought shaking his head. At least he was back to work now. Antonio strolled casually into the reception and every conversation ceased. Everyone knew Antonio preferred to work from home, so him being physically present in the office twice in two weeks, left everyone speechless. They were all aware of the rumours circulating about him. However, it did not stop them from looking at him with admiration. Just like his father, his aura exuded so much confidence and pure male swagger. He was sexiness at its core and the way he walked, had the girls weak in the knees.

Antonio did not pay attention to the silence that ensued following his arrival. He had gotten used to being the center of attention every where he walked into, despite how hard he had always tried to maintain a low profile. He took his personal elevator to his office and the chatter resumed.

”How is one man so fine! ” Karlie the head of customer service department whispered to her co-worker and they both giggled.

Antonio stepped into his office and met Mariano taking pictures, no more like havng a full on photo session. Antonios personal assistant, Grace Mosaic, stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Antonio walk in. Mariano had literally forced her to take pictures of him in Antonios office, and all her pleas to cajole him, fell on deaf ears. Antonio tried his best not to overreact. He had always been patient with Mariano.

”Can you kindly excuse us miss? ” Antonio said pleasantly impressed with how calm he sounded. Grace handed the phone to Mariano, and ran out not waiting to be told twice.

”Oh don be a party pooper Toni, we were just having harmless fun ” Mariano said pouting.

”And you chose my office for this harmless fun? Is your office occupied? Who the hell even gave you access to my office? ” Antonio asked getting agitated. He loved his cousin so much, but he could be such an irritant sometimes. Everyone knew how much Antonio adored his personal spaces. He hated when it felt like it was being encroached.

”Okay calm down Toni. The walls of your office fits just perfectly with the concept I had in mind. I mean it is bland and boring, but thats exactly how my life feels right now ” he sighed, crossing his arm to his chest.

”Get out ”

”Huh? ” Mariano replied shocked.

”I said get the ** out of my office! ” Antonio screamed.

His voice reverberated round the room causing Mariano to tremble in fear. He knew Antonio was going through so much but he never got this mad, especially not with him. Maybe he had crossed the line.

”Sorry Toni ” Mariano apologized solemnly as he got up to leave.

”Wait ” Antonio said blocking his path. ”Look Im just a bit frustrated. You know how much I hate to feel like my personal space is being invaded ”

”Its okay Toni. I went too far this time. I didn mean to make you upset. My life is just… is just so shitty right now ” Mariano said breaking down in tears. Antonio sighed and hugged Mariano. He despied hurting Rian. He didn have a sibling so he took Rian as one. They had been through so much together and it pained him to see how upset he had gotten with him.

He shut his eyes recalling the day Rian came out to him. He had walked in on Rian and the gardeners son making out. While the poor boy fled, Rian begged Antonio not to tell anyone what he had seen. He remembered how he was scared of being disowned by his parents, an strict couple. Antonio had vowed from that day to always protect him, and that he did religiously.

”Look, forget about your ex. Anyone who is blind to the absolute gem you are, does not deserve you. So promise you won cry because of that jerk again ” Antonio said comforting Mariano.

”Fine ill get over him. Ill focus on work and make everyone proud ” Mariano said determined. They both knew only one of those were possible and it wasn focusing on work.

”Good. Now get out of my office ” Antonio said pulling himself from the hug.

”What? Didn you just say you won be mean to me anymore? Anyways, I bought these insane pair of boots from Tessy, in your name. Do well to pay okay? ” Mariano said hurrying out of the office before Antonio could reply. Antonio stared blankly at him wondering why he was so childish. He went back to his seat and continued scanning through his emails, when it finally hit him.

”What the hell Rian? ” he screamed at the top of his voice.