Little Boy

“How was it?” Ken came up from behind me.

“You mean Amelia?”

“Yeah. She’s very strict about her car.”

“I’ll keep that for next time.”

He chuckled. “Eaten yet? Pete’s gotten into some trouble with the boss but I can work up something for you.”

“Trouble? What did he do?”

“Something about making the wrong dish for the day, I don't know. I only eavesdropped a little.”

“Damn.”

“You seem down, Amelia?”

“I wish.”

“That bad? Wanna talk?”

“Not really. I’m just ready to go to bed.”

“Well, if I can’t help, at least let me cook up something for you.”

“He threw out what Pete prepared?”

“Mhm.”

“Sure then, but I can’t promise i’d eat it.”

“You can come back to it whenever you like.”

Not long after he left, someone walked in.

“Luca?”

I had to turn around because of how unrecognizable the voice was. I recognized her from when I first got here. She was one of the girls in charge of cleaning the house.

“Oh hey Emma.”

“Glad I saw you on time.”

“Why? Is anything the matter?”

“Not really. Mr Solis asked me to tell you he has a new job for you.”

“Permanently? What is it?”

“No, he has guests coming and needs his office cleaned.”

“Oh I thought you and Joan were in charge of that.”

“Joan was, but he wants you to do it for some reason.”

“Oh.”

“Better get going, you were supposed to have started five minutes ago.”

I took a deep breath before answering, “Okay, thanks.”

She nodded and walked out.

I shook my head in disappointment before walking behind her.

When I got to his office, I expected it to be spotless, but it was the complete opposite. It was a whole mess. Documents scattered across the table, chairs in different places, dust on the shelves. If I hadn’t been in the house for only a few days, I would’ve thought he kept it that way on purpose to make me work.

I took a deep breath and got to work.

Emma didn’t give rules, so I did it the way I’d normally do. I piled each file accordingly, moved chairs to their rightful spot, wiped the tables and shelves. I even organized the drawers and moved a few things.

After a long hour, I was finally done and ready to hug my bed. I looked around for missing spots before leaving and when I found none, I was pleased. Not that I was desperate to get on his good side, but I also wasn’t trying to get on his bad side and I was so sure the job I had done would do just that.

But minutes after I left the room, he called for me again. If I had done something that pleased him, he definitely wouldn’t bother to acknowledge it, so that was already a bad sign.

I met him standing by the window, moving his finger across the surface checking for dirt.

“You called for me sir?”

“What did Emma ask you to do?” he asked without looking at me.

“Clean your office,” I whispered, but loud enough for him to hear me.

“Speak up.”

I straightened. “She told me to clean your office.”

“So why were my files tampered with?”

My eyes shifted from him to the table, and back to him again.

“They were scattered all over, so I organized them.”

“I didn’t ask you to do that,” he looked up at me. “I asked you to clean, not move my things.”

“I—”

He started moving closer and whatever I had to say suddenly got stuck in my throat.

“Are you deaf?”

“No sir.”

He stopped in front of me, forcing me to take only a step back.

“So why are you unresponsive?”

“I-I’m sorry sir.”

“This is the second thing you’re moving my things. You don’t learn do you?”

“I’m sorry sir. I thought they looked out of place and you needed me to organize them.”

He looked like he was growing more irritated by the second.

I looked down.

“It won’t happen again.”

“You said that the last time you made a mistake. Am I being too lenient?”

I shook my head vigorously, “No.”

He kept coming closer.

I took a step back, then another step, and another, until my back hit the wall.

He was so close that I couldn’t turn my head without touching him.

“You keep getting on my nerves little boy.”

“I-I-I’m sorry, I swear I’ll follow your rules, please.”

His eyes scanned my face, like he was enjoying the look of fear on it.

“Are you being paid to act a fool?”

In reality I hadn’t been paid since the last mission, but I didn’t dare ask or bring it up now.

“No I’m not.”

“So why are you acting like one? And why is it so hard for me to hit you?”

I hesitated.

Before I could blink, his hand was gripping my neck.

“Don’t take my patience for foolishness Luca. Your life is in my hands, and I can take it anytime I want.”

His grip tightened with each word.

I tried to nod, even though I was physically fighting to breathe.

He relaxed his fingers a bit, but he still held me. I could feel his body press against me now.

“I should just kill you, shouldn’t I?”

“No, please.”

He laughed, “Oh now you can beg? You talked big game back in the ring. Don’t think I've forgotten about that.”

“I’m….sorry.”

“Beg.”

His grip slowly tightened again. “Beg me not to take your throat out with my hands right now.”

“Please Dante….I’m begging you.”

He looked directly in my eyes, smirked and pushed my head against the wall before letting me go.

I immediately held my neck for comfort.

“Don’t touch my files, don’t move things without being told to, and do not try to play me under the guise of doing your job, am I clear?”

“Yes..sir.”

“Get out.”

I ran out and went straight to my room.

I didn’t care that it wasn’t time yet. I just needed to be on my own.

I washed my face, and looked at myself in the mirror. Bruises were already forming and it hurt. I couldn’t cry, I couldn’t feel anger.

I never thought something this small would be my reason for going numb.

I checked my phone. Two new messages from Marcel.

Let me at least try to make it up to you.

I can’t lose another friend.

Whatever that meant.

I put it down and went back outside. I was hurting, but I was also starving.

I found Pete in the kitchen again. Same big smile, even though I could see the bruise on his forehead.

“You alright?”

“Are you alright?” he asked.

“I’m hungry.” I sat down without looking at him.

He slid a plate over to me.

“Ken told me you hadn’t eaten.”

I looked up at him and mouthed ‘thank you’