Sugarplum

Aurelio left the mansion immediately without looking back.

He ignored his father calling and his grandpa calling but rushed into the elevator, there is no way he will use the stairs.

He walked in and pushed the button to the first floor.

His heart was already pounding heavily like it would jump out of his chest soon.

His knees felt like rubber already, a lot of thoughts began running through his head.

“Erica has to be found… what do they mean by she is missing” he thought.

Minutes later, the elevator made a ‘ding!’ sound.

He stepped out immediately and ran out of the headquarters to the car garage.

There he met his men waiting for him.

“Mr Aurelio —” they trailed off.

Aurelio went into one of his car as fast as possible and drifted out of the mansion through the main gate.

“No I can’t lose Erica, I can’t lose her, can’t lose my baby either… I’m coming honey. Just hold on a little” he thought as he increased his pace.

Rowan had ran into the store where he saw her go into to ask of her.

“Where did she go?” he asked with a heavy and fast breath

“Sorry sir… who are you referring to?” the lady asked him as she dropped the pen in her hands down.

“The lady that came here, in a gown….” He paused already confused.

“Wait, the one that came to get some drinks? A lady just left here in a beautiful gown.. And why if I may ask?” she asked him

“Where did she go!!” Rowan groaned aloud

“We can’t disclose customers whereabouts to strangers Sir, I am sorry” she replied immediately already frightened.

“Oh goodness, I am not a stranger to her… I am her personal guard, she doesn’t know anywhere around and if her husband finds out he would kill me!!” Rowan groaned

“Oh my goodness!” another staff exclaimed and then one of his men ran in

“Sir, Mr Aurelio would he here soon!!” he said immediately

“Gosh! Find her before he does” Rowan exclaimed

“Oh my… Aurelio Bertram?” a lady beside her gasped.

“That’s his fiancée.. please did you see her around?” he asked the lady with a pleading face.

“I saw some videos about it..he announced she was his fiancée last night, yes!! Why didn’t I notice her face, she went through the back… I don’t know where” the lady replied as she pointed at the back showing him there was a door and he could see that too.

“ Thank you so much!!” Rowan sighed

Aurelio was just few miles away from the scene. He had gotten there as fast as possible.

Rowan told him they were at the store not too far from him. He looked ahead And could see the hotel where Erica had worked before.

“Honey where are you….?” He whispered to himself as he drove closer to the hotel but then he got stuck in a traffic.

“Fvck!!!!” he cussed angrily slamming his hands on the wheels before him.

He could see other cars were ahead of him.. there is no chance to reverse too.

Aurelio was already burning up in anger “I swear Aryan I won’t let you live if you lay a finger on her..” he said gritting his teeth.

While waiting in the car, he turned to his right side to look at the hotel.

Lot of people were around the hotel, he kept his glance at the entrance, and looked a little more around.

He paused.

He could see a lady standing with another lady engrossed in a conversation.

He stared at her and could see she was wearing a red long off shoulder gown,

This time he went more closer to he window and squinted his eyes.

Erica was talking with one of her colleague in the company, she thought of seeing her now that she has the opportunity to. When will she have this opportunity to again?

“Seriously, you could have answered your call, I was damn worried!!”

“ C’mon, you shouldn’t be.. you forgot who I am? You know I’m strong so why would I be in danger” Erica replied with a low laugh

“ Yes that’s true, have she seen you around again?” she asked her lowly like a whisper

“You mean the boss?” Erica asked her

“ Exactly! She kept yelling at everyone, and she kept mentioning your name” she replied

“She sounded like she would break your neck if she sees you” she clicked her tongue as Erica laughed lowly and then she spotted the diamond ring around Erica’s finger.

“Erica? You’re engaged?” her eyes went wide

“Off course she can’t do that, and about me…well I am and you should go back to work so she don’t scold you” Erica said to her

“Erica, you aren’t coming back are you?” she asked her lowly

Erica inhaled deeply and shook her head “No, I am not going to work here again” she replied

“ Yes you shouldn’t, because I have no idea why a staff like you should skip days.. is skip the right word to use?” Mrs Sandra said from behind.

Erica turned her head to see her staring at her with a blank look and then a disappointed look.

“Mrs Sandra…” she said lowly.

What would she do now if it’s not to insult her..

“I.. I..” she stuttered

“What do you have to say hmm? Obviously nothing, you just didn’t miss work days.. you ignored my calls and everyone’s phone call, is that okay to you? Erica I am so disappointed in you” she replied

Erica sighed “Ma’am is not that way.. I just.. “

“ You just what?” she cut her words short half yelling at her

“Wanted to seem like the boss huh? Well you’ve gotten yourself what you deserve because you are fired. I’ve been waiting to tell you this and there is nothing you will say that will make me forgive you for your unreasonable act. You displaced stupidity!” she stomped her feet

Erica flinched back at her words “ Ma….” She said lowly, was this coming from her boss.

“And I can tell you, no one in this hotel or outside this hotel would want to employ someone like you. No one” she said as she took slow steps to Erica

“At the same time, no man would want a woman like you to be his wife. You displayed irresponsibility, you were sent to serve a client but instead you spent a night! A night together with him… and I allowed you to rest then come back to work, but instead… you left on your own. Well.. you know now that you are fired” she added

“Don’t ever step your feet here again” she said into her eyes…

“I owe you no apology” Mrs Sandra added with a side disgusted smile.

“Well I think you definitely do woman” Aurelio said as he stepped further to them

She turned to him and stepped back immediately with a surprised expression on her face.

“Mr.. Mr Aurelio Bertram? Oh my goodness!!” Erica’s colleague said beside her.

“Mr Aurelio? What a pleasant surprise to see you here again” Mrs Sandra said to him with an immediate smile on her face.

He said nothing but faked a smile, Erica head went low immediately..

“What have I done? Why does he have to find me here?” she thought as she bit her lower lips.

“What were you saying to her?” he asked her

“Oh.. you mean this lady here?” Mrs Sandra laughed

“We shouldn’t talk here.. how about we go in, the sun must be too hot for your skin sir” she replied

“Answer me” he demanded with a cold look already on his face.

Mrs Sandra cleared her throat before she spoke up.

“She.. uh.. uhm, she’s just this low life staff of—” she trailed off immediately.

Aurelio’s veins were already popping

“ Did you just call my wife that?” he asked her

Mrs Sandra eyes went wide open and so did other employees around too.

“Wife? Sir.. you must be mistaken, this is Erica James” Mrs Sandra laughed lowly and then her eyes went to his fingers seeing he hand a ring on and Erica had the same design on too.

Her mouth went wide open and her eyes open as she gasped

“Mr.. Erica.since.when??” she asked

“That doesn’t matters, now apologize!!!” he said to her

“Aurelio… it’s okay” Erica said as she walked to him holding him by his elbow

“No it’s not, how do you expect me to act like she never said anything about you. In that manner!!” he shook his head

“Oh my goodness…!!” a lady around gasped.

“That’s Aurelio Bertram..” another said

“Sir.. we would create a scene” Mrs Sandra replied lowly already shaking

“If you don’t apologize to her, I will buy this hotel, demolish it.. and build something here for her. That makes you lose your job” he replied with a cold glare at her.

“ Oh My goodness! No that is not needed” she said immediately and ran to Erica bowing before her.

“I am so sorry I said those words, please forgive me Erica, I am so sorry for being stupid! I am the one stupid okay??!!” she pleaded holding Erica’s hands tightly in hers.

“don’t make her uncomfortable!” Aurelio said to her

“ Oh my goodness…” the other staff said lowly

Erica said nothing but slowly took her hands away from hers “why don’t we just leave?... I can’t stand her” she replied

“Should I go ahead…?” Aurelio asked her looking at the hotel with a side smile

“No please, some people are getting themselves fed from the money they are making working here, please don’t okay?” Erica replied and pulled him with her

“You’re lucky she isn’t bad hearted” he said to Mrs Sandra and walked away with Erica

“Byeee thank you Erica!!” she heard from behind.

Aurelio walked into the car with his hands around her waist.

Erica said nothing but remained mute.

She sat in the passenger seat with her lips folded in.

The look on his face showed he was mad, and she didn’t want to say anything to make him more mad.

As soon as he walked in to the car, he drove away without saying a word.

She buckled her seat belt and stared at him but still he said nothing.

“Aurelio…” Erica called him lowly but he said nothing

He drove to the store and met his other men there still with this worried expression.

The car pulled to a halt before the store, Aurelio stepped out of his car with a cold look on his face.

His men spotted him immediately and bowed their heads. Fear already took over them, they were speechless at that moment until Rowan rushed to Aurelio with a bow.

“Sir, punish me. I wasn’t careful.. I deserve it” Rowan begged immediately

“No Sir, punish us too. Please don’t tell Mr Maynard and your father about this please” another of his men pleaded bowing his head

“I am so sorry sir, we—”

A call came in interrupting Rowan’s statement, Aurelio looked at his phone and saw it was a call from his father.

He answered immediately and places his phone on his left ear.

“Dad…”

“How are you? What happened? Why did you leave in that way? How is Erica? Is she okay? What happened son?” his father asked immediately

“Uhm, nothing is wrong, she is fine.. what happened too?” he asked his father hearing him sigh heavily

“Thank goodness, I was damn worried.”

“Aryan’s father called that’s all, he was so mad that his son was still in the hospital. That’s why he called.. you know, as usual yelling at me over the phone, he should come do that face to face if I don’t make him lose his teeth completely” his father replied.

“oh really, WOW” Aurelio replied

“Is Erica okay?” his father asked him.

He turned to his car and saw her seated in the car looking at him like a puppy.

He looked away immediately and sighed..her eyes could be so tempting.

“Yes she is, I thought she was kidnapped” he replied

The guards turned to themselves confused.

“She wasn’t, she went to her former workplace to see a friend”.

“oh okay, if you’ll need to spend your whole day with her..you should okay?” his father replied

“I’ll just drop her home and head back to the Headquarter” Aurelio replied with a heavy sigh.

“Alright then, we will be waiting” his father replied as he ended the call

He looked back at his men with a blank expression “You are lucky it wasn’t what I thought, if not..you know where you would be by now” he replied and turned to walk back to his car.

That was all he said and then he drove away with Erica driving home.

Rowan released a heavy sigh grabbing his chest

“We all need to more watchful. I don’t want to be a victim of that warehouse” he said sternly and saw other of his men grab their chest too

“me neither” they replied.

Erica slowly turned to look at Aurelio and saw his eyes were just fixed on the road.

“Aurelio….” She called again but same he didn’t reply her

“Are you mad at me?” she asked him lowly but same thing.

“I’m sorry” she said with a cute puppy face but he ignored her.

About minutes later after the long drive,

Aurelio drove in to the mansion and stopped the car before the main entrance and then he sighed “ you should get going, I need to go to the headquarters” he said without looking at her face.

She said nothing but nodded her head and stepped out of the car.

She really must have gotten him mad.

Erica turned back to look at him then waved her hands at him “Be careful” she said but he drove away without saying anything

“What! Gosh!” she clicked her tongue and rolled her eyes as she went into the mansion through the main entrance.

Aurelio turned his back to look at her and slapped his forehead. “Goodness, you got me so scared!” he gasped as he grabbed his chest.

Erica made her way to her room after dragging her feet on the ground.

“Is he that mad at me?” she thought and slumped on her bed.

“Damn I am sorry” she sighed and turned to look at the chandelier hanging

HOURS LATER.

Aurelio was at the headquarters with his dad and grandpa.

His grandpa already announced to everyone gathered that his son would be taking over, and he was given the rightful position he deserved as the mob boss.

He didn't want to waste time because he really wanted to be with Erica, even though he was mad at her.

His father could sense he was in a hurry, and then he asked him “Are you okay?”

Aurelio raised his brows at him “yeah sure.. I am”

“You don’t look settled, don’t you want it anymore?” he asked him

“Why not?” Aurelio laughed

“I just want to go home and be with Erica” he replied

Mr Maynard smiled and so did his father.

“Alright then ..why don’t you go to her and then tomorrow..we continue from where we stop?” his grandpa asked him

“its few minutes to 8” he added

“Yeah sure!” Aurelio replied with a smile and turned around to leave immediately.

“Are you sure our son would manage his new position? Because I can see he is already in love” his grandpa laughed

“and did you notice that ring?” his father added

Erica was seated at home in her room on the bed, She had taken her night bath and wore a big T-shirt that belongs to Aurelio.

She laid on the bed with her phone in her hands .

No calls yet from Aurelio

Not even a text and she was worried.

She was already missing him.

She released a heavy sigh as she stood up from the bed and walked around the room feeling jobless.

She had lots of thoughts running through her head, Like when she sees Aurelio, She’s going to hit his head badly.Aurelio

She went to the dressing table and picked up his cologne spraying it all over her body

“I know you are mad at me..” she laughed lowly and the the door went open revealing Aurelio.

His eyes went wide immediately at her “What are you wearing?” he asked her

“your shirt” she smiled and walked to him but then his facial expression changed

“Are you still mad at me? You know I kept waiting for you to come home..why did you stay long?” she asked him but he didn’t reply instead he took off his clothes

“Aurelio..I said I’m sorry. Yes I shouldn’t have gone to the hotel because you already told me not to but I had to see a friend” she said with a cute face as she went around with him everywhere he goes.

“are you hearing me?” she asked him but he said nothing and began to unbutton his shirt.

“Sorry!!!” she whined like a baby

“Aurelio love…” she smiled.

His eyes went wide immediately, he paused. A side smile already appeared on his face but he was backing her.

Erica noticed and smiled “It doesn’t Change anything. You got insulted” he replied coldly and turned around

“I know and I am sorry honey, believe me I am so sorry” she replied but he tried to wall past her after taking off his belt

She stood before him stopping him by spreading her hands apart “Honey..? My love, my better half?” she smiled at him

He felt like he was flying already, “Step aside” he replied instead and tried to walk away but still she didn’t allow him to.

“No, you are mad at me and I am so sorry I didn’t listen to you love, my heart beat, Mi Corazon, Mi Alma” she was already calling him Spanish sweet names

He felt goosebumps immediately but was trying to hide his smile.

He faked a mad look and Erica sighed “ I see you are mad at me, that’s your problem! I know you love me and you can’t be mad at me forever my love, I’ll just go get something to eat and then come back for you” she sighed like she already gave up

“You really are hurting me already” Erica dramatically cried as she left covering her face with her palms.

Aurelio laughed lowly as he covered his mouth trying not to be heard.

She looked so hot in his shirt that he was already trying to resist her.

“And what do you say about this shirt? Hot isn’t it?” she asked without looking back at him

“Damn it, you’re still mad at me. I forgot that” she said but then she got swept off the ground by Aurelio from behind.

He lifted her in a bridal style and spun her around “let me down!!” she yelled at him shaking in his hands.

“Then why do you have to look so hot in my shirt?” he raised his brows at her and laid her on the bed slowly going over her.

She wore a frown on her face like a baby and pouted her lips at him “you are not mad anymore?” she asked

“Call me honey again” he smiled as she laughed out and pushed him away jumping off the bed.

“Aurelio!!” she laughed as he did same and went after her seeing she was already running away.

“haha!!” Erica laughed out and jumped unto the bed picking a pillow in her hands.

“its Aurelio!” she laughed and hit him immediately

“no it’s Honey! Sugarplum” he laughed and hit her with the pillow in his hands. Erica laughed out immediately

“You were mad at me honey” she smiled and hit him and before she could again, he pulled her to himself holding her tightly in his hands.

Erica could not stop laughing as she tried to push him away but she couldn’t.

She looked up at his face, her hair was already all over her face “I love you Honey” he smiled at her.

She had a broad smile “I know that love, I love you too” she smiled revealing her white arranged teeth.

His eyes went wide open “Damn how do I express the kind of feeling I’m having from within already?” Aurelio exclaimed as he kissed her neck and she giggled like a baby

“Sugarplum”