CHIARA
I sat down, the letter still in my hands, staring at the bouquets and the jewelries spread on my bed.
"Don't waste your time searching for me. Just know I'm your other half." I repeated the words and laughed because I didn't know what else to do. I'd gotten him caught by the police only for him to surprise me on my birthday. And that's too at Marino's doorsteps? Such a bold move from my stalker I must give that. My smile dropped "Who the fuck are you?" I said and flung the letter across the room.
It slid under the coffee table, when I would rather see it in a dustbin rather than anywhere else inside my room. I got up and went toward the table, bending on one knee, I reached for it but I couldn't get it, so I bent my neck and peeked down instead. The paper came in contact with my hand, and I grabbed it but then my eyes zeroed on something else below the table. Something tiny but was flickering red every now and then. I reached for it and plucked it out from below the table. The tiny black device settled on my palms. Seriously Luca?
I breathed hard. It's only been a week or so since I got rid of one and he couldn't wait to plant another one. Who planted a bug in their sister's room? No privacy at all with these people. Tracking my phone calls and conversation weren't enough so they thought a bug inside my room would be it. Do these father and son duos think I'm dumb?
I rose and walked to my nightstand. I placed the bug on it and picked up the flower vase. I was a second away from smashing it like the rest of them from before, when an idea came to me. My lips curled up one side. I picked the device and placed it on the coffee table. Then I went to my wardrobe to get my laptop. I made sure to lock the door before I sat on a couch and searched for a certain video in a private folder, a blurred video displayed. I reached for a lollipop on the coffee table and unsealed it before tapping on the video and leaned back on the couch.
Sounds of a woman moaning filled the air. It was a masturbating video. Don't even ask why I had it. I'm a human and a full-grown woman. I sucked the lollipop, smiling hard.
I raised the volume higher, and the sound filled the entire room. I rested my head back, enjoying the sweetness of the lollipop, satisfaction wasn't the right word to express the evil that was coursing inside me.
The next morning, I climbed downstairs and found the family having breakfast which was weirdly a norm nowadays. "Sis, breakfast?" Marco asked. I shook my head. "You need to stop treating her like she is crippled." Luca said to him. "You need to stop getting into my business," Marco replied. "I see, she is rubbing off her stinking mouth on you now." Luca said, pointing the knife at him. Marco leaned forward "Funny of you to think yours is stinking free when you are the one spouting dirt whenever you speak."
My chest expanded at my favorite brother's response. The two glared at each other as though they hadn't come from the same womb. "Not again, please." Mama interfered. Antonio never lifted his face from the newspapers, like everybody else was nonexistent.
"Oh, before I forget." I reached inside my bag and took out the bug, "I think this belongs to you." walking toward them, I placed the bug on Luca's plate. He glared up at me, chest rising and falling. Funny because I should be the one angry. Antonio finally placed down the newspaper and looked at us. "Tell me little brother, did you enjoy the show?" I smirked. His face showed a slight shock before recovered from it. So, he heard it after all. Yuck! "What is going on?" Antonio asked while Mama and Marco just watched, dumbfounded.
I picked up his cup of tea, raising it higher, I let the tea spill on his plate, some of it splashing on his designer suit. He got up "What the fuck do you think you're doing?" he snapped. "What is this behavior Chiara?" Antonio shouted. I let the cup drop to the floor with a scattering sound. "Relax, it's a good morning, brother. Good morning." I waved at him and walked out of the dining room, "Chiara! Get back here right now!" Antonio called. Chuckling as I exited the house.
I reached the car, sighing dreamily. "Good morning, young Madam." The driver said. "Get out, I'm driving." I said. "Yes, young madam." Said the driver and got out. I was thirty. I had my car designated without spending a penny. I had Luca looking like a crazed pig. I walked out on Antonio's old ass. I sighed again. What a way to start my birthday. "The weather is amazing today. Is it not?" I said to the driver. "Yes—yes indeed." he stuttered as he handed me the keys. I patted his shoulder "Good morning." And then I got on my Bugatti, put on my black shades, rolled the windows down and raced out of the Marino's property.