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It was a beautiful Saturday morning. The sun shone brightly, and the birds were chirping melodiously. I had woken up early in anticipation of meeting up with my friend, Becca. It had been a few weeks since our night at the club, so we had planned to get together and catch up on recent events. Becca and I had been friends since our elementary school days, but lately we hadn’t been able to get together as often, so some important things had gone unnoticed, like the fact that she had hidden her problematic ex-boyfriend from me. That had made me angry, and I couldn't wait to have a proper talk with her about it.
I had wanted to call her the previous day, immediately after I got home from the meeting with my father, to tell her about me and Anthony. I was so excited and wanted to share my news with her, but I refrained. I realized that Becca could be hurting right now, and I hadn’t wanted to add to her problems.
I headed to the bathroom to shower quickly and prepare for my meetup with Becca. After my shower, I quickly dressed, grabbed my bag and phone, and headed out. As I stepped out of my house, I called Becca to let her know I was on the way. She answered the phone excitedly, and I could hear the smile in her voice.
"Yes, heading out too. See you soon," she said.
I got into my car and drove off to our meeting point, a cozy cafe in the heart of the city. I arrived a few minutes earlier than our agreed time and took a table in the corner. The cafe was busy, and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air. I ordered a large coffee and waited for Becca.
A few minutes later, I spotted her walking through the door. She looked radiant and beautiful in a floral sundress and sandals. I stood up to hug her, and we exchanged pleasantries. We settled down at a table, and I couldn't help but notice how different she looked. She seemed more confident, and her smile was brighter than usual.
Despite her sunny outward appearance, I knew my best friend much too well. I really hadn’t wanted to ruin her seemingly fabulous mood, but I also couldn't bear the thought of Becca living in fear. As we sat looking out the floor-to-ceiling cafe window at the bustling atmosphere outside, I gathered the courage to bring up the delicate topic. Taking a deep breath, I turned to Becca, who was smiling contentedly, lost in her thoughts.
"Becca, you know how much I love you, right?" I said, my voice laced with concern.
She turned to face me, still smiling. "Of course, silly. And I love you too," she said, her eyes crinkling joyfully.
I swallowed, trying to steady my nerves. "I don't want you to suffer. Is he still bothering you?"
Her smile vanished, and her eyes widened. "What? Who?" she asked, her voice shaking.
I hesitated, wondering if I had made a mistake. But then Becca's eyes filled with tears, and she started to unload. She told me how her ex-boyfriend had been harassing her for months, making her give up her savings and threatening her every single day.
"He's been making my life a living hell," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I've reported him to the police, but he won't stop. He even threatened me once, saying he's a Mafia member and will kill me eventually."
My heart sank as I listened to her. I had no idea Becca had been going through all of this, and I felt guilty for not noticing sooner.
"Why did you never tell me about this?" I asked, my voice filled with regret.
Becca just continued to cry, her shoulders shaking with sobs. I slipped over to the other side of the table and held her close, trying to offer some comfort. I knew she felt stuck, and I was determined to help her in any way I could.
Then, I started to seeth with anger, my hand shaking from the fury coursing through my body. The guy who had been bullying my friend had crossed the line, and I would not stand idly by and let him get away with it.
I knew just the person to call—James, my father's right-hand man.
With trembling fingers, I dialed James' number and waited anxiously for him to pick up.
"Hey, it's me," I said when he answered. "I need your help with something."
"What's up, Laura?" James asked, his voice calm and steady.
I took a deep breath before explaining the situation.
"This guy has been bullying a young lady, my best friend, and I want him to know he can't get away with it. I want you to send two boys to his address to warn him to stay away from her."
James didn't hesitate for a moment. "Your best friend? Consider it done," he said.
I thanked him profusely, relief flooding through me. I knew I had made the right move—sometimes a person just needed to be taught a lesson, and this guy was no exception.
I hung up the phone and continued to hug my friend.
Chapter seven
Anthony
"Daddy, can I climb that one?" Amanda chirped excitedly as she pointed towards the tallest slide in the playground.
I looked up at the towering structure, my heart racing at the thought of my little girl climbing it.
