Vino stared at the document in front of him, not really making out the words in them. It was the budget paper for the forthcoming annual Art dinner but Vino might have well been staring at any other document for all he cared. His mouth pulled into a thin line as his eyes furrow, Vino couldn't force himself to work no matter how much he wanted to and this was the only way he could take his mind off her but this wasn't working.
In a daze, Vino picked up the pen which was lying useless on the table, twitching it in his hands he bent to write absently on the paper in front of him while he thought of Skylar.
It had been two weeks without Skylar by his side. Even when they had fought, he was content seeing her smile whenever she chatted with Madison or Cynthia but now________ she's no longer here. It's like she disappears from the surface of the earth. He had searched everywhere and got excited whenever there was a new lead on her but everything ended up empty. If it continued this way, Vino might go crazy with the thought of her in his mind.
He stared across at the wall clock on the wall across from him but he wasn't really seeing it. His mind wandered aimlessly while his hands, having a mind of their own, wrote furiously on the document in front of him.
Mr. Falcone watched the whole episode unfold in front of him with a shocked expression on his face. He didn't know Vino loved that beautiful woman this way. He could see he was in, so deep, but he was happy that he was finally getting a grip on himself with the work.
He stood up and made to walk closer to him while exclaiming excitedly "With the way you are boring holes into the paper, I'm surprised it isn't torn into shreds now" Mr. Falcone told Vino as he stepped behind him to stare into the paper Vino was writing furiously on...
A loud gasp escaped his lips as soon as he saw the repeated words written on the paper. He whistles loudly while shaking his head disapprovingly "Woah! I didn't know you were in so deep. Get a grip on yourself boy" Mr. Falcone replied as he patted Vino lightly on the shoulder while shaking his head like he was pitying the boy in front of him.
Hearing Mr. Falcone's loud whistle jolted Vino out of his thoughts as he paused his hands and cringed at the words on the paper which he had obviously written repeatedly all over the paper. Skylar's name was repeatedly drawn all over the paper with a heart-shaped joining her name to Vino.
Vino couldn't believe himself writing that but___. He turned to stare at Mr. Falcone who was still behind him "What are you doing here?" Vino questioned him, his voice cold and bare of any emotion. He didn't have anything to be embarrassed about. Everyone in the office could tell by now that he was smitten with Skylar.
"I'm just perusing the damages done on the paper" Mr. Falcone answered with a shrug like it wasn't a bad thing to catch a grown man writing a lover's name on a million-dollar budget documents paper.
"I think I'll need to get another budget file sent to you since the original one is ruined" Mr. Falcone replied while pointing to the document on Vino's table but Vino didn't look instead, he stared into his eyes.
Mr. Falcone sighed heavily as he walked to the door. His hands paused on the doorknob, he turned to stare at Vino "You know what, take it from me__ a divorcee. I know what you're going through but you need to snap out of your trance. This isn't good for the company. Everyone is complaining about your cold attitude," Mr. Falcone told him as a matter of fact. Prior to now, he had sent both his daughter Layla and Madison to come give Vino the budget file but he had sent them out of his office with the documents in their hands. The poor girls had come scrambling to his office with fear in their eyes. And so, he had decided to come himself. Fortunately, Vino didn't send him away, instead he had ignored him all the time he was here until now.
Vino let his words sink into his mind, on a brink of a second, the cold demeanour seeped through him as he sank into his seat with a deep breath while looking at Mr. Falcone with vulnerability "Does it get any better? I missed her so much. It's hurt so much knowing I brought this on her? I mean if only____"
"It's no use blaming yourself. I know Skylar wouldn't want you to. As far as I know and everyone else, you are the best thing that has ever happened to her" Mr. Falcone told him while cutting him off from his self-loathing.
"But____"
"No, but ___ you should think of all the things you would do to her when she comes back and that will do the trick," Mr. Falcone told him with a wink while smiling, telling him exactly what he had in mind when he'd said thing'.
"I'm definitely putting a ring on her finger as soon as she returns. I can't have her disappearing on me again" Vino told himself with conviction but it wasn't lost on Mr. Falcone who smiled.
"Yes, do that son. Now, let me go get you a reprint of that document since you've ruined the first one" Mr. Falcone told him with a smile as he opened the door and made to walk out but Vino's voice stopped him.
"About that, I'm sorry" Vino apologized, he had let his love for Skylar cloud his judgment and it was affecting his work.
Mr. Falcone nodded as soon as he felt the sincerity in his voice. "Good," Mr. Falcone said as he stepped out of the door, closing the door gently behind him.
Madison stood up immediately as she saw Mr. Falcone approach her. "Miss Brooke. I need you to come and give your boss a reprint of that document on his desk" Mr. Falcone motioned to Madison who nodded and stepped out from her desk and followed him into the elevator. She watched as he pressed the button for the fourth floor and relaxed.
"How is he?" Madison turned to Mr. Falcone who had closed his eyes, his head lifted. The only signs Mr. Falcone heard her was the furrowing of his eyebrows.
"Hmm!" Mr. Falcone sighed as he stepped away from the wall, he turned to stare at Madison "He's getting better. Let's just hope fate brings Skylar back, else we might be losing Vino soon" Mr. Falcone continued gently, the slight gasp of Madison telling him she cares about Vino like a sister.
"He loves her," Madison said after some time, more to herself than Mr. Falcone.
"Si." Mr. Falcone replied slipping slightly to his mother tongue, he corrected himself as soon as he remembered Madison couldn't understand him "That's true"
The silence enveloped them afterward, they were both lost in their thoughts while the elevator took them to the fourth floor.
****
Vino stared at the new document Madison had brought into his office a few minutes ago. Some words made sense but he still couldn't concentrate on it.
He stared at the figure which seemed to dance in front of his eyes. He sighed and slammed the files angrily on the table and stood up, he walked to stand in front of the window, staring down at New York City. He's surprised to see everyone carrying on with their life's oblivion to his troubles.
If only he could see her again even if it was just once. Oh! How has he missed her? Is she thinking of him right now? How is she doing? Is Elise torturing her right now?
"My God! Vino gets a grip on yourself" Vino groaned at himself as his hands went to wipe the lone tears that had to escape his eyes.
His phone ringing pulled him away from the window as he took two long strides to his table to pick it up, his heartbeat escalating in his chest for every step he took. He was anxious to know maybe it was Skylar calling him.
A quick glance at the caller's ID causes Vino to frown in seconds. It was an unknown number and Vino doesn't pick unknown numbers but the thought that it might be Skylar caused him to press the answer button in a second.
"Hello" Vino called into the phone. His voice sounded brisk, cold, and professional. He was no longer the man who had shed a tear for the woman he loved. Here, he was a ruthless billionaire. His emotions were safely locked away in his heart.
"Vino. Where's my mom?" Elise's angry voice greeted Vino from the other end of the line which had caused Vino to freeze. He never suspected that Elise could be the one at the other end.
After waiting for her to call for weeks and now she finally did "Your mom? Who are you to ask me that? And I never knew you had a mother? Didn't you say she died giving birth to you" Vino replied shrugging nonchalantly as he pretended not to know about anything?
Elise knew he was lying; she had just gotten off the phone with her mother's private nurse who told her Vino took her. She was so devastated. When she had started this, she never imagined her mother might be hurt but ____ "Don't play smart with me, Vino. I know you kidnapped her to get back at me. I'm warning you; nothing should happen to her else____"
"Else what?" Vino snapped loudly into the phone in anger as he paced through his office "Need I remind you, Elise else you've forgotten. You are in no position to make a demand or threat. I'm in charge here. I'm the boss" Vino told her as he smiled at himself at how the tables had turned between them.
Elise paused as she sniffed back tears, she can't break down right now not with Vino at the other end but her mom means more to her than an act of stupid revenge. She had always been there for her and Adora, she worked five jobs to get them safe but how did she repay her? "Please Vino. I'll do anything just don't touch her" Elise pleaded with him as the tears spilled down her face, unable to get it back.
Vino paused, shocked to hear her crying. He never knew this side of Elise. He was torn. Was she playing him again? "Fine, I won't touch her if you bring me, Skylar"
"I'll do that" Elise sniffed as she made to hang up but pause as she calls the last word to Vino "Please don't touch her"
"You have my word. When do we make the exchange?" Vino asked her, he waited as Elise told him the direction to where Skylar was kept.
Vino nodded "Expect me in an hour," Vino told her with a broad smile as he hung up, he can't believe he will be seeing Skylar soon. He picked up his blazer and stepped out of his office rushing into the elevator but was stopped by Madison.
"Sir, your father would like to see you. He's in the conference room" Madison told Vino who glared at her causing Madison to take a step back in fear but Vino suddenly smiled.
"Cancel it for me, Miss Brooke. Make an excuse for me" Vino told her, stepping into the elevator and pressing the button for the parking lot while searching for Inspector Scott's number on his phone.
"But___" Madison couldn't complete her sentence because the elevator door had shut while she stood watching Vino going down the floor. She sighed and turned back to Mr. Thompson, bracing herself for his anger.
Vino got into his car, after his phone call with Inspector Scott arranging a befitting welcome for Elise. He called Paula and Ernesto to give them the news before he sped off into the evening...