Chapter Fourteen- Dior
“I don’t care what you've got going on with Phillipe, Dior. When your husband walks out that door to participate in a deal. You push whatever bull-shit to the side and tell that man you love him. We don’t deal with petty over here,” Victoria said, with her index finger pointing in my face as she told me off.
She was big mad that she had to tell me to get my ass up and hug her son before he left.
“I hear you, Victoria, and I apologize.” I sucked it up and said I was sorry, because, quite frankly, this lady scared me.
“Good, I’m happy you understand what I’m saying,” she said, taking a seat next to me. I remained quiet, scared out of my mind to say anything.
“Damn girl, breathe; you're sitting there looking all stressed,” Sofia cracked from the other side, where she was seated. I gave her a fake smile, finding nothing funny about being terrified of her mother.
“Where’s Rocki?” I asked.
“Asleep in the guest bedroom upstairs,” Sofia replied, looking away as she always did whenever she had to speak about her child. It sometimes seemed as though she didn’t like being asked about her son.
“Have you heard anything about Catalina?” Victoria asked, changing the topic.
“Not since she left to go back to Italy. I’m just thankful that Enzo isn’t Buddha’s, but of course, you already knew that. Thanks for giving me that heads up, by the way,” I said sarcastically, turning to face her.
“You think this is over? Catalina is like a fucking bug; she’ll be back in some form or another.
I did what was needed; I knew she was fucking lying about Enzo being Phillipe’s.
I’m not sure what she told him when he met up with her, but I’ll bet 10k she still lied,” I frowned at what she said because Victoria was a very smart woman. I was curious to find out more.
“Why do you think she’ll be back and that she lied to Buddha?”
Victoria laughed softly while shaking her head.
She looked at me with a tilt of her head as though she believed I was really naive.
“Women like Catalina are never satisfied. Do you really think she came back because I invited her? She came back thinking she was about to get more money from me, that money-hungry bitch. Nah, she’s up to something, trust…
she’ll be back.” Victoria seemed very sure about what she was saying.
Now, my mind began working in overdrive.
What if Catalina really was up to something, and she came back?
“I see you’re thinking, wondering if I’m right, wondering if Catalina is really up to something.
Maybe she plans on coming back for Buddha, who knows.
Instead of being worried about me throwing you under the bus, keep your eyes open for that bitch.
Because men are stupid, married or not, they see a pretty woman, and they go all goo-goo-gah-gah.
“Tomasso was mad as hell at me for what I did, inviting Catalina without his knowledge. Do you think I care? Of course not, I did what was needed. I told you, we Ricci women know when to hold our shit down, and we know when to shut the fuck up,” Victoria said with a cunning smile.
“Jesus, mamma cut Dior some slack,” Sofia said, rolling her eyes.
“Absolutely not; she’s involved with a very complex man.
She needs to keep on her toes at all fucking times.
Now, Phillipe mentioned something about you wanting to work at his pizzeria, and your little sister may come to live with you,” I tried to hide my surprise that she was so well informed.
Buddha never once mentioned that he spoke to his mother about my personal affairs.
“Let me guess, he told you so you can try to talk me out of it?”
“What kind of people do you take us for? Of course not, I think it’s an excellent idea to go to work.
Make your own money, open a bank account that Phillipe knows nothing about.
Keep some money for a rainy day,” I wasn’t sure if Victoria’s advice was good or bad.
On the one hand, she was telling me to keep a secret from my husband; on the other hand, having emergency money was actually an excellent idea.
“So you want me to hide money from Buddha? Is that what you’re telling me?” I asked for clarification.
“Yes, Dior, that’s exactly what I’m saying to you.
Do you think Tomasso knows about my three secret bank accounts?
Of course not. Bringing your sister here, well, that might be a bit tricky.
It may be a bit too much for her. I suggest you think more about that,” Victoria said, tapping me on my knee.
I knew she meant well, so I decided to take her advice on whether Chanel coming to live here was the best idea.
Since I’ve been living with the Riccis, I’ve seen a dismembered man get eaten by pigs.
I helped cover up a murder, and I’m pretty certain Luca was a rapist. Did I really want Chanel in an environment like this?
Victoria definitely gave me something to think about.
“Also, the little issue with your stepfather. Phillpe said that he needs to leave your home. Do you want us to take care of him for you?”
Jesus, did Buddha also tell his mother my panty size?
“That won’t be necessary; I think I can handle Lewis. Thanks, though.” I wasn’t entirely sure I should be thanking her for asking if I wanted her to have my stepfather killed, but I did it anyway.
“Well, if you change your mind, just let me know, and I’ll set it up,” Victoria spoke about ending someone’s life as if she were asking if I wanted pepperoni on my pizza.
“I’m just going to use the upstairs bathroom if you don’t mind,” I told her, immediately getting to my feet.
This conversation was draining me. Victoria can be a lot at times; it’s better to take her in small doses.
I climbed up the stairs and found the guest bathroom.
When I was done, I washed my hands and was heading toward the stairs when I heard soft whimpering.
Curiously, I followed the sound and opened the door. It was Rocki; he had woken up, discovered he was alone, and probably got scared.
“Aw, Rocki. You’re up and looking for your momma,” I cooed as I walked over to the bed. I smiled warmly when he lifted his arms so I could pick him up. “Come here, buddy,” I said as I picked him up from the bed. I hugged his warm body, sniffing his natural baby fragrance.
“Where’s mama?” Rocki said. I damn near almost dropped his ass. I looked at him with wide eyes. Didn’t Sofia say he was non-verbal? Or was I tripping?
“You want Sofia?” I asked, trying to get him to speak again, just to be sure I hadn’t imagined it.
This time, he nodded his head instead of talking.
“Ok, let’s go find mommy.” With Rocki safely in my arms, I walked out of the room and descended the stairs.
When Sofia saw me with her son in my arms, she jumped to her feet as though I was trying to abduct him.
“Hey, oh, I’m sorry, I wasn’t expecting him to wake up so quickly,” she said, plucking him from my arms quickly.
“It’s ok, I was walking by and heard him crying,” I explained. I looked at Sofia and decided I would leave it alone, that Rocki spoke to me even when I was certain she said he couldn’t talk.
“Is everything ok?” Sofia asked, looking at me with intense scrutiny.
“Yeah, I think I’m just tired. I barely got any sleep last night with the whole Ciara thing.
I think I’m gonna go and see if I can have a nap before Buddha gets home,” I said, getting ready to leave because there was something strange happening here.
I can’t say what it was, but I knew it was strange.
“Are you sure, dear?” Victoria asked, looking at me with curiosity.
“Yeah, I’m beat. What time should we expect the men to be back?” I asked, trying not to act suspiciously.
“Maybe the next hour, two at most,” Victoria answered, watching me from head to toe.
“Ok, well, you two have a great evening,” I said, waving them off before walking toward the front door.
I knew they were watching me as I left. I could feel their eyes on me.
Something was up with Sofia; her behavior was getting stranger and stranger to me.
The best thing to do would be to leave and take my ass home until Buddha gets back.
With the key fob in my hand, I hopped behind the wheel and started my Porsche.
The drive back to my home was short, but it felt long.
My mind raced with many thoughts, mostly about Rocki.
If Sofia did, in fact, say to me that Rocki was nonverbal, then why did she lie?
He spoke a few moments ago, so why would she say he couldn’t?
“Ugghh,” my brain began to feel like mush from all of this thinking.
I needed to take my ass to bed and sleep for a couple of hours.
By then, Buddha would be back. I was looking forward to seeing him, because I was angry when he left.
I understood what Victoria said to me, and I was grown enough to admit that she was right.
As I parked my car, it sounded like something rolled around in my trunk.
I made a face as I looked in the rearview mirror.
That’s strange; I never put anything in there.
Deciding to check and see what it was, I climbed out of my car.
Just as I closed the door, my phone began to ring.
I smiled when I saw it was Mia. I could use the welcome distraction.
“Hey girl,” I said, walking up the steps toward the front door.
I got ready to deal with a very hyper Lotus.
As I opened the door and braced myself, I made a face because there was no Lotus.
What was also odd was that the front door was unlocked.
I was certain I locked it when Buddha and I left this morning.
“Hey, what’s up?” Mia said.
“That’s strange,” I mumbled, looking around the living room, but Lotus was nowhere to be found.
“What’s strange?” Mia asked.
“I can’t find Lotus?” I told her, walking around the entire house and not seeing her anywhere.