by Jaye McCloud
“Pop. I have to know. I need you to be completely honest with me.”
“About what Antonio?”
“Would you be ashamed or embarrassed to have a black woman as a daughter of the family…as the mother of your grandchildren?”
“Antonio, we Bentini’s are people of the earth; simple people at heart. We have all that we have because we do not bow to the dictates and whims of others and that includes so-called, polite society –much to the constant chagrin of your mother. We will continue to live life as we see fit. You are of my blood, my beloved son. You have done nothing that has ever caused me to feel ashamed or embarrassed. I love you, Antonio, and if you want this girl, then I want her for you. I will do everything in my power to see you happy. I will not make the same mistake twice.”
Father and son embrace, trying to maintain the veneer of macho men while knowing that their shining eyes betray them. “I love you too, Papi.” Antonio says, using the name they called him as children. They give each other hearty pats on the back -in that manly fashion- before Antonio walks towards the door.
“Antonio?” He quickly turns back to his father. “Yeah, Pop?”
Smiling a roguish smile, Mr. Bentini asks, “Did you not know that Italian men love black women?” He says with a wink and a booming laugh.
Chapter 22
“Thanks for taking me in, Mya—” I enter my sister’s house and immediately she embraces me in her comforting arms. Cutting me off impatiently, Mya says, “Forget the thank yous; you’re my baby sister, you know that James and I are here for you always. Now tell me what’s going on.” She doesn’t waste any time getting to the point as she leads me over to the sofa in her spacious well-appointed living room.
“Okay, but first I need you to promise that this stays between us. Please don’t tell anyone…not anyone, Mya! Especially Mom and Dad!” I put out the stipulation. Our mother is the last person we share our personal problems with –she can’t hold a secret in a cement bucket.
“Okay, okay, okay, I promise…I’ll put it in the vault, my lips are sealed.” That’s as good as gold, so I start spilling my guts. “As you know, I haven’t been hanging out with you guys much during these past couple of months because I’ve been seeing my boss’s son, Antonio.”
“Yeah. So, he isn’t just some man you’re having a fling with?”
“Mya! When have you ever known me to have a fling?!”
“Well Ti, to be perfectly honest, from the moment you introduced him and I heard his last name, I kinda figured that you’re having a little affair.”
“Mya I’m not having an affair, we are in a seri—”
“Gawd, Ti, don’t say that you and that man are having a serious relationship! That guy looks hard and dangerous…I don’t think he’s someone you should be involved with.”
“Mya, why are you saying that. You met Antonio. He’s a good guy.”
“Are you forgetting that I saw him threaten to put his fist through another man’s face? And he would have done it too, if those other men hadn’t been there to stop him. What are you thinking to get yourself mixed up with a man like that?”
“You’re not being fair. You don’t know what preceded that incident. Look, yes, Antonio can be intimidating, but he’s also a kind, caring, compassionate man.” I scowl at the skeptical expression on Mya’s face. “What? Don’t look at me like that. He’s my man and I’m crazy about him.” For some reason, I can’t bring myself to tell my sister that I love Antonio. Maybe because the reality of it is so new and I’m not prepared to share my true feelings with anyone just yet. Or maybe because I have doubts about Antonio and me after what Mrs. Bentini said.
“So you’re crazy about him. Is he crazy about you?”
“Yeah, he says he loves me.” When Mya rolls her eyes at me, I instantly become defensive again. “Stop giving me that look! Antonio says he loves me and damnit I believe him!”
“Okay okay, you love him and he loves you…so, what happened?”
Exhaling a deep breath, I explain. “His mother found out about us…and she fired me today.”
“Damn little sis…when you step in it, you sure as hell step all the way in.”
“Thanks for the useless idiom sis. I know I’ve messed up. And I don’t think I can make it right. His mom hates me now.” I can’t prevent tears at the memory of how angry Mrs. Bentini was, and the awful hurtful words she threw at me. “She said I wasn’t welcomed on her property any more. She basically accused me of being a gold digger and… She tried to buy me off. She offered me money to leave Antonio alone. It’s obvious that she doesn’t think I’m good enough to be in her family, let alone date her son.”
Mya immediately comes to my defense. “She doesn’t know what the hell she’s talking about! You, a gold digger?! What fucking nerve! She’s probably scandalized that one of her precious children wants to date someone black. What did she say to her son?”
“I don’t know. He wasn’t there.”
“Have you talked to him? Have you told him what his mother said to you?!”
“No. I don’t want to talk to him. I don’t want to talk to anyone …at least not for a couple of days. I just need a quiet place to stay so I can think this out.” I say wiping another run of tears off my cheek. “Oh gawd Mya, it was so humiliating! She looked at me as if I were a piece of trash.” My sister holds me tight rocking back and forth until my tears finally dry up. Just like she did when we were kids.
***
“Katherine, I didn’t know you were in the building today. Is Tiressa here as well?”
“No. Antonio, she’s not here…”
“Is she running errands or at the mansion then?”
“No, she isn’t running errands. But she was at the mansion earlier.” Kathy says, obviously uneasy.
“What aren’t you saying Kathy?” Antonio asks, staring hard at her.
“Antonio, your mother confronted Tiressa about your relationship.”
“Fuck!” He exclaims under his breath. “Where’s Tiressa?”
“She’s really upset, Antonio.”
“Katherine, where is she? I’ve been calling and she’s not picking up.”
“She said Mrs. Bentini fired her and she wants me to clean out her office for her. She said she would leave her keys and access cards in her apartment and that you could pick them up.”
“Damn. I’ll talk to Mom right after I talk to Tiressa. Don’t do anything yet, Kathy. I’m going to head over to Tiressa’s apartment; she’s probably in there with the cell turned off.”
“She’s not there Antonio.”
“What do you mean she’s not there? Damnit Katherine, if you know where she is, just tell me!”
“I don’t know where she is. She called me and told me what happened, and then asked me to give you a message.”
“What message?”
“She said that she needed some time to think. She said she was going away for a few days.”
“Where is she Kathy? Where did she go?”
“I swear Antonio, I have no idea where she went. She said she needs a couple of days. I’m sorry Antonio.”
“I’m the one who’s sorry. I should have talked to Mom well before now. Maybe I could have prevented it from happening.” He walks out of the office.
***
“What did you do Mother?”
“Do not use that tone of voice with me Antonio. I am your mother, not one of your employees.”
“It is precisely because you are my mother that we are having such a civilized conversation, Mother.”
“You know I hate when you call me Mother, because we both know that you only use it when you’re angry with me.”
“That is exactly what I am Mother; I’m furious with you. Now, I’ll ask you again… What did you do to Tiressa?”
“Antonio, you act as if I’ve murdered her and dumped her body in the ocean. I haven’t done anything to her. I let her know that she has gravely disappointed me.” Shooting her son a loo
k. “And because of her actions, she is no longer a trusted employee and no longer welcomed at Bentini Mansion.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, Antonio it is. Tiressa knew what the consequences would be if she crossed the line with my family. And that is exactly what she has done when she allowed herself to become involved with you.”
“And what role do I play in all this, Mother? What will be my punishment, what consequences do I receive for my actions? Because apparently you still think you can meddle in my personal life. And that I will allow it.”
“Antonio. I’m not saying that Tiressa is a bad person, but I am saying that she is not an appropriate fit for our family. If I had any inkling that you were going to be attracted to her, I would have never hired her in the first place.”
“Ah, so there it is. You assumed that my falling in love with a black girl twelve years ago was some kind of fluke or that I had been going through a phase and that I had worked it all out of my system? Is that it Mother?”
“I don’t know what it was, or what it is. I don’t understand why you won’t settle down with a nice proper girl… and if not Italian, then surely Caucasian. I don’t understand why you always want something different…why you keep choosing girls who are not right for you…who are not right for the family.”
“You don’t have to understand it Mother, you just have to love me for me, and allow me to live my life as I see fit. And if that means falling in love with a beautiful, intelligent, loving woman who happens to be black, then that is my choice, Mother. I’m too old to keep having this discussion with you. So, I’m going to make it easy on both of us. Since the woman that I love and have chosen to spend my life with is an embarrassment to you and your narrow views, I’m going to walk out of your life.”
“Antonio please!”
“No Mother, I’m done. I will not allow you to dictate my life. I love you dearly. I will always love you. Unfortunately, your love comes at too high a price.” Walking over to his mother, he kisses her on both cheeks before stepping back. “I love you, Mammina. Take care of yourself.”
***
“Welcome back. I have a personal assignment for you Vitto.”
“Anything Boss.” Antonio’s lips twists as he slides Vitto Rossi, his top security man, a folder across the desk. “Tiressa?” At Antonio’s nod, he glances back down at her dossier then back up with a questioning eyebrow.
“The shit has hit the fan.” Antonio states with a grimace.
“So, Mrs. Bentini finally found out about you two?” Vitto says, fully aware of Tiressa being the boss’s woman.
“Yeah. She’s been gone for a couple of days now and I don’t know where. She won’t answer her cell. Mother fired her and she’s run off—said something about needing time.”
“Understandable.”
“I don’t care. I want to know exactly where she is and I want to know right now.”
“Considering how she may be feeling, why not just give her a few more days.”
“Because I want her here with me, and I’m not willing to wait a minute more than I already have.”
“Okay, Tony. I get it…you miss your lady, and you want her back. After meeting her, I can’t say that I blame you.”
Antonio’s brows immediate slant downward in a fierce scowl. “What the hell is that supposed to mean!” Enjoying the irritation on his boss’s face, Vitto chuckles and admits, “It simply means that she’s not only beautiful, she’s fine as hell. It’s a good thing that you saw her first or I’d have to give you a run for your money, old friend.” He chuckles again with a sly look in his eyes.
“Go to hell Rossi. Look, let’s get down to business. We’ll start locally; put men at her apartment, her parents’ home, her friends, and her sister’s place.
“Yes Sir, Boss. I’m on it.” Antonio rolls his eyes. Vitto only calls him Boss because he knows how much Antonio doesn’t like it.
“Rossi?”
“Yeah Boss?”
“I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that this is a confidential assignment. Choose only those men that have our complete trust.”
“Will do, Boss.”
***
“Enter.” William Bentini walks into Katherine’s office.
“Hello Katherine. Do you have a minute?”
“Yes, I suppose I can spare a minute.” Katherine replies reluctantly.
“I overheard you tell Gabby that you haven’t seen or heard from Tiressa.”
“It isn’t polite to eavesdrop, William.”
“I wasn’t eavesdropping, Katherine, I just happened to overhear your conversation. At any rate, are you sure you don’t know where she is? Tony is torn up about this.”
“No, I don’t. Like I told Antonio the day your mother fired her, she said she had to get away for a few days.”
“And she hasn’t contacted you since?”
“I don’t appreciate being interrogated. First by Antonio, then Jason and Nicholas, and now by you. The answer is still the same! She has not contacted me since that first day.” Looking William straight in the eyes, she continues in a hard voice. “And I’m not sure that I would tell any of you if she does.”
***
“Yes?” Mya opens the door to find a tall, very handsome man standing on her front porch.
“Hello, my name is Vitto Rossi—”
“I know exactly who you are Mr. Rossi.” Tiressa’s sister grates out between clenched teeth. “We met at the club a couple of weeks back.”
Vitto smiles his most charming smile. “Yes, well, I’m sorry that we see each again under less than ideal circumstances.”
“What less than ideal circumstances are you referring too, Mr. Rossi?”
“Please call me Vitto; I thought we were on more friendly terms than that.” He smiles again. “I sure remember you and I sincerely hope you remember me.” When Vitto sees that Mya’s hostile glare isn’t changing one bit, he stops trying to flirt with her and becomes more serious. “I’m Antonio’s chief security officer and you’re Tiressa’s sister. She took off, and Antonio has sent me to find her. She’s—”
“She’s been hurt and humiliated by the Bentinis!”
“That may be, but it isn’t my job to know the particulars of what occurred, my job is to bring her back to Antonio.”
“I don’t give a damn what your job is, and I sure as hell don’t give a damn what Antonio wants. My sister wants all of you people to leave her alone!”
“Is she here?” Vitto asks quickly, seeing her step back away from the screen door.
“She’s not here.”
“But she told you what happened—”
“That doesn’t mean that I’ve seen her, there are other ways of communicating you know.”
“Mya please—”
“Where do you get off addressing me by my first name?!” She snaps indignant at his lack of deportment.
“Okay, Ms. –”
“That’s Mrs.”
Vitto flashes a reluctant grin at her feistiness. “Okay Mrs. Stephens. I just want to talk to Tiressa for a minute.”
“As I’ve said before, Mr. Rossi, my sister is not here and even if she were, I wouldn’t let you anywhere near her.” She says before slamming the door in his scowling face.
***
“Ms. Fuller, I’m expecting Mr. Rossi. Please send him in as soon as he arrives.”
“Yes sir, Mr. Bentini, he’s heading this way as we speak.”
Less than a minute later, two quick raps on the door and Vitto enters Antonio’s office –minus his usual smile of greeting. Taking a seat across from Antonio, he gives him the information he has been waiting for. “She’s not using her cell phone, bank cards, checking account, or credit cards. In fact, she hasn’t used her cell since the day she left, and she hasn’t used her checking account since withdrawing three grand on the day she left. She hasn’t returned to her apartment, she’s not at her parents’ home and she’s not with her sister or staying with friends. Bu
t I’ll double back to the sister’s place. I’m sure she’s lying about Tiressa not being there. I have a man on look-out at each location.”
“Good. I believe she’s still in the area. Have your men check hotels within a fifty-mile radius.”
“Already on it Boss. Do you want to proceed with audio surveillance?”
“No, we’ll hold off on that for now. Tiressa and her sister are close. What happened when you went there?”
“She gave me the brush off and slammed the door in my face.”
“Did she say anything useful?”
“She’s talked to Tiressa and was told what happened with Mrs. Bentini.”
“Not surprising, sisters talk but it doesn’t mean that she’s there.”
“Yeah, but I’ll bet your best bottle of cognac that she is or has been.”
“I think I’ll pay Mya Stephens a personal visit. Maybe she’ll let something slip if I push her hard enough.”
***
“I have nothing to say to you, Mr. Bentini.”
“I know I’m the last person you want to see Mrs. Stephens, but I love Tiressa, and I’m not going to stop looking for her. I would truly appreciate it, if you would tell Tiressa that I’m here to see her… please.”
“She’s not here Mr. Bentini and I don’t care how many times you come back, that will be the answer you receive.”
“Can you tell me how she’s doing? Is she okay? I need to know that she’s okay.”
“She’s not okay, Mr. Bentini. She came to me distraught and in tears. And if you know my sister like you claim you do, then you know that she doesn’t drop tears easily—”
“So she is here?!” He pounces on her unintended admission that she has seen Tiressa.
“She’s not here Mr. Bentini.” Mya stubbornly insist.
“Please hear me out Mrs. Stephens… I know what you must think of my mother, what you must think of us… But, please…if I could just see her—”
