C1 Chapter One - Fallen again

Chapter one

Fallen again

Standing in front of my burnt apartment with nothing but my bag and my phone... It was raining funny enough I was soaked but all I felt was nothing, I was numb... The firefighters were doing all they could for the remaining apartments.

They were addressing my neighbor and I guess me too but I was just too far away in my thoughts to listen to the conversation.....

"Miss Gray," A man was talking... "Miss Gray" i heard finally turning to face who was talking.

"Yes!".. I answered finally given attention to the somewhat fifty years old looking man that was addressing us.

"I am the head of this team, You can call me John." He said introducing himself.

"You can go in after an hour to salvage whatever you can, though I doubt you'll get anything of value from the remains. You were lucky that you weren't home I guess. Your apartment was the closest to the apartment were the gas exploded." He said

"Uhhhmmm thank you I guess?!"... I responded weakly

"It's just our job ma'am" John said given me a small sad smile before he walked away to meet with other tenants.

2 hours later...

I left the building with two laundry nylons containing my clothes and a few things that survived the fire.

I had called Jessie, she is my childhood friend she is more of a sister than a bff....

"Hey girlfriend!" Jessie greeted

"Hello!" I returned holding my head down.

"Amy I know you, and I know you are hurting that's why you are silent, sometimes honey you have to speak up to reduce the pain, just let it off your chest you know?" Jessie said holding my hands.

"You know, I just feel wronged like come on, Alessia made me loose my job, she told Felicity that I was stealing from her, she even had evidences linking me to the theft and I didn't even know I had committed. Felicity loved me like the daughter she never had, if not for that affection she had for me, I would be in jail now serving term for a crime I didn't commit." I said hugging her and pouring everything in my heart out

"But it's for the best, and I can't still believe Alessia would do that to you, she really is something else." Jessie said

"You know the worst part she came over and told me that I was getting too comfortable; I was making progress with my mum, had a good job, and just put it in a way I had a good life, that I didn't deserve it that was why she did it. She was just jealous, she felt it, fed on it and used it to ruin me she was supposed to be part of our bff but turns out she was a freaking b**ch!" I finished angrily.

"Don't worry about her Amy, I am here am not going anywhere, just let her go for good. At least thank God that you weren't reported to the police it would have been a lot worse." Jessie said

"Yeah I know, I was just getting in terms with it then this happened, I know you would still say I should be happy I wasn't home, but it's just a lot to take in.. i just feel like have fallen again and now a little deeper than others" I said sobbing.

"I know you will be okay girlfriend, we will fight our way out of this okay?!" She said wiping my tears; "Now stop crying if you don't want me to join you," she said holding back tears.

"Okay Jessie, I don't know how I would have survived tonight if I didn't have you, I love you so much," I said trying to control the tears.

"I love you more babe, let's go get a cab." she said grabbing my bags we are going home.

"Jessie!" I called; "Thanks." I said given a what I'd love to think is a bright smile

"You're welcome pretty." She said smiling

Claudio's Pov

"Mr Rossi you only had a job, and that was to get everything ready for that meeting, but no you went to only God knows where and ruined my day." I heard myself venting over the phone

"Sir....." The voice at the other side of the phone was trying to say

"Don't talk to me, I'm not done talking, I can't have my staff not being able to handle preparation of a simple meeting, am sorry you left me with no other choice, hand in your resignation letter tomorrow and I will make sure that you get a good preference letter." I said ending the call..

"Sir are you heading to the office?" My secretary asked..

"No, am going home send the documents to the house and please cancel my schedules for the next 3 days. I will be working from the house. You can take the days off too."

"Okay sir thank you." Mrs Reed said

"No, thank you. You handled things pretty well in LA. You should rest we don't want anything happening to little junior" I said looking at her baby bump.

"Thanks anyways, I will go and prepare the files right away, Goodnight sir!." she said leaving the car.

"Bernado, home per favore!" I said to my driver.

"Yes sir!" He replied, driving out of the airport.

....

I was checking my mails and messages when a picture caught my eye, it was a picture of me with that model Annabella Russo at last night's Dinner, they were speculating if a relationship was in the air but what they wouldn't know is that I was just talking to her because she seemed smart and that was all?? paparazzi will stop at nothing to create a scandal about my relationships. Scoffing at the post?? I just checked the necessary mails.

I caught a flash of a redheaded lady and a blondie they were getting into a cab… I could barely see but the redheaded seemed to get to me.

An hour later…

entering my home I saw someone in the kitchen probably going to be my Junior Brother Xavier.

"Hey bro, welcome!" Xavier one of my little brothers greeted while cleaning the table top.

"And what are you doing in my house Xavier, I believe you live not up to a 5 minutes drive from here, so what are you doing here." I asked standing in the kitchen.

"I had nowhere else to go, my ex decided she doesn't like being an ex and is stalking me. While I drove home I saw her car outside since I had no plans of seeing her again here I am." He answered facing me, then turning back to continue cleaning the sitting room like it was his apartment.

"That's not my business you dated her not me." I said dropping my suit jacket on the chair.

"So what are you cooking' I asked rolling my sleeves up as he started towards the kitchen with me following him.

"Spaghetti ale vongole (spaghetti with clams in a white sauce with garlic, olive oil and pepper tiramisu)" He answered

"Okay so what can I do?" I asked….

"Oh, just set the table I'm almost done, and you can get wine too." He answered

"You are obviously going to finish my wine collection, if you keep drinking my bottles and stay in my house." I said while doing what he said

"You are barely around so, someone has to do them some justice." He answered.

"Yeah just go home when you finish eating I'm going to be really busy." I said

"You just came back, and you are already thinking bout work.? Chill bro or you might just die before you are 30". He said serving us a plate

"Yeah yeah tell me something new. Well lets get digging I'm starved." I said ignoring his comment.

"But you know you should take things easy just so you know, you aren’t the only one handling an empire." He said

"One more word about my life and am kicking your ass out." I said sending him a glare

"Okay, chill I'm not saying anymore. Mum's going to finish up for me soon anyways." He chuckled.

We ate in silence while I was thinking of what he said.

I'm not a workaholic I’m just the Ceo of a business empire. Well a billionaire at 27 years old that's a lot. But you owning companies also means more lives under your shield. I raised this company back from bankruptcy at 22, endless days of work and total dedication to it brought me here. Am called cold, cruel, ruthless in the business world but I had to be just to be at the top.

Well then I just got too deep that I cant even remember when last I went on a vacation. Xavier might be right but someone has to do this things and I just happen to be one who loves what he is doing.

.....

I was in my home office when Mum called.

"Boun sera mama mio." I greeted answering the phone

"Claudio, buon sera. How are you my child?" She asked.

"Mum I'm fine, how are you?" I asked

"I am okay I just miss my son, and decided to visit New York tomorrow." She said.

"Mama you know you just cant keep dropping in like this, but not that you will listen to me anyways." I will send bernado to pick you tomorrow then.

"That's my boy anyways your sister is coming too, so be prepared and please will you tell Xavier to stop screening my calls." She said

"Yes mama I will and have a safe flight." I replied

"Okay goodnight my child." Buono Norte mama.

Well Xavier was right for once in his life. Mama’s coming tomorrow that means me getting scolded nonstop.