Playing Games

You spend your Sunday with El doing some more Christmas decorating around the house and prepping the work-week ahead. Being a good journalist at shit hole out of touch 'news' outlet has its pros and cons, you get to work your passion yet again its a shithole. All the so called journalists are just uppity asses, given easy mindless publishings.

You learned within the first week to just mind your business and do your job, your boss is cutthroat, but seems to have a weakness for broken things. I.e you! It's almost like it's written on your forehead.

' Hi, I'm Natalia, broken beyond repair '

Your Sunday isn't eventful but most of it was spent thinking about Luca, especially the fact you haven't heard from him.

With a racing mind your brain goes straight to it's normal behavior, over-thinking! Being borderline is a hell of a trip, most stereotypically heard, abandonment issue's.

You try to get outta your head and thoughts by going to make you and El some cocoa before bed. You'll need some beauty sleep before your first day back after a hectic weekend.

' There's exactly one week til your birthday, Christmas eve, at least your psycho mother was bare minimum clever with your name! '

You thought to yourself.

Handing Ella her drink you give her a hug and say your goodnights. You slide into your bed with your cocoa while you grab your phone to browse it in the meantime. You see you have a new text from Luca.

' Natalia, I'll be there Saturday evening to pick you up, wear something nice!

- Luca '

Despite his words of not liking being ignored, you don't respond. You fall asleep within a few minutes of finishing your drink. You spend the next few days just blurring them together, getting by on caffeine and angst.

Come Thursday you've gotten one more text from Luca asking for confirmation, something you still haven't done, having second thoughts about your word to going out on a date with him officially.

It's lunchtime and you head down the steps of your workplace to go get the lunch of champions, Coffee! You plan on walking up the street to a mediocre coffee shop to get your usual, Caramel macchiato 2 extra shots of espresso & a raisin bagel.

You grab your order and find an empty seat and plop down, you have about an hour for lunch. You decide to check your usual sources to see if there's any developing stories ect. About halfway through your lunch you're interrupted by a massive shadow, you know exactly whose there.

' You really like games don't you? '

You look up smirking.

' Well, might as well enjoy what you're good at huh? '

' You're not as good as you think you are little dove, that might work on everyone else, but not on me! I don't do games, I'm not playing yours! And since you like pissing me off by ignoring me I'm telling you now, I'll be outside of your house Saturday at 7! You'll be ready wearing something nice, don't make me come find you, don't forget that! '

Without another word he turns and leaves. You were met with the colder, more serious side of Luca! Something that Didn't happen at all before, he was kind, understanding and warm. This is a side that you hated, hated that it intrigued you. Another thing that's not quite understood fully about borderlines, most of us are drawn to assholes or some form of pieces of shit. Some psychology I'll never understand, manipulation to the fullest, on both sides.

You grab your coffee and head back to your office, the rest of the day is a blur. You say your goodbyes to your boss and his secretary the only person in that place you adore. Her name is Daniela, but you call her Dani, Her family moved here from Colombia when she was an infant. Mr. Carter would be absolutely lost with out her, you've never met a more organized person in your whole life.

The next morning you get to work and as usual the first thing you do is check your email. There's a new one from an email you don't recognize.

' Hello Miss. Volkova, I hope this email finds you well. I have a bit of information that will be of much value to you! Meet me at Jitter Juice Café at your usual spot, usual time'

No name, which isn't unusual for whistle blowers. One thing about journalism is it can actually be dangerous, from meeting strangers in strange places to pissing off people, sometimes the wrong people. Powerful men with no patience who will stop at nothing to prevent exposing whatever dirty bullshit they involve themselves in.

But for whatever reason this email gives you a feeling of unease! You spend the next few hours just wondering what kind of information you'll be receiving. As it's about to hit your lunch hour you get a bit uneasy, but there's no way you'll miss this. A possibility of this being a juicy story is always decent enough to draw you in.

You exit the big doors of your building and make your way to your usual spot. As you walk in and head to the spot you were just the other day, Noone is there waiting. You wait only a moment before a worker is there and brings you your coffee and bagel. One nice thing about having a spot, I didn't even have to order! It pays off being a good tipper.

As you sit there sipping on your coffee a strange man approaches and seats himself.

' Hello Miss Volkova I appreciate you coming to meet me. My name is Antonio, I have some personal information that might be dire to you my dear. '

' Of course, did you want to stay anonymous or do you feel safe enough to remain named? '

' My dear, I'm not a whistle blower, just a concerned bystander I suppose. You, you've been seeing a man named Luca, Luca Rossi? Correct? '

You close your notebook a bit more on edge.

' Mr. Antonio, why and how do you know any of this? My personal life is none of business. If you aren't a whistle blower then I'm not sure I can be of much help to you, thank you for your time! '

You start gathering your things as you here him clear his throat causing you to look up at him.

' Miss, I'll give you this bit, Luca is not as honest as you think he is, but I can see why he's so interested in you! It's like he gets to have a second chance, to have someone like you again. '

At this point you just grab your things and walk away. You give the waitress who brought your drink to you a twenty dollar bill as you hurriedly rush out giving her thanks.

You are back at work in record time, freaked out and pissed you open your phone and go to message Luca but you're so lost for words you end up just closing out and forgetting about it. There's still a few hours left in the work day but you just can't get over what just happened.

You walk up to Dani's desk as you notice she's hanging up the phone.

' Tallllly, hey is everything alright? '

' Dani, I hate to do this but I'm feeling off, must have been lunch, just not sitting right. I've got a lot of work to do can you let Mr. Carter I apologize but I'm heading home early! '

' Oh no, I'll let him know honey, go get some rest, oh and before I forget, here! '

She hands you a small box.

' Happy early birthday work bestie '

You take the box and feel so much joy for her. She really is the purest soul you've ever met. You give her a hug and you head out.

While driving home your fuming now, you've been festering on the old man's words. You overthink on all the possibilities of what Luca could be hiding, if he's hiding anything at all. Who was that old man, how does he know you and who you've been seeing.

The moment you get home you notice El isn't home yet. Weird but not unheard of. You head to your room and plan to message Luca, you're full of mixed emotions, mostly anger!

' What the fuck could he possibly be hiding, I knew something was off! '

You say out loud. You grab the mostly full wine bottle leaving behind the glass, while also grabbing your robe and a towel before heading to take a bubble bath so hot the devil would be jealous!

Laying in a near boiling tub drinking your feelings away and you hear your phone buzz. You think to yourself ' Ugh do I even wanna check that ' You then here your buzz again and again.

You curiously yet reluctantly grab the buzzing and see a screen full of notifications! ' What the actual fuck ' You spit out. Opening Ella's conversation bubble and you're bombarded with furious and fearful messages.

You read through the multiple bubbles, after seeing everything you gather that there was a small explosion at the gym. Noone was harmed but the target was Luca. By this point you're internally freaking out, you immediately jump out of the tub and rush to your room to get dressed. You decide to message Luca, wondering if he's even going to message you back. What if he was hurt, your mind goes straight to the worst case scenario. You get flashbacks of the creepy old man who paid you a visit earlier.

You can't help but think the two incidents were no coincidence. You message Ella back finally to find out where they are so you can head there, she gets back to shortly saying their still at the gym with the officer's. You grab your shit and head to the scene hoping everything is fine.