Chapter 15: Unspoken Things
Tony stirred awake in the silence of Bellingham Mansion. The luxury around him felt distant, like a dream he hadn't agreed to have. The bedsheets were tangled, and the morning sun crept lazily through the wide windows, spotlighting the stillness in his room.
His head was a mess of memories. That night. Mia. Her eyes, her warmth. And those words—
"If you ever want to tell me something, I'll listen."
(She's gonna kill me one day.)
He let the words echo, bounce around the hollow parts of his mind. She didn't ask questions, didn't push. She just waited. That made it worse. Or maybe better.
He sighed and sat up, rubbed his eyes, and dragged himself into the bathroom. A hot shower did nothing to clear the fog in his head. Still, he dressed with care. Casual slacks, dark tee, no jacket. He attempted to smooth the bedsheets out of habit, paused halfway, then gave up.
Stepping out into the hallway, the scent of brewed coffee led him toward the kitchen.
(What the hell smells so nice?)
Clara stood at the counter, back turned, stirring something. She was barefoot, hair loosely tied, wearing one of her oversized hoodies. The kitchen felt smaller with her in it.
"Oh, it's her." His mind quickly flashed back to what happened in the cáfé.
She glanced over her shoulder when she heard him.
"How many spoons of sugar should I add, kai?" she asked gently, holding a mug in one hand and a spoon in the other.
(She's seriously just called me kai!)
Tony hesitated. A simple question. Yet it felt like a minefield.
"Two," he said.
She stirred, then slid the mug across the counter toward him. He took it. The warmth seeped into his hands.
They stood in silence for a few moments, sipping quietly. She sat on one of the stools and looked at him.
"I heard you didn't come back last night," she said softly.
"I was out."
"With Mia perhaps?"
Tony looked at her. Her face didn't show jealousy, just quiet knowing.
He nodded once.
She smiled faintly, not bitterly. More like someone who already knew the answer.
"She seems nice," Clara said.
Tony sipped his coffee. "She is. Way more than you"
The rest of the morning was filled with awkward collisions.
( Later in the afternoon.)
In the hallway, they almost bumped into each other. Clara stepped back with a small laugh.
"We used to joke about this happening," she said, eyes lingering.
Tony gave a forced chuckle, brushing past.
Later in the living room, both reached for the TV remote at the same time. Their hands touched. She didn't pull away. He did.
She looked at him.
Tony didn't respond.
(Cold-Hearted.)
"What happened to you, Kai?" she whispered.
That name.
He looked up, sharply.
"Don't," he said.
Clara's expression cracked for a moment.
"We have established the fact that i know it's you," she said, more quietly now. "I knew the moment I saw you that day. The same way you scratched your head when you're thinking. The way you tilt your cup before you drink. It was you, all this time. Remeber, you did work with me to reduce your debt with D'amico...But"
He turned away, jaw clenched.
"And I waited," she continued. "I waited for you to say something. Anything. But you didn't. So here we are. Playing house like nothing ever happened."
Tony stared at the floor. His voice came out strained.
"I don't know you....The dude had so many girls with him. Still you have refused to answer me and tell me who you are. I know he didn't have anyworker named clara that's for sure.
"The papers, signatures, how did you know me before, how do you know me now, who are you?"
"I can't tell you....now" she replied quietly.
"And Oh yeah. FYI, I didn't ask for this life."
"And Neither did I," Clara said.
She took a deep breath and stepped back. She looked him dead in the eyes and said the words
"Enjoy your coffee."
She left the room.
(Quiet, thick, tension filled air covered the roof.)
Back in his room, Tony collapsed onto the bed. The mug sat forgotten on the table. The silence pressed down again.
He picked up his phone. Scrolled through messages. Mia's contact stood out like a light in a tunnel.
He typed: "Can we talk?"
Paused for a moment.
Deleted it.
Typed: "Thanks for last night."
Deleted it again.
He sighed, tossing the phone aside.
A few minutes later, the screen lit up.
Message from Mia:
"Sorry but I just remembered... I make good hot chocolate too. Don't make me prove it :)"
Tony stared at the message.
And smiled.
For the first time that day.
Then replyed
"Yeah....I'll be the judge of that.