Chapter 33
The maid dashed off and she went ahead to take a seat at the dining table. She felt irritated that the girl called her a Lady. “Her Lady!” She scoffed and shook her head at the title she hated more than anything else.
She was a queen, the woman that birthed their King and nothing was going to change that. Not even his so-called wife who was training tirelessly for it.
“Your coffee!” Carmencita announced with a smile, breaking into her thoughts. She placed the coffee on the table and turned to leave.
“Too hot, make another!”
Carmencita halted and turned to look at the cup. She had not even tasted it but already concluded it was too hot. Quietly, she picked up the cup with a smile on her face and walked away. Some minutes later, she returned with another coffee as demanded.
“Too cold, take it away!” She did as instructed with a smile on her face and returned with another. This time, Munika tasted it and grimaced. “What is this? Some bitter soup? Take it away this instant and make another!”
Carmencita took it away and returned with another cup of coffee, still wearing a soft smile on her face. “Too much sugar and it is too cold. Can you not perform a simple task at once? Or do I have to teach you?”
She was pulling her legs, hoping to get a reaction from her but she got none. Carmencita simply picked up the coffee and went into the kitchen to prepare another coffee. When she was done, she took it to her with the usual smile on her face.
Ugh, that stupid ugly smile! Munika said in her mind as she raised the cup to her lips. Without having a taste of the coffee, she lowered the cup on the saucer and shook her head disapprovingly.
“Too much milk!” Carmencita smiled and wanted to take the coffee away but she pushed it aside and faced her squarely. “I hear you have been having secret conversations with the girl”
“What girl?”
“Oh, do not give me that bullsh*t, you know who I mean”
“I am afraid, I do not,” Carmencita answered and looked around. “As you know, there are plenty of girls around here…”
“The girl… The blonde-haired, married to my son!”
“Oh…!” Carmencita voiced and smiled. “The Mafia Queen.”
“She is no Queen!” Munika replied derogatorily and fisted her hands which were on top of the table. “Now spit it out. What have you been feeding her?”
“Delicious food, healthy fruits and vegetables, vitamins for a strong and healthy womb, of course”
Strong and healthy womb? What was she talking about? Munika wondered, staring up at her. Did Sergio finally sleep with Rosana? Was she pregnant? Surely, her spies had not whispered such news to her.
“If that is all, you may excuse me…”
Before she could finish, Munika grabbed her firmly by the arm. “We are not finished. Don’t you dare walk away from me!”
“I am sorry if I…”
“What have you been discussing with the girl?” Munika asked bluntly. “I want to know all of it!”
Carmencita smiled and stared down at the lady who didn’t like her much. Munika always wanted her to bow to her like everyone else and cower at the sound of her voice. But Carmencita was more than that. She was older, stronger, and brave.
“I discuss so many things with the queen…”
She gripped her tighter by the arm, her nails digging into her skin. “She is not the queen. You will call her no such thing!”
“She is. She became the queen the moment she married your son, Sergio”
That was the truth but she refused to think of it. She was the queen and no one else. “She is not…”
“You and I both know the truth, Munika. In a matter of days, the introduction will take place”
If she wasn’t sitting, Munika would’ve long landed a slap on her face. How could she say that to her face? How could she call the girl a queen? A girl who would likely destroy them in the future?
“You seem to have forgotten what you are to us… What your daughter is. She is all you have in this world and I can take her away from you with a snap of my fingers!”
The smile didn’t wither from Carmencita’s face, Instead, it grew wider. She slowly withdrew her arm from Munika’s grip and picked up the cup of coffee.
“If that is all, I will take my leave now. The queen will be done with her training soon and would need her food”
With that being said, she turned and walked away. Munika glared at her departing figure and huffed. That impertinent old woman! She stood up at once and marched out of the dining room.
It’s been too long, it’s time to visit someone.
*****
*****
“Damn, you fight like my brother!”
“You wish that were true” Rosana responded and laid her back on the floor. She had just fought with five men and was exhausted. “He does not even believe I can fight”
“He does,” Enzo replied and sat beside her. “If he does not, I wouldn’t be here. He would have started training you himself. I bet you would have loved that”
“Hell no! You say all the time that he would break me in halves!”
Enzo laughed and lit his cigarette. He turned to her and motioned if she wanted it but she shook her head as always. “But you fight him all the time.”
“I do not”
“Anytime you decide to have physical combat with him, please take me as your judge. I would do anything to watch you beat up his a*s”
Rosana laughed. “I see you do not like me much. You want me dead!”
“Of course not, My Lady. If I am your referee, I will announce you as the winner immediately after you throw the first punch” He said and they both laughed.
After some time, more men came in and Rosana knew it was time for another fighting session. She stood up and walked over to the training ground while Enzo stood behind to watch.
By the time the fight was over, Rosana was weak. She had successfully fought the men but not without getting hurt in the process.
“My Lady… Water!”
“Oh, thank you!” Rosana replied and got the bottle from her at once. She opened it and downed all the content. “Thank…”
She turned around in search of the girl but she was gone already. There was no trace of her. Rosana shrugged and disposed of the empty bottle. Enzo wasn’t around either and she was done with training for the day. She needed a good massage and a shower.
As she started walking out of the training facility, she felt an unusual sharp pain in her stomach. It sliced through her and she was forced to stop walking. What was happening to her? She wondered as her heart picked up an unusual pace, beating heavily.
She tried to walk but her legs suddenly felt too weak and couldn’t carry her. The sharp shooting pain continued cramping up in her stomach like a knot getting pulled tighter and tighter until there was no pull left so slowly, it released.
“Ahhh!!!” She yelled and fell on the floor. Her ability to breathe was stagnating. “Somebody… Somebody helppp!”
Some minutes later, Enzo walked into the facility and was surprised to see Rosana lying on the floor. She looked pale and… He didn’t wait to think any further, he rushed over to her and fell on his knees beside her.
“My Lady… My Lady…” When he touched her, she felt cold. “Bloody hell!”
*****
*****
Sergio got down from the car, smoking from his tobacco pipe. He started walking towards the mansion as everyone stopped and bowed to him.
“Don!” Alfonso called out and walked up to him from behind. He had just gotten the news about what happened to Rosana from one of the men. “There is a problem!”
Sergio paused and turned to look at him. They had gotten back together so what could be the problem he was talking about?
“Your wife… The Donna was poisoned”