Chapter 8: Getting Closer.

(SEAN)

We’ve already finished all the strawberry donuts in the box. Tanya ate three donuts while I ate the rest. Well, I like the flavour and a man got to eat.

I already knew a few about her but I want to know her more. I’m not fond of talking about myself because if I tell her about my life she’ll be scared.

“I’m not good at introducing myself. Why don’t you just ask me questions?” I suggested.

“Okay, er, I know your name is Sean but I wonder what your full name is?” she asked.

“Sean Gabriel Alfaro,” I answered.

“That’s really Italian but Sean isn’t sound like Italian at all. I’m Tanya Rose Santiago by the way,” she said.

Of course I know her full name, “My grandmother is obsessed with English names,” I shrugged but I know she can’t see that, “How about you? Santiago doesn’t sound American at all.”

“I don’t know, maybe I’m half somewhere in my blood. Both of my parents are Americans, my grandparents too,” she answered, “How old are you?” she asked.

“How old do I sound?”

“Twenty four?” she answered in a question way.

“That’s close, I’m twenty five,”

“Really?!” she laughed, “You’re three years older than me, I’m only twenty two. I think I should call you brother.”

“Please don’t,” I grimaced

“I really do want to have a sibling since I’m an only child. Having an older brother seems exciting,” she said happily. Her smile meets her eyes and it’s almost contagious.

“Then call Tomas brother, not me.”

“Speaking of Tomas, where is he? He’s not with you when you went here to get the envelope, he’s your secretary, right?” she asked.

“He’s more than a secretary. I trusted him. He’s with me on that time he’s just waiting in the car,” I replied. Although Tomas is my attendant he’s also my most trusted friend.

“Is he in the car right now?”

“Si,”

“He should join us,” she said. She’s too nice for my annoyance.

“He wouldn’t want to, he prefers staying in the car,” I half lied. Tomas will follow any orders that I will make, whether he like it or not.

“Do you have any siblings?” she asked.

“One younger sister, she’s twenty years old,” I answered thinking about my annoying sister.

“Really, that’s cool. What’s she like?” she asked excitedly.

“Very annoying, nosy and spoiled brat,”

She frowned, “Don’t be like that, she’s your sister.”

“What I said is true,” I said, “But it’s mine and Papa’s fault, we spoiled her too much.” I continued.

She laughed before she asked, “What is your job?”

I stared at her. Answering that question is tough. What will she do if I say that I’m a Mafia Boss? A criminal? If she knew I should kill her.

“You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to,” she gave me a reassuring smile after she didn’t hear my response.

“I’m a businessman,” thinking it’s better than to be a Mafia Boss besides it’s close to what I really do. It’s just a very bad business.

“I should apply in your job so that I could be rich too,” she said jokingly.

“You don’t want to be in my job,” I mumbled.

“What?”

“Where’s your Mom?” I asked even though I know she’s already dead.

“She’s dead,” she placed a forceful smile on her face.

“Sorry,”

“No it’s okay, it was twelve years ago when she died in a car accident,” she quickly said to reassure me.

“Isn’t it sad not seeing anything?”

She smiled before she answered, “Actually, I’m not blind when I was born. It was also twelve years ago when I got blind.” That’s a thing that I didn’t know about her.

“Does it have a connection with the accident of your Mom?”

“It’s a long story,”

“I got a lot of time.”

“I don’t want to talk about it, I’m sorry,” she apologized giving me a sad smile.

“It’s okay,” I assured her.

“Don’t you have a business to attend to?” she asked, “Ah, I know what kind of businessman you are. You’re the kind of man who depend your work in your right hand man, you will give them your scary aura so that they will not say no to you,” she scowled.

I didn’t say anything.

She began to laugh, “I’m just kidding, you don’t have to be so serious.”

“Maybe I am if I do spend my time with you,” for the moment I thought I was already busted.

“Hey, that’s bad. You shouldn’t do that,” she scolded playfully. Suddenly the bell chimes and both of our heads turn towards the door. A young girl wearing her school uniform entered, she is carrying a violin bag on her back.

“Good morning,” Tanya greeted.

“Good morning,” she greeted back but her eyes are on mine.

“Do you need anything?” Tanya asked politely.

“Yeah, the bow of my violin broke, do you think you could repair it?” she asked, her eyes still not leaving mine.

“Could I touch it, please?”

“Sure,” the girl replied she took the bow of the violin out of its bag and hand it to Tanya.

Tanya touched carefully the bow. It was completely divided into two parts. The strings are also divided, “If you don’t mind me asking, what happened here?” she asked.

The girl looks very sad, “My Aunt doesn’t like me playing the violin so she broke it,” her voice broke a little.

Tanya‘s smile falter and change into an unhappy one, “I’m very sorry but it seems like it was completely destroyed. If you want you can buy a brand new bow here.”

“No, I can’t! It was given to me by my mother, it is very important to me,” she objected, “It is okay if it can’t really be repaired. Sorry for the trouble,” she bowed dejectedly and slowly gathered the bow.

“Wait,” Tanya stopped the girl, “We can repair it. Just leave it here and give us some time, you can check it up anytime you want,” she said.

“But I thought it can’t be repaired,” the girl said.

“I’ll find a way,” Tanya smiled and that makes the girl smile.

“Thank you very much!” the young girl thanked as she held Tanya’s hands tightly. Her smile is so wide and some tears fell from her eyes.

“Save your thanks when we returned it to you in one piece,” Tanya laughed, “What’s your name?”

“Alisha,” she beamed, “It really means a lot to me.”

After a lot of thank you from Alisha she finally went home leaving her violin at the shop.

“You think it can be fixed?” I asked.

“There’s nothing wrong at trying,” she smiled.

“You’re really a kind person,” I complimented.

“Thanks, I guess,” she flushed.

“I just observed that people can’t notice that you’re blind if they will not really look at your eyes. I also didn’t notice that too if you have not told me,” I admitted.

“Yeah, it’s because the white pigment in my eyes are not clear,” she said.

“Does that mean you can see anything even just a little?” I asked.

“Not really but sometimes when I looked at anything that is shining like the sun, I can only see was blurred light.”

Once again we were interrupted by the sounds of the bell from the door. We again turn our heads towards it and I saw Tomas walking to us.

“Good morning,” Tanya greeted again, thinking it was just another customer.

“Good morning too Miss Tanya,” Tomas greeted back and he turned his head to me and nodded for a recognition, which I returned.

“Oh, it is you Tomas,” she beamed.

“What brings you here Tomas?” I asked a little bit annoyed for interrupting us.

“My deepest apologies for interrupting, Sir, but I got a call from the office saying you are badly needed,” he answered politely.

“Is it really important?”

“Si,”

“You need to go now, Sean. Like I told you earlier it is bad to neglect your work,” Tanya said, “If you’re going to be so stubborn I’ll kick your ass out of my shop. Don’t underestimate the blind,” she joked.

I was amused by what she said and I heard Tomas chuckled, “Well, I think that I don’t want that to happen so I’ll just leave willingly,” I chuckled as I stood up from my chair and walked to the doors with Tomas.

“See you later then Sean and Tomas,” she waved a hand to us.

“See you later Tanya.”

***

Tomas is driving the car as usual back to the office and I didn’t even notice that it’s near lunch. I guessed I lost my track in time. I admit that I’m comfortable talking with Tanya, even though she’s the one who always does the talking. I’m more of one question, one answer person.

“Welcome Back Boss!” Gino greeted with full of energy as I went out of the car, “Woah! Did something bad happen? You’re frowning.”

I ignored him and walked briskly, “Why you badly needed me?” I asked firmly.

“Governor Burton is here,” he replied instantly.

Oh, one of my loyal customer. I went upstairs where they are waiting. I never allowed persons or guests to enter my office without my consent, but with consideration with my family and some most trusted persons.

Governor Burton is sitting on a sofa a few meters away from my office. He’s surrounded with his bodyguards who were all standing. Among those men what I mostly noticed was Cecilia, his daughter, who was also sitting on the sofa with his Dad.

“Mr. Alfaro,” Gov. Burton said and stood up as he saw me coming.

“What a surprise to see you here, Governor,” I said.

“Just visiting,” he conceitedly said but I know there’s more into it. Just like his daughter who is also conceited, “Oh, and I bet you already knew my daughter, Cecilia, you two met on the Ravenna’s party,” he introduced his daughter who was smiling seductively to me.

“Of course, how would I forget?” I took her hand and bring it to my lips, “Now I really do wonder what brings you here.”

“It’s just that Cecilia talked good things about you,” he started and I think that I’ll never like this conversation.

“Oh really,”

“And you two looks better together,” he beamed, “I was wondering if you could take my beautiful daughter for a dinner tonight.”

You we’re wondering? I know what you and your daughter wants to hear and I’m not giving that to you. “I’m sorry but you’re just wasting your time,” I responded.

Cecilia frowned, “I bet you can make time for me.”

“No, I don’t have time for you, I’m sorry.”

“Dad!” she cried in frustration.

“Sean, it is a great opportunity to take my daughter out for dinner you should not say no,” Gov. Burton stated.

“I don’t have time for this nonsense, Governor,” I firmly said.

“Nonsense?! Are you stating that I’m just wasting your time?!” his noisy daughter shrieked.

“Sean,” Gov. Burton threaten, “I don’t want my daughter to get embarrass so don’t make things difficult.”

“If you don’t want your stuck up daughter to get embarrass then you should not started this nonsense. Don’t threaten me because you know what I’m capable of, Governor,” I said coldly, remembering that I left Tanya to deal with this nonsense.

Their faces look funny.

“Governor Burton I think you should go now,” Tomas said politely.

“Dad!” Cecilia cried again.

“Cecilia, let’s go!” her dad demanded and they all stormed out of my building.

“That’s funny,” Gino chuckled.

I ignored him and went inside my office. Yeah, that was definitely funny.

***

Beware: Grammar maybe bad.

Thank you for reading!