Gia stood in front of Alvan's desk, she glared at Javan as she narrated her conversation with Camilla to the three men in the room. Effectively leaving out the part about Alvan's involvement and Camilla's reason for helping her out.
Matteo rolled his eyes when she was done, "Classic aunt Camilla."
"I'm surprised that she told you everything exactly as it is. I'm just confused about what she stands to gain from all of it," Javan chewed his lip in thought before he spoke.
Her glares went over his head and it didn't really matter to him as long as he was trying to help her.
"She just said something about being sorry for all the trouble and that Omri gave her a talk," Gia said.
Alvan scoffed and Gia stared at him pointedly.
"There is a possibility that they are going to do it before the gala," Matteo said. "I don't believe any of this. None of it makes any sense."
"A part of me feels like she is not snitching on them. She is doing exactly what they want. Maybe there's more to this than even Matteo is aware of," Gia said.
"I don't have the time to play these mind games. They should do whatever the hell they want! You will survive anything that comes your way," Alvan said brusquely.
"I was going to take care of myself just fine. If you didn't want any part in this then you should have just left. What really is your problem?" she directed her anger at Alvan.
"My problem is that you are more trouble than you worth and that drives me nuts!"
"How can you say that to her?" Javan butted in.
"Just mind your damn business " Alvan spat.
"Look, Alvan. I don't think _" Matteo tried to douse the tension.
"Get out," Alvan snapped at him.
Matteo remained grounded in his spot.
"That's all you ever do. Act like you're so important! Like you're doing everyone a favour by gracing us peasants with your presence," Gia pointed out. One hand on her waist and the other hand flaying around in anger and frustration. "You think so highly of yourself yet all you are is an angry, cold, bitter and empty man. That's all you ever are and all you'll ever be."
"You have the guts to throw shade at me when you are some spoiled princess whom got my brother killed!" Alvan yelled.
Gia looked at him and just shut up immediately.
"Spare me from your self-righteousness! You got him killed yet you accuse me of not being there to protect you. Who was supposed to protect Luca? Unlike you, I'm not some hypocrite. You are nothing but a spoiled, ungrateful little minx that I'd rather stay as far away from as possible."
"Alvan, that's enough!" Javan said.
"No, it's not! You ever wonder why I despise you so much? It's because you killed Luca and for some fucked up reason, you think that you covered up your tracks so well."
"What are you talking about? Who the hell is Luca?"
Alvan visibly turned red. Like he was going to explode any minute. His blood boiled and his head felt like it was going to explode. Not in a good way.
"Fucking hell! How can you still pretend that you don't know what happened?" he roared at her from across his table. He towered over her despite their distance.
Gia felt scared to her bones. She wanted to curl on the floor and move as far away from him as possible but she somehow managed to stand her ground though she took steps backwards.
He could see the fear in her eyes. He could see the hurt and anger and hatred swirling in those pool of gray eyes. The reflection in those eyes did something to his heart. He resented himself for that but his emotions were completely in control.
"She had nothing to do with, Luca's death. If you weren't so dense you'd actually look around and see exactly what is going on around you," Javan said in annoyance.
"Just get out all of you," Alvan snarled.
There was a knock on the door and Diana sashayed towards him few seconds later. The room went silent. The tension was brewing heavily.
"What are these two riffraffs doing here?" Diana asked as she swayed to Alvan's side as her eyes darted between Gia and Javan.
"I've always known that you had a few loose screws in your head but I didn't actually think that you were such a knucklehead. What gives you the right to talk to him like that?" Gia lashed.
Diana looked at Alvan for support and turned to Gia, "How dare you call me a knucklehead?"
"If you don't want me calling names, watch how you talk to Javan."
"You have no idea, do you?" Diana shook her head and tsked.
"Know what? Because Alvan screws you, you feel like you're something special, don't you? Mistresses usually know not to throw their weight around, but I guess that you're a different. You two are a match made in hell and wish that you the absolute worst," Gia lambasted, pouring her frustration on Diana.
"That's enough!" Alvan slammed his hand on his desk successfully cutting short the argument. "Gia, Javan, out!" He pointed at the door.
Matteo was the first to leave.
Gia was going to protest but Javan held her arm and gently tugged at it. She glared at the couple, "The two of you deserve each other," she said spitefully and turned around.
Something tugged at his heart as he watched Javan lead her out of the room, his hand still holding her arm.
"I don't know anything about you," Gia started. "What was Diana talking about? Why didn't you defend yourself? You are Omri's son too aren't you? Why does everyone treat you differently?"
Javan didn't know how to answer her questions. He just managed to smile at her, "There is nothing to be worked up about."
"You are Omri's son, aren't you?" Gia asked again saying one word at a time.
"Of course," he said but his eyes said something else. There was something different about those beautiful brown eyes. It always held so much depth and sadness but it was so easy to pass off the sad twinkle as happy considering his warm and friendly exterior.
"Javan," she called his name softly and took a step closer but he stepped back.
"I have something to take care of. I'll see you tomorrow at breakfast," he said and walked away.
Gia turned back to Alvan's office, unsure of what to do with all the multiple emotions she was feeling. She could hear moans coming from his office and she almost ripped the door in front of her open but she just clenched her fist instead to contain her anger. She ran off to her room feeling even more hopeless by her current situation. As her anger slowly dissipated, it was replaced by the feeling of loneliness and a longing for companionship.
Day after day, she felt even more hopeless about her marriage. Alvan had made it crystal clear sky blue that he wanted nothing to do with her and his actions proved how serious he was about it. And for the first time since her wedding which felt like eons ago, she cried herself to sleep.
* * *
Javan stayed in a crouched position, panting heavily.
"Get up boy!" Omri ordered. "No son of mine shall be considered a weakling."
Despite the dizziness, Javan managed to stagger to his feet. With his hand wrapped with a thin piece of clothing, he wiped off the blood from the corner of his mouth.
"Attack!" Omri instructed.
Javan threw a punch at his father and the older man easily evaded it. Javan stumbled in the process.
"You are weak!"
Javan threw another punch but missed again.
"You are a disgrace!"
The young boy threw a punch and stopped halfway and kicked his father's stomach instead.
Omri caught his leg and threw him across the room. Javan groaned in pain and almost passed out from the pain radiating from all over his body.
"Get up!" Omri yelled at him.
Javan tried to get up but his weak limbs gave in. He watched his father approach him with murderous eyes and he begged for mercy.
"You are my greatest regret, you know that?" Javan could only nod in response. "Not only are you a wuss, you are the worst son a man could ever ask for. Just like your mother, you are irresolute and ineffectual."
Javan backed away, scrambling to create more distance between him and his father.
Omri was going to kick him in the gut when Valeria yelled from the entrance of the training room, "Stop!"
She ran to Javan's side and her eyes pooledwith tears, "How can you keep doing this to your own son?"
Javan turned in his sleep and finally forced his eyes open. Omri stood at the entrance of his room and he just gulped in fear.
"Meet me in the training room," Omri said coldly and turned around.
He was immediately drenched with perspiration. He had too many painful memories in the training room over the years and he thought the fears would go away as he got older. How wrong he was.