Finding You

by Danielle Ryan

  I kiss him and he squeezes me tightly. Then he picks me up in his arms and carries me to the bathroom. He sits me on the stool while he fills the tub. I can’t speak. Neither of us speaks. When the tub is ready he pulls off my sweater, the only thing I have left on, and says, “Get in the tub, I’ll be right back.”

  I obey. I sink into the hot water and smell almond oil. He’s back in a few minutes holding something in his hand. He sits on the floor close to the tub. He seems downcast and suddenly I realize how much he looks like his father. He places a small brown velvet box on the edge of the tub.

  “My father wasn’t sad yesterday. He was moved and proud.” I don’t understand. He smiles, opening the small box, showing a ring to me. My eyes must show more than surprise since he adds,

  “Breathe, Harrison. I’m not asking you to marry me. I’m giving you the ring my father gave to my mother when she told him she was expecting me. I want you to have it.”

  I look at the ring. It’s white gold and like the symbol of infinity it is studded with tiny star-like diamonds. I am fascinated by it. I usually don’t like jewels, but this is different.

  “It’s so beautiful, but it belonged to your mother. A very important memory for you and your father. I don’t think—”

  “If you don’t like it, we will go to buy—”

  “No! It’s perfect.” I interrupt him.

  “So, it’s yours. Give me your hand.” I give him my right hand and he places it on my ring finger. It fits perfectly.

  “It’s great on you.” He says while getting into the tub. With his back towards me, he leans closer and I begin to wash him with a sponge. I feel his body relaxing.

  “Before, at the office, I meant to say that the woman in the video could be any woman. And that at first I thought, seeing you and Calligaris together, that you two could have been having an affair. What I mean is that anybody may believe Calligaris’s version of the facts.”

  I sigh. “So, I assume, I will have to return to Milan, to be there in person to give my version of the story.” When I speak, I feel his body tightening.

  “Listen, tomorrow I will call Vic’s lawyer and find out if you could submit your statement of the facts in writing. Then we would give the power of attorney to a lawyer in Milan.”

  “James, I was wondering why La Blanche didn’t denounce Calligaris for stealing money from the company. It seems to me that the crime is more important than their fight, as violent as it could have been.”

  “I think Vic assaulted Calligaris because of his rage and disappointment, but he didn’t talk about the files and the video because he was afraid to involve us, to harm you.”

  “I have no choice, James. I have to go to Milan and clarify how things really went. La Blanche doesn’t deserve all this and most of all we can’t allow Calligaris to get away with it!” I reply.

  “You can’t think I will let you go alone. That bastard could react unexpectedly, if driven into a corner.” I feel his tension again and wrap my legs around him. He continues, “But I can’t come with you, I have too much to do here.”

  “Don’t worry, I will go alone. Nothing will happen to me.”

  He sighs. “Perhaps I could ask Charlie to come with you.”

  “Who is Charlie? The building concierge?”

  “Yes, he has a son who studies in Florenz and I know he plans to visit him soon. He’s also an ex-marine which could be useful.” He smiles. “Of course, first I need to ask him, but if he agrees, what do you think?”

  “I knew about Charlie’s son in Italy. He told me quite a lot about his life. Well, it’s ok with me.” I reluctantly agree.

  “Tomorrow we’ll get organized. But you must promise me to be careful, to stay away from the agency and not to contact anyone but La Blanche and his lawyers.”

  “I promise! I will go there and will come back in a flash. You won’t even notice my absence.” I affirm.

  “I seriously doubt that!”

  Chapter 34

  James

  While Tina is sleeping, I put on my sweatshirt and jeans, go into my study and begin to organize her trip. But before buying the tickets I need to talk to Charlie. I call downstairs and I’m lucky, he is on duty. I explain I urgently need to talk to him and that I will join him in a few minutes. I never entered the caretaker’s office before. He offers me a cup of coffee and we begin our talk. I explain to him briefly the situation, my fears, and my proposal: I would pay for all his travelling expenses and he will stay with Valentina until it’s all over. He immediately accepts. I feel that beyond the economic agreement, he wants to help Valentina somehow. That girl can really move people deeply just with a smile.

  When I return to the apartment, it’s late at night but all the lights are on. I found Tina drinking a glass of water in the kitchen.

  “Where did you go?” She asks me.

  “I went downstairs to speak to Charlie. He agreed to accompany you.”

  “So, will you be less worried now?”

  I move her hair behind her ears and say, “Not sure about that. Not until you are back with me.” I look at my mother’s ring shining on her finger.

  *

  Tuesday morning I buy the tickets. Their departure is on Thursday. Less than two days. I speak with Vic on the phone and he informs me he has denounced Calligaris for helping Susan steal the money from the agency. I told him about Tina and Charlie arriving in Milan. At first he tries to convince me this is not necessary, but we all know that it’s important that Claudio Calligaris pays for his actions.

  *

  The night before Tina departs, I wake up several times. I feel very anxious. I didn’t want to disturb her peaceful sleep, but somehow I did.

  “James, what’s going on?”

  “Nothing, my love. Sleep.”

  But she understands beyond my words and knows what I’m feeling. She turns towards me, comes closer and holds my hand tightly.

  Next morning I am in a horrible mood. I go into the kitchen to make breakfast.

  “Spencer, why such a face? Didn’t you sleep well?” She laughs and I groan.

  “I will be back as soon as possible.” She adds.

  Charlie rings the apartment doorbell. He’s ready with a small trolley. I give him all the documents and instructions. He takes Tina’s bag and goes downstairs to call a taxi.

  I touch the ring, caressing her hand and place it on my heart.

  “Yes, I love you too.” She smiles. She understood.

  She kisses me and closes the door behind her.

  Chapter 35

  Valentina

  We are landing. I slept most of the trip. We didn’t check any bags in, so we go directly to passport control. At the exit, when I am ready to call James, I hear someone calling my name. I look around and I see Marta and Simon! I run towards my sister to embrace her. As soon as I feel her hands caressing my face, I sigh. I am so happy to see her. Then I stare at her belly. She tenderly smiles and opens her jacket to let me admire the baby’s progress. Charlie approaches us and hands me the cell phone. “It’s for you.” That big, sweet man says smiling.

  “Hello?”

  “Baby, is everything all right?” I already miss him. “Charlie told me that ten minutes after the take-off you were already sleeping. You would be the perfect spokesperson for that drug!”

  His cheerful tone is infectious. “Thank god on the flight back there won’t be one of your bodyguards with me.” I laugh. “Are you ok, James?”

  “Yes, I miss you but I’m fine. Listen, I need to tell you something. I gave Charlie precise instructions. Please, don’t get upset with him and follow what he says. Now I need to go. My father is waiting for me. I love you.” And he hangs up without letting me reply. I give the cell phone back to Charlie and look at him with a suspicious glance.

  “Charlie, what are James’s instructions?”

  “Ms Harrison, our car is waiting for us outside.” He says very seriously.

  “I go with my sister!” Marta i
s staring at Simon. “You drive me home, right?”

  Simon answers: “Umm, actually, no. James allowed us to come to greet you at the airport, but he asked us not to have contact with you, not even by phone, until this chapter is all over.”

  “Is he crazy?” I take my iPhone and I’m calling James, when Marta stops me. “Tina, he explained everything to us and we agree with him.” I wonder if everybody is going crazy. “Sweetie, don’t make that face. This is for your security. The sooner this is over, the sooner everything will return to normal. ok? So, do what James said, he has good reasons. We will go back to Lugano and James will update us about everything. I love you, little sister.” She embraces me, while I am still completely motionless and astonished.

  Chapter 36

  James

  I told my father about my idea a few days ago. He completely agrees that we need to do something to help Vic.

  I have been sitting in this fucking car for two hours now, my back hurts and it’s incredibly hot. I’m not used to Los Angeles temperatures. I hope Robert won’t take longer than he promised.

  While I’m staring at the house entrance, I try to call Tina again. This is my tenth call. I know she is angry with me because I forced her to live like a prisoner in a hotel room, but what is important is that she’s safe. I am still on the phone waiting for Valentina to answer, when I see Robert walking out of the door with a staggering blonde. He gives me the thumbs up to confirm that everything went the way we planned. Then he gets in the back of the car and sits with our guest. The poor woman had trusted that bastard enough to wait for him for four months, in the place orchestrated by email! Anyway, we found her. Now we’ll see her reaction to the news that she has been deceived by the man she loves.

  Chapter 37

  Valentina

  I am a prisoner. Trapped in a luxury hotel in Milan. I feel like a hamster in a large deluxe cage, with all possible comforts, but still in a cage.

  James keeps calling me. I’m too upset to talk to him, but on Friday, after several rings, I decide to answer my cell phone.

  “Listen, I’m really angry. I don’t want to talk because I could say things I would regret later.”

  “Umm, Tina, what are you talking about?” Jesus! It’s Emma.

  “Sorry, Emma! I thought you were somebody else… How are you?”

  “I’m fine, although the agency is in turmoil. Do you know that La Blanche has been suspended?” And now? What should I say to her?

  “I heard about that. But what’s happened?”

  “I don’t know precisely. They never say anything to me… I am always the last person to get the news.” She says bitterly. “But I apologize, it’s the middle of the night over there. I didn’t think about it. Did I wake you up? Sorry.”

  “No, you didn’t wake me up.” And now…I need to come up with something. “Actually, I am in Italy. I came to see Marta.”

  “How long will you visit?”

  “I leave on Wednesday.”

  “Ok, good. We’ll talk soon.” She hangs up like this. She must be crazy.

  I must be crazy too, since five minutes later James calls and I’ve completely forgotten my conversation with Emma.

  *

  Monday morning, at 9:30 a.m., I arrive at the Millennium Congress Centre. Charlie is with me. One of La Blanche’s lawyers is waiting for me at the entrance. I hold my purse tightly, with the USB drive inside. We take the elevator and arrive on the third floor. The lawyer leads us to an empty office, explaining that they will call me when it is my turn. I ask him what I should do precisely. He calmly instructs me to simply tell the truth and to give him the USB drive. In front of me he inserts the drive in a computer and prints several copies of the emails. Now I have to just wait. I sit, then I stand up, and sit again. Charlie is observing me. After one hour someone finally knocks at the door.

  The lawyer asks me to follow him to a room on the same floor. As soon as I enter, I see La Blanche on my left, who smiles kindly at me, and Calligaris, who looks me over from head to toe. His face quickly passes from surprise to a smile. Is that asshole really smiling? A person on my right addresses me, so I turn and see a group of people that I assume is the commission board. I want to die. I can’t breathe and my heart is racing. James! What’s going on? He stares at me for a second and then looks down. I can’t read his expression.

  “Ms Harrison, please, take a seat.” I give another glance at James but he doesn’t look up. I sit. I search his eyes again and can’t find them. I swallow but the lump in my throat doesn’t move. I try to focus my attention on the commission and among the faces I recognize Mark Spencer, who gives me an encouraging smile.

  I recover my speech and say: “Good morning.”

  “Good morning.” The person speaking is in the centre of a row of people. “My name is Lucas Newton and I am the president of this commission. As you know, serious accusations have been filed against Mr La Blanche. We are here to clarify his position. Mr La Blanche’s lawyer thinks you may help illuminate the facts.

  I give James a last glance, but I don’t get his attention. He will hear me later! I take the USB drive from my purse and I explain how I found it.

  “I presume you have inspected it. Could you please tell us what the USB drive contains?” Victor’s lawyer asks.

  I nod. “There is an exchange of emails between Ms Susan Mars and Mr Claudio Calligaris. In those emails they make plans to undermine the three contracts which Ms Mars was working on and to steal the retainers from the agency, in addition to stealing the files related to the money share amounts.” I look at Claudio. There is almost an amused smirk on his face. I continue to speak. “Furthermore there is a video which shows them having sex in Ms Mars’s office.”

  Calligaris is still grinning while James is looking down writing notes. What the hell is happening? I feel as if I landed on another planet.

  “Thank you, Ms Harrison.” La Blanche’s lawyer takes the floor, addressing the commission. I look down at my hands, while listening.

  “There isn’t much to add, since everybody has copies of the emails Ms Harrison referred to. Mr La Blanche impulsively reacted with aggressive behaviour toward Mr Calligaris. But you have the reason in front of you. He discovered the fraud against the agency and couldn’t restrain himself. It seems clear that the accusations against my client must be immediately dropped and the company should file a lawsuit against Mr Calligaris and Ms Mars.”

  Claudio’s lawyer is now speaking. “It’s not so simple. We shouldn’t rush to any hasty conclusion. My client, Mr Calligaris, also a colleague, may want to shed some light on Ms Harrison’s statements.”

  I wonder what he can add other than a confession. I look at Claudio, who begins to talk very calmly. He appears relaxed.

  “Before this commission I assume responsibility for verbally provoking Mr La Blanche, who reacted to my words; but he is a victim like me.” What is he saying? “Victor, I am sorry for not clarifying this misunderstanding earlier.” He seems sincerely apologetic. “I lied, but I wanted to protect the woman I love.” Now James is staring at him. I can see blood in his eyes. “As you just saw, my love is not reciprocated.” Calligaris now is addressing me. “Why are you doing this to me, Tina? I loved you so much. Look what I did for you!”

  My mouth is completely dry. I can barely breathe. I look at James who is still staring at Calligaris. I try to end this nightmare whispering: “Claudio, what are you talking about? You know perfectly well there has never been anything between us.”

  “Come on, that’s enough. At least tell the truth now. Ok, our relationship is over. I will accept that. But you can’t pretend I will be the only one to pay for the mistakes we both committed. You can’t hate me that much, after all we went through together.”

  I am furious now. I can’t stand his little games any more. I stand up and slam my hand on the table. Staring into his eyes and pointing my finger at him, I say:

  “There has been nothing between us. I am neither th
e woman in the video, nor the person with whom you exchanged those emails, since they do not come from my computer. And of course I am not the person who stole money from this agency. You are a repulsive human being!” I see that irritating look returning to his face.

  “Let me refresh your memory, Valentina Harrison. That was in fact our agreement, don’t you remember? The emails had to be sent from Susan’s computer, so, in case we would get caught, she would be the culprit. When you wrote the nickname Sue, I knew it was you, honey, not her. Do you want proof of our relationship, if that video is not enough? Here it is.” He opens his briefcase and takes an envelope out, sliding it towards me over the table. “Take a look. Luckily our colleagues love gossip, otherwise nobody would believe me.”

  With shaking hands I open that envelope. It’s a series of photographs. How is it possible? The pictures show him touching my shoulder. My hands are on his arm. He’s embracing me. He’s smiling at me with adoring eyes. I’m smiling back.

  Horrified I look at him. He has an expression of triumph on his face. I look at James who is calling someone on the phone while that bastard continues lying. I need to defend myself if nobody else is going to.

  “It’s not true! None of this is true. Moreover, this doesn’t explain Susan’s disappearance! It’s not true!”

  I keep repeating these words like a mantra. I am staring at those photos. Although I know I didn’t do anything, those images make me feel dirty. I see a hand gathering those pictures in front of me and I recognize James’s watch.

  “These photographs only confirm the depth you will sink to achieve your goals.” James addresses Calligaris, while drying a tear off my cheek with his finger. Then he places a reassuring hand on my shoulder.