Nina scoffed. Not with contempt, but with tearful anxiety.
“But you love him,” Nina replied. Julianna finally decided to admit.
“Yes I do. I love Tom and I thought he loved me until I saw him with you. There’s this energy between you two that surpasses anything I have ever seen or experienced. When I saw you guys at the apartment, I knew I could never compete. You were made for each other.”
Nina was struck by her words. She knew Tom was madly in love with her, but after comparing her beauty and intelligence with Julianna’s, it left her confused. Why would Tom love her more than Julianna? The thought of it was absurd. Julianna was practically a model, more like a goddess. Their attraction was somewhat parallel. Strangely enough, Julianna saw things differently. She could see why Tom loved Nina. She had an inner purity that surpassed hers and every immortal she knew.
“I know Tom loves me and to be honest, I’m surprised. I mean, look at you…” Nina said to Julianna.
“Look at me? Look at you!” Julianna said, laughing at the irony of their thoughts. They had insecurity towards each other. Nina laughed till both couldn’t laugh anymore. The scenario seemed like a cliché—something one would see on Sex and The City.
“Look, Nina. I hope we can be friends. I really do. I’ve only spent a few hours with you and I can see why he loves you so much. Think about it, he doesn’t have his memories and he still loves you this much. How do you think he’ll feel when he has all his memories?” she paused then continued. “What I’m trying to say is, you two are meant for each other. It always has been. It’s nature’s design. If you see me as a threat, I’ll leave first thing tomorrow morning. But I assure you, from now on, my attraction to Tom is Nil. I give you my word!”
Nina was overwhelmed with her words, but she knew without a doubt that Julianna was sincere. She trusted her words. “If it makes you feel better, when I see Tom, I feel like a lesbian,” Julianna added. They both laughed.
“Yea right! Tom can make a diehard lesbo reconsider her sexual orientation. There’s no denying,” Nina replied. They laughed again.
“Indeed,”
They were now quiet.
“Well, I don’t want you to go anywhere. I trust you. Besides, it’ll be good to have a friend who has Tom’s interest in mind. Most of my friends and family perceive his family as common thugs. It’s great to have someone my age, someone I can trust to talk about Tom and his affairs with the…you know, Mafia and all,” Nina replied.
Julianna nodded with a smile. I’m not your age kiddo. I’m older than you think. “I love the way you reason.”
Ted Olivetti, Tom’s cousin, rushed into the ballroom where all the party guests were. He scanned the entire room for his cousin—the one who had apparently risen from the dead. It was difficult to spot Tom. Every male wore Tuxedos. The women present were dressed in gallant dresses. The servers wore white Tuxedos and paced around vigorously to keep up with the demand for fine wine.
Ted was the first family member to arrive. He hopelessly searched for Tom. Then finally, standing in front of the family portrait was a tall man, formerly a boy. He looked exactly like Tom, though his hair was longer. His beards were perfectly trimmed and his body build was like that of a specimen. His smile radiated the room.
He finally secured eye contact with Tom. Something was odd. Ted moved closer, but the blankness in Tom’s eyes showed that he couldn’t remember him. Ted walked briskly towards Tom, ignoring everyone trying to understand why Tom’s benign reaction. Tom quickly scanned the thoughts of the man walking towards him. My cousin.
“Tom!” Ted said as he hugged his cousin. Tom hugged back in a state of discomfort.
“Ted,” Tom replied, still trying to figure out Ted’s key memories. None reminded him of his past. Ted was ecstatic. Tom was real. It wasn’t a lie. It was Tom, his dear cousin whom he grew up with. Ted withdrew.
“What’s the matter, man? You disappear for seven years and this is how you greet your best cousin?”
Tom smiled uncomfortably. Catherine, Tom’s biological mother, could sense Tom’s distress from a distance. She walked up to the cousins. Ted stared at Catherine then stared at Tom.
“He can’t remember much,” Catherine said to rescue Tom from the awkward situation. He then hugged Tom again. The shock faded away. All that was left behind was a solemn sense of pity.
“Whatever happened, whatever they did to you, I’m here now,” Ted said. His hero complex was amusing. Tom nodded in response. His cousin was overly emotional and had never tried to hide it from anyone since birth. “Remember when we said we would rule New York, one day?”
Just then, more members of the Olivetti family walked into the ballroom. They all took turns greeting Tom. Some yelled in happiness. Some cried. It was an overwhelming moment for Tom and everyone in that room. Francesca and Sara, Tom’s sisters, walked in. They had flown to New York from England, where they were now studying, to see their brother. They couldn’t believe it. Francesca’s hands were on her mouth the moment she saw her brother. Tears flowed down her eyes as she walked towards him. The crowd parted ways for her. Sara, now a full grown teenager, was too shocked to cry or move. Her life felt like a fictitious movie. Her brother dead, but now he is alive.
Francesca embraced Tom. He could hear her thoughts, he could feel her emotions. He said nothing. He didn’t cry. He just wished he could remember enough of his past to be genuine to the people around him. Sara managed to walk up to her brother as all hugged one another. It felt good. Every family member was present except one person – Beatrice – the woman in the former family portrait – the woman he called mother his entire life. Tom gazed at his sisters then gazed at Beatrice in the portrait. Francesca immediately knew what Tom wanted.
“She would have come, but all this is overwhelming for her,”
Tom nodded in response. Walter walked up to Tom. Proud father. Beyond happy. The jazz musicians stopped playing their music.
“My son is back!” he said. Everyone clapped. “You know, seven years ago, I thought I had lost my legacy and my only son…Only to find him sipping Moscato in Miami Beach.” Everyone laughed at the dry humor. Their minds rumbled with questions. Why can’t he remember anything? What if it’s not Tom? What if it’s an imposter who just happens to look like him? If he is Tom, why didn’t he tell us where he has been, these past years? Why doesn’t he tell us what happened after the plane crash?
A lustful energy surrounded Tom in ways that made members of the family uncomfortable. The ladies in the room, both single and married, even his aunts, couldn’t help but lust after him.
Walter cried tears of joy. “I love you son! I’m glad you’re alive and well. It’s good to have you back,” Walter said. Tom nodded with a smile. Everyone clapped. The music continued.
“Make sure the brothers and only the brothers die! No women! No children,” Julio Sanchez said on the phone as he hung up. He had strict orders from his father, Don Sanchez, to kill the Olivetti brothers, no one else. The task was difficult because the brothers never traveled together.
He paced around his office nervously, hoping the assassin he hired wasn’t a waste of money. He was too consumed with pleasing his father to realize his own moral standards. His father didn’t care about collateral damage. His father didn’t care about killing the women in the Olivetti family. His father didn’t care about media exposure. All his father cared about was avenging the death of his oldest son, Billy de Sanchez.
His degree from Harvard business school made him a clearer thinker. Unlike his dead brother, Billy, Julio was uninterested in the family business. His decision to help was solely to satisfy his father—nothing else. If he wasn’t his father’s only son, he would have lived a life of solitude and a life without crime. Even though his father’s criminal activities paid for his college education, Julio had aversions towards the barbaric methods of torture his family used to earn money and respect. Now, surprisingly, he was about to use one of those barbaric methods
.
He tried to wipe the guilt from his mind, but couldn’t. He knew his dead brother was irrational and violent. He knew his dead brother was an abusive husband to Catherine. He knew his dead brother was better off dead than alive. Now, he could see himself becoming like his dead brother.
“Well at least, no woman or child will be killed tonight,” A thought that justified his upcoming actions.
Tom was standing outside, on the balcony, to get some much needed fresh air. He needed a break from the unending questions, unending compliments, and unending remarks about how well he had grown up. He didn’t say much, thanks to Catherine. His mother was by his side as a support.
She made sure no one asked questions Tom couldn’t answer. If they did, she answered with negligent humor. All eyes were on him. Some, envious. Some, surprised. Some, too happy to care where he had been. Others were afraid of the consequences of Tom’s reappearance. The night would be the end of their freedom till they figure out a way to end the Cartels.
He ignored the Jazz music in the background. He couldn’t wait to see Nina. She was the only person on his mind. He tried to enjoy the moment, but couldn’t with all the voices in his head—the thoughts of the people questioning his existence. His mind swirled with confusion.
Suddenly, the voices stopped. Something or someone interrupted his access to their thoughts. He turned back towards the ballroom. There she was, Nina Owen, in a long red dress that hugged her curves tightly. She was elegant. She was beautiful. She was the force of nature that defied Tom’s extraordinary existence. She was a rose in the midst of weeds. Her long dark hair was firmly tied up, exposing her neck and her beautiful skin. He smiled. She smiled. They were the only ones in the room. All eyes were on Nina as she walked towards Tom.
“Damn she’s beautiful!” Ted whispered from afar.
“Who is she?” some voices said to each other. “She’s the one who found him,” another voice said. There were whispers here and there; jealous remarks mixed with words of admiration. The men stared at her lustfully. Nina’s presence commanded attention and he liked it. Tom had a beaming smile Francesca had never seen before; not in his childhood and certainly not since he returned from the dead.
“You’re beautiful,” Tom whispered to Nina. She smiled in response. Her eyes were locked on his.
“What took you so long?” Tom asked.
“I brought someone here to see you,” she said as she turned towards a woman and a young child who looked like he was about seven and a half years old. He had foreseen everything in the party except that moment. Tom scanned through the woman’s mind. It was Donna and his supposed son—Thomas Olivetti jnr. Tom scoffed.
He had a sudden disdainful reaction. No one knew why, besides Julianna. Catherine managed to distract everyone’s attention from the scene as Tom walked briskly to his father’s private study. Nina followed. Donna and her son followed behind. Catherine also followed. Everyone else managed to continue their conversations without raising an eyebrow.
A server managed to sneak into the kitchen. It was full of servers picking up wine orders and finger foods. The kitchen was humid and smelled like cider. The white tuxedo he wore had a name tag that read “Jackson”. He had managed to sneak in explosives through security. It was easy. Security only scanned for metals. All kitchen utensils were metal. He scoffed at the incompetency of the Olivetti guards, but was pleased to know that he could outsmart them. He remembered the strict instructions he received from Julio Sanchez.
“Kill the brothers only. No one else,”
It was a tough task, but it was doable.
Donna’s heart pounded like African drums. Tom faced the large bookshelf, calmly. He was somewhat tense. He didn’t know how to reveal the information.
“Tom? Are you okay?” Catherine asked. Tom said nothing. His eyes were partly cold. Nina was confused. She didn’t expect him to react negatively. The room felt smaller as they anticipated Tom’s reaction. Nina had convinced her it would be a good idea to bring Thomas Olivetti Jnr to the party. Fear gripped Donna. Tom wasn’t the same man she had slept with at the party. He was different. He looked more experienced and manlier.
Nina had been involved in the little boy’s life. Even though Donna was now married to another man, she still had unresolved feelings for Tom. Now her feelings had suddenly increased. She wished she had waited. She wished she wasn’t married.
Maybe Nina invited her to spite her. It didn’t make any sense. Nina was just as astonished as she was by Tom’s reaction. Her little boy, Tom Junior—the excuse she used to collect a large monthly stipend from the Olivetti family, was welcomed into their lives to honor Tom’s memory. Before Tom died, he had requested DNA results, but the results were never seen. The family brushed it aside and no one questioned the paternity of Thomas Jnr.
Tom finally turned towards the curious eyes staring at him. He had weighed the side effects of all possible scenarios and found the best one to choose.
“Come,” Tom said to the little boy. The young seven year old walked towards Tom. He looked like his mother, Donna.
“What’s your name?” Tom asked the little boy. Everyone froze.
“My name’s Tom. What’s yours?” the little boy replied. Tom’s heart softened.
“Well, my name is Tom too,”
Catherine almost teared up. She had fantasized about a possibility of her grandson meeting his father. Now, her wish had come true. The little boy smiled.
“Really? Are you my father?” the boy asked. Tom didn’t know why, but he loved the boy instantly. He lifted Tom junior with ease. He looked at Donna then looked at the boy. He smiled. Donna’s heart was at ease. He doesn’t know.
Just then, Julianna walked into the room like she was summoned. Her eyes were fixated on Tom Junior.
“Tom. I want you to meet my friend, Julianna. She’s going to get you some ice cream. You like ice cream?” Tom asked Tom junior. The little boy nodded.
“Okay! Go with her,” Tom said as Julianna and the boy walked out of the room. Julianna’s appearance seemed too organized. She walked in and walked out without glancing at the others in the room. Nina was confused. Catherine was confused. Donna was scared.
“What’s going on, Tom?” Nina asked. Her instincts kicked in. She looked at Tom then looked at Donna, whose head was down. Catherine stood still, still confused by Tom’s actions.
“Why did you treat him that way? You should have been happier to see him,” Catherine said, in a disappointed tone. Tom gazed at Donna, expecting a response. She said nothing. Tom sighed.
“He’s not my son,” Tom replied. Nina scoffed. Was Tom denying his own son because he couldn’t remember or because he wasn’t in a relationship with Donna anymore? Nina walked up to Tom.
“It’s okay Tom. If you can’t remember, it’s okay,”
Tom scoffed again. “He’s not my son,”
Catherine couldn’t take it anymore. She felt sorry for Donna. “Stop it, Thomas! If you can’t remember, it’s fine. Denying your son isn’t a good first impression,” Catherine said in a state of anger. Donna’s legs felt weak. The room was closing in on her. Tom could hear her heartbeat. What others couldn’t see, he could. He was a walking DNA test. He could see the atoms of each person and Thomas Junior was not an Olivetti.
“Tell her. Tell them,” Tom said calmly. Catherine gazed at Donna. No response. Nina shifted her curiosity. “Is he right?”
Jackson made his way to the basement of the mansion where the security men were. He was holding a tray of food. The bodyguards ignored him as he made his way to the main security room. The only source of light in the room was the multiple television screens. Some guards played games of chess while sneaking in peeks at the surveillance systems.
“Our food is finally here. I’m hungry,” one of the bodyguards said. The bodyguard seating in front of the screen ignored him as he carefully glanced at the security cameras inside the ballroom and outside the compound. If there was any threat, he’d be th
e first responder.
Security was tight. There were four bodyguards in the basement and many others in the party. Jackson scoffed at the ease. He had killed military dictators in the past, both in Mexico and other parts of the world. Killing a mob family was as easy as stealing candy from a baby. He scanned the room for exit points and weapons.
“Hey! Drop the food and leave,” the man said to Jackson. Jackson shrugged then dropped the tray of food. With swift precision, he pulled out a silenced gun from underneath the tray and shot all four men before they could react.
“Easy,” he thought. He glanced around the basement. He noticed a door. He briskly walked to it and slammed it open. It was full of ammunitions. He smiled. He walked up to the tray, then grabbed a C4 shaped like a gun cartridge then replaced all cartridges with the C4 device. It was invisible to the naked eye. It looked just like a gun cartridge, except it wasn’t. He activated the C4, adjusted his suit then made his way up the stairs to the kitchen, still pretending to be a server.
He briskly walked out of the building, through security then through the main gate. He was free.
23
Present day
Walter’s private study. They all stood still. Donna was shocked. She sighed as tears rolled down her cheeks.
“Speak!” Catherine commanded, unable to take the suspense anymore. Everyone was quiet for what seemed like forever.
“He’s right!” Donna replied.
“How? How…” she stopped then tried to collect herself. Catherine was too surprised to respond. Donna sighed once more. “Look, I’m sorry Tom. I realized Tom junior wasn’t your son after you died. I didn’t know who to tell. I couldn’t even talk to my mother about it,” Donna said. Catherine was beyond upset. She felt stupid for believing Donna all these years. She didn’t know whether to pity her or yell at her.
Olivetti: Illumination Page 19