Tainted

A new man

Marcella slammed a hand on the table, leaning forward to angrily whisper at Sebastian.

They had agreed on lunch at the CEBO Madrid Restaurant in Spain, they now were a half hour into their intense conversation.

"I'm telling you, he's fucking Capri and he's divorcing me to be with her, whatever you thought you had locked down, isn't it".

Sebastian blew out a breath as he listened to the demented woman before him.

Now that he thought about it, he wasn't around Capri as much due to his business trips which gave her more time on her own and she could be using it to fuck him.

Mateo wouldn't be divorcing Marcella if he didn't think there was a chance between him and Capri.

"I'll have to speak with her".

"Bullshit, I want that bitch dead, now".

Marcella stared him down, her palm still placed in the middle of the table as she watched his face contour into confusion.

"Are you out of your fucking mind, I'm not playing a part in that". Sebastian went to stand up but Marcella forced him back into his seat as she yanked his arm down.

"I'll pay you".

"I make more than enough, you're acting fucking crazy".

"Sebastian you owe me"!

"Seb"?

Both snapped their heads towards the figure standing before them.

Axel stood there with a cup of coffee as he looked between both blondes.

Sebastian found himself stuttering before getting a full sentence out.

"Axel, I'm on my way to see Capri, how are you"?

Axel was more confused than a chameleon in a big of skittles.

"I'm doing fine, aren't you Mateo's wife"? He asked, now pointing at Marcella who gave him a dirty look at his question.

"If he stops fucking your whore of a friend maybe I could keep the title". She said with a scrunched up smile.

Axel once again looked between both blondes.

"He's my brother you idiot"!

Sebastian snapped his gaze at Marcella who couldn't find herself to not care anymore, Sebastian hadn't done shit to keep Capri away anyways.

Before Axel could say anything else, Sebastian quickly placed a few euros onto the table and turned to leave.

"Capri is waiting for me, I have to go".

Axel watched Sebastian quickly run off before turning his gaze to the other blonde who was already grabbing her things to leave.

"May I join you"?

Marcella looked up through hooded eyes, staring at the young man before her.

His intentions were as clear as water and she had nothing to lose at this point.

she slowly removed her grip from her purse before giving him a small smile.

"Go ahead".

*

Capri ate with her grandmother in peace.

It had been a while since she had visited her but there wasn't a place she felt more at peace than with her.

"Tienes más problemas que los Pérez García". (You have more problems than the Pérez García)

Capri chuckled at her grandmother's comparison, she still never understood where she got it from.

"What are you going to do"?

She could only shrug in response.

"I don't know yet, Sebastian is a good guy and I don't know if I can just leave him like that, you know"?

"Entiendo". (I understand)

A knock resonated, both woman turned to look before Capri stood up.

"That must be him".

Sebastian came into view with a bouquet of flowers and boyish grin plastered on his face.

"I'm not late am I"?

Capri gave him a kiss before letting him in, quickly introducing him to her grandmother.

"Un placer". (A pleasure)

"No, el placer es mío, he escuchado demasiada cosas lindas de usted, me alegro que ya pude conocerla". (No, the pleasure is mine, I've heard so many beautiful things about you, I'm finally glad I was able to meet you)

Capri's grandmother glanced over at her, a small sign of approval exchanged as Sebastian kissed her hand.

She was sure if he met her abuela things would be easier and Capri could finally realize that he was the one, not Mateo.

Yet her mind kept drifting to the forbidden, toxic and troubled man.

Capri smiled anxiously at the interaction between both as she forced the intrusive thoughts out of her mind.

*

Franco Mateo glanced at his youngest son as they ate lunch in peace as a family, his wife on his right and Carlo on his left.

Carlo had always been well behaved but short tempered and was not the best at always defending his ground, he was different now, Franco knew his son too well, at least the old version of him.

He seemed more put together, calculated, calm.

It wasn't as easy to read him as before, something Franco was sure he learned when he found himself in the presence of Fernando during his years of isolation.

All Franco could understand from the new man in front of him was that he had something brewing, something to get Mateo out of the way and put him next in line.

"Is there something you'd like to ask me"?

Franco shook his thoughts away as he heard Carlo's voice boom.

"What was that"? He asked to repeat.

"You're thinking of something, you've been giving me one too many glances, is there something you'd like to ask me"?

Franco only shook his head as he took in another bite.

Elena giving him an awkward glance at Carlo's direct tone.

"Antonietta will be visiting next week". She quickly said, changing the topic of conversation to avoid a tense situation at the table.

"Wonderful, you never got to meet your stepsister Carlo, I hope you two get along". Spoke Franco letting his son know indirectly that he wasn't going to deal with any unwanted problems if he were to act up.

Carlo could only smirk.

"I hope so too".