Involved: Mercedes D’onofrio and Nicholas D’onofrio
Location: D’onofrio’s Brownstone; New York City, New York
Time Frame:-
Notes: After Mercedes goes missing for a month, she resurfaces demanding a divorce and Michael, to which Nicholas does not oblige.
Walking into the house she dropped her empty bag by the door, looking around. Much hadn’t changed, not that she expected it to. “Leave it” she said as someone knelt down to grab her bag. It was to collect Michael’s things “I won’t be here long” Mercedes announced to the staff. She opened her Birkin and grabbed a folder for Samuel, this would be easy in her mind. She would give him the documents to end their shitty marriage, she would collect her baby and go. She had her plans mapped out, she took the whole month to do so. She had a home she had bought out of state. She planned to have a talk with Al about leaving and would finally find some peace with herself and her life. She didn’t have much time either, in a blink of an eye she would start showing and he truly wouldn’t let her leave then. “Where is he?” she asked emotionless.
Nicholas glanced at the video feed, leaning back in his chair as Red entered his home. He laid the manila folder on the desk and pushed the desk drawer closed. Odd, he thought… to think of a possession as solely his own. He’d never thought to see single life again. More the fools you. A cynical voice whispered in his head. Even with that thought there was never a moment he did not think she would return. How much easier it would have been if she didn’t. But then again when was life ever easy. He remained seated, letting 10 heartbeats pass before he rose from the chair and walked over to his office door, opening it. He caught the last part of her comment. He wet his lips, looking her over. “He is right here. Welcome Mercedes.”
Her eyes slowly turned to look his way, she handed the folder over without an acknowledgement. “Where is Michael?” Mercedes said, it wasn’t a question. She was demanding to know the whereabouts of the little boy so that she could go.
Venom. Samuel stepped closer to the woman, plucking the folder from her hand. After day 14 he really hadn’t expected anything different from his… His eyebrow raised at the content of the folder. “Divorce papers.” He said, shocked at the hint of surprise he could not mask in his voice. Knowing a thing is coming and seeing it in black and white, still two different things. He turned his back and walked into his office going through the papers.
Something in the way he grabbed the folder from her made her scowl slightly. She shifted in her heels, her hand gripping her purse as she instinctively told herself not to react on impulse. He walked away turning his back to her and she bit her lip inhaling sharply, she held her breath. Releasing only when her lungs felt like they were about to explode. “Where is Michael?” she asked again, her tone the same.
NIcholas stopped in the doorway of his office. He looked back at the woman, confusion on his face. Shaking his head, “Oh.” he said aloud. She’d been looking for their son, since she’d arrived. Stupid him. He looked over to one of the housekeepers, “Go get Michael.” He told the woman, nodding his head in the direction of the child’s room. Turning back to look down at the paper. “We can talk this over while they get Michael for you.” He told Mercedes going back to the desk.
Her eyes moved to the housekeeper as they moved their feet to do as they were told. She stood there waiting for them to return, at his words she chuckled to herself. “Talk?” she asked him, it was funny the sound of this nonsense leaving her mouth. “We don’t need to talk Nicholas” she said as she waited. “I’m all talked out…” she uttered as her eyes moved around the place once more.
Nicholas lowered himself into his chair looking out of the door to where the woman stood. “Fine. Then I’ll talk.” He didn’t feel like wasting time. She set the board. He just needs to move the pieces she already gave to him. “I need to have a lawyer look over this. But Mercedes. I’m not letting you take Michael and run. You have to know that.” He told the woman with a light sigh.
She swallowed hard when he stated he’d talk anyhow, she anticipated his expected response. “I won’t be running, not in these heels” she said pointing her feet out to look at the red bottoms. “I’ll be walking out the door with Michael, and there’s nothing you can do to stop me,” Mercedes said, turning in the direction of his doorway now. “If I were you I wouldn’t even try…” she let linger.
Samuel sat back. Here we go. He thought, eyes following the curve of her leg down to her feet. Divorcing him. The least she could have done was look fucked up. She wasn’t playing fair. Pinching the bridge of his nose. “You can be a boss in every respect of the word. Except where Michael is involved. You’ve been gone for a month. What makes you think I am just going to give him over now?”
She held a blank expression. She didn’t care much about the conversation; she couldn’t be swayed. “You can do it voluntary or involuntary either way he’s walking out the door” she shrugged, as if it wasn’t a big deal. In her eyes it wasn’t, it was simple. “I shot you in the shoulder, they are going to aim for your head” she said, gesturing to the front door. “Then Al will handle the rest” she added with a faint smile. “I am not asking, I don’t need your permission. He’s leaving” she told him. “Now hurry up, I have a flight to catch….”
Nicholas watched her for a long moment. He rolled his shoulder where the bullet wound once was. An involuntary action. “Kill me then, because you must be crazy if you think I’m about to let you take my son. You’re a hot head. Who likes to run away from your problems. Those are traits I don’t want my son to have. If you want to get on a plane. Then go. But he will not be accompanying you.” He said placing his hands flat on the desktop.
Mercedes looked at the watch on her arm, then her eyes zoned in on a chip on her nail. She looked her nails over with disdain for the paint chip. When he was done she looked up at him and said “well, can I get him before they paint you over the walls that would probably be more traumatic than my running, and I just bought this two thousand dollar dress. I don’t want it dirty” a displeased expression on her face. Truly amused by his words.
Nicholas rose, shaking his head. “Michael isn’t here. You can go check the house if you want.” He rounded the desk, slamming his office door closed. He hated getting angry. Especially with people he’d rather not kill. He stocked back over to his desk, and pushed the divorce papers into the trash can.
The amusement dissipated at his words, her smirk fell as he slammed the door in her face. Well played, his calculation always set the both of them apart. She wanted to rage and fight but she didn’t. Standing their gazing at the door, she accepted defeat which she never did. Licking her lips she took a step back, her eyes still fixed on the door. What was stopping her from signaling them? Walking away she grabbed her duffle bag and she moved outside before the men waiting gun drawn. “Hm” she said to herself as her heels tapped against the ground walking back towards the car without Michael in hands. She felt cheated, for a second time. She tossed the bag at Freddie, moving into the car she sat there, her door was closed. “Take me downtown,” she said simply.
Nicholas loomed over his desk. Well that was all bad. He thought, grinding his teeth. He turned sliding back to sit on the desktop. Thinking. His wife had walked out and now he’d have to run. Protection. He wasn’t the best husband. He knew that. More to the point he did not know how to be her husband. Sweet words and empty sentiment were not what he’d believed this kind of woman would have appreciated. Could he have been wrong? He shook his head. That way was closed. Red would come. As would Al. Was Michael’s well being worth all he was about to lose? He knew the answer was yes. Michael was everything wonderful about his wife and the last good part of him. He was worth all. He picked up the phone heart heavy, “Is everything ready? Good, we are ready.” He said, hanging up the phone.
