#151 “You’re Leaving to Protect Her?
Alexander shuffled into his office and eyed Kyle carefully. A sense of unease washed over him, signaling that something was amiss. The air felt heavy with unspoken tension, and Alexander couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.
“Hey, Kyle, what’s going on?”
Alexander asked, his curiosity mingling with a hint of concern.
Kyle took a deep breath, looking like he was about to spill some heavy truth. ”
Alexander, I can’t work for you anymore.”
Alexander’s eyes narrowed, a mixture of surprise and puzzlement on his face. “What? Why? You’ve been doing great work.”
Kyle hesitated for a moment, choosing his words carefully. “There are things you don’t know about me, Alexander.”
“Explain it to me then. Is it because of Evelyn?”
Kyle shook his head.
“I’m actually breaking up with her because I don’t want to involve her.”
“Involve her in what?”
“I come from a prominent Mafia family in Italy. Evelyn started digging into my life and struggled to understand why I never told her about my past. However, if she continues to dig, it will become dangerous for her.”
Alexander had always known that Kyle’s family was involved in something illegal, but he had no idea that the situation was so serious. ”
Mafia? Are you serious?”
Kyle nodded a somber expression on his face. “Deadly serious. My family’s going through some rough patches, and I can’t stay here anymore. I have to go back.”
Alexander watched Kyle carefully. He didn’t know how to react to this revelation. “So, you’re leaving to protect her?” Alexander asked, trying to comprehend the gravity of Kyle’s decision.
Kyle nodded, a mixture of determination and regret in his eyes. ” Not only. The Mafia world is not something she should be tangled up in. It’s dangerous, Alexander. I can’t let anything happen to her because of me. Also, my family needs me.”
Understanding began to dawn on Alexander as he pieced together the puzzle. “That’s why you’re breaking up with her? To keep her safe?”
Kyle nodded again, a heavy burden evident in his posture. “I can’t risk her getting entangled in the mess my family is dealing with. It’s better for her to move on without me.”
Alexander leaned back in his chair, absorbing the complex web of emotions and decisions before him.” This is a lot to take in, Kyle. But leaving Evelyn without an explanation won’t be easy for her. She deserves to know the truth.”
A conflicted expression crossed Kyle’s face. “I know, but if I tell her, she might get more involved, unintentionally putting herself in danger. It’s better if she believes it’s a breakup for personal reasons.”
Alexander sighed, torn between the loyalty he felt towards Kyle and the responsibility he sensed towards Evelyn. “You’re asking me to lie to her.”
“I’m asking you to keep her safe,” Kyle responded, his eyes pleading for understanding. “Tell her it’s for the best, that she deserves someone who can give her a stable and secure life.”
The room was filled with an unspoken tension as Alexander grappled with the weight of the situation. The clandestine nature of Kyle’s departure cast a shadow over their professional relationship, revealing a side of his friend that Alexander could never have anticipated.
As the silence lingered, Kyle broke it, his voice carrying the weight of his decision. “I appreciate your understanding, Alexander. I never wanted her to be caught up in all of this.
Alexander leaned back in his chair. ” Are you going back to Italy?”
Kyle shook his head, a bit elusive. “I can’t say for sure where, but I need to be with my family during this time.”
Alexander couldn’t help but feel a sense of disbelief. “Kyle, I had no idea. I assumed it was an illegal business, but not a mafia. You kept this hidden so well.”
“Yeah, well, it’s not something you just casually bring up in conversation,” Kyle replied with a wry smile.
Alexander sighed. “You’re sure about this, Kyle? Leaving everything behind?”
Kyle nodded, a mix of determination and resignation in his eyes. “I have to. Duty calls.”
As the weight of the revelation settled between them, Alexander gestured for Kyle to continue. “Tell me more, Kyle. How did you get involved with your family’s affairs? Why now?”
Kyle took a deep breath, glancing out of the window as if searching for the right words. “I distanced myself from them for a while, tried to build a different life. But you can’t escape your roots, especially when things go south. My family’s facing challenges, internal conflicts, and they need everyone they can get.”
“I get it,” Alexander said finally, a somber understanding in his tone. “But it’s a tough situation for everyone involved.”
Kyle nodded, appreciating Alexander’s empathy. “I know it’s a lot to take in, but I can’t do anything else for now.”
Alexander stood up and extended his hand to Kyle.
“I wish you luck. If you need anything, I’m here. I’d be happy to work together again one day,” Alexander said, sincerity in his voice.
When Alexander arrived home in the evening, the warm amber glow of the setting sun spilled into his plush living room. Pouring himself a glass of aged whiskey, he couldn’t help but feel the weight of the decision that awaited him. Tonight, Evelyn and Sophia were hanging out together.
Contemplating whether to pass along Kyle’s message to Evelyn, Alexander sank into his leather chair, the rich scent of the whiskey filling the air. The dilemma gnawed at him – If he tells her he’s seen Kyle and he wants to hand her over to move on with her life, that’s going to raise questions.
The thought of lying to Evelyn also didn’t sit well with Alexander. She’d ask questions, and he wasn’t a fan of hiding the truth. On the flip side, he knew Sophia would likely hound him for information, always eager to help her best friend.
His mind drifted to the dangerous reality of Kyle’s Mafia life. If Evelyn and Sophia stumbled upon that knowledge, they could be in deep trouble. The memory of their last escapade in Vegas, where he fretted over Sophia’s safety the entire time, flashed before his eyes. Alexander shook his head as if trying to dispel the lingering unease.
With a decisive nod, he pocketed his phone, deciding that the conversation with Kyle would remain a secret. For Alexander, the safety of Sophia took precedence. He couldn’t bear the thought of history repeating itself, and if keeping a dangerous secret was the price to pay for her well-being, then that was a decision he was willing to make.
