Word count: 4188

My shout out goes to Panama, Singapore and Bulgaria 😍😍

Rosa's POV

*

"This way please." The manager Gabe a little bow and made way for us to step into the private room. We didn't move until two of Gonzalo's bodyguards stepped forward but Gonzalo halted them with his right hand, before nodding to Romeo.

Romeo went into the room and stepped out after a while. It was important to do this anywhere we went for Gonzalo's safety. I didn't take note of it when I just started working with him until we'd been on several outings together.

Romeo always checked to make sure it was safe before we stepped into any room or office.

Romeo stepped aside and gestured for Gonzalo to go in.

"Boss."

Gonzalo's left arm was resting comfortably on my waist. The heat emitting off him engulfed me, giving me a soothing feeling. He was a protective and overly possessive lover.

"Let's go in baby." He whispered in my ear, the husky cologne on him hitting the side of my face.

Then we stepped in and I looked around at the VVIP room. It belonged to Gonzalo. He was the only one that'd ever been in here and no one else was allowed to step in except him.

We were in Orlando.

A nightclub.

A high end one that entertained disciplined celebrities and business men and women. Even with so much wealth and influence, they didn't usually give membership or VIP card to just any body. Celebrities with bad attitudes or horrible manners of approach weren't recognized even with all their wealth or influence.

Only those who were 'deemed worthy' by the management could own a VVIP. Romeo's words though, not mine.

Romeo had told me about this place when I just started working for Gonzalo but this was the first time I'd be here.

The room was richly furnished. The TV was on and there was a bed at the far end of the room. My cheeks colored as I momentarily imagined me and Gonzalo on the bed making out or doing things.

I cleared my throat and stole a glance at him, trying to clear my thoughts.

Gonzalo led us to a red couch which was also like a mini bed. I noticed the room had a similar setting to his room at home.

Then he took off his suit and loosened his tie while I was still looking around the room and wondering why we were here.

"Come here baby." He opened his arms.

I couldn't help but wonder if this was why he'd asked me to wear a jumpsuit instead of my pencil skirt. He'd even had it prepared himself and when I asked him why wearing a jumpsuit was necessary, he'd said in case we wanted to 'play' a little.

I sat beside him and crossed my legs, resting my head on his shoulder to get comfortable.

"Hmm." I sighed in contentment.

"Comfortable?" He pecked my lips, staring down at me with twinkling eyes.

I nodded. "Yes."

"Good. I don't want you to ever be in discomfort." He muttered, now randomly drawing patterns on my abdomen. I tensed. Did he just say ever? It was too soon to be looking so far into the future while we could just enjoy the present and watch where life takes us.

"What are we doing here?" I finally asked, furrowing my brows.

"Clubbing."

I wriggled further into him to get more comfortable and enjoyed the rumbling of his chest as he spoke.

"This is not different from being in your room. So what exactly are we doing here Gonzalo?"

He hated going to clubs, so I couldn't even comprehend the reason we'd be here in the first place.

Also, he hated it when women flirted with him. Yeah, Gonzalo Roman could be classified as one of the rare ones. Or maybe just weird. When you go to a club, understand the simple fact that you'll be flirted with. It's a normal thing.

Moreover, who wouldn't like a drop dead gorgeous woman flirting with him? That would be Gonzalo Romano. And I'd be lying if I said we wouldn't have come across several gorgeous women of all sizes, shapes, looks and colors if we'd passed the regular entrance in. Beautiful and hot. Delicate and fair. Or Melanin queens.

At least he really liked me, just as he'd confessed so that meant he wasn't really a women hater. He just had his own type of women and to me that was another level of sexiness.

"Tell me about your day." He ignored my question while presenting his.

"I spent my day with you. My boss. Going out on an inspection with a client, visiting an orphanage, working at the office and then coming here straight from work."

He chuckled. "You're everywhere I am."

"Yes, boss. That's because I'm your personal assistant."

"You looked really beautiful in this jumpsuit today. It defines your curves and the flaming red dots just brings out the color of your hair." He played with my hair while speaking.

I sat still in his hold for a while, calmly listening to his words as a wide smile spread on my lips. "Thanks for the compliment."

"You're welcome my fiery Queen." He pecked my forehead.

He traced his fingers over my neckline, randomly moving them in irregular patterns. My pulse quickened.

The coldness from the ring he was wearing on his middle finger bit into my skin.

"So, you've not answered my question." I probed when he still wasn't giving me the response I'd expected.

"I'm here to block someone. My boss...needs to deal with him and tonight is the only chance I can get...this year."

The piece of information had me sitting up. I turned sideways so he was properly facing me. "Your what?"

He narrowed his eyes at me in displeasure. "You keep making me repeat myself, so listen well because I don't like repeating myself, Phoenix. We're running an errand for my boss. So we'll be here, for a while just cuddling. What would you like to order? I'll call the manager in."

"Who's your boss? I thought you were your own boss." My brows furrowed in confusion as I discarded the name he'd just called me to a corner of my mind. Phoenix.

He was serious about calling me that. Well, I didn't have anything against it though I had a beautiful name regardless. Rosa, a variant for the English word, Rose. Which was a beautiful flower and also smelled very nice.

His arms went around me with one holding me tighter at the waist as if I would bail if he loosened his hold and the other one resting just below my right breast.

"I have a boss, and although my boss has no boss, he has a godfather who gives him advises. Our Gooma."

He brought his left hand from my waist to join the other one which was just below my abdomen. He loved maintaining skin contact with me. Especially whenever we were alone.

"So, we'll wait here. Why don't we go through some mails-" I tried to get off him but his grip on me became iron like.

"No baby, you're not the one doing the job. We're merely luring him here so just relax."

"How?"

"You ask too many questions." He tapped my nose playfully. "When word reaches him, he'll surely want to visit me. Don't bother your pretty head, just relax and let's cuddle."

"Okay." I finally resigned. I picked my phone to quickly go through some mails but he reached for it just when I clicked on the second mail.

"Can you just rest? It seems you simply can't." He sighed and dropped the phone beside his. When he faced me again, I caught the sudden change in his expression.

"Fine, I'll rest." I grumbled reluctantly.

"You misused the chance to do that, love. Let's do some activity and share some body heat since you have so much strength. I suddenly feel like making out." He gave me a playful smile. I shook my head and tried to get off but he was having none of it.

"How can you just tell me you feel like making out?" I giggled.

He frowned. "Because I do?"

"No." I giggled. "Other men would look into their lover's eyes, move closer slowly till the girl feels like her heart will burst out of her chest. Then they'll gently swoop in for a kiss." I analyzed and watched a scowl slowly form on his face.

"Is that how you want to be treated? To be wooed?"

"Every woman wants to be wooed, Gonzalo. It's called romantic gestures, you know. To sweep me off my feet." I gestured with my hand in a back and forth motion.

"Hmm." He hummed. "I'll learn."

"That's some progress. So, let's-" I halted my speech when he suddenly started moving slowly towards me, his eyes flickering from my eyes to my nose and slowly to my mouth. "What are you doing?" I murmured.

"Shh. I'm wooing you." He murmured huskily. "Your lips are so pretty, I want to have a taste."

My eyes widened and I smiled a little but he didn't waste anytime in merging our lips in a tantalizing kiss.

The kiss started off slowly, with him gently nipping and then he brushed his fingers through my hair and held me in place, moving his lips faster over mine. His left knee came to rest in between my thighs and my breath hitched in my throat but he swallowed it and deepened the kiss.

I groaned and tried to maintain the pace, mimicking his moments.

My stomach was full of so much butterflies that I felt as if I would burst at anytime. His other arm slid down to my waist and he pulled me impossibly closer to himself.

I pulled back for fresh air but apparently he wasn't done.

He dove back in and continued kissing me, roaming his right hand from my waist to my side and to cup my breast. I gasped at the foreign feeling and he chuckled, smaking his lips across mine twice more before trailing them down my neck.

"Ohh.." I muttered in a dreamy state.

"I love your moans. Louder, I want to hear what I'm doing to you." He ordered and squeezed my nipple.

I moaned again, this time calling his name wantonly and shyly despite our current activity. He chuckled and finally rested his nose in the crook of my neck, his breath fanning my neck and causing a tingling sensation to flood all over my body.

His torso was pressed against my breasts and I tried to catch my breath.

"You're so hot." His hold tightened in my hair as he groaned. "So beautiful."

"Thanks." I cleared my throat and smiled at my boyfriend's compliment.

My eyes widened and my cheeks warmed, when I came to the realization that I'd just made out with my first official boyfriend for the first time ever.

He tried to pull away but stopped when he caught sight of my face, then he chuckled.

"Who knew our fierce tigress could be tamed in bed. I should kiss you more often if it'll make you this speechless and flushed."

He kissed me some more when I glared at him.

"Look how red your face is." His fingertips slowly caressed my nose and cheeks, his gaze not faltering from mine.

The ringing of his phone had me pushing him off. Or I tried to, since it was like pushing a wall. He huffed and reluctantly got off me.

I sat up immediately and adjusted myself, fixing the cleavage of my jumpsuit and blushing furiously again when I remembered the way he played with my breast minutes ago.

I cleared my throat and got up, drumming on my lips since there was nothing else to do, while he spoke on the phone.

"Okay, fine I get it. Tell her I'll be there shortly." He ordered, sounding bored.

He dropped his phone and got up, pocketing his hands.

"So...I'm guessing the person is here and we have to go?" I asked him and he nodded. Approaching me, he pulled me flush against his body.

"Yes, we'll continue when we get home though. The lady in question is April, she works directly under my boss as the head of our IRT (information relations team) and is responsible for gathering and distributing information. The person I thought would be coming got sent somewhere else so I'll just speak to April and she'll handle the rest herself."

"Oh. I'll just get my jotter-"

"No, pick your bag. We won't be writing anything or jotting down minutes. This is a different meeting. Also, from there we're heading home." He kissed me sweetly on the lips and then pulled away.

"Let's go." I gave him a smile.

He nodded and opened the door for me to go before him.

*

The meeting didn't take long. And from what I could deduce, April and Gonzalo didn't really like each other that well.

"So, you'll have to talk to him and make him agree."

"You know I hate his guts." Gonzalo frowned.

"And that's my concern because?"

"We had a deal. You'll deal with the drugs, I'll help you rescue those guys."

"That was two years ago!" She scoffed. She was on low cut, with her hair dyed in pale blue. It suited her oval face.

"It still counts, April."

"Look, I'm only assisting you with drugs dealing, okay? If Beast finds out I've been helping you and that's why I'm lagging in my own duties, he won't be happy. And you know what he can do to you."

Gonzalo glared at her, clenching his jaws. I could tell he was getting really angry now. I rubbed his hand which was resting on my thigh and he exhaled.

"Fine. I'll see him."

"Good. Make sure to take your pretty secretary with you, he might hurry the process of she puts in a word. He has a thing for the pretty ones." She eyed me while I stared at her red coated lips with each word she uttered. She looked classy and smart but also had this aura of danger and mischief surrounding her.

Gonzalo opened his mouth to argue with her but I quickly spoke instead. "Will the man really speed the process if I go along with Mr Rodriguez?"

"Yes dear, he will. And don't worry, he doesn't harm ladies. You'll be completely safe in his presence unlike a man we both know of, who delights in laying his hands on a woman." She turned to glare at Gonzalo again.

Gonzalo on the other hand also looked like he wanted to strangle her. The air was thick with tension.

Gonzalo suddenly got up and started to storm out of the room. Confused, I watched him leave and wondered what was wrong. Did April say something that suddenly triggered him?

He stopped walking and turned around. "Rosa! What the fuck are you still doing sitting there?!"

"I-yes sir," I squeaked and got up. I gave April an apologetic smile, feeling my hands tremble as I picked my bag. "I'm really sorry, but we have something else to attend to so we'll leave first. Have a splendid evening."

"Will do. Don't keep your boss waiting." She rolled had eyes and I left quickly, with Romeo walking behind me while the other bodyguards already went to meet Gonzalo.

He was silent till we got into the car.

Then he suddenly snapped.

"Romeo, get out of the car. Dee, you too. I'll call you when I'm done." He ordered darkly.

Lump gathered in my throat at his words.

They both alighted, though I could sense the reluctance in Romeo as he did so.

Gonzalo was tapping his left foot, also nodding like he was listening to rock music. I could sense the tension rising in the car and it scared me a little.

"Rosa?"

I didn't know what to feel. things were fine between us earlier on and now he was suddenly angry.

"Yes?" I asked in a voice devoid of emotion whatsoever.

"Do you like to see me ridiculed?"

"What? I don't even understand what you're talking about."

"You do! You fucking understand every damn word! When you saw me leaving, you sat there and waited for me to call you. Why would you do that?!" He screamed, scaring me.

I swallowed and shut my eyes for a few seconds. When I opened them, he was all up in my face. My temper flared.

"First and foremost, Gonzalo, back up. Like, back the fuck up. Why are you yelling in my fucking face? Do you want to bite me? Smack me? Don't be fucking stupid!" I snapped.

He was still glaring but he moved back nonetheless. His eyes were wide, as if he'd never expected me to speak to him this way.

"Secondly, what was I supposed to do when we were at a meeting and all of a sudden, you up and left. I had no idea if you were going to the bathroom or whatnot. Tonight's meeting was so important, and you said it yourself that after tonight, you'd lose any chance of meeting the person for a long period of time, or at least till this year runs out. Did you expect me to follow you out?" I yelled.

"Yes I did!"

"Why? You were throwing a tantrum, Gonzalo. Get over it! Or was it because of what that lady said? Did she hit a sore spot? Did you truly abuse or manhandle women in the past?" I pushed.

His eyes suddenly shuttered, all emotions erasing from his face as he moved back and scoffed.

"You crossed the line, Phoenix. Never in your life defend an outsider when you don't know what happened. So if you were told that I sexually assaulted someone, you'd also believe it, right? I'm disappointed in you. I have nothing more to say to you, so call them and let's go back to the mansion."

All my anger suddenly washed away as I realized I'd crossed the line. If it was someone else that spoke that way to him, he would have had a bullet hole drilled in their skull.

Even in his angry state, he still called me Phoenix. That made me feel even guiltier.

"Gonzalo-"

"No! I'm sick and tired of all this! First my psychiatrist thinks I need to take some stupid pills because my personality shit is acting up and then Agatha keeps trying to know how I'm faring instead of minding her goddamn business like she's paid to do, and then there's you who I just told I like and at the very first minute, you deny me in the presence of an outsider and accuse me of things I'm innocent of. And then we've not even started dating but you're always looking for excuses to leave me in the office, or to not talk to me or whatever. How do I know you've not planned with Romeo to dump me and run away with him? After all you are always together, whispering some stupid stuff to each other. Tell me!"

He was breathing hard and fast while I just stared at him.

I didn't know what to say. I knew Agatha sent me files to look into regarding his disorder but he hadn't shown signs of this in a while. Since he got the tattoo and threatened to shoot his uncle, he'd only harmed people like twice and he even explained the reason behind his actions.

Why did he have a psychiatrist in the first place?

I sighed and texted Romeo to join us so we could drive back home.

When Romeo and the driver got in, I began to chat with Romeo.

Rosa: *Gonzalo just had an outburst. And I have some questions to ask because I'm confused.*

Romeo: *I heard him yelling. Are you okay?*

Rosa: *Yes, I am. Thanks. We were arguing and he started talking deep about how he's tired of Agatha and how I'm not giving him attention and how his psychiatrist keeps telling him to take drugs. What does that mean? I know if anyone can tell me, then that person would be you.*

Romeo: *I don't know if I should be the one telling you that, Rosa. I mean, it's not in my place.*

Rosa: *Please, I'll go with whatever you can tell me. I just don't know what's wrong and how to approach him right now.*

Romeo: *Okay. It started after he got bailed out of prison. He has a cousin who helped him get out of prison but before that, he was already in the underground business. Then he got captured for a while...by a gangsta who didn't want him to get promoted in the underground. Long story short, whatever he went through there changed so many things about him. He easily got aggressive, he would get anxious and he didn't like making friends. He killed without remorse, he showed no sign of empathy whatsoever. He has a psychiatrist whom his mom took him to but ever since he first got treatment, he hasn't been replying her mails or visiting her any longer. She said he had borderline personality disorder but he is in denial. He once complained to me that she likes him, which is not true but that his anxiety speaking.*

Rosa: *Wow. I'd have never thought something like this happened to him. 😔*

Romeo: *Yes it did. When you're chanced, try and read about borderline personality disorders. His psychologist said he's going through it but he's in denial. From the looks of it, the lady might be right. And I know this isn't your responsibility but I will beg you to please, be patient with him and help him get through this. He used to be a nice young man and he still is. Though sometimes, he goes overboard.*

Rosa: *I don't know exactly how to react to all this, honestly. But at least I understand him better. Thanks for the info, I really needed it.*

Romeo: *You're welcome. And Rosa?*

Rosa: *Yes?*

Romeo: *He might get overboard with us and sometimes with you too but unlike us, for you, there's no particular way to approach him. Just go to him and he won't refuse you, I promise. You know what he craves. Attention. And assurance that you really like him...if you do. Just give him that.*

Rosa: *I'll think about it. Thanks again.*

I sighed and dropped my phone.

Stealing a glance at Gonzalo, I saw that his fist was clenched and he still looked very angry. I decided not to disturb him so I went to read about the information Romeo gave me on Google, searching for 'What is Personality Disorder?'

Several answers popped up but Wikipedia topped the list so I clicked on it.

Personality disorders are defined by experiences and behaviors that deviate from social norms and expectations. Those diagnosed with a personality disorder may experience difficulties in cognition, emotiveness, interpersonal functioning, or impulse control.

In addition, people with personality disorders often lack insight into their condition and so refrain from seeking treatment.

Then I Googled 'What can cause sudden change in an adult's personality?' And I clicked on an article about it.

A sudden, undesired or uncontrollable change in your personality may be the sign of a serious condition. Several mental illnesses can lead to personality changes. These include anxiety disorders, borderline personality disorder, dementia, and schizophrenia.

I checked the several types and saw the one Romeo had mentioned in particular, the borderline personality disorder and I googled it.

Causes of Borderline personality disorder

Overall, findings show that genetic disposition and life experiences, such as trauma and abuse, play a key role in the development of personality disorders.

1. Fear of abandonment. People with BPD are often terrified of being abandoned or left alone.

2. Unstable relationships.

3. Unclear or shifting self-image.

4. Impulsive, self-destructive behaviors.

5. Self-harm.

6. Extreme emotional swings.

7. Chronic feelings of emptiness.

8. Explosive anger.

A frown morphed onto my face as I scrolled through several other pages. Was it the experience he went through when he got kidnapped by that gangsta that made him develop this disorder?

I closed the page and rested my head on the headrest, filled with so many thoughts about Gonzalo and why he was the way he was and also what I could do to help him.

I had no intention of leaving him like he thought. This would be the fear of abandonment kicking in.

The best option would be for me to go up to his room after checking on my siblings later tonight.

Thinking about all these, I finally dozed off on the rest of the journey back home.

*

A surprise in the next chapter.

What do you think about this chapter?

A new insight into Gonzalo's life.