ROMEO TRISTAIN'S PAYBACK

Chapter3

Romeo sat on the cold porch steps, his face buried in his hands, tears streaming down his cheeks. The cruel laughter from the ballroom still echoed in his ears, Madam Tracey’s venomous words:

“You stink just like your smelly, poor mother, a whore”,cutting deeper than the slaps she’d given him. His amber eyes turned red from crying, flicked up as the woman beside him spoke, her voice calm but edged with something sharp, like she knew more than she let on.

“What did you just say?”

 Romeo asked, his voice hoarse as he wiped his face and turned to her. She was older, maybe mid-30s, with striking blue eyes and a simple dress that didn’t scream wealth like the ballroom crowd.

The woman smirked, a sarcastic glint in her eyes, and crouched beside him.

 “I knew this would happen.” 

She said, her tone teasing but kind. Romeo scooted away, his brow furrowing with suspicion, his damp towel still clinging to his waist from earlier.

“Look, lady, you’ve got the wrong guy.” 

He said, chuckling bitterly. 

“I’m not whoever you think I am.”

She tilted her head, unfazed. 

“Oh, I’m not mistaken, Romeo Tristan, only son of…”

“Stop it!”

 Romeo’s voice rose, drowning hers out, his frustration spilling over.

 “You’re mixing me up with someone else, I’m telling you!”

 He shouted the last words, his chest heaving, the night air cool against his flushed face. The woman fell silent, her smile fading. Romeo’s shoulders slumped, and he rubbed his temples.

 “I’m sorry for yelling.”

He said quietly.

 “But you’ve really got the wrong person.”

A heavy silence hung between them, broken only by the creak of the ballroom door swinging open. Miss Valerie stepped out, her apron slightly crooked, her eyes scanning left and right. 

“Romeo, there you are!” 

She called, relief in her voice. 

“I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

Romeo glanced at her, quickly swiping at his tears with the back of his hand. He forced a smile, though it barely reached his eyes. 

“Just needed some air, Miss Val.” 

He said, his voice shaky but trying to sound casual.

The woman stood, brushing off her dress, and turned to Miss Valerie, who bowed her head quickly, a mix of respect and nerves. 

“Good evening, ma’am.” 

Valerie said, her voice soft.

The woman smiled warmly.

 “Evening to you too.” 

She replied, her tone gentle, putting Valerie at ease.

Valerie hesitated, then spoke, her voice dripping with sarcasm. 

“The party’s about to wrap up, and Madam Tracey wants everyone in the ballroom for the grand cutting of her *magnificent* cake.”

 She rolled her eyes, then froze, her face paling.

 “Oh, please, ma’am, don’t tell Madam Tracey I said that!”

The woman laughed, a soft, genuine sound. 

“Don’t worry, my lips are sealed. I was just leaving anyway.”

 She turned to Romeo, whose curious gaze still lingered on her, his brow creased with confusion. 

“I’ll be going now.” 

She said, her smile cryptic. She walked down the porch steps, her heels clicking softly, and headed to the parking garage. A sleek blue Rolls-Royce purred to life, its headlights cutting through the dark as she drove onto the main road.

“Who was she? Do you know her?” 

Valerie asked, her voice tinged with curiosity as she watched the car disappear.

Romeo shook his head, his expression a mix of confusion and unease.

 “No clue.” 

He said, his mind racing. *Young master?* The words echoed, stirring something deep inside him, a flicker of hope tangled with doubt.

 “She called me ‘Young master Romeo,’ like I’m some kind of big shot. Weird, right?”

Miss Valerie frowned, her eyes painted with worries. 

“Yeah, that’s odd. Anyway, we better get inside before Madam Tracey starts hunting us down.”

Romeo nodded. “Alright,” he said, standing and following her back into the mansion. His heart felt heavy, the woman’s words and Tracey’s cruelty battling in his mind.

Inside, the ballroom was winding down, the air thick with perfume and the clink of glasses. The crowd gathered in a loose circle, saying their goodbyes as they handed gifts to Madam Tracey, who stood at the center with her best friend, Lady Gaga.

Madam Tracey’s fake smile gleamed as she accepted each gift, her blue eyes scanning them like a predator sizing up prey. A man in a suit handed her a velvet box, bowing slightly. 

“Thank you, darling.” 

Madam Tracey cooed, her voice syrupy sweet. Another woman offered a wrapped parcel, and Madam Tracey’s “Oh, how lovely!” rang out, her smile never reaching her eyes.

As the guests thinned out, Madam Tracey and Lady Gaga stepped aside, whispering to each other. 

“Did you see that cheap scarf Mrs Carlton gave me?” 

Madam Tracey muttered, rolling her eyes as she held up a colorful shawl.

 “Worthless. She thinks this makes up for her husband’s failing business?”

Lady Gaga giggled, her emerald-green dress catching the light.

 “And that tacky vase from the Petersons? Hideous. They’re trying too hard.” 

They both laughed, their voices low but sharp, tossing the “lesser” gifts into a pile while fawning over a diamond brooch and a sleek leather clutch. 

“Now *this* is more like it.”

Madam Tracey said, holding up the brooch with a smug grin.

The last guests left, and the ballroom grew quiet, save for the clatter of servants cleaning up. Tracey plopped onto a plush chair, Lady Gaga beside her, both sipping wine as they tore into the remaining gifts. 

Madam Tracey’s face soured at a pair of silver earrings.

 “Ugh, who thought this was a good idea?” 

She scoffed, tossing them aside. Lady Gaga smirked, unwrapping a silk scarf.

 “At least this one’s decent.” 

She said, draping it over her shoulder.

Suddenly, Madam Tracey’s voice boomed.

 “Valerie!” 

She shouted, her tone sharp enough to cut glass. Miss Valerie hurried in from the kitchen, her apron smudged with flour, her face pale. She approached quickly, her steps light but nervous, and bowed low, a mix of respect and fear in her eyes.

 “Yes, Madam Tracey?” 

She asked, her voice trembling.

“Where’s Romeo?” 

Madam Tracey snapped, her eyes narrowing.

“I’m here.” 

Romeo said, stepping out from the kitchen, his waiter’s uniform wrinkled from the night’s chaos. His voice was steady, but his heart raced as he approached, stopping a few feet from Tracey and Lady Gaga.

Tracey waved a dismissive hand at Valerie. 

“Get back to your duties.” 

She said coldly. Valerie bowed again, turned, and headed toward the kitchen, but she didn’t go inside. She lingered at the doorstep, her worried eyes fixed on Romeo.

Madam Tracey turned her attention to Romeo, her lips curling into a scornful smile.

 “You really are a useless little thing, aren’t you?” 

She said, her voice dripping with disdain. Lady Gaga giggled, her laughter sharp and mocking. Madam Tracey stood, grabbing a glass of red wine from the table. With a deliberate flick of her wrist, she poured it onto the floor, the crimson liquid splashing across the polished wood. 

“Clean it up.” 

She ordered.

 “And take off that ridiculous uniform. You don’t deserve to wear it.”

Romeo hesitated, his jaw tight, his amber eyes burning with suppressed anger. Slowly, he unbuttoned his jacket, letting it fall to the floor, and knelt to wipe the spill with a rag from his pocket. As he scrubbed, Madam Tracey stepped forward and pressed her heeled foot onto his back, the pressure sharp and humiliating. 

“Know your place, you little rat.” 

She spat. 

“You have no place in this family. You’re nothing but a burden, a filthy nobody who doesn’t belong here.”

Romeo’s hands shook as he wiped the floor, her words slicing into him. Lady Gaga leaned forward, her voice dripping with fake concern.

 “Madam Tracey, don’t kick him like that! What if he dies?” 

She gasped dramatically, her hand over her mouth.

Madam Tracey laughed, a harsh, grating sound.

 “Oh, I forgot,he’s got no bones in him!” 

The two women burst into laughter, their cackles echoing in the near-empty ballroom.

Romeo’s eyes flicked to the kitchen doorway, where Valerie stood, her face full of worry. She took a step forward, but Romeo gave a subtle shake of his head, a faint smile on his lips to mask the pain. 

He didn’t want her getting in trouble for him. Slowly, he stood, his back aching from Madam Tracey’s heel, and turned to face the two women. Madam Tracey took a slow sip of her wine, her eyes locked on him.

 “What’s that look, boy?” 

She taunted as she got up from her seat.

“You gonna slap me? Go on, try it.”

Before he could respond, her hand cracked across his face, a single sharp slap that stung his cheek. She shoved him hard, her voice icy. 

“Get out of my sight, you pathetic thing.”

Romeo stumbled, his fist clenching at his side, his teeth gritted as he fought the urge to fight back. The pain in his cheek burned, but the pain in his heart was worse. He turned, walking toward the door, his steps slow but deliberate. Valerie hurried after him, calling.

“Romeo! Romeo!”

He stopped at the foot of the stairs, his shoulders slumped. Miss Valerie caught up, her voice soft.

 “Don’t worry about what just happened, okay? She’s awful, but you’re stronger than that.”

Romeo turned, forcing a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. 

“I’m not worried about that, Val, believe me.” 

He sa

id, his voice steady but hollow. His gaze drifted, sadness creeping in.

 “I’m worried about something else.” 

He paused, then added.

 “Good night, Miss Valerie.”

She stood there, her eyes filled with concern, watching as he climbed the stairs to his room, the mysterious woman’s words,“Young master Romeo”,lingering in his mind like a puzzle he couldn’t solve.