|| LORENZO KING's POV ||
I stormed around the house like a wind. My breathing was getting heavy to imagine that she had left me. When I couldn't find her on the entire floor, I almost collapsed at the spot. But my eyes travelled on the open corridor, adjusted to the floor. She was standing there in her white gown. A long sigh of relief escaped my lips.
Still shaking a little, I stood up to walk over to her. Without thinking about our resentment, I wrapped my arms around her from behind. She didn't react to anything as if she didn't feel me,
" I was fucking worried..I thought..you..you left.."
She merely squirmed under my touch. Unwrapping my hands from her body, I asked still shaking,
" Are..are you still angry with me?"
Valentina didn't speak for a while. When she turned around to lock her eyes with me, all my hopes were gone. It looked more distant than yesterday. Immediately, I swallowed the lump in my throat to face the worst. I opened my mouth to call her again, stretching my arms out to hug her,
" Val.. Valentina..I..."
She cut me off in the middle, suddenly sounding serious,
" Let's talk about it, Lorenzo. If I stay here, I will stay as your surrogate only. Do you agree with that?"
My jaw clenched hard in anger. What did she mean by staying as my surrogate only? Did she plan to leave me so desperately?
This time, I took my own time to answer her. Five more months were enough to coax her. If I don't agree with her condition now, she would be trying to leave me again. It was better to have hope than no chance. Letting out a sigh helplessly, I nodded with difficulties, trying to see past her mind,
" As you wish but you will stay with me."
Valentina hummed as well then added in a sour voice,
" I don't think that I have a heart to trust you again. Better, leave it that way. I better do my duty to you."
This shit hurts!! Finally, the worst happened!
But who was here to blame? Of course, it was me only.
________
|| VALENTINA'S POV ||
Two days later.............
Lorenzo and I had been living separately for the past two days. It was official that I wasn't his girlfriend anymore. I couldn't trust the man who tried to use me for his own purpose. However, that didn't stop him from pursuing me. He was more and more attentive than usual these days. At home, I didn't talk to him though he used each opportunity to speak to me.
I came to my store again after a short break. The thoughts of the model slipped past my mind. As I was in a pretty down mood, I passed all the responsibilities to James who was more than willing to help me out. He was asking about what was wrong with me. But I just said about pregnancy hormones because I wasn't comfortable in sharing my personal life with outsiders. Even the staff occasionally asked if everything was okay with me or not. I guess, it was hard to pretend to be happy on the surface when you were breaking inside.
Dismissing the staff who came to share the plan submitted by James, I raised up from my chair to head for the cafeteria, hoping that a coffee would help me, changing my mood. Unexpectedly, I saw the Royal Queen again, walking over to me with a warm smile. Her guards were standing a few feet away from her, looking so grand and tall.
She approached me slowly and pulled me into a hug first,
" You look so pale, honey. Are you all right?"
I forced a smile, replying gingerly,
" I am fine! Are you here to shop again?"
Her face draped in sadness, sighing before replying,
" I wish, I was but we are leaving the country today. You know, we don't get long vacations. So, I came to say goodbye to you. Aww .I will miss you so much, gal."
I mumbled back, suddenly feeling emotional,
" I will miss you too, Mrs.Melinda. Remember to visit me whenever you come again."
She nodded firmly, gave her personal contact information,
" Of course! Take this. If you need any help or anything..just don't hesitate to call me, okay?"
I thanked her with tears, giving her another short hug,
" Thank you for being so kind. Don't forget to call me when you go back to your country."
She laughed back emotionally and mumbled with a heavy sigh,
" Definitely! Who knows maybe we will meet again soon!!"
_______
I felt pretty bad for the whole day ever since Mrs.Melinda left. I didn't make friends so easily but whenever I grew close to someone, their emotions affected me badly. Mrs.Melinda was a kind, mother figure to me. Even her smile used to warm my heart. I guess, life was full of sudden goodbyes.
The car honking outside of my store tore attention from my sorrow. Getting my bag, I headed outside to go back home. To my utmost surprise, it wasn't the chauffeur but Lorenzo by himself came to pick me up. I almost smiled at his puppy eyes. He looked like a child who was expecting to see his mother after school ended.
Without talking to him, I climbed into the car in dire silence. Lorenzo followed me as well and asked multiple questions after getting into the car to take the driver seat,
" How is the store going? Did you plan the exhibition? Are..are you feeling well today?"
I gave him a lame answer, watching his face sank,
" James is handling everything. You can ask him."
He exhaled helplessly and started the engine to drive off to the mansion. The ride was long and pin-drop silence. Occasionally, he looked at me hopefully but I was paying attention to the passing trees outside. Finally, it was him speaking again,
" Valentina..can..we at least talk..You can hate me but please.. talk to me.. shit!!!!!!"
Suddenly, Lorenzo cursed out loud, breaking on the car abruptly. A black car had suddenly come between his way. Thankfully, he stopped the engine on time before any accident could happen. My heart flew out of my chest almost in fear. Looking around, I saw more cars surrounding us from a distance. Soon, the sound of gunfire echoed in the air. I let out shrill cry, putting my thumbs into my ears,
" Aaahhhhh... Lorenzo.."
Lorenzo barked at someone angrily, put out his own gun which I had never seen before,
" Don't get out of the car! Valentina!! You heard me? Even if I die outside, Don't get out of the car and lock the doors. This car is bulletproof. Nothing will happen to you. Listen to me!! Don't come out!,"
I stopped him immediately, tears pouring from my eyes,
" NOO!! You can't go alone, Lorenzo. Call for help! Don't go alone! I will come with you."
Lorenzo shut me off, hurrying to get out of the car,
" Stay back on your seat! If I die, you will be happy at least to know that your criminal isn't living anymore."
With his words, he got out of the car in a blink of an eye and locked the doors from outside. I kept shouting and banging on the windows, begging him to stop,
" Lorenzo..No.. Please don't go..I am sorry.. please.. Don't leave.. Lorenzo...come back.. Lorenzo.."
I couldn't let him die. Although I hated him for everything, my love for him was bigger than my hatred. If he really didn't love me, why would he always put himself in danger of saving me?
I kept wiping like a child and heard more gunshots in the air. What was going on? Who were those people attacking us? Was it Leonardo again?