|| LORENZO KING's POV ||
" Just spill it out! What do you want to say to me?", I looked up at Kylie grimly. I couldn't believe that she went on convincing my nana. Last night, Nana called me to tell me that I should make things clear with Kylie. After all, we were friends before lovers. That old woman didn't contact me once after the conflict with Valentina happened.
After an hour of talking, I refused to keep her request but she started threatening me with her emotional words. I had no choice but to agree that I would allow Kylie to meet me once alone. Definitely, I didn't want any misunderstanding between me and Valentina for her.
Kylie came to my office directly today. She wore a mini skirt, so short that her panties popped out when she sat on the couch. It seemed too revealing in my eyes. I couldn't understand why she would wear such a piece of cloth in a casual meeting.
She twisted her lips into a smile, scoffing as if nothing happened between us in the past,
" Come on, Lorenzo!! Can't I meet you? I know that our relationship has ended long back but I am still your friend, ain't I? Besides, your girlfriend is already pregnant. What are you so afraid of or don't tell me that she doesn't trust you enough?"
" Stop talking nonsense, Kylie and tell me why you are here?", I cut her off midway, growling as she rolled her eyes dramatically. Dropping the pink bag on the couch, she approached me closely, spoke in a serious voice,
" I am asking you to forgive me, Lorenzo. I know that I have hurt you a lot. I was young and immature back then. I should have waited for you to calm down. But anyways.. we can still be friends, can't we?"
I watched her in pure shock. She had really matured over the past few years. If she was the old Kylie, she would have made a ruckus about my girlfriend already. I kept silent, unsure about what to say at that moment.
Kylie continued, her voice dripping with sadness,
" Also, you know how close I was with Nana. I couldn't bear to see her living alone at this age. So, I just made a friendly visit, Lorenzo. I hope, we can forget the grudges and be each other's friends for the rest of our lives. Can't we?"
I found it hard to deny her request. Except for the tag of ex-boyfriend, she was the only closest friend I had at that time. Life was short and I really didn't want to hold grudges against her. Giving back a small smile, I shook her hands to say sincerely,
" I don't have any grudges with you as well. Let bygones be bygones!"
Kylie smiled big and offered in a happy tone,
" That's more like Lorenzo King. Let's go to our favorite restaurant together. We should celebrate the new start of our relationship."
Taking a look at the clock, I saw that it was almost lunch time. So, I agreed to her offer and went out together.
_________
|| VALENTINA's POV ||
The next day.....
" Wow! I love your ideas, James! It's just too perfect..", I appreciated James's plan genuinely. The exhibition was going to be grand and eye-catching. Luka suggested me to come less to work this days. Now that, my tummy was getting bigger, it would be risky to roam around freely.
James chuckled as well, taking pride of his own,
" I know, Darling but don't forget that you gave me a lot of assistance."
I shrugged, taking a sip from my lemon juice,
" It was nothing seriously!!"
He grinned back and folded the paper in his hand. It bothered me to think that Nana and Kylie were really close like friends. Last night, Lorenzo told me that his Nana wanted him to make things clear between him and Kylie. Although I wasn't sure about Kylie, I was going to support Lorenzo whatever decision he had taken. After all, they were friends and it wasn't my business to interfere between their personal relationship no matter who I was to Lorenzo.
On our lunch break, I went out of James's office to visit the customers. However, the staff were seemingly gossiping and gave me extra attention. When I stopped in my track to ask them,
" What??"
All of them shook their heads like nothing and went back to their works. Not understanding what just happened, I continued to stall around the store until James came running onto me with his ipad. He was panting literally. The look of worry in his eyes scared me.
James stammered, sounding sorry,
" I..I am sorry..Val..I really didn't know that... Kylie and your boyfriend..Well.."
He swallowed the rest of his words, having difficulties to say further. Giving him a baffled look, I asked back,
" What.. what do you mean??"
James tightened his brows together. I really had no idea why was he talking about it all of sudden. Showing me the ipad, he said apologizing,
" Well..the news said that Lorenzo is meeting his ex-girlfriend..I don't know but I thought of saying sorry to you..I swear, I had no idea, darling or else I would have never hired that witch."
Those headlines of the news left me stunned. All the headlines were more like
" LORENZO KING MEETING HIS EX-GIRLFRIEND AT A PRIVATE RESTAURANT!!"
" LORENZO KING IS IN LOVE WITH HIS EX-GIRLFRIEND AGAIN?"
Honestly, I felt awful as a girlfriend at that moment. No one would like to see her boyfriend with other woman on the news. As a common people who never faced the media, I felt horrible to see such news. In that picture, Lorenzo was laughing with Kylie at a Restaurant. They seemed like a perfect couple who were on date. Subconsciously, my eyes welled up in tears painfully. Though I didn't know the truth, It hurt like hell. Besides, Lorenzo never told me that he was meeting Kylie for real.
As I remained engrossed to the articles,there was chaos outside of my store. James was the first person to go forward. However, he stumbled several step backs when he spotted. He shouted in an alarming voice,
" Val! Shit! It's those reporters!! You have to get out of here now. They are a lot in number."
Our security guards were trying to stop the reporters. Although I was on the opposite side, I could hear their questions and taunts from distance,
" Let her out! We just want to question her. Is Lorenzo King with Model Kylie again?? Is she an outsider now?"
I couldn't stop the tears from rolling down. Now, It felt like I was the outsider in their relationship. Before I could think anything, James was dragging me towards the back door. Thankfully, he made it on time as the reporters barged into the store to take my interview.
Behind the store, James parked his car and offered me a ride to suggest,
" Val! You should get out of here now. Those reporters are going crazy. It's dangerous for you to meet them at this moment."
I didn't refuse to go with him. After all, I was mentally not prepared to face those reporters. James drove off to Lorenzo's Mansion. During the ride, I just kept on crying. When he arrived at the main door, I was astounded to find Lorenzo's car already parked there. I frowned hard and got off the car since it wasn't his time to return to the mansion. However, a few seconds later, I witnessed another sight that I wasn't prepared for. It was Kylie coming out with Lorenzo with her hand wrapping around his arms. They looked like they just went on a date. Upon noticing me, Lorenzo reacted first to mutter,
" VALENTINA! Why did you return so early from the store?"