The Lotus And The Billionaire

Chapter 18: New Team

Alvarez took me like a hungry beast last night, something I had never expected as he was always holding back…but he just snapped after making it clear that I am his. He didn’t force himself on me, though. It’s like he would never do it, regardless of the situation.

That was a night I doubt I will ever forget. Alvarez barely talked, but when he did…I would lose my mind all over again. It was as if he was aiming for that sort of reaction from me!

Did he…want me to go crazy over him? Well, it was the only conclusion I could come up with as an excuse for that behavior of his. It was…definitely peculiar.

“Hey,” he called as he snapped his fingers in front of me.

Oh, we’re already inside the car…

“What?” I asked as I turned to him.

He sighed. “You don’t seem well. Do you want to go back and rest? You should have told me if you didn’t think you could come to work.

“No, I’m fine. I was just…thinking.”

“Are you sure? You don’t have a fever?” he asked as he placed his hand on my forehead. “I doubt you have one. Sorry, I might have gone overboard.”

“It’s fine, stop worrying. Right now, I just want to get to work.”

“Oh, yeah. Right, regarding that…I’ve taken care of yesterday’s commotion. There was a man asking for you, but I made sure he’d never get close to you.”

“Why? Who was it?”

Alvarez had gone quiet for some time, but he eventually looked at me as he let out an exhausted groan. Oh, it sure didn’t seem like he wanted to tell me what was going on. In fact, it was as if he was rethinking whether it was necessary to inform me at all.

I stared at him for as long as I could, hopeful that he would at least give me the gist. I don’t mind not hearing the full story as long as it works well for me and if I no longer have to deal with this man he was talking about.

“I did a little investigation…and I found out that he was a minion of the Levistes. I’m not sure why he was looking for you, but the man seemed desperate.”

My brows furrowed. Zenon…? He sure has stricken me as a man who would make sure to carry his plans out by all means. If anything, I’m a hundred percent sure that it was one of his plans to separate me from my husband.

Ah, I should have made sure that my parents cut ties with them before they even offered that annoying proposal. That was what Zenon Leviste was upset about, and now he’s still bothering the hell out of me!

“So, it was him…” I muttered as I glared outside the window. “I remember him warning me as I rejected him.”

“There’s no need to worry about him anymore. I’ve already taken care of everything,” Alvarez told me, his lips curving up into a sinister smile. “Which is precisely why I need you to help me out.”

Obviously, he wouldn’t do me any favors if it weren’t for his benefit!

“What is it?” I asked with my lazy tone.

“It’s pretty simple, actually. I’ll have to meet a certain someone for dinner later, and I need you to come with me.”

“What? I’m not coming unless you tell me who it is!” I exclaimed as I crossed my arms over my chest, annoyed at Alvarez. He was never one to help others out, so it would have been a lot more unusual for him to suggest something like that without giving it that much thought.

“Fine,” he drawled as he started the engine. “I received a tip regarding Zenon Leviste’s plans on getting you to divorce me.”

“For what reason?”

“Diaz, men would kill to own you. Ha, it must have sucked for them.”

I shot him a look of disappointment. “You’re acting undignified again.”

Alvarez only scoffed in response as he began to drive away from the building. He’s always been like that to other men, especially when we are talking about Vin or anyone who has tried to court me over time. I’m not sure why, but it seems as though he’s using it as an ego-booster.

I could only let out an exhausted sigh as I tried to get as comfortable as I could. There’s only one thing keeping me from strangling as he boasted about the huge difference between him and the men I got involved with…and it’s simply because he was driving.

“You’re dead after this,” I told him as I got out of the car.

“Coming from someone who screamed my name all over the place last night– Hey, that hurt!”

I glared at him before pinching his waist again. This guy either acts like a child or a teenager, sometimes even in between the two. He truly is strange, but that doesn’t change the fact…that I will strangle him to death when I get the chance to.

Although I liked the idea of him owning me in bed, thinking about it in a more rational manner made me feel disgusted about the idea. It’s as if I’m betraying myself by letting him think of me as his own property! Perhaps I have lost my mind already.

“Diaz, there was something I forgot to tell you earlier.”

“What is it?”

“You have your own team to supervise from now on. It’s only fair, as you’re already way past that back in your company.”

I rolled my eyes at him as I proceeded to walk. “Sometimes, I can’t tell if you’re actually acting like you care for me or you’re simply being sarcastic.”

“It’s often both.”

“f**k you.”

“You want to go again?”

He only stopped ridiculing me when I shot him a glare that was enough to make him flinch. Alvarez was never scared of me, but I can totally get mad at him. I mean, I always am…but not to the extent that I’d actually end up hurting someone.

I pursed my lips as I parted ways with Alvarez and proceeded inside my office. Vin was also there, but he was just standing behind me like a trained soldier. I mean, this was how he originally was, but I doubt I’ll get used to this setup soon.

Either way, I’ll do my paperwork first before I get introduced to the team. Apparently, I’ll be attending a conference with everyone, including the said team. Alvarez told me it’d be a good way for them to introduce themselves to me.

Honestly, I don’t care who I work with. Alvarez would never let incompetent people work under him, regardless of who they were. That’s one of the few things I find quite endearing about him. That doesn’t change my prejudice, though…

“Hey, I heard something interesting…” Vin whispered as he stepped closer to me.

This guy truly can’t stand it when he needs to quiet down at a time like this! It is because of him that I’ve also gotten talkative as I grew up! Although I don’t mind as it makes my time here a little less boring, I can’t focus!

“Vin, make sure you’re not wasting my time,” I told him as I continued to work on the file.

“Yes, yes. So, apparently, Zenon was after you. Your husband must have told you already, but I’m certain something got past him.”

Now, that has caught my attention! I carefully listened while working at the same time. Yes, even though I was about to lose my mind, wondering what could have gotten past an Alvarez’s eyes.

“The young man…was not actually some poor guy that was threatened by Zenon Leviste. Do you remember how I told you he was no good for you when they offered you the marriage proposal?”

I chuckled upon remembering the look he gave me. “Yeah, you told me he has a horrible personality.”

“Trust me when I say he really does…” he trailed off as he let out an exhausted sigh. “I dug deeper into the information, and that’s how I found out that the man was using a counterfeit ID. He wasn’t some young man that’s in need of help.”

“So? Are you saying he hired someone who could have taken us down if we went to personally deal with the commotion yesterday?

“Oh, that’s smart of you! Actually, yes. I’m certain he wants you and your husband to rot in hell.”

I could only heave a sigh as I relaxed my hand on the keyboard. “I figured Zenon would try that since the last time I talked to him.”

“Oh? Then, do you have any plans?”

Normally, I would prepare a plan in case Zenon does something that could hinder any development we could make in the company…and, of course, to stop him from causing trouble. But after seeing the way Alvarez operated, I realized there was no need.

If anything, the only thing I need to do right now is to sit still and think about how I can be of use to anyone around here. The last thing I want is to be seen as an inefficient worker! Besides, I have to impress Alvarez…

“Right now, I plan to let him be,” I told Vin truthfully as I finished relaxing my fingers, which shocked him more than it should.

“Sha, are you serious?” he asked, sounding like he was doubting every fiber of my being.

“Of course, I’m serious. However, Alvarez would be the one to do all the work for me…” I replied as I flashed a smirk that scared Vin.

“You’re really using him to your heart’s content…” he muttered as he shook his head in dismay. “But it’s a good move, considering you’re up against quite powerful families.”

That’s right, it’s a practical move. I can’t do anything that would put either of us in a bad light when everyone’s carrying their duties out properly. Well, I already made it up to Alvarez last night…

Ha, I won’t be able to go out again! Truth be told, my legs were jelly and I was really having trouble walking properly earlier. I just had to pretend that everything was fine so Alvarez would stop asking.

Anyway, it seems like the conference I was waiting for will start within a few minutes. I had already seen Alvarez’s secretary running around the place, so I had decided that it was necessary for me to follow.

On my way there, Vin still followed me because that was the order he received. The look Alvarez shot me as I entered the room with Vin was unfathomable. Obviously, he wasn’t pleased at all.

“He’s killing me…” Vin muttered as he avoided Alvarez’s gaze.

“No, he’s not,” I told him dismissively as I waited for them to begin.

I’m just meeting the team for the first time. After all, I’ll be working with them after this conference on the same project they will be presenting! Besides, I received an invitation from my husband.

Up until now, that term still scares the s**t out of me!

“Oh, young bitches…” I heard someone mutter as they choked up a laugh.

These geezers really make my blood boil by simply existing. They often say the dumbest things, especially during meetings. Everyone always tries to overpower Alvarez into agreeing with them…who often just brushes it off.

Anyway, now is the moment of truth!

I was certain I wouldn’t know who would be appearing right in front of me…but someone I'd been well acquainted with appeared in front of me. Oh, hell no. Of all people, why did it have to be a college classmate I was with during my darkest days…?

He raised a brow when he noticed me, but he proceeded to act like he didn’t know me at all. So did I, of course! I didn’t want to rouse suspicion during a time like this, after all.

But I was unlucky enough for Alvarez to notice.

“Sit here,” he told me, glaring.

Oh, damn…