The Lotus And The Billionaire

Chapter 48: Threatening The Newlyweds?!

I have no idea how I am supposed to deal with these three being in the same space. A bunch of arrogant and stubborn Alvarez males being hostile to each other is no surprise to me at this point.

To be completely honest, I can’t even keep up with any of them. There was no way for me to know why they wanted us to go back to the Alvarez manor as no one has been specifying anything! My guess is that they’re trying to be careful around me.

Either way, this is troublesome…

Right now, I feel like I’m not even allowed to move or interfere with the conversation. The tension between everyone was palpable, almost enough to crush me into bits.

“Leave,” Alvarez told the two, his voice stern.

It wasn’t meant for me, but I found my feet taking a step back. That tone he used…was intimidating enough to even shock the two men in front of us.

This is the first time I have ever seen my husband look so furious. Indeed, I have witnessed him yell and all of those, but right now, he looks like he’s…prepared to kill.

Gray Alvarez is a man you should never, ever anger. Regardless of whether his anger was directed at you, you’d find yourself running away.

I didn’t run away, though. Because I know my absence would only fuel his rage, and that’d be how I meet my end along with these two.

“Fine…” Sky breathed as he got up. “We’ll leave you two alone, but I can’t guarantee that Red will do the same.”

Alistair also followed Sky, his formerly lovely demeanor changing into a pensive one. “I guess I can’t say see you around now, can I…Azrael?”

Huh…

Who the hell is Azrael?

I stared at Alvarez, who was staring into nothing even after his cousins had left. He had a blank expression on his face as he looked out at the glass walls.

And just like that, the rain began to pour…

For a few hours, I couldn’t talk to him properly. I would often ask him if he wanted coffee or if he wanted food, but he barely responded to my questions. That was why I resorted to sitting on his lap.

Yes, just to get his attention.

“Please…” I trailed off as I held his chin. “Snap out of it.”

His mouth went agape as he looked up at me, seemingly coming back from his reverie. And I knew he was back when his hands snaked around my waist and leaned in to reward me with a most passionate kiss.

“Thanks for that,” he muttered, breathless.

“No worries.”

A short silence followed after that, with only the sounds of our breaths being heard. Alvarez was staring down at my lips as if fighting the urge to devour me again.

I wonder what is going on in his mind right now, with everything that happened earlier. I’m simply keeping him distracted, but I have no idea how he’s going to deal with it yet.

The situation didn’t seem dire, as neither of his cousins tried to forcefully bring him back. At least that’s what I think despite their conversation leaving me tensed earlier. That’s not how an Alvarez would use force, after all.

Alvarez sighed and threw his head back, closing his eyes. I tried to get off his lap, but he held my waist in place. Damn it, he’s hard already.

“We’re not doing it today,” I reminded him as I tried not to look.

He chuckled. “I know, I know. Just stay there for now.”

“Will you be okay, though?”

“Since when did you become so concerned about me?”

I rolled my eyes and slowly leaned my head on his chest, resting it there just to relish in his warmth. “f**k off. I would have given you a head if I was.”

I looked up at him, only to see him staring at me intently as if he was trying to weigh his thoughts. Maybe I never should have said what I said. Now I have given him ideas he shouldn’t have!

“That’s a great idea.”

“I’m not doing that.”

“Are you really not concerned? Hmm, mi amor?”

I glared at him and tried to get off him, but he pulled me in for an embrace, chuckling. I could feel his bulge poking at my thigh. Damn it, I shouldn’t get carried away. I can barely walk properly!

Alvarez chuckled and began to play with my fingers, his other hand reaching for the remote to turn the television on. Is he going to watch another one of those series he likes?

“Sleep, Diaz. I know you’re still tired…” he whispered as he placed his hand on top of my head, gently stroking it.

This was never on the list of situations I knew were going to happen between me and Alvarez. Him being caring towards me? I had never considered it, nor have I had a desire for it to happen.

Even then, I found myself drifting to sleep in peace. Perhaps it was because of exhaustion, especially after what happened earlier with his cousins.

And I wished I could have just continued deceiving myself like that.

“Diaz? Diaz, wake up. It’s time for dinner.”

The sound of Alvarez’s mellow voice woke me up along with his hand caressing my cheeks. The way he spoke made me want to go back to sleep, but I felt my stomach grumbling in a complaint of hunger.

Slowly, I opened my eyes, only to see Alvarez’s face inches away from mine. His dark eyes pierced through my soul, enough to fully wake me up.

“You don’t seem like a monster when you’re asleep.”

“Shut up…” I replied and lightly smacked his cheek before getting up.

“I already cooked,” he told me as he helped me stand still, aware that I might still be groggy.

“Aren’t you tired?”

“Not really.”

I nodded and followed him to the kitchen. I have no idea why he’s taking care of me when I haven’t even done anything favorable for him. It’s not like I’m sick or anything…

“What’s gotten to you all of a sudden?” I asked as I tilted my head to the side, curious.

“You’ve been working hard on the project I assigned you to. And you’ve also been doing your best to please me.” He flashed a smirk as he leaned on the kitchen countertop, gesturing for me to sit down.

“And? Those are my jobs, aren’t they?”

He shrugged and sat beside me. “They are, but you deserve a good rest. I worked you off a little too hard.”

My face flushed upon remembering how we did it until dawn. That was why we woke up around lunch if I recall correctly. Well…

He chuckled upon seeing my reaction while I glared at him. This i***t! I know I can make him just as flustered, but I had just woken up.

Wait.

Heh.

“How’s the food?”

“Good.”

“Just good?” he asked, raising a brow.

I smiled at him. “How was your boner?”

He raised a brow at me. “Is that your best comeback, Diaz? Damn, you’ve lost your—”

“How’d you take care of it without me?” I cut him off, smiling.

“Is this how you want to play?”

Okay. I kind of regret it now.

“No, I don’t. Let’s just eat in peace.”

“He chuckled. “You were the one who brought it up, and now you’re chickening out?”

I ignored him the entire time we were eating despite wanting to compliment his cooking so badly. Of course, I’m not going to admit that he’s better than me.

But still…

When I finished eating, I offered to wash the dishes, but he told me to go to his office and wait for him. I figured he’d tell me about what happened earlier.

Ah, was that what the meal was for?

I silently made my way to his office, afraid of what I might hear from him. Knowing Alvarez, he wouldn’t really want to tell me anything serious. Even then, I’d like to know, no matter how little the detail is.

Perhaps at this point, he already knew I’d be going after information regarding the Alvarez clan already. I’m guessing he wants to tell me before I come digging for it myself.

As I was waiting, I noticed a folder on top of his desk. It had no labels and the papers were peeking out, so I thought I should fix it. He’s always organized, so how come he just left this here? I don’t remember this folder being here when I took his glasses yesterday.

Maybe I should fix it. He’d be put in a bad mood if he saw any clutter on his desk. And so I took the folder in my hand and opened it, only to see a profile of a woman that was about my age.

Zaine Claveria…

Everything about her was written on the pieces of paper inside the folder, from the big details to the most minor ones. This is the first I’ve heard of her, and I don’t think I’ve ever come across anything about her and Alvarez on the news.

Who is this woman…?

Alvarez was taking so long that I ended up reading almost everything, and when I came back to my senses, I quickly placed the folder back on the table the way I saw it. I sat on the sofa beside the shelves and tried to find that person on social media.

And there I saw her. A supermodel.

Just as I was about to search for something about her and Alvarez, the door opened and revealed my husband. He was wearing his glasses and holding his iPad.

“Hey, sorry. I couldn’t find my glasses.”

I scowled at him. “That’s because you leave it everywhere.”

“Yes, yes. I’m sorry…” he trailed off as his gaze drifted to the folder. “Oh, I left this here.”

Should I ask him?

It’s not bothering me, to be honest. But Alvarez isn’t the type to go around snooping on someone else’s private life. This is just odd! And why does he need to know all those details about a supermodel?!

Alvarez looked at me, and then at the folder. What’s he looking at me for? I didn’t make it obvious, did I? I pursed my lips and watched him carefully, and that’s when he placed the folder back down and sat beside me.

“What?” I asked, hostility dripping from my tone.

He looked like he was fighting the urge to smile. And I was suppressing the desire to punch him in the face. How is he finding this funny when I’m looking at him with a disgusted expression?!

Fuck, I wasn’t even going to tell him that I saw what was inside the folder! How did he know that I had already seen it by simply looking at me…?

“You’re a really terrible liar,” he told me as he draped his arm over my shoulder, leaning his face towards mine.

“I wasn’t even lying.”

“Your expression says it all.”

I rolled my eyes and pushed his face away. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Fine…” he breathed as he opened the folder. “She…is one of the women I have dated before and—”

“I didn’t even ask,” I cut him off as I stood up. “I thought we were going to talk about something important, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. I have no time to spare for this nonsense.”

He pursed his lips and held my wrist to stop me. “At least hear me out? I’ll explain everything. One by one.”

I didn’t sit beside him again, but he took my silence as a go signal and showed me what was inside the folder. I had already seen it, but I looked at her picture again.

Oh.

There was one photo I failed to see…

“She’s also Zenon Leviste’s current lover.”

“And? What does that mean?”

“That means she’s in on this whole ‘threatening the newlyweds’ scheme.”

“How so? Maybe she doesn’t know anything about what Zenon’s doing…”

He shook his head. “I wish that were the case, but I have confirmed that she was the reason there was a commotion yesterday.”