The Lotus And The Billionaire

Chapter 49: Supermodel, One of the Culprits?!

Everything Alvarez told me almost didn’t sink in. I had a hard time taking it, especially after I found out she was also my husband’s former lover.

What the hell…

“I know it’s kind of difficult to understand, but I’ll try my best to get to the bottom of this,” Alvarez assured me as he closed his eyes and rested his head on my chest.

He was done talking about everything, but my mind couldn’t process it well…

Apparently, Zaine Claveria also lives in the same building as us, but she’s a few floors away. She was also the one who let that man in, the one Vin caught.

And now Vin. He interrogated the said man and made sure he would spill all the information he had on Zaine Claveria. I’m not sure how he got the man to talk, but Alvarez mentioned that he was pretty tight-lipped. I’m guessing it’s another one of the things I wouldn’t want to discover about Vin.

What came after that rocked me to the core. Vin had sent a recording to Alvarez, wherein the man admitted that he was with Zaine Claveria and that she had instructed him to create a commotion in the basement. She was said to be with a man whose face he couldn’t see.

Alvarez didn’t want me to watch or listen to the recording as it was too much. I didn’t prod more and asked him to elaborate on the information they found.

He then told me that he’s been eyeing Zaine Claveria ever since finding out that she’s Zenon Leviste’s lover. He suspects that she’s with that Leviste asshole, so he was very careful.

Now I understand why he doesn’t allow anyone to be in the elevator with us…

Neither of us knew why Zaine Claveria, a supermodel, would be out for our heads. That’s why Alvarez is speculating that Zenon might have something on her or he’s threatening her to obey him.

Nothing is certain for now.

“Are you afraid?” Alvarez asked.

“I am.”

“Yeah, I’m getting stressed too.”

“And?”

He looked up at me, glaring. “Are you still out of it or are you back to being mean?”

Not really. But his voice helped me break out of my reverie. Perhaps it’s because he just sounds so annoying or his voice—a tone that had emerged from the deepest depths of the Pacific ocean—was simply too irritating for my liking.

A sigh escaped from my lips as I told him it was both. To be honest, I’m very worried. I don’t think I’ll be able to walk around without feeling fear.

And now that we’re in the same building as the person targeting us? I’m feeling more on edge than ever. I don’t understand why a woman of that caliber would do something as stupid as that.

“You know, Zaine isn’t exactly as nice as you think.”

I raised a brow. “You know because she’s your ex, of course.”

“Yeah, and?” He smirked, one of his eyebrows raised to tease me. “Jealous?”

“I’m not.”

“You don’t sound so convincing.”

Damn it.

Honestly, I’m not jealous, but the way he worded it made it seem like he knew that was the only thing running through my mind as he mentioned Zaine Claveria.

Firstly, I have nothing to be jealous about.

Second, he’s not so attractive that I’d be bawling my eyes over him dating models. That was just my observation based on the people we met and the news I’d heard about him and his previous relationships. He mostly dated models or at least the most gorgeous ones. Still, those are nothing I should feel envious of.

Third, I’m not in love with him. How am I supposed to feel even a tinge of jealousy when I have no romantic feelings towards him?

“Do you think you’re so amazing that I’d get jealous because of you? You’re so full of yourself,” I replied with the most condescending tone I could ever use.

“Oh, I am, actually…” he trailed off, the grin not leaving his face regardless of how much I scowled at him.

Alvarez definitely has a special talent, and that is to make my blood boil with a simple smile. In fact, he can do nothing and I’d still get annoyed at him. That’s just how much I loathe him.

Sure, he’s been a lot more bearable these days. Still, that can’t change the fact that he’s this…

Screw it.

I lack the right words to describe the negative feelings I have harbored for him.

“You look like you’re about to blow up,” he remarked as he slowly distanced himself from me.

“Because I am.”

He chuckled as he raised his arms in surrender. “You really are like a cat. One moment, you’re sweet and charming. But you could be baring your fangs next, hissing and clawing at whoever approaches you.”

I crossed my arms over my chest. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“Maybe I should call you kitten from now on, as well?”

I didn’t know I was capable of moving at a speed that he couldn’t comprehend faster. Before he knew it, I was already on top of him, grabbing the collar of his shirt.

“Don’t. You. Dare.” For every word I uttered, my tone became firmer.

Alvarez is enjoying this, that’s for sure. With that mischievous smile still plastered on his face despite mine being full of contempt.

I wouldn’t hit him, we both know that.

Even then, I wanted to force him to think that even uttering that word to tease me would be his one-way ticket to hell. Alvarez won’t cease his shenanigans unless I do so…

Yet this seemed fun for him.

I wonder how this situation…turned him on.

“What the hell is wrong with you?”

“Hmm?” He looked down. “Oh, sorry. It’s just that you look sexy when you’re mad.”

I stared at him in awe. There were no words left for me to say after what he had just told me. Of course, I could come up with a witty comeback, but I chose not to.

I quickly got off him and walked towards the door, flustered. It’s a good thing he can’t see my face with my back turned to him. Still, it felt as though I could hear him laughing at me.

Alvarez can surely bring out the worst in me, and I despise that fact…

As I made my way back to the bedroom, I tried to think of everything he had told me earlier. He can deal with his stuff on his own, that’s for sure. My whole body can’t handle any more than what we already have.

Anyway!

Zaine Claveria didn’t strike me as someone who would try to cause harm to others, especially when he has a reputation to build. Her relationship with Alvarez wasn’t even anything serious. That’s why I find it hard to believe that she would be Zenon’s accomplice.

Just as he said, there has to be something…

“Why is she with a man like him, anyway…” I muttered as I tidied the sheets.

Sure, Zenon Leviste is a man from a high-ranking family of politicians. He’s filthy rich, in a more literal way. And he’s been involved in several scandals concerning dirty money.

Perhaps those were one of the reasons Dad hesitated to agree to the marriage proposal the Levistes offered. It was definitely the right call!

Anyway…

It had only been a few months since Zenon and Zaine Claveria had reportedly been going out together. That was after my official marriage to Alvarez…

Ah, there’s no use in thinking about it at this point. We just have to be more careful than we already were or things might get dicey.

I decided to lie down on the bed as I turned the television on to keep myself busy. Alvarez hasn’t come yet, so I decided not to wait for him. He’ll turn the TV off himself when he gets here.

And so I allowed myself to fall asleep.

“Diaz…”

“Hmm…”

“Diaz, wake up. You have to eat.”

Fuck.

It took me a minute or two before I fully woke up, afraid that we were already late for work. The weekend had already ended?! I looked out the windows and realized the sun was already up.

What…

“Alvarez! We’re late!” I exclaimed as I got up, panicking.

Even after I pointed at the window in panic, he simply stared at me and held my shoulders to calm me down. He shook his head and made sure I couldn’t get out of bed.

It took me some time to calm down, still wondering why Alvarez isn’t throwing a fit or anything now that we’re probably hours late for work! He has plenty of schedules for today if I remember correctly!

“What are you doing? We’re going to be late!”

“Shut up and sit still.”

“But—”

“You have a fever.”

That was when the exhaustion and nausea registered in me. Perhaps it was the adrenaline that prevented me from feeling it, but with me snapping out of it, the heavy feeling of being sick rained down on me.

My body felt weak, and I felt as though it would break with one movement. Alvarez noticed and quickly helped me lie down. Damn, he’s not supposed to be taking care of me right now. He has conferences to attend!

“Stop thinking,” he told me, glaring.

I pursed my lips. “Sorry.”

I knew I had no right to get mad at him or to even say anything bad to him after he sacrificed those meetings to take care of me. I have no idea if they're pending or if he sent someone to proxy for him. But there’s one thing I know.

Alvarez is taking care of me right now like a real husband would. Except he’s glaring at me, of course. I don’t think I can criticize him or anything for him being nice enough to stay here and take care of me.

“Don’t get any wrong ideas,” he told me as he brought a tray to the mini table that he placed on the bed.

“What?” I asked weakly as I rubbed my nose.

“I’m not doing this out of concern. We’re just out of options now that we don’t know who to trust.”

“Vin can be trusted, though.”

“Yes, but I need him to assure your safety first and foremost. That’s why he’s outside.”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

Alvarez didn’t answer any of my questions anymore. Instead, he just fed me the porridge he made for me. Even though I hate to admit it, it…tastes so good.

I’ve also taken care of him while he was in this state, but I never thought I’d be in the same situation so soon. How come I still got sick? As far as I remember, I’ve been taking my vitamins and I haven’t had a cheat day yet. Alvarez and I have been on a healthy diet for a while now…

Oh, wait.

“It might be because of stress,” Alvarez told me.

He was still feeding me because my arms were too weak and frail. They tremble upon contact with the utensils, so I didn’t force myself anymore.

I have a problem, though. A really big one.

I rarely get sick, and when I do, I don’t take the big tablets. To be honest, I don’t remember how I dealt with being sick, as it’s been a long time since I’ve been in that predicament.

But now…

Due to stress, huh? It’s been that bad to the point that…I have to drink that kind of medicine. It seems he’s already called a doctor earlier and had given him a prescription that would help me get better soon.

Sure, I need to take the medicine. I already know that.

Damn it.

I don’t want to. I’m scared of swallowing a huge pill, and that’s exactly what I need to drink right now. With the way I am, I’ll only end up vomiting it…

“Diaz, just focus on eating. What are you even thinking about?”

“Do I…” I trailed off as I looked away. “Do I really have to take that medicine?”