The Lotus And The Billionaire

Chapter 45: Right Word, Incorrect Action

There wasn't any news about Zenon Leviste at all. Ever since Alvarez began his investigation into the matter, he's been quiet. Awfully, at that.

This is the worst.

Not hearing anything about the man who wants to get rid of me or do harm to me is the worst thing that has ever happened to me lately. Zenon seemed to be lying low, and Alvarez had no way to find out what he was up to or he’d end up stirring some sort of chaos.

And now, we’re forced to remain hidden for as long as he’s not making any moves to get me back. My security has gotten a lot tighter as well, but I can not complain because I understand why it is necessary.

“Just tell me if there's something you want,” he told me as I got inside the car.

It seems like he's been waiting for me for quite some time now. “Yeah, alright. Sorry for making you wait.”

We went to the site of the project I’m doing with Raven, and we’re about to go back to his office for a short meeting. Vin’s always close to my side as my bodyguard, so he’ll be riding with us…in Alvarez’s car.

Vin got inside the car. I bet he already felt the tension as soon as he stepped inside. I can see right through him from the rearview mirror. Oh, now I feel bad. He looked like he couldn't breathe due to the tension anymore.

Fuck, I’d have to treat him to a meal later.

Oddly, neither of them had been glaring at each other throughout the ride. This wasn’t how it was like to have them in the same space before. Sure, the tension’s still present, as it always has. Even then, they used to look like they wanted to shoot each other down.

I remember Vin being afraid that he’d end up doing something horrible to Alvarez if he ever did something to me. He said he didn’t want to drag both clans down with him, so he was terrified of what he is capable of.

That’s the sole reason he’s been on edge around Alvarez…

“There’s something in him that makes me want to strangle him. Sorry, I know he’s your husband, but…”

He said something along those lines. I understood why because that’s how I felt about Alvarez back in the day as well. It’s just that I now know him a little better.

I still want to strangle him, though.

“Hey,” Alvarez called Vin as he parked the car.

“What?”

“Go ahead. I have something confidential to discuss with Sapphire.”

He called me by my name…

Well, that’s new. I can’t even remember the last time he did that before this. Ha, it’s been so long that hearing my name come out of his mouth now…made me feel giddy.

It’s strange.

It certainly is.

As his eyes—as if engulfed in a never-ending winter—slowly met mine, I failed to hear Vin say goodbye as the car door slowly closed. This is the first time I noticed how those black orbs of his seemed like darkness filled their very core.

I didn’t want to put it that way, but looking at him like this made me really realize something. I couldn’t put my finger on the right word to describe it. Lonely? Unhappy?

It’s not enough.

“Diaz,” he called.

“Hmm?”

Fuck it. I could only hum in response. My brain was too busy seeking for a word that would be sufficient to describe his eyes. I could not function well…

“I just wanted to ask if you were okay.” He sighed and slowly looked away.

“Oh. Yeah, I am.”

“I know we’re back to treating each other like shit.” A chuckle escaped from his lips while his fingers played with the car keys as if seeking for a distraction, an excuse to not be able to look at me.

“Uh-huh.”

“I have been trying to get follow-ups on that Leviste asshole for the past few weeks, but he’s extremely careful. I just wanted to tell you to be careful out there. Who knows what he could be plotting?”

I nodded. “It’s fine. Vin never leaves my side unless it’s your order. Don’t worry about it anymore. I haven’t been going out without permission, either.”

“That’s good to know.”

The silence that followed was much too loud for me to bear. I wanted to get out of the car, yet he didn't budge. I felt like it would be rude for me to go off on my own while he was still there.

I wanted to leave.

But how can I when he looks like there’s something he wants to tell me?

We remained that way until I couldn’t take it anymore. I didn’t want to ask anything. Damn, I didn’t even want to speak!

“What is it?” I asked.

“Hmm?”

I sighed and looked at him. “There’s something you want to tell me. What is it?”

Alvarez blinked twice as he stared at me, the sides of his lips rising in amusement. Well, I am not amused at all. He’s going to try to escape from my question by playing dumb again.

I hate it.

No, I loathe it.

“Don’t dodge the question. Stop lying to me.”

That made his smile drop.

“Alright…” he muttered as he looked away, his expression darkening as he leaned his elbow on the car window. “It’s nothing serious. I was just wondering how you were able to trust that bodyguard of yours so much that you’re not even worrying when you’re out with him.”

I raised a brow. “Are you doubting Vin? I thought you’d already seen how he works with your own two eyes?”

“Yes, I have. But I didn’t mean it like that.”

My brows furrowed as I stared at him in confusion. “Then, what the hell are you talking about?”

“You’re smart, and yet you’re this oblivious when it comes to several things…” he trailed off as he let out a sarcastic laugh. He looked mad, but I couldn’t understand why.

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“You know, Diaz, I’m not sure if you’re really smart or really stupid.”

I wanted to smack his head, but I’ll have difficulty doing that here. I was asking because I didn’t understand what he meant!

Alvarez shook his head and opened the car door. “There’s no use arguing with you at this point.”

What…

Is he sick of me? I mean, he’s probably been sick of me for quite some time now and is only sucking it up because we still have a year or so to stay together. Still, I feel like I failed my first task.

“Are you going to divorce me now?” I asked, still refusing to get out of the car.

That made him go back inside the car to look at me. His mouth went agape as he watched me ask him if he already wanted to get rid of me as if it was the most preposterous question anyone had ever asked him.

Slowly, he went back inside the car and looked at me—his face expressing bewilderment as a small smile threatened to reveal itself amidst the condescending mask he wore.

A hearty laugh escaped from his mouth, his eyes closing at the action. This is the first time I have ever seen him look so happy. Or perhaps it’s simply because his eyes are closed.

He looks majestic.

“Sometimes, you really say the funniest things,” he told me when his laughter died down.

Dang, I wanted to see more of that smile.

It’s not because I like it or anything. He just looked pretty that way, and I kind of wanted to see more of him being like that. That’s all there is to it.

I have to remain calm when I answer.

“How is that funny?” I asked. Damn it, the somewhat sulky tone gave me away. “I’m being serious. Answer, do you want to divorce me already?”

He chuckled once more as he flashed an amused grin. “How did you even come up with that conclusion?”

“f**k you, just answer the damned question. How difficult is it to say yes or no?” I started to get annoyed because it felt like I was just being played at this point.

That prompted him to finally take me seriously. Seriously, why does he want me to get mad before actually doing so? Is it so funny to see me furious?

“Alright, alright…” he trailed off, his smile still refusing to leave his face. “I don’t want to divorce you. I don’t think I’d want to.”

That wasn’t the answer I expected nor what I wanted to receive. I didn’t say anything, just silently prayed that he would add another word or so. I didn’t want to get any ideas with just one sentence. That would spell death for me.

“Yet. At least not yet.”

I heaved a sigh of relief as I looked away. “Great. I’ll make sure you won’t even think of it…”

That was the last thing I said before getting out of the car. I’m not sure if he got my point, but he just quietly followed after me. The strange air between us resurfaced as soon as that conversation ended, almost seeming like a curse that pushed us to argue.

I spent the day trying to distract myself from thinking about the conversation I had with Alvarez. Even when I didn’t want to, something about it bothered me.

“What the hell are you thinking about?” Vin asked while I was reviewing the papers the team submitted to me.

“Nothing. Don’t mind me,” I replied as I shook my head.

“It’s obviously not just nothing when you look like that.”

I have a mountain of work piled up on my table, yet I’m still wondering how I am supposed to deal with that insane bastard. And there’s still something I can’t help but ponder over.

His eyes.

What the hell is with those dead eyes…?

Everything was going smoothly while I was trying to finish reviewing things. At least until someone came to the office to deliver something for me.

“Mrs. Alvarez?”

“Yes?”

The employee went inside when I signaled her to, and then handed me a box that contained coffee and a biscuit. She told me Alvarez ordered it for me and that I should check everything that was inside.

What’s this for now?

I tilted my head to the side as I stared at the handwritten message that was stuck on the cup of coffee. His handwriting was surprisingly neat, contrary to how I thought it’d be.

Sorry for the piled-up work. Please bear with it. I’ll treat you once it’s done. :)

I raised a brow as I stared at the message. He doesn’t often try to make it up to me and would usually just surprise me by taking me to a fancy restaurant instead of this. Also, this is far from what he’d be like on a busy day. He’d most likely be holed up in his office and just send me a text.

I sighed and just let him have his way. Even when he says he’ll stop, of course, with regard to these kinds of things, he doesn’t. Oftentimes, he still ends up doing what he wants to.

And that’s why I don’t understand.

“Diaz? You done with work?”

My mind flew back to reality upon hearing his voice. I was looking down at my keyboard, dozing off. But as soon as I heard him, my eyes immediately searched for his.

And when I found his black orbs, it was as if my mind had grasped the correct word to describe what I was pondering about earlier.

Estranged…

That was the only way to describe his eyes. And upon finding the word, I also began to seek answers to questions I never wanted to ask.

And so I buried them at the back of my mind as fear began to creep within every fiber of my being.

“Yeah. I’m done.”

And I also can’t wait to get this farce done with.