The Lotus And The Billionaire

Chapter 39: Night Out With Colleagues

The first few minutes of hanging out with everyone felt nice because no one was asking about stuff I didn’t like. No one tried to bring up my issues with Alvarez either.

Everyone was smiling and telling funny stories about themselves. I was also laughing with them! Unfortunately, though, I have no such stories I could share with them, so I was just listening and laughing along with them. At first, I thought it would be fine that way…

There is no harm in bragging about yourself. I mean, everyone in the group is friends with each other, so I figured it was fine to joke around about such things. After spending some time with them, I sort of wished they’d counted me as a part of their circle.

Ha, I was wrong…

They see me as a colleague and nothing more than that, perhaps because I’m Alvarez’s wife. I didn’t mind that when a friend of theirs came over to say hi, they introduced me that way. That’s the truth, anyway.

However, something about it felt off to me.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Raven whispered to me when he noticed that I had gone quiet.

I nodded and drank the remaining alcohol in my glass. “I’m fine. I’m having fun just listening.”

I feel…so alienated. I already knew I didn’t belong in their circle and was simply deluding myself into thinking that they considered me a friend.

Now, I’m thinking maybe I shouldn’t have ignored Alvarez and just went home with him. Right now, he’s probably about to lose his s**t looking for me. At least based on the amount of times he’s tried to call me. He’s also trying to contact Vin, but he’s drunk right beside me.

If only it weren’t rude to just leave, I would have already done so. No one’s talking to me here except Raven. I said it was fine with me at first, but when I noticed that he’s always included in their small talk, I couldn’t help but feel jealous.

Why was I even invited here in the first place…?

Oh, right. I was with them when they were talking about it, so they probably felt it was necessary to ask me as well. Damn, I had no idea it’d turn out this way.

I feel so out of place, as if I wasn’t meant to be here…

“Where’s Vin?” I asked as I looked around.

I couldn’t contact him because he left his phone with me, afraid that Alvarez would shout at him if he picked up. Vin’s scared of that asshole, so I figured he’d end up selling me out if he called. That was why Vin left his phone with me!

“Oh, he’s with Aly,” Raven replied as he drank his shot.

That dumbass…

I sighed and continued eating and drinking with everyone, afraid that they’d find it suspicious that I was too quiet. Well, I’ve always been that way, but I’m not even trying to join them this time around.

“You know, I bumped into the boss earlier this morning…”

Oh, no.

“He looked like he was in a good mood! Normally, he’d glare at me for not looking properly, but he didn’t! He even smiled at me!”

The person telling the story, if I remember correctly, is Irina. She’s probably talking about Alvarez because he’s the only person people in the company call boss. Ha, just as I thought. They’d find a way to bring him up whether I like it or not.

I listened intently as she reiterated how good Alvarez looked this morning, especially while he was on the phone. I already noticed that this morning because he was unusually smiling. Of course, it wasn’t anything like the way he smiled at me during our previous dates, but it wasn’t something I could easily ignore either.

“He was laughing at whoever it was on the other side of the phone! I saw and heard it with my own two eyes! There was no way I was hallucinating because everyone around that space heard it too!”

The phone call again…

I recall he had been calling someone earlier this morning as well. And during lunch, he was also on his phone. He seemed to be having fun conversing with whoever it was.

It doesn’t seem to be good news, but I don’t think I’m feeling jealous in the least bit. If anything, I’m just annoyed with how he went back on his word earlier. Yes, that’s the only thing bothering me.

Right.

It is.

It definitely is.

I smiled as I downed another glass. “That feels good.”

“Whoa, easy there…” Raven muttered as he gently placed his hand on my shoulder, concerned. “Are you sure you’re allowed to drink this much?”

“Actually…” I trailed off as I poured myself another glass. “No! But it’ll be fine.”

“Sapphire, it’s not. Maybe you should stop there.”

I shook my head and continued pouring for myself. “You know I can hold my liquor well, right? We’ve always done this before.”

“I know that, but it’s been years since then—”

“Whoa, you knew each other before?!”

I was shocked when, all of a sudden, the spotlight shifted to Raven and me. Oh, now they’re talking to me. Ha, it’s obvious that they just want information they could exploit!

Instead of answering their questions, I went silent and allowed them to just talk to Raven. He can handle their questions well, that’s for sure. It’ll be easy for him to cover for me.

“Yeah, I knew her back in college.”

“What’s the score between you two, then?”

“We’re good friends.”

Oh, he’s handling them pretty well…

Irina, who doesn’t seem to know how to read the atmosphere, prodded more. “You two don’t seem like people who were only friends in the past, though. Did you at least date or something?”

I gritted my teeth and continued eating as I pretended to be talking to someone through text. Honestly, it’s starting to get on my nerves, especially now that there’s alcohol in my system. I’m afraid I’d lash out at them out of nowhere and cause a scandal.

Please, Raven…

“I don’t think you should ask such questions…” he replied as he downed another glass of alcohol.

“Oh, we were schoolmates…” one of the guys muttered out of nowhere.

Oh, damn.

I don’t know who it was, but it seemed like a guy that went to the same school as us. He’s probably from another department or something. I don’t really recall bumping into him, though. Please, I hope he doesn’t know anything…

“You two were hot topics before,” he began, obviously drunk.

“Man, you’re so drunk. Are you dizzy?” Raven interfered before he could even say anything.

“No, no…” the guy continued as he stared at Raven’s face. “Yeah, it’s definitely you.”

“What, what?” The girls approached him to hear what he was trying to say.

This is bad.

Raven sighed and took his glass from him. “Leo, you should really stop drinking.”

“No! My memory won’t fail me. It’s you two! The famous college couple!”

My face formed a grimace as soon as I heard what the f**k came out of his mouth. Everyone’s attention was no longer on me, so I couldn’t say anything. Besides, I didn’t think they’d even hear me out.

I could only sigh as I listened to them talk about how Raven and I were a thing back in college, as if I wasn’t already married. Even Raven couldn’t interfere and tell them off because they were all talking at once.

“Sorry…” he mouthed to me when he failed to stop everyone.

I smiled. “It’s okay. It’s not your fault.”

Almost everyone in the room was drunk, so I wouldn’t have been able to stop them if I had tried anyway. They’re all…so wasted. It’s as if they’ve turned into different people now that they’re under the influence of alcohol.

I wanted to get out of the place. Everyone reeked of alcohol and malice, and I hated it. I just want to stand up and leave, but I’m too dizzy to even try.

And just as I was thinking of calling a certain someone, the door opened and revealed Alvarez, who was fuming mad. Ah, one look and you’d know he’s furious.

He stared at me as if he was trying to command me with just one look. That’s when Vin finally stood up and stood in front of me, directing hostility towards Alvarez.

“Move,” Alvarez muttered as he continued staring at me. “We have to talk.”

“You’re not going to hurt her, are you?”

“I won’t.”

Vin sighed and looked at me. “You have to fix this…”

I nodded and handed my phone to him. Fortunately, only Raven had noticed Alvarez’s arrival, so I didn’t have to bother saying goodbye to everyone else. I smiled at Raven and waved my hand at him to say goodbye. He took good care of me for the entire night, and I owe him.

Vin couldn’t follow us anymore because Alvarez’s demeanor was— I don’t know how to explain it. He just looks like he could kill anyone if he wanted to.

“Sorry…” I began as I got inside his car.

I was prepared for him to lash out at me. Although Alvarez was never the type to shout or curse at me no matter what I did, I chose to say sorry. I never gave him a chance to explain himself and just left like that.

Damn, my head’s a lot clearer now. Although I still can’t think well because of the influence of alcohol, I have finally realized how wrong I was. I’m always arrogant, but it’s about time I matured.

Alvarez was obviously worried about me after I disappeared just like that and he couldn’t reach me. Vin tried his hardest to help me out, so it wasn’t easy for him to track me. He must have been worried sick all this time, especially with the thing about Zenon Leviste.

I looked down at my thighs and began to play with my fingers, afraid of Alvarez’s silence. He was calming himself as he stared at me as if he was trying his best to not say anything that would make me feel worse.

“I…” he trailed off as he sighed. “I tried contacting you so many times, but you never answered. Why?”

“I didn’t want to talk to you.”

“Why?” he asked, looking hurt and offended.

“Because you never reciprocated my excitement earlier. You were busy with who you were talking to over the phone.”

I couldn’t stop myself from spilling everything I’d been thinking about while he listened intently. I wasn’t sure if I was just spouting bullshit, but I told him anyway. I wanted him to understand that my reaction was just normal.

When I was done, I pursed my lips and tried not to look at him in embarrassment. I didn’t want him to tease me for being an i***t, after all. But when I looked up at him, he had a surprised look.

“What…?”

His shocked expression turned into a condescending one, as if he was trying to brag about something. My brows furrowed as I stared back at him, wondering what that look was for.

“You could have just told me, you know.”

“Told you what?”

Alvarez chuckled and took his phone out. “I was supposed to be mad, but my wife’s being cute right now. I wish I could have recorded that.”

“What the hell are you—”

“I was in contact with your mother. I was planning on taking you home tonight and until the weekend,” he replied, smiling, as he showed me the messages he’d exchanged with my mom.

Oh…

It’s true. The last conversation they had was when Mom was asking if we were near yet. Oh, damn. She’s worried because we haven’t arrived yet.

“She cooked already?! We have to hurry!” I told Alvarez as I pointed at the steering wheel. “What are you waiting for?”

“I wanted to ask if you were jealous.”

I blinked twice at him. “What the f**k are you on?”

Alvarez leaned in as he caressed my cheek. “Were you jealous, hmm, Diaz?”