The Lotus And The Billionaire

Chapter 78: What's Next

We left immediately after they were done interviewing. I hated staying there, especially knowing that Zenon Leviste was up there. That man sickens me to the core. It’s as if he doesn’t have a conscience or such.

To be honest, it didn’t feel like we actually had come to address the dispute that happened between the two of us. I already had a feeling that it was all so they could stall the two of us for something they were preparing.

All they did was ask nonsensical questions. And finally, after they finished, we bid farewell and left. Everything feels like a blur at this point, because whenever I try to remember what happened, I have developed a tendency to purposefully forget about it.

“How was the interview?” Alvarez asked me, his face looking grim.

I smiled. “I don’t know, I wasn’t the least bit interested.”

He sighed and glanced at me as if he was trying to see whether I was serious or not. Truth be told, I really didn’t listen properly. I did speak a few times, but I don’t recall elaborating anything.

Alvarez knew I didn’t want to talk, so he didn’t really force me to. I’m starting to feel bad now because he did all the talking while I simply sat there, waiting for it to end.

Maybe I never should have chosen to come with him. It was all for nothing, anyway. We didn’t settle anything. I bet after this, they will do something that will cause another scandal.

“You look like you didn’t hear a thing,” Alvarez pointed out as he smiled at me.

“Truth be told…” I trailed off as I smiled sheepishly. “Yes, I didn’t.”

I actually didn’t even try to read or listen. Whenever they spoke, I would tune them out in my head. Instead of joining in on the conversations, I would think of our next possible moves.

And right now, that is what I’m going to do. Now that I’m starting to see a pattern to what Zenon has been doing, I think I can do something about it.

Should I call Vin and devise a plan with him…?

“Hey, what did that bodyguard of yours do?” Alvarez asked as he sped the car up.

I tilted my head to the side. “About what?”

“I thought—”

Vin calling…

“Oh, speak of the devil…” I muttered as I answered the call. “Hey, what’s going on?”

“I was able to get rid of their made-up evidence. Vienna wiped every single copy of it as well.”

“What? How?”

“That’s a secret, M’lady— Ah. Hey!”

“What—”

“Oh, right. Sorry, I was trying to contact you earlier, but I guess you two were busy with that interview. I just wanted to inform you as soon as possible that there’s nothing to worry about now.”

“Wow, you work fast…” I trailed off as I showed Alvarez a thumbs-up. “Thanks, I’ll treat you to a meal next time.”

“I prefer—Ah!” He coughed a little, so I figured I should hang up already, but he spoke again. “I’ll hang up now. Thanks, Sha. Bye!”

I blinked twice as I placed my phone down, in a daze. Did he really have to call me while in the middle of something? I swear I could have understood if he told me a little later.

Alvarez glanced at me a few times when I didn’t speak. Well, I’m a little traumatized because of the noises I heard from the other side of the line. I think I need time to recover.

“You okay?” Alvarez asked, worried.

I nodded. “Yes, don’t worry. I was just…a bit shocked.”

I took a deep breath and looked at Alvarez, wondering what I should say to him. By now, he’s probably aware that Vin got the job done already. The two of them may hate each other’s guts, but Alvarez has placed a great amount of trust in Vin already.

Hmm…

“I wonder how Vin did it…” I murmured as I scrolled across my phone screen.

“Did what?”

“That. Eradicate the evidence the Levistes had.”

Alvarez chuckled. “It’s easy to eradicate fake evidence, mi amor.”

“But are we really safer now?”

“Well…” he trailed off as he pulled up into our building’s basement. “There’s no guarantee that we’ll be safe from any threats now, but I’m pretty sure they will lie low for the meantime.”

“How do you know that?”

“If they stir another chaos up, they’ll be the subject of contempt.”

“Not us?” I tilted my head to the side, curious. Alvarez nodded and went out of the car to open the door to mine. “How, though?”

He grinned, his hands immediately snaking around my shoulders. “Who likes people that b***h around all the time?”

Oh.

I didn’t understand the kind of mindset he had, but he seemed to be confident that we would be safe for a while. Of course, there’s no telling. I mean, Zenon can be quite unpredictable.

A sigh escaped from my lips. It was exhausting, seriously. After having to run around just to avoid them, I feel like the very little energy I had saved went down the drain.

Ah, finally. I guess I can rest now with little worries. I doubt it will last, but at least I can have some time, right? A nice dip in the pool might just do it.

“Do you have any plans tonight?” Alvarez asked as he pulled me closer.

I raised a brow. “Yeah. I plan to rest, and then work on stuff I have been neglecting for some time now.”

He sighed and nodded. “Alright. I guess I’ll just go finish my work as well.”

Ah, I know…

He must have wanted to do it. I mean, I get that he has been quite frustrated over the past few days. But I’d get tired if I gave him what he wanted. That won’t do. I need as much rest as I can get.

I went straight to our bedroom and plopped on the bed. I didn’t even bother removing my shoes because of how tired I was! Maybe I'll get changed later. For now, I just—

“Hey!”

Alvarez was removing my shoes, and it sort of tickled me. He grinned and told me to just lie down while he took them off for me. Oh, so that was why my feet hurt.

“Thanks…” I mumbled as I buried my face in the pillow.

“You’re not taking your makeup off?” he asked as he sat beside me, caressing my hair.

“I’m too tired to do that…” I muttered as I looked up at his face.

He looks just as tired as I am, but here I am, acting like a total baby. I don’t want to inconvenience him by acting this way. Maybe I should just—

“Stay here, mi amor,” he told me as he planted a soft kiss on my forehead. His left hand was on my cheek and his thumb was caressing it. “I’ll remove your makeup.”

“But…” I trailed off, my hand weakly tugging his shirt. “Aren’t you tired too? I can do it later, just give me some time to rest.”

“I’m not tired, don’t worry. Just rest here. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

I couldn’t do anything because he was really ready to do it. I guess Alvarez really does know how to make a woman happy, even though he has an attitude that makes me want to smack him in the head.

A smile made its way to my lips as I waited for him. It was making me feel all giddy, which I hated. It wasn’t anything I should be acting all childish about! I can take my makeup off on my own!

Come on, Sapphire, you’re acting like a teenager in love all over again!

I tried to hide the smile I couldn’t keep by burying my face in the pillow. Oh, I can’t let Alvarez see me like this. There would be no end to his teasing, and that is just the last thing I want.

“Hey, I’m back.”

I almost jumped out of glee when I heard him speak beside me. I slightly lifted my head, just enough for me to be able to see his face. He was holding my makeup removal kit on a tray. And I was just looking at him, getting lost in a trance.

“Can you lie on your back? I don’t think I can do it properly if you’re in that position,” he told me as he placed the tray on the bed.

I pursed my lips and did as he told me, a small pillow still on my arm. I was afraid I would pull him into an embrace if I didn’t have something in my arms.

“It’ll be quick, then you can go to sleep,” he told me as he did what I normally do when I take my makeup off.

Shit, this can’t be happening to me.

I remained quiet while he did it. His brows kept on furrowing, a sign that he really is concentrated on what he was doing.

He kind of looked funny doing this kind of thing. His hands were much too big and rough, but he was trying to be as gentle as possible. This…was something I never thought I would get to experience with him.

“Am I doing it right?” he asked, c*****g his head to the side in question.

I nodded. “Yeah, you’re doing great.”

He grinned at the compliment and took the wipes. “I’ve been watching you well, ain’t I?” he bragged as he got rid of the remaining foundation on my face.

When he was done, I couldn’t help but let out a chuckle. He looked at me, confused and at the same time…amused, I guess?

“What?” he asked, also smiling.

“It’s just…bizarre.” I stared directly into his face. “When did you learn how to do this properly?”

He really wasn’t the type of man to do something like this. Before, I never would have imagined that he is capable of doing this. I guess he really is full of surprises.

“Hmm? Bizarre?” He placed the tray on the bedside table and lay beside me, staring directly into my face. “I just kept watching most of the stuff that you do.”

“Why, though? You know you don’t really have to do this stuff,” I replied as I scooted closer to him.

He wrapped his arms around me, embracing me. “No, you’re wrong. I have to do this.”

“But you don’t…” I told him, looking up at his face.

And then he did the one thing that makes my heart pound so loud within my ribcage, the one thing that I hate…and yet I also somehow love.

He planted a soft kiss on my forehead. The feeling of his lips against my skin lingered ever so slightly, making me want more.

I am not a greedy person. At least I was not. But when I’m in this kind of position with this man, I keep on asking if it will end, my hopes brimming that it doesn’t.

“Yeah, I don’t have to…” he trailed off. And I swear that made my heart sting. “But I want to, and that’s the choice I made a long time ago. It’s the least I could do, Diaz.”

I wonder what he meant by that…

“But I’m the one who owes you. My family does.”

“That might be true, but there’s much more to this, Diaz. At least now there is.”

And that made me even more confused. I had so many questions running inside my head, but I failed to ask away.

Instead, all I did was stare up at his face and admire his ungodly features. My hands went up to his face, my fingers tracing every line they could find. He really is unreal…

Maybe, just maybe, I don’t have to care anymore.

Will she ever forgive me, though? Will the black lotus spite me and never bloom again?