The Lotus And The Billionaire

Chapter 34: What Is It That You Want

I knew things would take a turn for the worse if I told him that, but I had no choice. We were in for a lot of pain had we continued to act like that towards each other. I just…had to rebuild the boundaries we had in the beginning.

Besides, we made a promise to each other. I clearly remember it! We told each other we’re not supposed to catch feelings because we’ll end this whole farce once we’ve benefited enough from each other. What’ll we do in the end if we end up being serious?

The one thing I can’t stand is when things don’t go the way they were supposed to go in the beginning. If it’s business, then it’s better to keep it that way!

I said all that…

I told Alvarez that I didn’t want him to be all clingy and sweet towards me. Even after everything that happened, I had the nerve to tell him off. I’m such a horrible person.

Ever since that night, he’s given me the silent treatment. I completely understand that I made him treat me that way, but I found it unpleasant. This sudden change that I brought onto myself…somehow made me feel empty.

Alvarez doesn’t talk to me when it’s just the two of us anymore. He doesn’t sleep beside me and just stays in his office all the time. When it’s time to eat, he waits until I am done before going to the kitchen. He doesn’t even care if his food has gone cold!

He makes sure we don’t have contact when it’s just us, but he never lets me go whenever we are outside his penthouse. Now, he’s just doing it to keep me alive. He used to be so…concerned.

Oftentimes, he sees me with my new team, including Raven, but he no longer confronts me about it. It’s not that I want him to talk to me regarding that, though. I simply found it…weird that he’s not owning me anymore. It’s just not like Alvarez to not make it clear.

I feel awful because of what he’s doing, but I know I was right…

“What’s wrong?” Vienna asked as she poured herself a glass of beer.

“I was right, I know that.”

“You’re right because you’d never admit that you were wrong.”

I sighed and downed a glass as well. After what happened with Zenon Leviste, I wasn’t allowed to go out on my own anymore. But with Vin accompanying me, Alvarez couldn’t say anything anymore.

Fortunately, it’s the weekend and I didn’t have work, so I was allowed to visit Vienna. This is the first time I have tried contacting her in months, which was why I was hesitant to give her a call. I remember her saying it’s fine to visit her as long as I brought alcohol, so I resorted to that.

Vienna was really mad at me for not contacting her because she was also too proud to call me first. But after I showed her two bottles of wine and a few cans of beer, she immediately let me in without any issues.

“Husband problem?” she asked as she rested her head on my shoulder.

I turned on the television so we could have extra noise while drinking. “Yeah…” I breathed, annoyed.

She sat properly and held my shoulders, shaking them. “Damn, why did you resort to me, then? I’m not married. How the hell am I supposed to tell you what to do?”

“I just wanted to drink.”

“Oh…” She smiled as she leaned on my head again, smirking. “Then you came to the right person, after all!”

Vienna had to listen to me insult Alvarez in every way possible. I straight up ranted to her about the attitude that asshole has been giving me. Hell, I couldn’t think properly with the alcohol slowly getting to me, but I just let out everything to Vienna, who just giggled at every story I told.

By the time I was done, we had already finished all the cans of beer. Unfortunately, the two of us were still craving something strong and decided we should go to a bar so late at night.

“Shut up and drive us to the bar we frequented before Alvarez came to the picture,” I told Vin, who refused to obey what I was telling him to do.

“Sha, listen to me. You wouldn’t want to do this!”

He continued blabbering, but I could no longer hear him. I heard Vienna laugh so loudly when I shoved him aside and took my car keys from his pocket. Vin chased the two of us, but with us being all clumsy, he couldn’t.

“f**k…” he cursed as he snatched the car keys. “Fine. I’ll drive you two there, but make sure you won't give me a headache.”

Oh, this is the first time I have seen Vin look so stressed. While he was telling us the rules he made up that we needed to follow, Vienna and I were laughing at his face. He looked like he was about to blow up out of anger!

Finally, after Vin’s nagging, we had finally reached the bar. I don’t think Alvarez will find me here, so I partied without a care in the world. Even though I knew I’d have to face plenty of consequences for this, I decided I wouldn’t worry anymore.

Besides, with the photos and videos of Stella coming out of Alvarez’s office still being a hot topic on the internet, I’m pretty sure people will say it’s reasonable for me to want to party.

“Dance without leaving space for modesty, Saph! Your asshole of a husband will surely explode out of rage when he sees this!” Vienna yelled for me to hear.

She’s right…

I grinned as Vienna dragged me to the middle of the dancefloor. While the two of us danced in the most sensual way we knew, I found myself being the center of attention.

Oh, that feels good…

It felt as though my ego was being fed by the mesmerized looks I received from the people around me. Many attempted to touch me, but as annoying as it sounds, I didn’t want anyone else to be able to touch me while I’m tied to someone.

Vienna, on the other hand, was having the time of her life with the booze and men. She didn’t care because she knew I was paying for our bill, or perhaps I’d have Alvarez pay for everything instead because I’m too petty.

“Hey,” Vienna said, suddenly serious, as she made sure no one could approach me.

What, is she suddenly sober…?

“Why? What’s wrong?” I asked as I continued to dance beside her.

“Someone’s here to pick you up,” she replied, glaring at someone from a distance.

My brows furrowed as I followed her line of sight. Unfortunately, my vision was too blurry for me to be able to see who it was. Either way, I didn’t care!

Right now, all I can think of is everything that happened for the past week and my pent-up frustration. I just feel so annoyed that I want to take it out on something else. I’m just lucky there’s alcohol to accompany me at times like this.

I was having the time of my life, especially after not being able to party for months…

I really was.

Honestly, I almost forgot that I have a husband.

At least until he appeared before me and dragged me out of the dancefloor.

“Hey!” Vienna grabbed me by my wrist and tried to pull me away from Alvarez, but miserably failed. “You asshole!”

“Stay out of this,” Alvarez told her as his grip on my wrist tightened.

“You’re hurting me!” I kept wriggling, trying so hard to stop the tears from falling.

When Alvarez heard me, he let go of my wrist and pulled me by my waist instead. Slowly, he assisted me to enter the shotgun seat of his car. I waited for him to get in before shouting at him, but he remained by my side, refusing to close the car’s door.

“What the f**k are you—”

I was cut off by a kiss, one that wanted to conquer my entirety. He kissed me as if he was trying to consume me.

And I didn’t like it.

“Get away from me…!” I whispered as I tried to push him.

That was when the tears fell.

“Diaz…” he called as he looked up at me, his eyes reflecting the anger he probably feels right now. “You know I don’t like what you just did, right?”

I pursed my lips as I continued to ignore his gaze. I can’t let him see me weeping. I refuse to let him shatter my pride into bits once again. He’s done that so many times already, and I’m not about to let that happen. Not after he pretended I didn’t exist when it was just us.

He often reiterated that I have a terrible personality. Well, he’s absolutely right about that! I’m petty, annoying, and I have anger issues!

“Look at me,” he told me as he held my chin, his touch gentle compared to how he looked at me. “Why did you go to such a place, hmm? What’s wrong, mi amor?”

“f**k you.”

“You know what, that mouth of yours has been spouting words I don’t like lately…” he muttered as he leaned in for a kiss.

I don’t want to get swept away again.

“Get away from me.”

“Wha–”

“Alvarez, you remember everything I told you, right?”

His gaze on me was intense, almost enough to melt me. It was as if his eyes were piercing through my soul, trying to pull me out of my comfort zone. It felt…suffocating.

“That’s what I’m talking about,” he replied sarcastically. He chuckled without humor as his hand landed on my thigh, gently squeezing it.

I hissed at what he did, but he didn’t stop. “What are you…!”

“I didn’t like what you said, but I did so anyway. That’s why I don’t get why you’re so upset right now. Tell me what you really want so I’d know.”

Alvarez sounded dead serious, but I didn’t know how to react. A suffocating atmosphere filled the cramped space we were in. My body stiffened as the tension rose, almost enough to make me sober.

His hand was still on my thigh, refusing to let me move. I didn’t know what to say anymore because I was in the wrong, and I don’t like that. f**k. I feel so hot, especially with the influence of alcohol.

“Diaz,” he called again, but firmer this time.

That was enough to get me to look at him. I swallowed the lump in my throat as I managed to croak one word out. “What?”

“After all that, do you still want us to stop fooling around?”

This is so annoying.

My head’s clouded by annoying thoughts thanks to alcohol. There were so many thoughts running inside my head that I could no longer come up with an answer. I’m not really sure what to do. Heck, I barely understood the question because I was too dizzy!

Ah, what the hell is this guy getting at…

“Diaz, answer me.”

“Shut up…” I muttered as I closed my eyes.

“We’re not going home until you answer me.”

“f**k you.”

“Do it yourself. After you answer my question, of course.”

Ah, what the hell is wrong with him…

If I sleep, will he stop asking me? I don’t have to think about all of this if I do, right? Tomorrow, when I wake up, we’ll be back to ignoring each other. I’m pretty sure it’ll all be fine again…

Oh, to hell with it.

I glared at Alvarez, who simply raised a brow at me as if he was challenging me. I grabbed him by his collar and kissed him the way he did to me earlier. Goddamn, he moaned in my mouth…

The kiss, like the ones we had back when he was very angry, lasted until we were already out of breath. And I loved every single second of it.

Ah, I prefer this, after all…

“That’s your answer. Now, hurry up and get us home…” I muttered as I looked down at his lips, craving for more.

The sides of his lips curved up for a smile. “You always, always bring me trouble…”

“And do you hate it?”

He shook his head. “No. I f*****g love it,” he replied as he lightly bit my lower lip.