Louboutins & Aprons

Chapter 18:Mark

Valentina knew.

I didn’t know how.

I didn’t know when she figured it out.

But she knew.

And apparently, once Valentina De Luca discovered something, she treated it like a business opportunity.

She studied it.

She analyzed it.

Then she used it against you.

In this case—

The thing she had discovered was that I was jealous.

I still refused to admit it.

But Valentina didn’t need me to admit anything.

She had seen the newspaper.

She had seen my reaction.

And now—

She was enjoying herself.

Too much.

⸻

The first message arrived at eight in the morning.

Valentina ❤️:

Good morning, handsome.

I looked at it.

Then ignored it.

Five seconds later—

Valentina ❤️:

Alexander says good morning too.

I stared at the screen.

Then typed:

Mark:

Why would he say good morning to me?

Her response came immediately.

Valentina ❤️:

He didn’t. I’m telling you he said good morning to me.

I frowned.

Mark:

Okay.

Valentina ❤️:

He is very polite.

I placed my phone down.

I was in the kitchen.

I had work to do.

I wasn’t going to start my morning talking about Alexander Hawthorne.

Two minutes passed.

My phone vibrated again.

Valentina ❤️:

He also said I looked beautiful.

I stared at the message.

Then typed:

Mark:

Okay.

Valentina ❤️:

Do you think I looked beautiful?

I looked toward the restaurant.

Valentina had sent me photographs from the award ceremony.

She looked beautiful.

I had told her that.

Several times.

But I wasn’t going to say it again.

Not when Alexander had apparently said the same thing.

Mark:

You looked fine.

Her response came immediately.

Valentina ❤️:

Fine?

Mark:

Yes.

Valentina ❤️:

Alexander said I looked breathtaking.

I frowned.

Then typed:

Mark:

Congratulations.

Valentina ❤️:

Are you jealous?

I placed my phone down.

I was not answering that.

⸻

Five minutes later—

Valentina ❤️:

Mark?

Nothing.

Valentina ❤️:

Are you working?

Nothing.

Valentina ❤️:

Are you ignoring me because Alexander said I looked breathtaking?

I picked up my phone.

Mark:

I’m working.

Valentina ❤️:

You’re jealous.

Mark:

No.

Valentina ❤️:

You are.

Mark:

No.

Valentina ❤️:

You hate #Valex.

I stared at the message.

Then typed:

Mark:

It’s stupid.

Her response came immediately.

Valentina ❤️:

You remembered the name.

I stopped.

I had walked directly into that.

Mark:

Everyone knows the name.

Valentina ❤️:

You’re jealous.

Mark:

I’m working.

Valentina ❤️:

Alexander is taking me to lunch.

I stared.

Then typed:

Mark:

Okay.

Valentina ❤️:

We might eat at that new restaurant downtown.

Mark:

Okay.

Valentina ❤️:

He said he wants to get to know me better.

My hand stopped over the screen.

Then I typed:

Mark:

He’s your business partner.

Valentina ❤️:

Yes.

Mark:

Then it’s business.

Valentina ❤️:

Maybe.

I frowned.

Mark:

What does maybe mean?

There was a pause.

Then—

Valentina ❤️:

You care.

I stared at the message.

Then threw my phone onto the counter.

I hated this.

⸻

“Are you okay?”

I looked up.

Daniel was standing beside the kitchen entrance.

“Yes.”

“You look angry.”

“I’m not.”

“You’re holding a spoon like it insulted you.”

I looked down.

I was holding a wooden spoon.

Very tightly.

I placed it down.

“I’m working.”

“You keep saying that.”

“Because I am.”

Daniel walked closer.

Then looked at my phone.

“What happened?”

“Nothing.”

“Valentina?”

“No.”

He smiled.

“So, Valentina.”

“No.”

“Then why are you angry?”

“I’m not.”

“Mark.”

“What?”

“You’ve been chopping onions for twenty minutes.”

“So?”

“You finished chopping the onions fifteen minutes ago.”

I looked down.

There were enough chopped onions to feed an entire neighborhood.

I stopped.

Daniel laughed.

“You’re definitely angry.”

“I’m not angry.”

“Then why are you destroying the vegetables?”

“They’re vegetables.”

“They didn’t do anything to you.”

I placed the knife down.

Daniel picked up my phone.

“Give me that.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because.”

“Because Valentina is texting you?”

“No.”

He looked at the screen.

Then smiled.

“Oh.”

“What?”

“Alexander.”

I reached for my phone.

Daniel moved it away.

“Give it back.”

“No.”

“Daniel.”

“Alexander said she looked breathtaking?”

“Give me my phone.”

“He’s taking her to lunch?”

“It’s business.”

“Maybe.”

I looked at him.

“Don’t.”

Daniel laughed.

Then continued reading.

“She said he wants to get to know her better.”

“It’s business.”

“She said maybe.”

“It’s business.”

“She asked if you’re jealous.”

“I’m not.”

Daniel looked at me.

Then smiled.

“You are.”

“No.”

“You’re jealous.”

“I’m not.”

“Mark.”

“What?”

“You’re chopping onions like Alexander personally offended you.”

“I don’t like him.”

“You don’t know him.”

“I know enough.”

“What?”

“He touches Valentina too much.”

Daniel became quiet.

Then smiled.

“Oh.”

“What?”

“You really are jealous.”

“I’m not.”

“You don’t like that he touches her.”

“No.”

“You don’t like that he calls her beautiful.”

“No.”

“You don’t like that they’re having lunch.”

“No.”

“You don’t like #Valex.”

“It’s a stupid name.”

Daniel laughed.

“You’re jealous.”

“I’m not.”

“Okay.”

“I’m not.”

“Sure.”

“Daniel.”

“What?”

“I don’t care about Alexander.”

“You care so much that you’re talking about him before breakfast.”

“I didn’t.”

“You did.”

“I don’t care what Valentina does.”

Daniel raised an eyebrow.

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“She can date Alexander?”

I stopped.

Daniel smiled.

“See?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You didn’t have to.”

I looked away.

Daniel placed my phone on the counter.

Then leaned against the wall.

“You like her.”

“No.”

“You care about her.”

“No.”

“You’re jealous.”

“No.”

“You want her.”

“No.”

Daniel laughed.

“You’re terrible at lying.”

“I’m not lying.”

“You are.”

“I’m not.”

He picked up a piece of chopped onion.

Then looked at the pile.

“You made enough onions for the entire city because Valentina mentioned Alexander.”

“I was working.”

“Mark.”

“What?”

“She knows.”

I looked at him.

“What?”

“Valentina.”

“What about her?”

“She knows you’re jealous.”

“No, she doesn’t.”

“Yes, she does.”

“How?”

“She saw the newspaper.”

I frowned.

“What newspaper?”

“The newspaper you hid under your folders.”

“I didn’t hide it.”

“You did.”

“No.”

“She found it.”

I became quiet.

Daniel smiled.

“She knows you’re jealous, and now she’s playing with you.”

I stared at him.

“No.”

“Yes.”

“She’s not playing with me.”

“She’s Valentina.”

“So?”

“She spent months chasing you.”

“That doesn’t mean—”

“You ignored her.”

“I was working.”

“You told her that you didn’t want her.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You said she wasn’t your type.”

“That was months ago.”

“You made her chase you.”

“I didn’t make her.”

“She came to the restaurant every day.”

“I didn’t ask her to.”

“She brought her work here just so she could see you.”

“I know.”

“She traveled for two weeks and missed you.”

“I know.”

“She came directly from the airport.”

“I know.”

“She chased another woman away because she was hugging you.”

“I remember.”

Daniel crossed his arms.

“And now she knows you’re jealous.”

I became quiet.

“She’s enjoying this,” Daniel continued.

“She isn’t.”

“She is.”

“No.”

“She’s probably sitting in her office right now, smiling at her phone.”

I imagined Valentina.

Sitting behind her desk.

Her legs crossed.

Her expensive heels resting beneath the table.

That confident smile on her face.

Typing messages about Alexander.

Waiting for me to react.

She was probably enjoying every second.

I frowned.

“She’s annoying.”

“She’s playing with you.”

“I’m not playing.”

“You are.”

“No.”

“You keep replying.”

I looked at my phone.

He was right.

I kept replying.

Every time Valentina mentioned Alexander, I answered.

Even when I told myself I didn’t care.

I answered.

Because I wanted to know.

I wanted to know what Alexander said.

Where they were going.

Why he was taking her to lunch.

What he wanted.

I wanted to know everything.

And that was—

Concerning.

⸻

My phone vibrated.

Daniel looked at me.

“Answer it.”

“No.”

“You always answer.”

“I’m busy.”

“Answer.”

I picked up my phone.

Valentina ❤️:

Mark?

I ignored it.

Then—

Valentina ❤️:

Alexander asked what kind of flowers I like.

I stared.

Daniel watched me.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“Read it.”

“No.”

“Mark.”

I handed him the phone.

He read the message.

Then laughed.

“She’s good.”

“What?”

“She knows exactly what she’s doing.”

“She’s talking about flowers.”

“She’s provoking you.”

“Why would Alexander ask about flowers?”

Daniel shrugged.

“Maybe he likes her.”

I looked at him.

“Don’t say that.”

“Why?”

“Because.”

“You don’t care.”

“I don’t.”

“Then why are you angry?”

“I’m not.”

“Your face says otherwise.”

I looked at my phone.

Then typed:

Mark:

Why is he asking about flowers?

Valentina replied immediately.

Valentina ❤️:

Why do you want to know?

I stared.

Then typed:

Mark:

I don’t.

Valentina ❤️:

You asked.

Mark:

You mentioned it.

Valentina ❤️:

Because I wanted to share.

Mark:

Okay.

Valentina ❤️:

He said he might send me flowers.

I frowned.

Mark:

Why?

Valentina ❤️:

Why not?

Mark:

He’s your business partner.

Valentina ❤️:

Business partners can send flowers.

Mark:

Not usually.

Valentina ❤️:

Are you jealous?

I looked at Daniel.

He smiled.

“She’s playing with you.”

“I know.”

“You finally admit it?”

“No.”

“Then what do you know?”

“That she’s annoying.”

Daniel laughed.

⸻

The messages continued all day.

Every conversation included Alexander.

It didn’t matter what we were discussing.

Somehow—

Alexander appeared.

Me:

Did you eat?

Valentina ❤️:

Yes. Alexander ordered lunch.

I frowned.

Me:

What did you eat?

Valentina ❤️:

Pasta.

Me:

You don’t like that kind of pasta.

Valentina ❤️:

Alexander said it was delicious.

Me:

Alexander doesn’t know what you like.

Valentina ❤️:

You do?

I stared at the message.

Then typed:

Mark:

Yes.

Her response came immediately.

Valentina ❤️:

You care.

I put my phone down.

⸻

An hour later—

Valentina ❤️:

I’m tired.

I replied:

Mark:

Go home.

Valentina ❤️:

Alexander offered to drive me.

I frowned.

Mark:

You have a driver.

Valentina ❤️:

He said he wants to.

Mark:

Tell him no.

There was a pause.

Then—

Valentina ❤️:

Why?

I stared.

Then typed:

Mark:

Because.

Valentina ❤️:

Because why?

Mark:

You have a driver.

Valentina ❤️:

You’re jealous.

I placed my phone down.

⸻

Daniel watched me.

“You’re losing.”

“I’m not.”

“You are.”

“I’m not playing.”

“You are.”

“I don’t care.”

“You care.”

“I don’t.”

“You just told her not to let Alexander drive her.”

“She has a driver.”

“She’s a grown woman.”

“I know.”

“She can decide.”

“I know.”

“Then why did you tell her no?”

“Because.”

“Because you don’t want Alexander alone with her.”

I looked at him.

“No.”

Daniel smiled.

“You’re jealous.”

“I’m not.”

“Mark.”

“What?”

“Say it.”

“No.”

“Say you’re jealous.”

“I’m not.”

“Say you like Valentina.”

“No.”

“Say you want her.”

“No.”

Daniel sighed.

“You’re hopeless.”

“I’m working.”

“You’re not working.”

“I am.”

“You’ve been staring at your phone for ten minutes.”

I looked at the screen.

Valentina had not replied.

Why wasn’t she replying?

Was Alexander driving her?

Was she with him?

Was he—

My phone vibrated.

I picked it up immediately.

Daniel laughed.

“See?”

“Stop.”

I read the message.

Valentina ❤️:

I’m going home now.

I replied:

Mark:

Good.

Then—

Valentina ❤️:

Alexander is coming with me.

I stared.

Then typed:

Mark:

Why?

Valentina ❤️:

Because he wants to.

Mark:

Tell him no.

Valentina ❤️:

Why?

I typed:

Because I don’t want him with you.

Then deleted it.

I typed:

Because he’s annoying.

Then deleted it.

I typed:

Because you’re mine.

I stopped.

My heart beat once.

Then I deleted it.

I couldn’t send that.

She wasn’t mine.

Not officially.

Not yet.

So I typed:

Mark:

Because you’re tired. Go home and rest.

Valentina replied:

Valentina ❤️:

Okay, handsome.

Then—

Valentina ❤️:

I told Alexander I want to go home alone.

I stared.

Then typed:

Mark:

Good.

Valentina ❤️:

You’re jealous.

I ignored the message.

Then—

Valentina ❤️:

You want me.

I ignored it.

Then—

Valentina ❤️:

You care about me.

I ignored it.

Then—

Valentina ❤️:

You hate #Valex.

I replied immediately.

Mark:

I hate the name.

A message appeared.

Valentina ❤️:

I knew it.

I frowned.

Then looked at Daniel.

“She’s impossible.”

Daniel smiled.

“She knows.”

“She knows what?”

“That you’re jealous.”

“I’m not.”

“Mark.”

“What?”

“You just admitted you hate #Valex.”

“It’s stupid.”

“You remembered it.”

“Everyone remembers it.”

“You care.”

“No.”

“You want her.”

“No.”

Daniel walked toward the kitchen door.

Then turned around.

“You know what the funniest part is?”

“What?”

“Valentina spent months telling you she wanted you.”

I said nothing.

“And now you’re the one pretending you don’t care while asking about another man.”

“I don’t care.”

“You do.”

“I don’t.”

Daniel smiled.

“Then stop replying.”

I looked at my phone.

Another message appeared.

Valentina ❤️:

Alexander says he likes my dress.

I immediately typed:

Mark:

What dress?

Then froze.

Daniel looked over my shoulder.

Then laughed.

I deleted the message.

Too late.

Valentina had seen it.

Her response came immediately.

Valentina ❤️:

You care.

I stared.

Then typed:

Mark:

Go home, Valentina.

Valentina ❤️:

You want me.

Mark:

Goodbye.

Valentina ❤️:

You’re jealous.

Mark:

Go home.

Valentina ❤️:

Say you miss me.

Mark:

No.

Valentina ❤️:

Say you want me.

Mark:

No.

Valentina ❤️:

Say you hate Alexander.

I stared.

Then typed:

Mark:

I don’t like him.

The message showed that she was typing.

Then—

Valentina ❤️:

I knew it.

I frowned.

Mark:

Goodbye.

Valentina ❤️:

Bye, handsome. Don’t miss me too much.

I placed my phone down.

Then returned to work.

Daniel stood beside me.

“You like her.”

“No.”

“You want her.”

“No.”

“You’re jealous.”

“No.”

Daniel smiled.

“She knows.”

I picked up a knife.

Then started chopping vegetables.

“Mark.”

“What?”

“You’re smiling.”

I stopped.

I was.

I didn’t know why.

Maybe because Valentina was home.

Maybe because she was safe.

Maybe because she had spent the entire day talking to me.

Or maybe—

Because she knew I cared.

And she was still there.

Still texting.

Still choosing me.

Even while she teased me.

I looked at my phone.

Then smiled.

“She’s annoying.”

Daniel laughed.

“You’re in love.”

I look at him.

“No.”

But even as I said it—

I knew I was lying.