The Billionaire's Plaything

Chapter Twenty Two: Shattered Dreams

ELENA

“Are you sure that wasn’t too aggressive?” I asked Kyle worriedly. Sometimes, a media company was all it took to destroy something.

“She wouldn’t dare. If it was a small star, she could have tried to threaten us, but more than anyone, she knows that you are on a diva level and if that interview screens like that, she would have it coming for her.” He said confidently.

I knew I was high up there but I had been elusive from the media for a while. I didn’t think I still had enough fans from the days I had walked the walkway for my brand or did some teen show that wanted my name on it.

“Why do you have that look on your face? Have you checked your socials today?” Kyle asked me while shooting me a stink eye the moment I nodded my head negatively.

“Just what I thought.”

“ Everywhere has blown up overnight and when Sophie was saying something about all of them knowing that you were going to be getting some action, she wasn’t joking because the camera was on you seventy percent of the whole fundraiser.” He said, making my heart lurch in my chest.

That much screen time?

“It seems one of the media guys loved how you looked really much and focused the whole camera on you” he said with a chuckle that somehow made me feel better.

Kyle was sensitive and smart and if he had by any chance seen anything wrong in my interaction with Carlo, he would have pointed it out.

“Well, from last night till the moment we entered, the moment we entered the recording room, you were topping all the charts. Her bosses won’t allow her to scrap the interview. She just needed the permission to delete that segment.”

“As long as you say it’s fine. I’m fine too.” I replied and then checked my phone to see if Carlo had replied.

My message staring back at me made me feel somewhat moody and by the time we were back on our way to the company, Kyle finally talked about it.

“You can’t meet clients looking like you just found your husband cheating. If you aren’t up for it, we can reschedule some of it.” He said with concern.

“It’s fine, I just got slightly side tracked. I think I can meet about three clients today.”

***

“These are one of those days I’m glad I’m in the shadows,” Anna said as I stifled a yawn. I was certain this was a call mom put her up to since she barely did anything else once her husband got home.

Unlike me, Anna had grown up sick and my mother at least had the decency to let her stay in the background and so while people knew Daniel and me, barely anyone knew Anna.

“Just tell mom I’m fine and I had an exclusive interview with fabulous today. I’m exhausted at the moment and I just want to sleepppp.” I dragged the sleep so she could have an idea of how tired you are.

“I told her you would have so much on your table. She wants you to post some pictures and videos with Carlo. Then I think she mentioned something behind the scenes about your clothes…..” I interrupted her before she could say more.

“Are you sure mom doesn’t need a job as a celebrity manager or something.” She really needed to reduce how much she was in my business.

“That’s definitely something you should tell Daniel. He’s the only one that can control her, as we both know. Then she mentioned something about your honeymoon also.”

I ended the call without another thought as I ran my hands through my hair. I had the worst good day ever, in my opinion, with all the big deals I sealed today and I didn’t need my mom titling the scale to make it go from bitter sweet to bitter.

Although she had my intentions at heart, mother was controlling and pushy and while she got away with it while I was younger, I wasn’t ready for that anymore.

A lot of times, I was tired of the National heiress title that had been generated from a media publication years back and stuck since a lot of people had agreed with it. Most times, living was so hard and it had ruined so many relationships other than Carlo.

I was slightly nervous about going home. A part of me felt like yesterday was a dream already with my unreplied messages all through the day.

I was starting to doubt that I hadn’t been imagining things.

Yet, my body had felt really sore when I had woken up.

I wasn’t surprised when I saw Carlo’s car parked in front of the house, since it was slightly past seven already. He most likely just got back since his car hadn’t been moved into the underground garage.

The memory of the day he had gotten back made my already building excitement fade out. I needed to see things before getting my hopes up.

“See who’s here.” Carlo drawled out as I entered the room and the box that laid open on the bed made me squint my eyes.

“Why are you packing?” I asked, feeling like the air in the room was suspicious.

“And since when did you start to question my actions, little heiress?”

“Carlo.” I called out, unable to accept it even though a part of me had expected it. He sounded cold and detached like he used to. There was nothing like the passionate man from last night.

The larger part of me had been gullible though. I had been expectant of a new beginning with the man I loved.

“You are hurting me..” I mumbled, unable to form any coherent thoughts.

“If it’s going to help you sleep at night, I have some work emergency in Italy and I don’t think my little National heiress would need my help with all the men at her beck and call.” Carlo said as he threw one more item into the box and closed it.

Without another word or glance at me, he left the room. Left the room with every form of hope I had built in that last twelve hours crumbling at my feet as I sank to my knees.