Falling For The Wrong CEO

Five | Vegas Is Finally Back To Haunt Me

The night before

At the hotel

Antonio’s POV

Carlos stood there awaiting an explanation while Jackson and I exchanged glances with “We’re dead,” written all over our faces.

I, in particular, had probably lost all the color in my face. It was as if I’d just seen a ghost.

“Antonio?” Carlos asked, stepping into the suite. “Sorry I barged in, I forgot my keys on the sofa. Who were you two talking about?” He asked again.

“Uhh…” I trailed off, desperately searching my mind for an answer, while knowing that the longer I took, the more suspicious it got.

I glanced at Jackson, but I could tell from his expression that he wasn’t going to be of much help either.

“Is there something going on here?” Carlos asked, approaching us while pinning us with his gaze.

I swallowed. It was ironical how searching through millions of possibilities for a way out had caused my brain to freeze.

F*ck! F*ck! F*ck! I yelled over and over in my head. I had panicked. I had messed up. It was over.

Just then, my phone lit up from an incoming message, drawing my attention.

“My daughter and I will be at your office tomorrow morning to sign the contract,” it read.

I looked up immediately. A way out!

“I’m getting married tomorrow morning,” I suddenly blurted out.

“Wait, what?” Carlos paused, glancing at both of us.

“You’re kidding, right?” He asked, pinning his gaze on me.

Behind him Jackson mouthed, “Are you nuts?!”

“It was meant to be a secret,” I continued, dancing the thin line between lies and truth.

“Wait a minute, you’re being serious right now, Tony?”

I tried to explain but he just continued anyway.

“You’re getting married tomorrow and you didn’t tell me? Where’s the trust?” He swung his arms and behind him, Jackson just rolled his eyes.

“You’re even sending me out of town,” Carlos scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief.

“I mean I-”

Uh oh. I had to stop this line of thought in his head before it got out of control.

“It’s just a contract between two parties, nothing serious,” I cut in, trying to calm his head before the distrust could grow.

“I didn’t want it to get out there because of the nature of it all. So Jackson here was warning me of the possibility of my uncle Bruno finding out.”

The air hung between us, you could slice through the tension.

I had no idea what Carlos was going to do next, and it worried me.

Then he laughed a little, easing some of our tension.

“Oh come on, Tony, you got her pregnant, didn’t you?”

I hoped my deep breath wasn’t too obvious. Although it had to be.

I chuckled breathlessly, shaking my head.

This situation was one I never wanted to repeat.

“No,” I huffed, still trying to steady my breathing.

“Just a business deal. I want this under wraps, man. Can I trust you with that?” I asked, quickly turning the tables on him.

“Of course,” Carlos nodded, grabbing his keys from the sofa.

That was very close.

“But be careful bro. Vera said ‘I do,’ and yet here we are. Yours is just a sheet of paper. She might drive you nuts,” he advised, laughing while shaking hands with me.

“A woman? Drive me nuts?” I scoffed.

“She’s yet to be born,” I said, feeling my composure return.

Carlos just nodded, chuckling dryly.

“I discussed with my therapist. My flight leaves tomorrow morning. Take care of my wife, and yours too,” he laughed, glancing at Jackson.

“Alright man, that’s enough,” I chuckled dryly.

Then we wished him a safe trip before he left.

This time I made sure to lock the door.

“Bro the f*ck do you mean you’re getting married tomorrow?” Jackson immediately shot at me.

I just sighed.

“I’ve had enough of my secrets exposed for one day, Jackson. I’m going to bed, man,” I replied over my shoulder as I left for my bedroom.

“Don’t forget you’re my best man,” I added, yawning as I disappeared into my room, leaving him confused and disoriented.

***

Current Time

Renee's POV

He had a slightly confused look on his face.

But I wasn't buying it.

I turned my gaze to my father, searching his face for hints that he knew too.

But he looked just as surprised as Antonio and the receptionist.

“Have we met before?” Antonio asked in that low voice, and I immediately remembered how it felt when he was mumbling sweet nothings against my skin.

I inhaled deeply—weakly, trying to steady myself. I wasn’t prepared for this. I wasn’t prepared to meet him again. At least not like this.

“I’m sure I’d still remember if we’d already met,” he said, in a voice I was sure he only used for women, because his voice rolled over those words so smoothly, I could barely understand a thing, and that smile at the end?

Oh my days…

I had to tear my eyes away before I melted in the intensity of that look sweeping across my entire figure.

I didn’t even realize I was holding my breath. It was as if his gaze had pinned me right there while it worked its way all over me. I was sure my entire face and neck were covered in my characteristic pink.

I shut my eyes the moment he glanced away, wishing that the Earth should open up and take me with her, or a stray bullet would hit me right now and end my misery so that I never had to remember this scene.

I wasn’t prepared for this. I wasn’t prepared to meet you again. Ever! Why did it have to be you?

“F*ck,” I muttered under my breath, but they probably heard it.

The three of them—Antonio, my father and the receptionist probably exchanged glances, wondering what was wrong with me.

“Renee, are you alright?” My father asked, as if to confirm my theory, and I could hear him approach me.

I inhaled deeply—shakily, and told everyone’s favorite lie.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I said, nodding. It was more to myself than him though.

But of course I wasn’t fine. Not in the least. And there was nothing anyone could do about it. Unless they could marry me off to Bruno, the older Mr. Da Silva. That was a much better scenario for my mental health.

“Alright, here is the document. Mr. Da Silva has already signed. All that’s left is your signature, and you’re gonn need to use your eyes.”

I opened my eyes, but not before I rolled them inwardly, and took the document and fountain pen from him.

I held the pen to the document, about to sign my life away when it struck me.

What if he found out? And not just about who I was, but also about Jeremy, his 5-year-old son?