The Lotus And The Billionaire

Chapter 33: What Are We?

Things escalated a little too quickly, and so did my emotions…

I’m glad I was able to get some time to think, though. My mind has become a lot clearer than it was before, so I know I’d be able to talk to Alvarez more calmly now.

Earlier, we ended up yelling at each other because I refused to hear him out. Alvarez got too worked up because of my reaction as well. Damn, I really didn’t like that. It was the first time he yelled at me like that.

“I’m sorry about what you saw, but it wasn’t like that,” Alvarez began as he followed me to the living room.

He looked like he hadn't gotten any rest for the entirety of the day. Oh, right. He had conferences to deal with today. Did he, by any chance, forfeit those because of me?

Hell no…

But with the way he looked at me with those bloodshot eyes of his, as if begging me to at least listen to him, I couldn’t help but feel guilty. He could have ignored me and waited until I was no longer upset, but he didn’t.

Wait.

Why was I upset in the first place?

I shouldn’t be.

“I’m sorry,” I told Alvarez as I looked away.

He sighed and sat beside me. “You don’t have to apologize. It was my fault for letting her enter.”

“I reacted so rudely.”

“You reacted like how a normal wife would.”

“But I’m not that kind of wife and we both know that.”

“I know, but I’m glad you did…” he trailed off as he rested his head on my shoulder. “It’ll spread across the internet soon and I’ll have to clean up after my mess. I’m sure your Dad would be mad.”

“Especially Papa,” I replied as I let out a heavy sigh. I feel so troubled by my own feelings that I just felt so exhausted. “But they won’t confront you about this, trust me. You don’t have to worry anymore.”

Ah, I can already picture them glaring at Alvarez when we come to visit the house. We have to let this pass for now or we’ll end up creating more trouble. And I…should start learning to listen more. I was too unfair…

Alvarez shook his head, dismayed. Probably of himself. “I don’t mind if they do. You know I made a promise to your entire family, right? I can’t let them down.”

What about me, though? Will he let me down as he did to every woman he’s met during the past years? I can’t seem to wrap my head around the things that could possibly happen for as long as I stay with Alvarez.

How did it come to this…?

“Diaz, what you saw earlier…was accidental. I know it sounds shitty, but it’s all because I was trying to get her to leave.”

Honestly, I believe him. Smith told me everything that happened through text messages a while ago, but I had to think if it was true or not. Besides, I would like to know what the truth is from Alvarez himself.

“Stella came to confront me for not attending the party. Petty, right?” I nodded at what he said, and he chuckled. “She told me stuff I didn’t like, so I patiently asked her to leave. I didn’t want to cause a scene and I didn’t want you two to meet while she was clearly not in her right state of mind.”

Mm-hmm. Same thing Mr. Smith told me.

“I knew you were coming to my office for lunch, so I was trying to make her get up so she could leave. But she did not want to and even threw a tantrum inside my office. That was when you came in…”

Oh, it was that simple…

Anyway, what he told me was exactly the same as what Mr. Smith told me over the phone. Apparently, there was really something wrong with Stella as she entered the building. He couldn’t stop her at all!

I noticed Stella looked a bit disheveled when I went into Alvarez's office as well. She looked like she was high or something like that. But knowing her, she’d never do something that’d shatter her ever-formidable pride.

This is a little too strange…

Alvarez let out an exhausted sigh again. There was that stressed look he was wearing before he saw me come out of the door. “Before coming here, I tried to gather information. I didn’t want to be too late if I was right about my hunch.”

“And I think I know where this is going…” I muttered as I looked at Alvarez.

He nodded. “Zenon Leviste had a hand in this. He used Stella to try and tarnish my name. I somehow found a video of Stella coming out of his condo before she searched for me.”

Knew it.

“And? What about concrete evidence?”

Alvarez shook his head. “None so far, but I’m trying. Zenon Leviste has been making attempts to ruin us, Diaz. You just didn’t know because I was covering them up.”

I stiffened in my seat as I stared at him, unable to believe what he had just told me. I already had my suspicions that something was happening behind my back, but I had no idea it was something like this! I figured it would simply be a scheme to get me to do as he said, but I was wrong.

Somehow, I’d forgotten about how Zenon threatened me after I had rejected him so harshly. Heck, I can barely even recall his entire existence. Was he so hung up over me that he’s still at it?!

Why does that guy want me in the first place anyway? He’d barely get benefits if he married me! Unlike Alvarez, who’s built a good relationship with my family, we don’t have that kind of bond with the Levistes. We would have signed a prenuptial agreement if Dad had chosen to marry me off to him.

Ah, f**k…

The anxiety I feel right now surpasses every other feeling I am experiencing. I just wanted to pass out and never wake up again as the thought of Stella being controlled by such a man clouded my mind…

I hate that Alvarez had hidden this information from me…

“You what…?” I mumbled as I gripped the hem of my shorts, trembling in fear.

He held my shoulders to make me look at him, concerned with the way I had reacted. “Diaz, I’m sorry. Really. I just couldn’t bear the thought of you getting worried all the time when I knew I could handle it alone. But now that other people are getting involved, I can no longer sit still and not let you know.”

He kept blabbering about how he did it to protect me, but I could no longer hear a single word. I could only think about the times I was out without Alvarez without knowing that someone really was after my life. I thought those were nothing but empty threats Alvarez’s bodyguards could handle.

All this time, I was being so careless…

It was my fault, I know. I have been warned countless times. If I recall correctly, they told me to prioritize my safety over anything as well. But what the hell have I been doing for the past few months?

“Look, I knew my bodyguards could protect you, so I stopped myself from telling you. I didn’t think they would affect you this much…” Alvarez continued to explain because I wasn’t talking at all.

“Why would you not tell me…?” I asked again, chuckling. “For my f*****g safety? What kind of bullshit logic is that?!”

I said I would keep my calm no matter what he says, but I just feel so worried for our safety now that I’ve learned about what Zenon was trying to do. He’s definitely out for my head, and he’d stop at nothing…

Alvarez was obviously shocked by my sudden outburst. I didn’t want to do this because I wanted to try being nice, but after what he had just told me, I began to doubt that I’d be able to stay calm and composed.

Right now, all I can think about is that I have to be really careful or I’ll end up losing my life…

I feel terrified.

My insides are churning.

I want to hide.

Zenon Leviste…had always been an arrogant man. He will stop at nothing to get what he wants and I’ve seen him do that back in college because he was my schoolmate. He will acquire whatever it is he desires by hook or by crook.

“Alvarez…” I called as I faced him, trying not to let the tears fall. He cupped my cheeks as he flashed a tender smile. For a second, I forgot what kind of man he was when he did that. “It was my fault for being rude to him. I’m sorry. Help me…”

He shook his head as he held my hand. “It wasn’t your fault the guy was messed up. We’ll make short work of him, I promise.”

I nodded and rested my head on his shoulder, feeling comfortable. There were plenty of things I wanted to ask him, but I couldn’t find it in me to do so.

My anger had vanished and I was overcome by such great fear that I felt as though I was going to go crazy. I feel a strong sense of the need to be more careful with each move, but I don’t know exactly what to do.

All I feel right now is exhaustion and the need to rest in his arms. He was strangely warm, unlike the way he looked. I liked being so close to him physically because of it, but it feels strange…

I wonder why we are occasionally like this towards each other. During the past week, there have been times when we refused to speak to each other, shout at each other, and even ignore each other on purpose. Although recently, we have been more on edge around each other.

What happened earlier…served as the trigger that could hurt us too badly. We really did shout at each other, after all. It was unlike any of our petty fights before. And the way Alvarez chose to abandon everything else just to ask for my forgiveness.

He was never like that. He was never the type of man to bow before a woman just for her forgiveness. If anything, he’d be the one to ask people to bow before him even if he was in the wrong. How did he turn into this kind of man?

When was it?

When did our relationship shift?

I remember the two of us being at one another’s throats, ready to destroy each other. I don’t understand how we’re suddenly acting like this as if we really care about each other.

There’s just no way…

I’m supposed to be mere entertainment for Alvarez, and I’m simply using him for my family’s benefit. We’re not even supposed to be friends! He’s not acting the way he used to, and so am I.

“Alvarez, we should stop being so close to each other,” I told him out of the blue.

He suddenly tensed up as he looked at me with pure confusion on his face. “What?”

He owns me, we agreed on that. But it’s not the same for me. I can’t have him acting too soft for me if I want to keep this pure business. This should remain as the stage play we’re acting in. No one’s allowed to change the script no matter what happens.

I can’t do this…

“Do you think this is how we’re supposed to be?” I asked as I looked him in the eye. He stared at me as if he was trying to understand me. “No, right?”

He looked at me with his brows furrowed. “Diaz, I don’t get–”

“Alvarez, we’re not a real couple…”

The surnames. Those should have drawn the line…but where is this line I speak of at this point?