The Lotus And The Billionaire

Chapter 16: Terrible Argument

Unlike what I had expected, I slept like a baby last night. Alvarez slept beside me, contrary to what I expected him to do. That man believes he isn’t someone who should take orders from others, only from himself. He’s that arrogant, after all!

But the proof that he actually followed my advice is beside me in this large bet. Alvarez is sound asleep beside me, looking more peaceful than ever. Oh, how satisfying would it be to destroy that peace!

I was kidding. His peace means I can have my fair share of tranquility, even if it lasts as soon as he wakes up. I’m already satisfied with what little time I had before someone destroys it.

Anyway, I woke up earlier than usual, so I ought to cook breakfast before we go to work together. He often does it as he never wakes me up, probably so I could owe him a meal. Ha! I’ll have to try doing this more often!

One of the few things I observed while living with him included his breakfast routines. We’re the same in that one specific aspect. Every morning, neither of us eats heavy meals. Oftentimes, it’s just a few small pancakes or toast. And then I found his list of daily meals!

Someone suddenly poked my cheek. “You’re up so early…” he muttered.

I rolled my eyes as I looked back at Alvarez, who sat on the stool, watching me with sleepy eyes. Oh, this guy. He always, always does that when it seems like I’m focusing. He just pokes me from behind or suddenly talks near my ear.

“Stop sneaking up on me.”

“Maybe I’ll stop. It’s boring now that you don't get surprised anymore.”

“You’re such a child.”

“No one asked.”

See? This is why I prefer that he’s asleep rather than awake. At least that way, he wouldn’t have to open that annoying mouth of his to spout his nonsense. I know I can just shut up, but my temperament would never allow me to!

Anyway, I thought I should just strive to make my day better. It’s simple, actually. I just have to avoid any annoying interactions with Alvarez. He’s probably trying to get back at me for teasing him too much yesterday. It’s his petty ego, that’s all.

“Hey, Diaz,” he called when I was on my last bite of my pancake. I only hummed in response and enjoyed my meal. “Ask your bodyguard to stay outside instead.”

That made me halt from what I was doing. “Excuse me?”

“I don’t like my employees talking about that bodyguard of yours being too friendly to you.”

I grinned at him as I tapped my index finger on the table, mocking. “Are you afraid that someone else’s popularity may exceed yours?”

“Oh, please. It’s not that. I am simply being careful.”

“Well, I’d like to decline. Vin is a friend, and I’m not letting him stand there for the entire day.”

“Why? My guards can do that. Why can’t he?”

Alvarez was pissing me off more than he should, and it was starting to ruin my day again. I didn’t want to lash out or anything today, but he’s implying that Vin is and should be nothing more than a bodyguard to me.

Well, news flash! Vin is a close friend, and I’m not about to treat him as a pawn the way he treats the people around him!

“Look here, you asshole…” I trailed off as I placed my utensils down to stare at him. “I don’t care if your guards can do it. I’m not letting Vin have to deal with that hassle when he’s done a lot for me.”

“That’s his job, you dunce,” he replied, mimicking my tone to mock me.

I stood up without even finishing my meal. “f**k you. I can be friends with our family’s employees. If you can’t do it, then don’t lump me with the likes of you.”

“Diaz, aren’t you being too–”

“I’ve lost my appetite,” I cut him off as I turned my back on him.

Sure, that’s something an employer can do for their employees…treat them like objects we can move for our personal benefit. But it’s different for us when it comes to Vinchester Salvador. It’ll always be different with the boy whose parents died protecting people who were dear to me.

That man has been very loyal to us since the day he arrived at our household, when I was around the age of nine. From then on, he’s been the best playmate and study buddy to the heiress of the Diaz family, and that’s me.

Vin’s parents were skilled at bodyguard-type of work. I was never informed of their real occupation, but that’s what I was told. His parents were shot when they were fighting several adversaries in a park where my parents were giving their speeches. I heard it was a complete riot, and none of the people there went home for several days.

When my parents came back, they were carrying a small boy that looked like he’d lost everything. It was Vinchester Salvador, the boy my parents took into the household to be my personal guard. I’m not sure why they did that, but it seemed like it was an agreement between our parents.

And that’s how I basically grew up with Vin, and why I would never let any rude remarks against him slide!

While we were on our way out of the penthouse, Alvarez called me. “Hey, Diaz?”

“What?”

“Sorry about earlier…” he muttered, looking serious. “I had no idea he was that important to you. I’ll make it up to you later.”

Oh, he…apologized.

I knew Alvarez as a man who had no idea what apologizing is. He’s always been like that, to the point that I’ve gotten used to not hearing him say sorry for all the wrong things he did. I thought that was fine…

Now, this is quite a surprise. Of course, I’m not telling him these thoughts as I’m certain he’d take them back in a heartbeat. Either way, having Alvarez wrapped around my palm by acting like that was worth it.

I smiled and tapped his cheek. “i***t,” I told him as my smile dropped, and then walked away.

Hmm…

I’ll let him off soon, but not until I’ve made sure that he’s actually repenting. This way, I’d have more fun until he realizes what I’m doing and decides to seek vengeance. He’s that dramatic, after all.

Maybe it’s just me, but it seemed like everyone could read the mood between Alvarez and I today. The tension’s always present, but it’s especially intense today. I probably seem happy to them, but Alvarez looks like he can actually swallow you whole.

When I arrived at my office, Vin was already waiting outside and followed me to my seat, curious. He looked like an overexcited puppy!

“It’s too early to gossip.”

“Sha, there’s no specific time necessary to gather gossip,” he told me.

“Sha?”

Oh. Alvarez beat me to it.

“Been a while since you called me that,” I told Vin before standing up to approach my husband. “What is it?”

“Sha? What? Is that some form of endearment you call each other?” he asked, furious.

I smiled sarcastically. “What are you acting like a child for? I’m the one who’s supposed to be mad right now.”

He clenched his jaw as he looked down on me like he wanted to absorb every fiber of my being. “Answer my question.”

What the f**k?

I’ve always hated that commanding tone of his. It’s like…I’m being forced to submit, and I can’t even do anything against it.

“It’s…how he called me back when we were kids ‘cause he couldn’t pronounce my whole name.”

And I ended up explaining it when I never even intended to. It’s annoying how Alvarez can do that to me with just that scary tone…

I pursed my lips and looked at Vin, telling him to leave with just my eyes. Luckily, he’s always been good at figuring out my thoughts by simply looking into my eyes.

“He’s gone now. Tell me what you want to say,” I told Alvarez, my face remaining impassive.

“Why– I thought you two were– Fuck.” He looked away, seemingly furious enough to be speechless.

“What are you doubting me for?” I asked, annoyed.

“Because I don’t want you to mess up.”

“When did I ever mess up, you fucker? Did I ever, since the day we met…did I ever do anything that caused trouble for you? I didn’t, right? I hope your memory serves you right ‘cause you know damn well that, between us, you’re the one that deserves to be doubted.”

I shot Alvarez a look of contempt as I snatched the papers he was holding. This is probably everything I need to work on for the entire day, and I refuse to waste time arguing with him further. He probably realized, and left the office.

He should be aware that he’s had two, or probably more, strikes with me already. Any more than that and I’m sleeping in the Diaz household for a week. Heck, I don’t think I can even look at him for today!

“Was it my fault?” Vin asked as he came in, holding two cups of coffee again.

I smiled and took the latte. “No. It’s his fault for being petty.”

“I missed calling you Sha, and I didn’t think he’d appear at that moment…” Vin told me, chuckling emptily, as he sipped his coffee.

“Don’t mind him, Vin. He’s always like that.”

“Maybe he just doesn’t want anything to go wrong. You told me you knew him and how he operated, so you probably know more than I do…but perhaps you two simply need to clear up several misunderstandings.”

I sighed and leaned back on my chair. “For what, exactly?”

“To make the marriage work? How else would you be able to bear with him if you’re not even trying?”

What Vin said…actually made sense. Before, I thought I should have tried to get to know more about Alvarez to at least be able to spend time with him…but I didn’t. I thought I didn’t need to do anything like that because my impression of him was enough.

Maybe…just maybe, we can at least try to get along…

“I don’t want to get along,” I told Vin.

Dumb, right? But…I feel like Alvarez and I need that spice in this godforsaken relationship we have. We’d be actual strangers otherwise, and I’m trying to avoid that. It’d be much too boring!

Vin looked at me like he couldn’t believe how much of a horrible person I was. By now, he’s probably already aware of what I could be plotting behind everyone else’s back. Vin knew exactly how my mind worked, after all.

We sometimes act like we can’t understand each other, especially when we try to be bothersome, but Vin and I knew each other like the back of our hand. He might as well predict what I’m going to do next.

“You say he’s insufferable, but you’re exactly the same as him,” he told me, looking amused.

“Shut up. That’s the only thing keeping this a little amusing…”

Vin laughed loudly as he placed his cup of coffee down to go and gaze outside the walls of glass. “You could have worded that better, we both know that.”

“Sometimes I wish you knew less.”

“Collect your thoughts first,” Vin told me after a moment of silence. “After that, wait for Gray Alvarez to make his move. I’m certain he’ll be the one to do that.”

I chuckled as I wore my glasses. “Playing oracle now?”

Vin heaved a sigh. “Just listen to me. Cool your heads off, then talk rationally. I’ll go out and stand outside. Your walls are bullet-proof anyway, so I can rest my mind at ease. Just stay here.”

“But–”

“Stay here.”

I sighed and watched Vin as he made his way outside again, socializing with the workers that were passing by, probably to pass time.

“Maybe he was right…” I muttered as I shot Alvarez’s office a glance.

And now I wait…