LIES OF THE HEART

Chapter Three

Two weeks....

It's been two whole weeks since Valentino found out about his other kids and he still hadn't found the courage to tell Lara.

He tried....

He really tried but everytime he summoned up courage to tell her, he would think of the hurt and pain she would go through and he just couldn't bring himself to be the reason she was hurt.

Throughout this period, Nancy had tried to contact him a few times but he had been ignoring her texts and messages.

He didn't know how much longer he could keep this to himself.

" Dad...." He heard his daughter call him.

" Yes sweetie?" He asked with a forced smile.

" Are you okay ?? I've been calling you for a while now.". She asked with worry on her face.

" Yh sweetie I'm fine." He replied.

" Are you sure something's not bothering you baby? You've been acting weird for a while now. " Lara asked him in a soft voice.

" Yes babe... I'm fine. " He replied to her.

" Okayyyy.... Well we gotta go or we'll be late for school." Arianna said as she stood up.

" Yeah... See you guys later." Adrian said.

" Kisses all around." Arianna said as she walked out.

" Bye. " Lara and Valentino chorused before the door shut behind them.

" You sure you're okay baby? You know you can tell me anything right? "Lara asked again with concern.

" I'm fine love." He said to her and she nodded.

" Okay if you say so love. Now I have to go. I have a photo shoot and it's quite a drive." She said and she picked up her car keys and headed out the door.

" Take care of yourself okay." Valentino said and she smiled.

" I love you baby" He added and her smile widened.

" I love you too babe. " She replied and headed off.

With the house now quiet and empty Valentino lay his head on the table and cried.

He cried for himself.

He cried for his kids.

He cried for Lara.

He cried for the impending danger that he felt was coming and he had no control over it.

?

" Miss... Miss, please stop." Valentino could hear Emilia's voice from outside his office door and his heart skipped a beat.

There was only one person who would force her way into his office.

Nancy....

His door was thrown open and she strutted in with her blood red heels.

" Val baby, would you please call off your dog?" She said with a sneer.

Valentino threw her a hard look but he nodded to Emilia to leave.

" What are you doing here?" Valentino asked her.

" It's been two weeks, Val." She said like it was the most complicated thing in the world.

" Yh so??" Valentino asked.

" So...when were you going to get back to me?" Nancy asked.

" Whenever I see fit." He replied.

" Oh no Val, you don't call the shots here. I do." Nancy said with a smirk.

" Get out of my office." Valentino said.

" What?" Nancy asked in shock.

" You heard me. Get the f**k out."

" You can't do that to me Valentino." Nancy shrieked.

" Get out before I call security." Valentino said.

" You'll hear from me, Valentino. You'll hear from me." Nancy said before she stormed out.

Valentino exhaled loudly and lay his head on his desk.

" Sir? Is everything okay?" His secretary asked from the door.

He lifted his head long enough to say he was fine but she still lingered in the doorway.

" Is there a problem?" Valentino asked her.

" No sir....but I'm worried about you." She replied.

" I'm alright Emilia." Valentino said.

" Okay sir. If you say so... And I ordered some roses to be delivered to your wife." She said as she turned to leave.

" You did what? Why?" Valentino asked in surprise.

" Excuse me? Sir, it's your wedding anniversary in two days. It's what you always ask me to do... I just felt that you would expect me to already be accustomed to it so I....." Emilia rambled but Valentino was already lost in thought.

It was his wedding anniversary and he didn't even remember. His twentieth wedding anniversary with Lara and he had forgotten for the first time ever.

" Sir? Are you listening?" Emilia asked again and he was snapped out of his reverie.

" Yes Emilia. Thank you for the flowers. I appreciate your thoughtfulness. Thank you." He said with genuine appreciation.

" It's alright sir. Excuse me." Emilia replied with a smile before leaving the office.

Alone again with his thoughts, Valentino leaned on his desk and let his thoughts wander.

How was he going to tell Lara about Nancy and her kids?

How was he going to break the trust she had in him?

He hated himself for doing this to his family.

He hated Nancy.

?

Meanwhile at the kids' school......

Ringggggggggggggggg

The school bell rang signifying the start of lunch break.

All the students filed out of class and headed to the cafeteria to have lunch.

" Arianna, wait up." Khloe yelled from behind and Arianna slowed down so she could catch up.

" Jesus girl how..do..you..walk so fast...?" Khloe asked her between pants.

" You're just lazy.. " Arianna replied with a laugh.

" Excuse me missy... Who you calling fat?" Khloe asked with mock anger.

" I said lazy, not fat." Arianna replied.

" Same thing, different words. " Khloe mumbled.

" Shut up... " Arianna said and they walked into the cafeteria.

They spotted Adrian already sitting there with his friends and they headed over to join them.

" Hey bro...Hey Troy... Hey Ryan." Arianna said to her brother and his friends as she leaned in for them to kiss her cheek.

" Hey beautiful." They replied.

" Hey guys. " Khloe said.

" What's up cupcake?" Adrian replied with a wink which made Khloe blush deeply and the rest of the guys just laughed at her which made her blush even harder.

" Okay will you all stop and go get us something to eat?" Arianna said as she came to her friend's rescue.

" Yes ma'am." The boys chorused and headed towards the counter.

" Seriously Khloe, you need to get over your crush on my brother. " Arianna said once the boys were out of earshot.

" I know Ari. I'm trying but it's so difficult. He's sooo cute. " Khloe said dreamily.

" You mean my Buffalo looking brother? Yuck!!!" Arianna said with a cringe.

" You just think that because he's your brother. If you could see him through my eyes... His sexy abs... His pink lips... His... "

" Okay okay that's enough. I've heard enough thank you very much. " Arianna said as she covered her ears and Khloe just laughed.

" Umm excuse me?" Came a voice from behind them and they both turned to see the new kids who looked like Arianna and Adrian standing behind them with another girl.

" Can we help you? " Arianna asked.

" Um, actually yes. We'd like to sit here.. So move it." The girl whose name was Alexia said.

At this point most of the kids were already looking at them.

" Are you blind or just plain stupid?" Arianna asked.

" Can't you see this place is taken?"

" You're not a mountain. You can be moved... So move it or I'll move you. " Alexia said again.

" b***h are you high on cheap drugs or something?" Khloe asked her.

" Shut it you Barbie doll wannabe." A girl who came with Alexia said. Her name was Bethany.

" What did you just call me?" Khloe asked as she stood up with rising anger.

" Calm down Khloe. She's not worth it." Arianna said to her friend and then she turned to Alexia.

" Listen to me you demented twit... I don't know who the f**k you think you are but you will not come here to my school and try to dominate me. Now get your minions and yourself out of here. This seat is taken. "

The students all began to murmur and laugh at Alexia and her friends and that seemed to anger her.... A lot.

" Who are you calling demented you b***h?" She asked and then she poured her drink on Arianna.

With anger in her eyes Arianna launched herself at her and they landed on the floor with Arianna on top of Alexia as she punched and pounded her with her fists.

The students began to yell and cheer at Arianna telling her to beat Alexia some more because apparently she had stepped on a lot of toes in the few weeks she had been around.

Alessio, Alexia's twin brother, jumped in and tried pulling Arianna off his sister when Adrian dragged him by the back of the collar and slammed him on the nearest bench.

" What the f**k did you think you were going to do huh?" Adrian asked him with anger in his eyes as he threw a punch at him that hit him squarely in the face.

Bethany tried pulling Arianna off Alexia but Khloe grabbed her by the hair and pulled hard which made the girl cry out in pain.

" Who's the Barbie doll wannabe now huh? Khloe asked as she pinned her down to the ground and pulled harder.

The students went wild and the noise attracted the attention of some of the teachers who stopped the fight.

" Principal's office. All of you. Right now."

?

In the principal's office

" Sir I couldn't just stand there and watch this asshole...."

" Language Adrian." Mr Bradford, the principal said.

" Sorry sir. I couldn't just stand there and watch him touch my sister." Adrian said.

" Your sister was hitting my sister." Alessio said.

" Because your sister deserved it." Arianna snapped at Alessio.

" I just wanted to sit down. " Alexia said.

" You poured your drink on her." Khloe said.

" By accident. " Alexia retorted.

" Um excuse me sir...." Bethany tried to speak.

" SHUT UP!!!" Everyone else yelled at her and she quietly sat down.

" Alright I've heard what happened and I'm letting you all off the hook for reasons best known to me. But if this ever happens again... We'll be talking about suspension. Do we understand each other?" Mr Bradford asked them.

" Yes sir." They all chorused and they stood up to leave while staring daggers at each other.