The Billionaire’s Ex-wife

Chapter 15

It was two weeks already. Two weeks of silence from Dante and somehow that was worse.

The day after I walked out of his office, Nikolai called. I could hear the pity in his voice as he told me to return my stuffs. I couldn’t blame him because he was not the one at fault.

I sent everything. Even the pen I’d stolen from his conference room. If there was one thing I was best at, it's being petty. I thought I got everything in check until I started feeling angry.

I was angry Dante didn’t call Nikolai back. Angry that he didn't back down. Most importantly, angry that my body didn't stop remembering the sting of the slap.

I cried every night. It was like I had no control of my emotions anymore. It was not the petty kind of cry but the sort of tears when you are sacked from your workplace when there's bills to attend to.

Leo would run into my room, climb into bed whenever I was at my mom’s place

"Mummy, bad dream?" He would whisper to me and I would clean my eyes and lie.

“Yes, baby. Mummy had a bad dream"

I didn’t want my baby to worry about me.

By the second week, the house was too quiet. My savings weren’t gone, but they weren’t endless. My mom needed cash for some stuff and Leo's school fees were due. I was responsible for both of their needs..

Earlier that day, I caught my reflection in the bathroom mirror and couldn’t recognize myself. My eyes were swollen, my eye bags visible from lack of sleep and overthinking.

Two days ago, I scrolled up and down the job region and luckily, I was being invited for an interview that afternoon.

The pants I wore to the interview were too tight. I wanted to change it but I was running late. I got there, and waited at the reception area and I was a bit nervous.

The bills were growing. Leo’s appetite was growing. Everything was growing except my options.

The interview was for boutique manager at an Italian boutique. The owner, Mr. Devereaux, was French, a fifty-something year old, and he looked at my resume for two seconds before his eyes dropped to my chest.

"Ms. Alessia, thanks for being here. You should be a good fit considering your resume and your physique but here, we like hands-on management" he said, walking around his desk until he was behind me.

“Very hands on. You understand?" His hand landed on my shoulder, heavy and familiar. His fingers moved down, aiming for the clasp of my bra through my blouse. I was out of the chair before he could blink and I glared at him.

"I understand you’re about to lose a hand if you try that again, Mr Devereaux" He laughed

“Feisty, I like that” he said, licking his lower lips.

“Your salary can be negotiated. There are other perks too. An apartment, a car, anything you want” I was irritated at his tone and at that moment I thought of Dante.

"Be mine. On my terms" Dante had said. At least Dante didn’t pretend it was an interview.

I left without the job and with my dignity sweating in my palms. On the drive home, I sat in traffic and did the math I’d been avoiding. Pride wouldn’t pay my mom's bills or keep Leo in school. It won’t pay for my needs.

If I accept Dante’s offer, I would have everything I wanted. If I had to spread my legs for someone, Dante would be a better choice rather than an old man with stinking breath. The thought made me sick. Then it made me cry.

Then it made me drive straight past my street to the beach, where I screamed into the wind until my throat hurt and Leo wasn’t there to hear.

By the time I got home, it was 7PM. The apartment smelled like my cologne and stuffs. Leo was at my mum’s, and again, I was grateful he wasn't with me at this time because I don't think I could look him in the eye after what I’d done to jeopardize his relationship with Dante.

I kicked off my heels and checked my phone. There were no calls or texts from Dante.

Good, I thought.

I showered until the water went cold. Put on my oldest, softest T-shirt I owned, from university. I walked straight to the counter to make tea. Then I opened my laptop to email clients I didn’t have and closed it.

I was tired. I cried again.

Because I was tired of being strong. My mum deserved better than a daughter who couldn’t explain why she was unemployed and flinching at her phone. Because Dante was out there, probably with a model on his bed, and the mark from my slap was long gone.

I was ready to sleep. Sleep was the only place nobody wanted anything from me.

My phone rang at 10:43PM.

"Mum" flashed on the screen. I answered, my voice thick.

“Ma, I’m fine. Is Leo asleep?"

She didn’t say hi or ask about my day.

"Alessia" Her voice was small. Too small for the woman who raised me alone. “My landlord came today" I sat up. The T-shirt suddenly couldn’t cover enough of me.

“What happened, ma?"

"He said… he said the house has been sold. New owner wants everyone out by Friday. Three days, Alessia. I told you to let us stay with you instead”

The air left my lungs. New owner? How could there be a new owner all of a sudden?

"Ma, are you sure? Did you see papers?"

"I saw them. It was signed by the new owner. He bought the whole street last month. He’s redeveloping” She was trying not to cry.

“Where am I supposed to go, Alessia? With Leo?"

Leo.

If my mum got evicted, Leo had nowhere to sleep during school weeks. If I took him full time, I couldn’t hide him. Dante would find out. E writhing I’d worked for would go down the drain.

"Mummy, I’ll fix it” I said even though I didn't believe myself.

“I promise. Don’t pack anything. I’ll fix it"

Before she dropped the phone, she asked quietly.

"Alessia, what did you do? Did you offend him? I saw the blogs. The picture with one model. Weren't you planning on reconciling?"

"I didn’t do anything” My voice cracked. "He’s just being unreasonable and don’t worry he doesn’t know you are in the city so it’s impossible he had anything to do with it” she went quiet.

“Okay, just let me know if anything happens” I couldn’t answer her. My throat was closing.

"Call me tomorrow” she whispered. "I’ll keep Leo safe so you don’t have to worry about him”

The line went dead. I stared at my phone. It was 10:47PM. Three days from Friday.

I had only three days to find a new place for my mum and my son. Three days to think of something sustainable. What if I was not able to do something before then?

No. That wouldn't happen.

I might have to seek help from Dante. How would that be possible when Dante hadn’t called or even texted.

I know he just wanted to back me in a corner so I would have no other option than to seek him out. That was his game.

I threw my phone across the room. It hit the couch, not the wall. I wasn’t even brave enough to break something. I thought about Mr. Devereaux’s hand on my shoulder. Thought about Dante’s hand on my breast two weeks ago.

One was a stranger and one was the man who still made my knees weak no matter the situation. Both wanted the same thing. But I couldn’t go to him. Not this way.

Think about your mum and Leo, a voice whispered.

God, Leo.

I sank to the floor and pulled my knees to my chest. The T-shirt stretched across my thighs. I hated my life that moment. My phone lit up from the couch. It was not a call but a text. I crawled to it.

"You have three days. 9pm, my penthouse. Let’s talk like adults. I don’t want to do this but you live me no choice” the text read and I scoffed. I started typing.

“Son of a b***h, I’m not a w…” but another message came instantly.

“Wear a nice dress”

I cleared the message and held the phone to my head. An idea suddenly came to my mind.

It was time to show Dante, I wasn’t the same naive girl he knew five years ago.