One wants love and one detests love
When the paths of two cross, things change for both of them. A journey of mixing business with pleasure, lust, betrayal, and romance begins.
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I head for my car and unlock it. I had no time for these games, I might as well grow out of it. This partnership was going to be a headache for me. I hate being around women, but being around her is for a whole new reason. It's not attraction or lust, and it's definitely not love.
The thought of that word is terrifying, it makes my heart ache. It brings an ounce of pain, memories I want to forget, but can't because they're tattooed all over me.
I hate it.
Just as I'm about to get into my car, my phone rings. The name I don't want to see displayed on the screen, Father.
"Father, I'm busy," I say as I bring the phone to my ear.
"Not even a hello?" He asks and I knew he'd be smiling by now.
"I'll call you back when I'm done with work," I say about to hang up.
"Wait, wait," He says. What is it now?
I groan as I put the phone back at my ear, "What is it, Dad?"
"Are you going according to plan?"He asks, his business tone back. The tone I was waiting to hear.
I knew he was going to ask about it, the plan.
"Yes, I am. She's actually very naive, I got some papers from her office that I'm going to go through," I say
"That's good, keep on swaying her and don't forget why you are there," He says and his warning echoes in my head.
"I won't"
"Pay up that man who I believe is her ex and make sure his mouth is shut. Don't mess up, Leonardo." And he hung up .
As I said, being around her is for a whole new reason. All this is for business purposes, I know my dad is wrong to do this, but I have to oblige. She also has to pay for all the things her family did to mine.
A notification popped on the screen and for the first time in a while, I had something to smile to.
>>>
I entered the club, it brought back memories of my young carefree self. Man! I miss those days. The music, the smell of alcohol and people smoking, the earthquake of people on the dance floor, and then she flashed before my eyes, her smile and the way she swayed her body on the dance floor, the way she cried out to me to save her and I failed to do so. I promised I'd protect her, but I couldn't.
"Hey, Leo," A tap on my shoulder brings me back to reality. The familiar voice causes my lips to curve up, displaying a smile. I turn to look at the man behind me and there he is, my older brother.
"Enzo, man, it's been years," I say and hug him.
Enzo's my older brother, the only person I can call my family. He's the only person I can open up to. He left five years ago for the States with his girlfriend. He refused to be like my father and take on the family business so father disowned him. He ran away to the States with his girlfriend and they got married. He managed to make something of himself there and ever since, we've been in touch.
"No need to exaggerate it, Leo," He says hugging me back.
We sit on the bar stools and order whiskeys.
"So how are things going, the company, dad?" He asks as he takes a shot of the whiskey.
"Dad wants me to do something really horrible this time and I'm gonna do it because she needs to pay for what she's done," I reply and quickly gulp down the whiskey.
"A she? Are you planning on taking revenge on a woman?" He asks, his tone filled with unbelief as if the person speaking was someone he'd never imagined would say this.
"Yes, a woman. She killed the love of my life, Enzo,"
"Are you sure this time about the woman who killed Valentina? You made a mistake the last time, how can you be so sure you've got the right woman, eh?" His words hit me and I begin to gather my thoughts, but this feeling of stubbornness retards my thoughts.
"It's no mistake, she's the one," I say, "I'm sure of it," My voice is hushed and I just feel pain again.
"Why are you still caught up on Valentina, she cheated on you and ran away on your wedding day. Why do you still think she was threatened to do so?"
"She told me so, Enzo. She was so sincere when she said it, I know she'd never want to cheat on me intentionally," I say refusing to believe the 'if' circumstances.
"You are so stupid, Leo. Grow up already, you watched the video of her with another man, she gave you back the ring you gave her and she stood you up on your wedding day, did you really think it was all fake? She never loved you. Ugh! I guess I have to tell you the truth then," He says, his hands ruffling his hair.
"What truth?" I ask and take another shot of whiskey.
"Valentina...she...before she got killed, she met up with father and he gave her a check. I remember her words very well, 'I hope you won't call me again to fool any man, my heart belongs to one person only and it's surely not your son. You told me I'd only date him for a while and there wouldn't be any plans of a wedding, but you failed to keep your part of the contract so I'd like compensation, -no?' and Dad slipped another check into her hand," He says and confusion takes over my body.
"Wait, what!?"
"She never loved you, it was all a plan made by Dad. When Mom passed away, Dad thought you'd get over it quickly, but you didn't and he needed you to take over the family business so he brought in Valentina. The deal was to break your heart and make you despise love so you'd become ruthless like him and take over the business as soon as possible. I wanted to tell you, but he threatened to harm my family. I know, I was a coward then. Leo, It was all fake,"
"That bastard!" I snap as rage surges through me.
"There's no use in confronting him because it's all in the past, all I want you to do now is forget about her and move on with your life. You're thirty-two, Leo, you need to start a family," He says. But how can I just forget about her? I loved her so much, she had my heart. She meant the world to me like she was my everything and she betrayed me. She fooled me. If she were alive, I'd have asked her if she didn't feel anything when she was with me. If she didn't feel a spark.
"Enzo, I loved her," I say as I stamp the glass on the counter.
"And she didn't. I don't know who killed her, but if you want to get revenge then that's your problem, but know I don't support it. I also hope that you've not got the wrong woman too or else you'd be destroying an innocent woman's life," He says and answers his ringing phone.
Even though Valentina didn't love me, I'm still going to deal with the one who killed her and as for my dad, I don't know what I'm even going to do with him. Am certain that the woman who killed Valentina is Sophia and I'm going to ruin her... to the core.
"It was my wife calling, so now enough of the past. You've got to spend time with me, I've missed you," He said and ran his hand through my hair.
Hey!!!! thank you to all my readers, thanks for giving this book a chance. I really appreciate it. Comment and vote.
