The Billionaires Too (#2)

Past

"Did you speak to her?" Antonina asked the moment Logan walked into the room.

The hall was almost chaotic as people were starting to leave. Antonina felt out of place since she did not know anyone except for her companion and business partner, Logan Parker. She only caught a glimpse of Jorge and MJ, but never got a chance to speak to either one of them.

Both she and Logan were rendered speechless by MJ's words of remembrance. They did not know much of her story, Logan had since lost interest in anything related to MJ, up until she spoke.

Antonina could see the conflict in his eyes as he tried to remain still. He was fidgety and kept playing with MJ's watch in his hand while trying to get a glimpse of her face as she spoke with her back turned against the guests. Antonina had to hold his hand down to keep him still, as Sandra was giving him a suspicious look.

As soon as MJ left, both Logan and Jorge were on her tail. Antonina could not help but notice that the two best friends had barely muttered a greeting to each other; they ignored one another like the plague. She figured it had to do with what happened with MJ back home, but she did not pry.

"I didn't get the chance to, she was busy." Logan muttered, his features tense. "Can we go now? There's nothing left for us here, the funeral is for family only." He said.

"Oh. Well, I still need to say hi to Jorge." She said, scanning the place for a familiar face.

Logan fisted his hands. "Jorge will return to Cape Town soon to handle Kyle and Snegugu's divorce." He said in a brittle voice, but Antonina was already moving in Jorge's direction, who did not look any better than Logan since his own sister had just threatened him.

Antonina approached Jorge, who was standing with another man and woman. "Jorge, hi!" She greeted as she came to stand next to him. "I've been trying to get hold of you since I got here, but I never got the chance. How are you? I hope I'm not interrupting anything." She blabbed as she turned to look at his companions.

Jorge offered a small smile and pulled her into a side hug. "No, Ants. I'm glad you are here, actually. I wanted to introduce you to someone." He said and nodded towards the man and his partner. "This is Anita's brother, Javier Mendoza, and his wife, Mrs Danielle Anderson-Mendoza."

Antonina's eyes widened slightly and her lips parted in shock. She was frozen in place, and her mind started to move back in time, trying to put faces to the names and piece everything she could think of; but her memory was jumbled, and the more she tried to think, her head hurt.

"Pleased to meet you." Danielle said rather calculatively, her eyes moving between Antonina and her rigid husband.

Javier stepped forward and extended his hand towards her. Antonina took his hand with her own shaky hand. "You...you are alive." She said in barely a whisper. Javier stood there silently before he pulled her into a hug. "You are alive." She repeated, barely concealing her shock.

"Yes." Javier whispered, and held her tighter. "And it's all thanks to you." He said.

"I'm so sorry." Antonina cried. Javier pulled back and held her face, wiping her tears with his huge thumbs.

"There was nothing you could have done." He said reassuringly.

"You guys know each other?" Jorge asked with a puzzled expression, and they both turned towards him.

"Long story, but Miss Sandoval saved my life once." Javier said dismissively, the hostility in his voice unhidden.

"Mrs Dos Santos." Jorge clarified.

Javier turned towards Antonina with so much hurt and anger in his eyes. Antonina took a step back as if his eyes burned her. "You married him?" He asked in a low voice that sent shivers down her spine.

Her throat suddenly felt dry and she could not say anything as pictures started floating in her mind; blood, smoke, dead bodies, blurred faces. Her heart beat rapidly in her chest and she took another cautious step back, her lungs closing in on her. Her eyes blurred as a series of gunshots went off, her head span and her eyes rolled back before she collapsed, her vision dying along with her energy.