*Natasha*
When I saw Bruno attack a man because of a girl, I knew something wasn’t right. This was so unlike him. The Bruno I knew would be quick to fire the girl even if she was in the right. But he was doing the opposite, protecting her.
I felt a pang in my chest as I watched him lead her away. The Bruno I saw was one I had never seen before. There was a fierce look in his eyes but when he looked at her his gaze was as calm as the sea.
I recognised the girl as the girl I had seen in his office the other day. When I entered the room, I saw the disappointment in Bruno’s eyes, as if I shouldn’t have been there. Like he didn’t want me around. He almost went after her if he wasn’t stopped by me.
Seeing him protect her today, I knew my assumption was right. He has fallen for her but this was something I couldn’t accept. No matter how hard I thought of it.
I didn’t want him looking at any other woman.
I wanted Bruno all to myself. I don’t mind having a relationship where we could only have sex. I don’t mind giving him my body, as long as he doesn’t fall for any other woman. I walked after them after a while. I walked in interrupting whatever conversation they were having.
When Bruno took me out, I thought it was the best time to tell him how I felt about him.
I gripped Bruno’s waist tightly, stopping him from leaving. I didn’t want him to go back to her. I didn’t want him showering her with so much care and attention that I had craved for a while. Maybe it was time I told him how I felt about him. I had kept it within me all this time because I was afraid of how he might react.
“I don’t want you to go to her. I don’t want you to give any other girl special treatment,” I said.
“Let go of me this instant,” he ordered anger evident in his voice but I ignored it.
My hands shook on his back as I said the next words, “I can’t. I’m afraid I have fallen in love with you Bruno.” The earth seems to stop after its confession. I pressed my head into its back. I wanted this man.
Bruno pulled my hands away from his waist, freeing himself from my grip. He stepped to face me, “you what?” He asked, his deep voice resounding in my ear and as usual it was melodious.
“I want you Bruno. I didn’t know when it began, but I fell hard for you. Seeing you treat that girl with so much care angers me. because I love you,” I said my heart thudded fast behind my chest. I was afraid that he might reject me. But I was more scared of him slipping through my fingers.
“You seem to have forgotten your place, Natasha. I’m pretty sure you know how much I hate stuff like this,” he said.
I took a step closer to him. I was torn between the fear that I might lose him to that bitch forever and the realization that I was crossing the line. I knew how much he hated clingy girls. Bruno was a big-time playboy and always had girls around him. These girls were nothing but a plaything to him, but they would always stick around, trying to be his woman.
“The only reason you are still with me is because I thought you were different,” he says.
“I am different,” I said quickly. “But you are an attractive man. Do you know how hard it has been to control myself from coming at you and claiming you all those times?” I asked. A look of vulnerability flashed across my eyes. I was almost at the edge of breaking down remembering all those times I had to keep myself in check but they seemed to be in vain because right now I was sprawling out of control.
“Then keep controlling yourself Natasha, keep yourself in control. Don’t make me regret not throwing you off all these while,” he said. He took a step back and turned.
“I refuse to believe that you feel nothing for me. I’m in love with you and deep down I know you are too. You feel the same for me even if you don’t realize it,” I said. He stopped on his track and turned. frustration etched on his face.
“I think we know the answer to that. You don’t seem to need any explanation,” he says.
“Of course we do,” I paused, holding his gaze, “but maybe I should remind you not to go too far with that girl Lucia. We both know she is just a plaything. You don’t truly need her. This isn’t the first time you get close to a girl who piqued your interest only to let her go when your curiosity has finally been satisfied,” I said.
He was silent for a while. As if weighing what he was going to say next.
“Lucia is different. She isn’t a plaything, and I get to decide if I keep her or not,” he says, clenching his teeth together.
Anger surged through me but I tried to mask it with a smile.
“And know your place. Do not come to me unless you are being called by me,” he said, walking away only to stop and turn, “and we both know what happens when you act more clingy or get in my way.”
I clenched my fist together.
My chest heaved up and down.
I was never going to allow Lucia to have him. I would rather die than give him up to her. He is mine and mine alone. I don’t mind driving Lucia far away from him. But I’ll be sure to separate them as fast as I can.
As I watched Bruno’s back as he walked away, my fist clenched involuntarily. “Lucia was the cause of this. I have never seen Bruno’s back against me before. She has ruined the relationship I had with Bruno. Before her arrival, Bruno adored me, but since she came, I have been ignored,” my chest heaved up and down.
How come I didn’t notice?
Lucia came and just like a thief, she had stolen Bruno from me. Bruno is into her. I knew this wasn’t a joke this time. I hated to admit this but it was the truth. The look in his eyes when he spoke about her. He has fallen deeply for her and I fear it may be too deep to pull him out.
My eyes flashed with anger and I took a deep breath, trying to steady my emotions. I should be the one next to Bruno. I should be the one he speaks of with such a soft look in his eyes. I should be the one he beats up a VIP client for. I should be the one he wraps his suit around. I should be the one by his side, not that cheap slut.
I paced around, my fingers digging deep into my palm.
Memories of what I shared with him flickered in my mind. All those times we had been together. All those times he had held me in his hand. All those times he made love to me in bed. I wanted to go back to that time. The last time I had him close was when we were about to have sex, but to think he backed off at the last minute, it was so unlike him.
And suddenly there was a ding in my head like a bell echoing clarity on what happened that day. I shook my head refusing to believe what I thought. There was no way she lived with him. There was no way Bruno left me that day to go to her.
No, that was impossible.
I walked away from where I had stood. Where Bruno has left me. I walked straight into the club in search of Rave. He should know. He would be able to give me the answer I seek. Amidst the beats and dim coloured lights I moved with purpose, my eyes darted through the sea of body as I searched for Rave. Until I heard from him I refused to believe that Bruno had been living with Lucia.
Not finding him there, I moved to the second floor. He should be there. I walked around. A waiter with a tray of drinks was about to walk past me when I reached out and took a glass of drink from the tray. I needed to calm the different types of emotions which were threatening to devour me.
I was angry but I tried not to show it and greeted all I passed with a small stiff smile on my face.
And there he was speaking with a man at the side.
Walking briskly towards him, I tugged at his shirt. He turned to look at me. “I want to speak to you,” I said. He turned to the man, “give me a moment,” he said. The man nodded in understanding before walking away a little to give us the space we needed.
“Who is Lucia to Bruno?” I asked immediately he turned his full attention to me.
“Whoa whoa, where is that question coming from?” He asked a small playful smirk on his face. I noticed he always had that smirk whenever he was speaking with me. I tried to look past his stupid smirk for today and not get annoyed by him as I had something to ask him.
“What matters is an answer Rave, you don’t have to know where it stems from,” I said, urging him to speak. Rave past his tongue over his lips.
“Do I need to answer to you? You should ask Bruno yourself,” He has never spoken to me in such a manner before. I squinted my eyes. “Why not ask Bruno yourself if you are that curious,” he says. “And here I was thinking you have something very important to ask me when you are interrupting my conversation with someone,” he says and walks off before I can stop him.
I felt like pulling out my hair. I was frustrated.
I wanted to walk behind him and pull him back. Maybe if I persisted for a while he was going to give me the answer I wanted. I wanted to go but I stood rooted to the ground.
Do I need to ask about it?
I wondered to myself. It was already as clear as the day that they stayed together. That explains why she could sit comfortably in his office. That explains why she wasn’t on edge when she was around him. That explains a lot of things.
I downed the glass of alcohol in my hand. It burned my throat as it went down. Placing the cup on the tray of another waiter, I took another one. I never knew I was so much in love with Bruno until now.
Maybe it was because I was sure no one would be able to win his heart. But how could I explain what was going on with Lucia? My eyes searched for another waiter. When I found one walking to the closest longue I walked to her and took one glass.
I drank one glass after the other, till I was unable to stand.
I felt tipsy. I shook my head trying to stay sober but my eyes kept getting heavier. I wandered around the club for a while before heading for Bruno’s door. I will clear everything once and for all.
A knot formed in my stomach as I hesitated to step closer to Bruno’s door. I was trying to keep myself steady but it didn’t seem like it was effective. Mustering the courage, I took a step forward. I noticed the door was slightly ajar and walked towards it trying to take a quick peek.
When my eyes made out the scene unfolding inside, I almost lost balance.
It can’t be!