*Andrea*
“Are you sure you want this? If you still feel good, you can stay back.” Her voice mixed with concern. “I am fine. I just felt a little dizzy earlier, but I am okay now.” Besides, it was too late to return since we were already in a cab.
The car pulled up in front of a bar. Alison stepped out first and handed money to the driver. We walked into the bar, which was lively and filled with people.
The colorful light glowed on those dancing on the floor. Alison and I found a table and sat. A waiter came, and we ordered drinks.
“You look stressed,” Alison said. How do I explain to her that I’ve been feeling unlike myself for the past weeks? I got tired easily and was always sleepy and dizzy.
“I think it’s work,” I said. I noticed a woman walking into the bar; she had red hair styled in a ponytail. She stood at the entrance and looked around as if looking for someone, and when her eyes landed on our table, she started towards us.
“Andrea, are you here?” It seemed Alison had said something, but I was too busy looking at the mystery drop-dead gorgeous woman to hear her.
“Look at her? Do you know her?” I pointed to the woman with my chin. Alison turned to the woman who came closer to us with every step she took.
“I don’t.” She said.
We had to look away so it wouldn’t be awkward. She didn’t walk towards us like I had thought. She walked to the seat close to us and took a seat there.
“What about her? Alison asked in a low nevermind” I said.
“What were you saying?” I asked her.
“Was thinking you should go on a vacation,” Alison said. The waiter arrived with our drinks. “Where does such an Idea come from? “You can tell Alejandro. He’ll take you wherever you want.”
I finally see where this is coming from. It was because Alejandro took his ex-wife and son on vacation, but I decided to get the reason from her.
“What if she seduces him to get him back?” Alison asked. “Who?” I pretended not to get what she was saying.
“You know,” she sipped from her drink. My eyes flickered to the TV, which was showing a football match.
“His ex-wife.” She said, my hands moved to my neck, where the necklace Alejandro had gifted me the night before he left, “aren’t you worried?” She asked.
“It’s obvious she wants him back. And I am very sure Lucas is on her side; he would want her to reunite with his father. He planned this vacation so Alejandro can have alone time with Nora.” Alison said.
I knew this already, but I didn’t mind. Alejandro loved me. I was the one he wanted, and he has made that clear. Speaking about Lucas, I was glad he didn’t know about his father and me yet.
All hell would have been let loose If he knew.
“I know. But Alison,” I passed and sipped my drink, allowing the alcohol to burn my throat. “Alejandro would not fall for her. He loved me, and he has given his word to me; I am the only woman he wants. I know your worries come from a valid place,” I knew she cared. I sighed slowly and shook my head slightly, “but you don’t need to worry.”
She inhaled sharply, “I… I just…” She paused and sighed lazily. I knew she was going to let the matter go now. “Fine,” she said.
“Thank you, babe,” I said.
She nods, “when do you plan to tell him?” She asked.
I knew she was asking about it. After all these weeks, I was yet to tell Alejandro and Lucas about me, “I don’t know.” I gulped the remaining drink in my glass.
“And he wants me to meet Lucas,” I said. He had said we’d meet when they came back. “He wants me to have dinner with his family when they return.”
“That cannot happen. It’s not possible.” Alison said, worried clung to her.
“And I don’t know what to do. I’ve been rejecting his offers to meet his son, bringing up one excuse after the other; I can’t afford to refuse this lest he finds it suspicious.” I said.
I waved a waiter over to the table, and we ordered more drinks.
There were screams in the bar when one team scored. I couldn’t care less.
“So what do you plan to do? Will you tell him you are his son’s ex, and you met him and slept with him just to get back at his son for cheating? And that’s how you came into his life?”
“I don’t know,” I said, tears filling the rim of my eyes. Whenever I think about this, I feel my chest tighten in pain. “But what I feel for him is true. Granted, I did something to get into his life.” I paused and wiped the tears away from my eyes when the waiter came.
He gave me a questioning look but remained silent as he dropped the bottle on the table. After he left, I continued, “I know I came into his life and lied about my name to get close to him and make him fall for me, but I truly love him. I don’t feel anything for Lucas anymore.”
“This is why I can’t meet Lucas. He still thinks I want him. What will he think when he sees me with his father?” I shook my head. I don’t even want to imagine.”
Alison placed her hand over my trembling hands on the table. “You’ll be fine. Everything will be fine, Andrea.” She said, “Alejandro loves you, and I don’t think this is enough to come between the both of you.”
I hoped it was true.
I hoped this would not make us break. Not yet. I don’t think I can ever let Alejandro go. I can’t live without him.
My phone rang, disrupting the moment. A name I had hoped to see popped up. I walked out of the bar to the entrance before answering the call, “Hello, love.”
***
*Alejandro’s POV*
I didn’t want to come on this stupid vacation, but I have to because of Lucas. And if I am being honest, though I didn’t want to see and be around Nora, I can’t deny that my relationship with Lucas these past few days has improved.
I had just returned from a car race with him. We had gone alone, as I had requested. I was tired of Nora acting all clingy toward me. We chatted as we walked into an elevator.
“Let’s do this often; it was fun,” I said. Of course, I’ll make sure you are no match to me by that time.” He said, and I smirked, “You Wish.” I had won against him three times and allowed him to win the last race.
“I want something cold to drink,” he said as we entered the elevator. “Let’s go down to the bar when you return,” I said, and he nodded. We walked to our different suites.
He didn’t want to stay with me, and I did not want to stay with Nora.
When I got to my suite, I walked into the bathroom. I needed to take a quick shower. I missed Anna and wished she was here with me. I couldn’t stop wondering what she was doing with her free time.
After bathing, I walked out with a tower wrapped around my waist. I walked to the mirror but changed direction before I got in front of it. My phone, which lay on the bed, beeped.
It was a message from Lucas. He said he would no longer be joining me; he felt weak.
That was fine. We had more than enough time to visit the bar and have more fun as father and son.
There was a knock on the door. I didn’t call for room service or anyone. Squinting my eyes, I walked to the door.
I opened it to come face to face with Nora. She held a tray and smiled sweetly at me when our eyes met. I held the door, revealing half of my body, “what do you want?” I asked.
“I brought a drink for you; I thought you might need it.” I looked down at the glass of cold drinks she held.
Since she was already here, I felt it would not be nice to reject her. I extended my hand to take the tray, muttering a little thanks, but she insisted on placing it on the table in the room herself.
She has been acting like my wife, “You didn’t need to bother; I have drinks here.” I told her when she dropped it.
“I know, but I just wanted to bring something myself.” She said, I wondered if she was in room service or if she worked for the hotel.
“You don’t need to bother doing such things for me, Nora,” I said. I walked towards my wardrobe and put on a shirt.
“Why? What are family for?” She asked. “Family?” I asked her, raising a brow.
I wasn’t stupid. I knew she wanted to get back with me. I knew Lucas wanted me to get back with her and this trip was one of his plans.
I also knew it was because of her that he canceled our plans. “You need to stop this,” I said.
“Stop what?” She asked, puzzled. “Whatever you are doing. Whatever you are thinking. I promise you, it’s not going to work.” I saidshe kept playing the fool. We are never going to work. We are never going to get back together; it’s not possible,” I said.
“Why?”
“I have someone I love. You’ve met her, and you know.” I said.
“I know you are trying to use her to get back at me for what I did to you, but that doesn’t change the fact that you like me. You’ve always had, and you always will.” She said.
This earned her a long, mocking laugh.
“You think I’m using Anna to get back at you?” I asked, surprise written in my eyes. How could she think that?
She was the reason why we had gotten a divorce. Nora had cheated on me. I had caught her red-handed with another man on our matrimonial bed.
After our divorce, she didn’t fight for custody of Lucas, contrary to what Lucas thinks. He thought she loved him; I thought so, too. We were once a happy family, the envied couple, and Lucas was happier.
But after the divorce, Nora didn’t look at Lucas once. I wouldn’t have given her custody of Lucas, though, but it hurts that she didn’t even try, and all she was after was the money that I’ll give.
So if she thinks she can just walk back into my life and ruin it, she has another thought coming her way.
“I know she is not your type of woman. Aside from the fact that she is young, she is a pauper, and she has nothing to give you,” she said.
“So?”
“So you’ll not want to be with someone like her.” She said.
I was tired of people constantly reminding me of Anna’s age. I knew her age, and she knew mine, but we didn’t care.
Age is just a number.
Age does not determine love. We had no control over our feelings, nor did our age have control. We didn’t choose to feel the way we did about each other; our hearts did.
“Did you have anything to offer when you manipulated me, and I thought it was love?” I asked her, and this immediately shut her up.
Before she could speak, I pointed to the door. ” Get out,” I said through gritted teeth.
“But I…”
“Out, now.” I commanded and she started walking towards the door. When she got to the door, I said, “don’t delude yourself. Nothing is ever going to happen between us ever again.” I said.
After she left, I felt anger settled in the pit of my stomach. I hate manipulators and liars; that’s one thing I have sworn never to tolerate again.
After changing into comfortable clothes, I picked up my phone and called Anna, the one who had never lied to me.
“Hello, love!”