*Nora*
I felt my anger grow. What did he mean we can’t be together? I paced around my room, fiddling with my finger. I don’t know where this so-called Anna girl came from, but she wasn’t going to ruin my plans.
I would get Alejandro, even if it means doing whatever I can to get her out of my way. What did he even find in her? She wasn’t even beautiful.
I stood in front of my window; the curtains pulled to the side. A breeze rushed into the room, and I tucked some strands of my hair behind my ear.
“What do I do?” Lucas had called to ask me how it went, but I disappointed him again. Scratch that! Not that I care about him.
I am just using him to get Alejandro. And he seems to be very helpful except for the fact that Alejandro was refusing to play along. If only he had drunk the drink right after I had given him.
Yes, I spiked the drink. He would have lost control eventually, and I would have gotten into bed with him. The plan was simple.
I walked to my bed and sat on the edge, slowly creasing the bedsheets.
My hands moved to my teeth, and I bit my nails. I need to get Alejandro. I suddenly felt stupid for leaving him. I had thought that I would be able to spend the money I got on myself for the rest of my life, but I had squandered the money.
My phone beeped.
A message popped up on the screen. “I miss you, and I miss the old days more.” I hissed and flung the phone further into the bed.
I was in no mood to fool around with anyone, not without getting Alejandro around my fingers like I had done before.
I decided to go check if he had drunk the drink I brought for him.
When I got to his room, I found it locked. I didn’t hear anything. ” Darn this soundproof door,” I said. Just then, the door opened, and my heart leaped, thinking it was Alejandro.
But it was not.
“Is the man inside asleep?” I asked, and the man rolling a trolley said no. As he closed the door, I saw the glass of juice untouched. “He is on a call,” he said as he walked away.
I smiled at him.
I walked back to my room.
I passed my hands over my hair, feeling frustrated. “Darm it. He didn’t even touch it. What should I do?” I bite on my fingers.
“Maybe I should go naked?” Not to brag, I knew I had a sexy body, and he wouldn’t be able to take his eyes off me.
No.
I shook my head, dismissing that thought. It doesn’t make sense.
My phone rang.
A video call. I inhaled sharply. I was in no mood to speak to Sasha, one of my friends. I ignored it. But when she called the third time, I decided not to ignore it; she must have something important to say.
“You didn’t see the message I sent?” She yelled into the phone there was the blasting of speaking and yelling of youths. I figured she must be in a club.
“What message?” I asked her.
“Well, since I am on call, I’ll just tell you.” She said
She started moving off the dancefloor, her red bib hair dangling as she did so.
“What is it?” I asked her.
“You won’t believe what I just heard.” She said; I furrowed my brows. “Spill,” I said, not in the mood for guessing as she would want.
“Well, I’ll just go straight to the point.” She paused and looked around. My interest was suddenly piqued, and I walked to the side of the room and slugged on one of the chairs.
“So today, I went to the bar.” She began, “And you know, just like you asked, I’ve been keeping an eye on that bitch.” She said.
I nodded to show I was listening, “and I followed her to the bar,” she said. Can she just go straight to the point?”
“She was there with her friend, discussing. She said something you would never imagine.”
“Enough of the cliffhanger. Can you cut to the chase now?” She asked.
“Fine,”
“Anna or Andrea, as she is called, is a fraud and a manipulator,” she said.
“What do you mean?” I asked, not understanding what she just said. “I mean, she,” she paused and continued, “she had her reason for coming into Alejandro’s life.” She said.
She went ahead to give me the details, going as far as sending me videos and audio.
After the video call ended, I watched the videos and listened to the audio.
So, Anna’s real name was Andrea, and she is Lucas’s ex? I sat on the edge of my chair, trying to process the new information.
She had come into Alejandro’s life just to get back at Lucas but ended up falling for him.
‘And what’s funny? Alejandro doesn’t know.’ Sasha text.
I let out a loud laugh. Guess I didn’t have to get my hands dirty over sucha. What does she think he would do to her? I am sure he would be quick to throw her out of his life, and I can get my rightful place.
Nice.
Super nice. I can’t wait to show him the video. I said, and I sprang up, ready to go out.
As I approached the door, I stopped, a thought hitting me.
There was no way he would accept me if I were to show him.
What if? I squinted my eyes and turned around already, getting the idea of telling Alejandro out of my head.
What if I make her leave him?
I smiled, menacing.
I don’t need to show Alejandro; he doesn’t need to know that I know. Andrea can do it herself. I walked to the mirror and called someone.
‘What do we do, Andrea? I have your secret with me.’
.
.
.
*Andrea’s POV*
Alejandro was back after three days. They had planned to stay for a week, but he said he couldn’t stay that long.
“I miss you,” he said.
Later that day, he asked me to have dinner with his family, but I declined because I wasn’t feeling too well. He then drove me home.
I got a text from Lucas just as I was throwing myself on top of my bed, ready to sleep.
“Come to this place.” He said.
How did he get my number? Wasn’t he having dinner with Alejandro? How come he is asking me to come somewhere else? I wonder.
But I decided not to go. I had no reason to go.
“Why should I?” I asked.
“Well, truth, you have no reason to come; I have a secret about you. So it’s your choice if you want to come or you want the world to know about the secret.”
My eyes widened as I read that message, and my hands shook vehemently.
So he knows?
I brushed my weakness and dizziness aside and rushed out of the house. “Where are you going?”
“I’ll be back.” “Can you see how you are dressed?” This was when I stopped and looked down at myself. I was in shorts and a crop top.
Fuck.
I rushed back in, ignoring Alison’s questions. She stepped into the room with me and watched me throw one short after another over my head as I searched for what to wear.
“What’s going on?”
“Lucas knows,” I said.
“What?” She was surprised. I didn’t hear what else she said. I just wore trousers and a top and zoomed past her.
I flagged a taxi and stepped in.
Lucas asked me to meet him somewhere quiet.
It was the balcony of a restaurant he had reserved. When I got there, the table was filled with all types of dishes.
“What’s this?” I asked as I stepped closer. Lucas wore a blue suit. He stood up and pulled out a chair for me. “You came.” He said.
“You made me come and this…” I released a breath. To those who didn’t know better, this looked like a date. I sat.
“Why did you call me here?”
“Let’s eat first.” He said and added, “I ordered your favorite.”
He must be joking if he thought I came here to eat. My hands were still shaking on my lap, “I have no appetite.” I said.
“Oh, what do we do? I have ordered. This is expensive, you know.” Typical of him.
When we were still dating, he would always remind me of how things were expensive whenever we went out. I didn’t read much into it. But right now, it feels different.
He knew I would not want to waste his money, and it was his way of manipulating me.
“You heard me the first time.” I inhale a scent of breath, “why did you call me?” I asked.
“What?” He placed one hand on his nose and slanted his neck, “relax, I won’t bite. You look tense.”
“What’s with the second message you sent?” I asked, trying to sound calm.
“Oh, that,” he scoffed.
“I knew you’d come. Why? Did you really have a secret you are hiding?” He asked.
I felt relieved but at the same time angry. He didn’t know anything. So why did he make me rush over here?
“Of course, I don’t have a secret. I am not one to hide things, unlike you.” I said.
I crossed my hands over my chest, a wave of confidence washing over me as I leaned into the chair. “What do you want, Lucas? Don’t make me regret coming.”
“My mom truly said you’d try to be intimidating.” He said.
Nora said that?
“She asked me about my ex, and when I told her about you, it was as if she knew you already.”
“Did she ask you to send that text?” I asked.
He laughed, “How did you know?” I closed my eyes and opened them. How did I not think of that?
But did this mean Nora knows? My heart beat faster against my ribcage at this thought.
“I didn’t think you’d have such a relationship with your mom,” I said.
“I didn’t think so as well,” he said and took a bite from his steak. This means it was just a regular conversation, and she didn’t know about me and Lucas.
He sipped from his wine. I was quiet as I watched him eat. “Now, why did you call me?” I asked afterward.
He kept his fork and knives neatly at the side and wiped his lips with a disposable napkin.
He inhaled deeply, “You see, I’ve been meaning to have dinner with you after the last time I saw you at the party.”
“Why? Were you smitten by my beauty? Regretting what you lost?” I am no man’s peace, ‘well, except Alejandro.’
“How did you know?” He smirked and then continued, “I’ll go straight to the point.”
I raised a brow, urging him to continue, “Since the last time, I’ve had you on my mind. You’ve consumed my thoughts so much that I knew I had to see you.” He said.
“I don’t know how that’s any of my business,” I said.
“I know I messed up badly. I did what I should not have,” he began. I already knew where this was going and wasn’t ready to hear it.
“Let’s get back together. I made a mistake last time. I only realized how much you mean to me when I lost you. Please, Andrea, come back to me.” He said.
“No.” I said and stood on the chair screeching loudly, “If this is why you called me here, I’m the fool for coming.” I said and began walking away.
A firm grip pulled me back, and I was dragged into his embrace.
“Please, Andrea, I still love you.” He said.
I pushed him away from me, and before I could control my anger, I slapped him hard across his face.