57

Tomas.
Jennifer is such a stubborn girl; I don’t know what to do with her. The way she challenges my every thought and decision leaves me feeling utterly perplexed and frustrated. I can’t quite understand why she has such a hold over me.
“But Mr. Tomas, are you sure that you love Jennifer? I mean, I think you’re a bit confused about your feelings. When Jennifer was here, right beside you, all you talked about was Amanda. Or, to put it another way, that unknown girl. So my question is, are you sure, Tomas, that you genuinely love Jennifer? Because if you don’t love her, just leave her; give her a chance to start a new life. Please, I’m begging you this time, don’t be selfish! I raised you, stood by you, and protected you through thick and thin. But this time, I will never let you hurt Jennifer. This girl has suffered a lot. Have you even tried to do anything good for her? Have you ever taken her on a date? Have you ever truly tried to focus on what she really needs or what she wants to do in her life? Do you know that she has nothing, but you have everything? And even Amanda has a lot of things-she’s rich, well-educated, graduated from a prestigious university, and has a wealthy friend who has supported her for years. And she has a son, too. But Jennifer has nothing. So please, think about it,” Carl said to me, his voice filled with concern.
I widened my eyes and took two steps before stopping in my tracks. “I think you’re right, Carl. But I’m so confused, too. Amanda was so good to me. I hurt her feelings, too. What should I do now, Carl? Please tell me.” I spun my head, glaring at Carl, my frustration boiling over.
“It’s your own decision now, Mr. Tomas. But you should choose with your heart this time. Amanda has been using your mind for years, if you think about it. She suffered because she wanted to. She’s like Selena and Maya. Actually, I think Selena and Maya are more innocent than her. I mean, Amanda isn’t inherently bad. But she did everything she wanted to do for herself. Selena, however, followed you because of her heart, and Maya sold herself for the money, but later her heart forced her to come back to you. But Amanda always used her intellect and cunning to get what she wanted. I’m sorry to say this, but I just don’t trust Amanda,” Carl said to me, his tone serious.
“Oh, so you want me to pick Jennifer just because you like her as a daughter?! Is that why you’re pushing me?” I smirked, trying to deflect the seriousness of our conversation.
“Do what you want, but remember one fundamental thing: love can’t last forever if it’s one-sided. Trust me, this girl deserves a better love. A better man who is sincere to her,” Carl said to me as he walked away, leaving me in a state of turmoil.
“What the hell? And where is she? Why hasn’t she come back yet?!” I murmured under my breath and called her. But she didn’t answer. Frustrated, I went inside the house, searching for her, asking the maids if she had returned yet. They shook their heads, saying she hadn’t come back.
Amanda heard me and strolled toward me with that infuriatingly smug smile of hers. “Tomas? Where have you been? I heard you’re going to invest in a movie?! Are you kidding me? I didn’t think you had this weakness in you,” Amanda giggled, covering her mouth with her hand, as if my emotional side was some sort of joke.
I narrowed my eyes at her. “Weakness?! Huh?!” I shrieked, my voice dripping with incredulity.
“Yes. I mean, I didn’t know you liked romance and had a heart like this! A sweet side! How can a mafia king fall in love?!” Amanda smirked, clearly enjoying my discomfort.
I snorted in disbelief. “You’re right! I’m the mafia king. How could I possibly fall in love with someone like you! You totally don’t know me at all. Now I realize Carl was right! I don’t trust you either. I should take a DNA test to know if your son is my son or not,” I smirked, turning away from her.
At that moment, a notification popped up on my cell phone screen. I opened the message, and it was from Jennifer: *Mr. Tomas, I’m sorry, but Paul invited me on a trip overseas; it’s not far. Call you later. Don’t wait for me.* My eyes widened when I finished reading the message. Then I threw the cellphone on the floor, smashing it with my shoe in a fit of rage.
“Oh, shit! Carl!” I hollered, panic setting in.
“Yes, Mr. Tomas?!” Carl said, rushing over.
“Where’s Jennifer?” I yelled at Carl, my voice rising with each word.
“Oh, she left with Mr. Paul Walker, on a trip to France-a romantic place, I guess. Maybe he’ll propose to her or something. He’s taking her to a special hotel. I heard that this hotel is only for newly married couples,” Carl teased me, clearly enjoying my distress.
“What the hell are you teasing me for?!” I widened my eyes, leaned my head down, and bent my legs to my head in disbelief. “Jeez. How am I supposed to let her be alone with that strange guy?!” I mumbled angrily.
“You don’t have to worry, Mr. Tomas. He’s never been to this hotel with any other woman. He used to go there alone. So I guess he really likes her, and he’ll never do anything bad to her, anyway,” Carl informed me, trying to calm my rising fury.
“Are you trying to make me run after Jennifer and kill them both or something?! And how come she turned off her cellphone? I’m going to her now!” I shouted at Carl, my frustration boiling over.
“Actually, you can’t, Mr. Tomas, because the weather is so bad, and all flights are grounded for tonight. All we can do is wait until tomorrow. So, goodnight, Mr. Tomas,” Carl said to me, walking away with a chuckle.
I knew he was happy; he was definitely involved in this. He wants to torture me, I whispered to myself. I went to the pool, walking and tucking my hands in my pockets, rolling my eyes nervously. I was trying to think about what she was doing with Paul right now. God! France! I’ll kill her when I get to her! How could she go with him without telling me! My brain was about to explode from the harsh and evil thoughts swirling in my mind. I was trying my best to relax, but there was no way. I felt consumed by jealousy.
—
**Jennifer:**
“Oh, this hotel is amazing. I’m mesmerized, talking to Paul and looking around. But where is everyone? Did you book all the hotels or something?!” I spun my head, asking Paul, my excitement bubbling over.
“Actually, yes, but there’s just one room in this hotel that I couldn’t cancel the booking. They said this room is for the owner; he could come at any moment,” Paul said to me, his tone casual, but I felt a strange unease creeping in.
“But why did you do that? Don’t expect too much from me, Paul. Actually, I do have someone in my heart,” I said to Paul, rolling my eyes, thinking about Tomas and what he was doing with Amanda.
“Oh, you mean Mr. Tomas Charl?! I thought so, too. But what’s the relationship between you two exactly? I heard you used to be his fiancee, but he betrayed you or something! Is it true, or just rumors?” Paul asked me, his curiosity piqued.
“True and false. I was his fake fiancee! But the woman he always loved came back with his child. So I’m just a third wheel in all of this.” My tears flowed down as I explained and remembered the real facts, feeling my heart ache.
“Then you should move on and start a new life. I know we haven’t known each other for long, but I have to tell you that I do like you. I don’t know how or when this happened, but maybe it started the first day I saw you. You could say it’s love at first sight. I’m a womanizer-rich, handsome, arrogant, a playboy. But my heart keeps beating faster and faster when I talk with you. Just give me a chance to be with you. Maybe it’s fate that we’re together…” Paul came closer and leaned his head toward my lips, and I stared at him, feeling conflicted.
I scoffed and stepped back, giving him a silly, nervous smile. “Well, Mr. Paul, I guess it’s too early for me to think about this,” I said to him, trying to deflect the moment. Just then, the servants came in with a huge cake, seven levels high, like a wedding cake, but pink. Paul held my hand, pulling me closer to the cake, smiling at me.
I stared at the cake, bewildered. “What? Is it your birthday?” I asked, widening my eyes in confusion.
“Actually, no, but it’s a special day, Jennifer,” he said, his smile broadening, but I felt a knot form in my stomach.
I spun my head, staring at him. “What do you mean? And why are there only four candles?!” I narrowed my eyebrows, trying to understand.
He rolled his eyes and sighed dramatically. “Because I met you four weeks ago, Jennifer.”
“What do you mean, Paul? Is this your way to make a woman fall for you? Because I want you to know that I’m really in love with Tomas,” I sighed, my heart heavy.
He walked close to me, exhaling in frustration. “Just give your heart a chance! Don’t rush anything. And as I know, Tomas has his own woman and a child, maybe he’ll choose them after all and leave you,” Paul furrowed his eyebrows and then smiled, moving the back of his hands over my cheeks slowly, staring at me with an intensity that made me uneasy.
I backed off, shaking my head. “Oh, maybe you’re right. But I still love him, and I would never betray him. And I don’t trust you, either. You’re so famous, handsome, and rich, and you have a new girlfriend every week, as I heard from the news. So why me?!” I narrowed my eyes at him, trying to stand my ground.
“Well, to be honest, I don’t have an answer for that question now. Because I like you, but I don’t know why, and I’m not sure I’ll be with you forever. That’s why I’m asking you to open your heart to me and give yourself a chance to get to know each other better. Maybe it’s real love,” Paul said, shrugging his shoulders as if it were all so simple.
I walked away, staring off into space, dazed. “Oh, maybe, but I know Tomas loves me…” I frowned, grappling with my emotions.
“Are you sure he really loves you? What kind of relationship is this?! It’s a joke to me. He has his wife, his son, and his assistant,” Paul smirked, his tone mocking.
“Don’t say another word! Tomas and I don’t even sleep together, and she’s not his wife!” I blurted out angrily, my patience wearing thin as I hurried to my room. Paul followed me, pulling my arm, slamming my back against the door, and coming closer to my face. “Jennifer, you’re just afraid to fall in love with me. You think that if you get closer, you’ll forget about Tomas. You can’t resist me, Jennifer,” Paul said confidently, his breath warm against my skin.
I pushed him away, but he slammed my back against the wall again and came closer to my neck, I could feel his warm breath sending chills down my spine. “Don’t, Paul! Please don’t!” I cleared my throat and begged him, desperation creeping into my voice.
He pulled his face back an inch and furrowed his eyebrows, narrowing his eyes at me, looking genuinely taken aback. “You shocked me! It’s the first time in my life that a woman has rejected me!” Paul said in a low voice, almost as if he couldn’t comprehend my refusal.
“Actually, Paul, you’re the same as Tomas. He’s so arrogant and egotistical, too. Both of you think you can take whatever you want easily. But I’ll tell you what I told Tomas when I met him: I’m not that easy, and no one can force me to do something I don’t want to. I’m an orphan; I’ve always depended on myself; I’ve always been strong; this life has treated me badly. So back off now, Paul. If you think I’ll fall for you because of some gifts or a romantic night, then no, I won’t. I need a man who will choose me with his heart and leave the whole world for me,” I said firmly to Paul. Then I pushed him away, opened my room door, and locked it behind me.
I cried heavily that night, my emotions spilling over. I even tried to call Tomas, but I found that he had called me many times, but I’d left my cellphone in the room, so I hadn’t noticed. He called me many more times, but the feeling of insecurity and Paul’s words-how could I be so sure Tomas loved me?-hesitated me. When I thought about it, I felt so confused. Maybe he was right; Tomas wanted everything-me, Amanda, and his son. He still kept his illegal weapons factory going. I’d asked him to stop that kind of work, but he still did it. Tomas had called me crazy more than twenty times. So I decided to turn off my cellphone and stay there for a while to relax and think about what I should do next.
—
**Tomas:**
“Carl!” I shouted his name, my frustration boiling over.
“Yes, Mr. Tomas?!” Carl responded, rushing to my side.
“Jennifer didn’t answer my calls, and she turned off her cellphone. She’s betraying me! I should kill them both! Or do you think he did something to her?! Or maybe she’s sleeping and didn’t hear her cellphone! God! I’m going insane. She knows how to make me boil. That innocent, inexperienced girl knows how to play with my heart. Tell me anything, Carl! I’m so angry,” I hollered, my voice echoing in the empty room.
Carl laughed, a sound that grated on my nerves. “Oh, god, Mr. Tomas, you’re so jealous. But she’s not our fiancee anymore, so you can’t do anything. Just wait for her return. And go to Amanda and your son… She’s your fate. The real love. You lived many years waiting for her. So you should leave Jennifer now to live her life,” Carl said simply, as if that were all there was to it.
I ground my teeth and hit the wall with my hand. “What the hell are you doing?! You’re teasing me, Carl?! Who said Jennifer isn’t my fiancee anymore! I thought I was in love with Amanda, but I really don’t know what I should do! I’m sure now that I love Jennifer. Maybe when a rival appears, I feel I can’t love any other woman. She’s the one for me. Carl, I’m unhappy without her. I should go find her now. Call this hotel and arrange everything; I’m going. I can’t let her stay alone with him,” I commanded Carl, my voice firm.
“But she’s not alone, Mr. Tomas. She’s not at Paul’s house; she’s just in a hotel, so I think you should calm down. Everything will be okay; you just have to wish her the best and to find true love and her soulmate,” Carl chuckled, trying to ease my tension.
“Don’t say those fucking words again! I’m going now…” I shrieked, my frustration spilling over.
Carl called the hotel, but a few minutes later, after he finished the call, he came back with a worried look on his face. “Mr. Tomas, I have some bad news,” Carl said to me, his tone serious.
“What?” I shouted, my heart racing.
He sighed deeply. “Paul booked the whole hotel. He’s alone with Jennifer. So I think we should go now. But the big problem is that there are no free rooms. So what should we do, Mr. Tomas?! I’m so worried about her now. At the beginning, I was just teasing you, but you know she’s so cute and weak, and maybe he’ll do something to her. As a womanizer, booking the whole hotel, he might use his power and force her into…” Carl said, widening his eyes, panic creeping into his voice.
“Don’t finish that sentence! Don’t say it! If he tries to touch her, I will choke him and torture him for the rest of his life,” I narrowed my eyes in anger, my fists clenching at my sides. “Now, Carl, call the owner and arrange to meet me at the hotel in two hours,” I commanded Carl, and he started to make the call while we prepared to take the jet to Jennifer.
I was so confused and angry, worried about her, but also nervous-conflicted feelings swirling within me. I wanted to hug her, and at the same time, I wanted to beat her and slap her face for traveling with a stranger, even a man. Weird feelings were kicking in my heart for the first time in my life. At this moment, I was sure Jennifer was right; I felt that I loved a girl I didn’t know, and I hurt the girl I spent all my time with. I was thinking and whispering to myself until we arrived, and the owner was waiting for me in his limo to drive me to his hotel.