POV: Victoria
“Vee, where are you?
Come home, come back right now, I need you.” Mom let out sadly when I picked up the call. The call ended before I could say anything and I felt miserable because she didn’t say anything reasonable. She didn’t tell me exactly what was happening over there, but I heard the pain in her voice and I knew it had to be something so serious.
I felt my heart breaking into a million pieces as I imagined different scenarios. I tried calling back, but she wasn’t picking anymore. I don’t know what I’m going to do, how do I tell Raphael and his grandfather that I cannot stay for the evening cocktail party that was being held on our behalf.
I kept pacing the room and calling Mom, hoping and praying that she would pick up my calls. I even tried Claire and her boyfriend. But no one was taking my calls and that made me panic even more. I didn’t want to disrupt Ralph’s meeting with his grandfather, but when I could reach anyone at home, I had no choice but to go to him for help, again.
“Where do you think you are going to?” Charlotte asked me when I came down the spiraling staircase. She stood there with Cindy, their hands folded on their chests and their face looking so grim like two villains from a cartoon. It seems like they have waiting for me to come down. I would have stayed inside if I knew they would be lurking around, waiting for me.
“Not now, please!
I don’t have time for this, I have something more important that I need to handle right now!” I let out firmly and tried to walk out on them. But I was pushed back by Charlotte and she looks ready to start up a fight between us. But I’m not ready for that, I don’t have the time to banter or engage in a silly fight with either of them.
“Take your fight elsewhere, Charlotte. I don’t have time for this,” I added angrily, pushing to break free from their hold. They had me cornered and they seemed ready to bully me and get their revenge for the embarrassment they faced earlier.
“Because of you, Madam Laura is going to be humiliated publicly and she is not allowed to attend the party tonight. Do you know what that means, do you know how humiliated and furious she is right now?” Cindy asked angrily.
“You are proving to be a worthy opponent. I guess I will have to teach you a lesson,” Charlotte lets out angrily, pushing the huge vase that stood near us to the floor and shattering it into a hundred pieces.
“I don’t know how you all got involved with that dude, but you need to stay away from me if you do not want to get into more trouble. If you think I would let you put it on me, then you need to think again because I won’t let you bully me, I won’t sit back and watch you walk over me. Raphael is one, he chose me!” I responded angrily, refusing to back down.
“You Bitch!” Charlotte let out in anger and raised her hand to hit me. But her hand never be done to strike my face. I shut my eyes tightly, waiting for her hand to strike my face, but it never did. When I opened my eyes, I saw Ralph standing next to her, holding her hand midway. I didn’t see him coming, none of us did.
“How dare you try to hit my woman, are you fucking insane?” Raphael asked her furiously, glaring at her. She glared back at him angrily and I thought she would lash out at him as well, but she suddenly broke down and started crying like a baby, throwing her arms around him and acting so sad and broken.
“How could you hurt me so much, Ralph, why do you hate me so much?” She sobbed sadly, letting the tears flow freely down her cheeks, pulling her hair and acting like a fucking lunatic.
“I didn’t hurt your stupid girlfriend, Raphael, I can’t hurt anyone and you know it, you know me. She hit me first, she keeps rubbing It in my face that you chose her over me, and it’s hurting me, Raphael. I can’t take it anymore, I need my best friend back,” she kept sobbing like a baby.
“Is that true, Victoria?
Did you hit her first, did you hurt Charlotte?” he asked me, sounding pissed. I was shocked when he glared at me, I didn’t expect him to take her side and believe her lies. I stared at him with my mouth opened widely, I was simply lost for words to respond to him
“Are you kidding me right now?!” I yelled in anger, staring at him in shock. Even a fool could tell that this bitch is lying. Why the hell is he taking her side?
“I never want you to use your position to bully anyone close to me, Victoria. I told you to let me handle everything, I don’t want you causing trouble in my family. Charlotte and I are friends and nothing can change that, not even you. Know your place and stop causing more problems for me!
Do you understand me?” he yelled in my direction, making me more bewildered. I would have responded if that bitch didn’t turn his face to hers, caressing his cheeks as she looked into his eyes,
“You promised me, Raphael…
You said you will never leave me, remember?
Why did you let her come between us, Ralph, why do you let her hurt me?” she cried, looking so pathetic.
“Things have changed between us, Charlie. But that doesn’t change what we both shared. We are still friends, we will always be friends and I’ll never let anyone hurt or bully you. That’s my promise to you and I intend to keep it.” He told her with a warm smile.
“Come on, I’ll watch you take your drugs and tuck you in bed,” he lets out softly as he puts his hand around her waist and leads her up the stairs. He didn’t say anything to me, he just helped her up the stairs and left me standing there, staring after them.
When they got to the top of the stairs, just before he turned to the hallway leading to her room. She turned to me with a grin, smiling proudly. I came down here to tell him that Claire is missing and Dad is the main suspect. But this is what I get, his betrayal and her victorious smile.
“Fuck it all to hell!” I muttered under my breath, dragging my hand through my hair. Cindy couldn’t let this moment pass without rubbing it in my face. She chuckled proudly, coming to stand before me with that stupid grin plastered on her face.
“What the hell do you want now?
Haven’t you girls done enough, what do you want from me?
Why don’t you get out of my face and take your victory dance elsewhere!” I asked angrily, causing her to laugh even louder.
“No Vee, we haven’t done enough. This will stop after she takes him back from you. You just watch and see,” she told me proudly as she walked out on me, swaying her hips gallantly. I sighed angrily, climbing the stairs and heading back to our room in anger.
This is all his fault!