“Here.”
Aurelia hesitated before taking the cup of water from Veronica, staring at it like it would come alive and bite her.
“I didn’t poison it if that’s what you’re thinking.” Veronica mused, sarcasm dripping in her tone.
Giving the cup one last wary stare, Aurelia accepted it, and Veronica flopped on the sofa beside her. They were in Veronica’s hotel room, and the supermodel had taken it upon herself to tend to Aurelia’s wound, taking responsibility for her fall.
Veronica observed Aurelia’s scraped knee, then she moved to her closet, returning with a tube of ointment. Aurelia silently watched as she squeezed the open cut, her fingers spreading it against her skin.
“That will do.” Veronica nodded as she sealed the cap on the ointment, letting out a small yawn as she straightened up.
“Thank you.” Aurelia kept her head low, spacing out as she looked down at her feet.
“Now that’s out of the way, shall we begin?” Veronica suggested, leaning back in her seat as she crossed her legs over each other.
Aurelia sat stiffly in her seat, unsure of what Veronica had up her sleeves.
“First and foremost.” Veronica snapped her fingers, her smooth voice carrying a hint of humor.
“What do you think of me?” She asked, keeping a neutral expression as her gaze drilled holes in Aurelia’s soul.
Although her mind was still in a haze, Aurelia pondered on the question. A few minutes passed, and still nothing came to mind.
What did she think of Veronica?
The model had not done anything in particular to her, at least not anything that would make her hate Veronica. Instead, it was Aurelia who put up a cold attitude toward her from the very beginning.
Veronica’s lips curled into a knowing smile, amused by Aurelia’s lack of response. “You don’t have to answer. It’s deadly obvious.”
Aurelia’s eyes snapped back to Veronica’s, a hint of wariness in them.
“You see me as a romantic rival for Luke, don’t you?” Veronica clarified, her tone neutral.
Aurelia’s silence was confirmation enough, but Veronica pressed on.
“Admit it, Aurelia. You’ve been wary of me from the start.”
Aurelia’s shoulders sagged, and she nodded begrudgingly. “Yes.”
Veronica’s smile widened. “I knew it.”
“But that’s not all.” She added in a whisper, her eyes roaming about the luxurious room. “I also envied you, because you seemed to be everything I wanted to be. Confident, gorgeous, and successful.”
Veronica was taken aback for a moment, her heart fluttering.
“Oh?.” Now she was at a loss for words. “That’s…interesting.”
She’d been called gorgeous countless times, but they never faxed her. Maybe it was because those comments were made by men who only saw her for her potential in bed, so hearing Aurelia talk sincerely warmed her heart.
This must be how she captured her cousin’s affection, a man who never seemed to take anything apart from himself seriously. Then there was Luke, but that one remained in denial, she thought.
Aurelia sighed, still finding it hard to believe that she was having this conversation with Veronica. But oddly so, she didn’t feel the least bit uncomfortable sharing her thoughts. It was strange but peaceful.
Aurelia glanced at Veronica, noticing that she was dressed in loose shorts and a T-shirt that had ‘Suck my dick’ printed boldly on the front. She was thrown in a messy low bun, and her face was clad in make up , revealing the mole that sat pretty on her chin.
In the end, behind all the glitz and glamor, she was also human. She must have her imperfections and flaws, despising the parts of her she can’t change.
Suddenly their exchange felt more intimate, like they gradually crossed the borders of familiarity.
“But it doesn’t matter,” Aurelia continued, “Luke said he doesn’t love me.”
Veronica’s expression softened, and she leaned forward, her elbows on her knees. “What makes you think that?”
Aurelia’s eyes dropped, and she repeated Luke’s words, her voice cracking. ” ‘I won’t ever fall in love with Aurelia.’ I happened to overhear an argument between him and Ezekiel.”
Veronica nodded, understanding the situation. She yawned, stretching her arms above her head. “He doesn’t mean it.”
Aurelia shook her head in disagreement, unwilling to let herself believe that. She couldn’t afford to hope for something more.
“He does. The look in his eyes…. it was like he loathed the idea of loving me.”
“Okay. But how does his eyes look when he’s with you?”
This question picked Aurelia’s brain, and she thinks back to the times the CEO had been vulnerable around her. She recalled the day he blushed at her tease, the moment he bled on her couch and held onto her hand, asking her to stay with him. She remembered the incident in his home, and how he had genuinely apologized. She thought of his carefree laughter, of the dimple that popped in his cheeks when he smiled.
Aurelia remembered it all, but it did nothing but pain her.
“I have to go.” Standing to her feet, Aurelia turned to the exit, but her steps screeched to a halt as Veronica caught her arm.
“Aurelia.” She called sternly, standing as well. “Don’t act irrationally, if Luke decides to be a fool then you shouldn’t join him.”
Aurelia doesn’t answer for a while, her head hung low as her teeth bit deep into her lip.
“I don’t want to hear that from you.” She finally said, her tone turning cold. Aurelia looked over her shoulder, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Not from the woman who he cares for more.”
Veronica clicked her tongue in annoyance, biting back a snarl.
“Looks like you’re both fools.” With fluid strength, she pulled Aurelia close, causing her to stumble into her arms. Veronica secured her hands around Aurelia’s waist, their chests flushed against each other.
Aurelia gasped, her cheeks involuntarily heating up. “What-”
She was cut off by a kiss.
Eyes popping in her skull, Aurelia went rigid. Veronica’s lips claimed hers, quick yet sensual. Then the model pulled back with a smirk that spelled nothing but trouble.
“For your information.” Veronica pinched Aurelia’s chin, taking advantage of her shock.
Her eyes lowered seductively, admiring Aurelia’s lips as her tongue swiped against her bottom lip. Savoring the sweet taste of strawberry that tingled her taste buds.
She leaned close to whisper in Aurelia’s ear like a siren luring its prey to sea.
“I prefer women.”
With that said, Veronica let Aurelia go, turning sharply on her heels.
“I’m not your rival darling, keep that in mind.”
Aurelia staggered, her mind reeling. Her fingers traced her lips, her heart drumming in her ears as she watched Veronica’s hips sway with each step she took.
Then like a hard brick to the head, she snapped out of her daze and ran out of the room. Veronica laughed, flopping against her queen-sized bed.
“I get why those two are crazy about her now.” She said to herself, her eyes fluttering close.
“Now I just have to watch how things go from here.”