As I got out of the chairmanโs office, I couldnโt help but think about the chairmanโs word. Then the money, I sighed as my mind juggled on different thoughts.โI should leave. That is the most sanest decision right now Rose.โ I said to myself as I made my way towards the elevator that would lead me to the ground floor of the building. As the door was about to close, someone stopped it with their foot as I looked up to find Valentino grinning sheepishly at me like some little boy that just found his doll.โRight. Exactly what I needed.โ I muttered to myself.โAre you about to leave without even coming to see me?โ He asked with a wide smile on his face.โAs if, you narcissistic jerk.โ I scoffed in a mocking way that made his chuckle. He must find that cute. I should think of ways to get them to hate me.โWhat are you doing here?โ I asked as he folded his arm and stared at me like my question was weird.โHello.โ He waved his hand at me. โWhere do you think you are, Princesa?โ He asked a
I couldn't stand still and listen to Bella's nonsense. I walked in, and Vincente's eyes fell on me, uncertainty written on his face. He was sipping on a glass of water while his mother talked to him. When she noticed Vincente's attention had shifted, she turned to see who had caught her son's eye."Hi..." she said with a forced smile that was painfully obvious. She couldn't even fake it convincingly."Hi," I replied curtly, my frustration with Bella growing. I shifted my gaze to Vincente, who continued sipping on his water, his eyes fixed on me."Ah, I'll leave you two," Bella said with a chuckle as she walked away. I continued to stare at Vincente, unsure of what to say.Since his return, it felt like he had been avoiding me. Even though I had my hands full with his brothers, stirring up various emotions, the growing distance between Vincente and me troubled me."I-""I am tired," he said emotionlessly, cutting me off. It hurt to see someone who had once made me so comfortable look a
"When?" I asked, praying it wouldn't clash with my date with Valentino."Do you have an appointment? Maybeโ""No," I stopped him. If I allowed him to celebrate his birthday alone, I wouldn't live with myself. It might sound crazy, but Vicente was as important to me as Valentino."I don't have a prior appointment. Even if I do, I would cancel," I lied as he smiled. "I didn't know I became so important to you, Rose," he teased as my face reddened."Little slut," Arya said to me as I maintained a smile on my face."Well, I still feel you have a prior engagement. Would you be done by 9 pm?" He asked."Yeah, it's perfect," I said with a gleaming smile. I had just been worried for nothing. Everything was working perfectly, and it seemed too good to be true. I get to please both brothers, and no one gets hurt.Getting along with Vicente was as important as paying back a favor or satisfying my insatiable desire for his elder brother."Nice," he replied with a smile and moved close, planting a
"Iโ" I tried to say something but couldn't seem to complete my words. How could I say no when he was looking at me like that? Like his request was at the expense of his life."I'll stayโฆ" I sucked in a deep breath and resumed stroking his head as his smile widened."Thank you, Rose," he said as I nodded and looked up at his mother's picture. Memories of how she left him as a kid flooded my mind."I'll stay for a while and go to Vicente," I thought aloud and willed myself to believe everything would turn out well."Would you like to hear some of my memories with my mum?" He asked, pulling me out of my reverie."Uh? Sure?" I nodded, with a genuine smile. It was perfect; at least talking about the dead would block all the nasty thoughts she was having, while Valentino was laying on her lap looking like a devilishly handsome puppy.Valentino sat up, his legs crossed as he started talking about different memories with his mother, jumping from one scene to another, smiling like a ten-year-o
VALENTINOI followed Vicenteโs gaze and landed on Rose, who stood there looking like a helpless little girl, desperately thinking about what to do.I scoffed at first, followed by a short laugh, and then a continuous, loud laugh that made the three people in the room stare at me.โSure. Letโs have a good fight, brother,โ I pretended to straighten my brotherโs clothes as he watched me with a confused look. โDonโt get hurt, though,โ I added with an angry look and turned away, leaving without another word.All the while on my way to my room, I couldn't imagine my fears were coming to pass. The day my brothers would want to fight with me for Sabatini Internationals, the one thing Iโve lived for, apart from Rose, my mate. I don't know if she knew or felt it, but the attraction between the two of us was undeniable.I drew in a deep breath as I made my way to the bathtub and dipped myself in, trying to shove the troubling thoughts away, but they stuck to me as if glued. She was the reason for
VALENTINO"I have been driving for a while now, young master. Do you now have a particular destination to go to?" The driver asked through the speaker on his sound system. I stared out of the window as if his words were foreign to me."Boss-""Did I ask you to talk?" I responded in a low, lazy manner that showed my frustration."I'm so sorry, boss," he quickly apologized as I sighed for the umpteenth time.My thoughts turned to Rose; I needed a distraction from my current situation."Take me home," I finally said."Okay, boss," he replied as I closed my eyes, trying to push away the pain in my heart.I couldn't help but think of Roseโher soft body on my sheets, her lips, and the desire she ignited in me.She had a significant effect on me, and it frustrated me.When I finally arrived home and entered the living room, I found Bella sipping wine and engrossed in a TV show."You're back?" She asked, turning to look at me."Mind your business," I replied curtly, trying to hide the fact th
VALENTINO"What? No. I mean, you can't just decide to do something out of the blue-""You don't even know why I am here," she cut me short all of a sudden, as if she was trying to convey an emotion. But it didn't matter to me at that point. I hadn't really thought that Rose would stay here forever, but I hadn't thought of her leaving either."You are not the problem," I said with a calm tone, even if that was the hardest thing to do. I was desperate, seeing the resolute look on her face.She scoffed and shook her head. "Then what is?" she asked, and then I realized I was kidding myself. My brother and I are up against each other because of her.As she turned to leave, I held her arm and drew her back. "Iโ" I paused and pressed my lips together, the words hard for me to form because it's like making the biggest decision ever."I will leave the company for him," I said as she stared at me with newfound shock, which later transferred to a chuckle."Don't be silly, Valentino.""I am serio
VALENTINO"What's Rose got to do with it?" I asked, raising an eyebrow."It's nothing," he cleared his throat and waved off the question."Really?" I pressed, but he seemed more focused on avoiding my gaze, which was even weirder."We were talking all of a sudden, and Rose's name suddenly popped up," I said again as he stood up."I have a meeting with some business associates. Don't let what happened at the court earlier repeat itself. Vicente is hurting as much as you," he said as I bit my lower lip. The old geezer had skillfully changed the subject, but what did he mean by Vicente was hurting?"Hurting? Then what would you call what I experienced in the states all this while?" I asked when he was halfway towards the door.He turned to look at me. "How about talking to him for once? You might just find out some things you can't imagine," he stated and finally left.I sighed and placed my hand on the desk, looking down, contemplating hard on what to do."Do you want to?""I don't," I
ROSE"Whatโs with the face?โ Renata turned to the passenger side to look at me.โMarco said to come in now,โ she said as I sighed, nervously tucking my fingernails into my mouth.โHow will he react when he sees me?โ I turned to look at her; she smiled. โI mean, I just left like that without a real goodbye, like a selfishโฆ.โ The words hung in my mouth as she placed a hand on mine.โDonโtโฆ this is for your happiness. These past few days have been hell for you. I wonโt let you leave here without meeting him at least once,โ she said. When I still seemed hesitant, she continued.โI heard he has been combing the whole world trying to find you. Imagine how he is going to feel,โ she said with a reassuring smile, and I gave her a tight smile.I would fool myself if I said that served as any comfort. โWellโฆ I guess I have to go now,โ I said as Renata nodded.โYeahโฆ Go on, donโt keep your man waiting,โ she teased, and I returned a tight smile.Now in front of Valentinoโs office, the door suddenl
VALENTINOโWhat the hell is this?โ I raised up the file the head of strategy department in the New York just brought in, as I stared at the blonde with a pissed expression.โSir, itโs theโฆ.โโFuck this.โ I muttered under my breath as I stood up, the other manโs head slightly bowed in fear.For the past three days here in New York, I have been on the edge. Every single thing got me pissed. And this was bad, it got worse everyday as the project we are working on was being hindered due to lack of progress.โLeave now.โ I cupped my face in my palm. โUntil you find a better plan.โ I raised up my head to look at him, so he could understand the gravity of the situation from my expression.โAlright sir.โ His American accent came out calmly. They were used to it. Or maybe they forced themselves to just bear with my cranky attitude.I rested back on the leather chair following the sound of the door closing and closed my eyes, took in a deep breath and her image mirrored in my head.My eyelid fl
VICENTEFew months laterโฆ.โCalling out of the blue to pick you up , eh? Do I look like your manager or driver?โ Marco asked Vicente who occupied the back seat, while he drove, his eyes on the road.โMust you complain about everything, Marco? I just called this once and you can let it slip.โ I replied, my eyes out in the window as I take in the afternoon view of Venice, it wasnโt like there was anything fascinating about it, I just wanted to be distracted.โPlus my Manager is on a breakโฆ.โโA break you let him have. And now youโre being all grumpy towards me. I still think itโs unfair.โ He looked at me through the rear mirror but I didnโt spare him a glance.โYou donโt look good, Vicente .โ He said again after a moment do silence.โItโs feels so empty.โ I mumbled to myself as I reminisce on how the recent days felt like hellโฆ.all because of the absence of one person.โWhat?โ Marco asked, completely confused.โI wonder if they feel it too.โ I said again. โMy brothers.โ I looked throug
โVicente.โ I called slowly, the smile on my face fading away as I watched me intently. As we both stared at each in silence, he suddenly burst into a smile while I watched in confusion.โWhatโs with the look?โ He asked with a chuckle, while I stared in confusion.โUgh?โ I asked, blinking.โI should be asking you that.โ I licked my lips nervously, desperate to understand what was going through that head of his.โI pulled a little joke and you fell for it immediately? How cute.โ He played with my cheeks as I let out a sigh and forced a slight chuckleโฆ.while throwing my face to the other side.The feeling of guilt overwhelming me again.Like hell I would believe that, it was a mere joke. I caught a sign of it. A sign of pain.I stood up abruptly as he followed me up too and stared at me with careful gaze.โI need to go.โ I said, looking at him.โUgh?โ He raised his gaze in confusion, and for a minute I got lost in that curious wide eyes of his. As he watched me, it felt like he was sendi
ROSEโWhat were you trying to do?โ I forced my gaze away from Valentino to Valerio who scoffed in disbelief.He stared at me in the disapproving glare that he as trying to moderate. But his emotions wonโt let him.โI heard everything. The conversation between you and Vicente.โ I said as he raised his brow in a knowing stare while I pressed my lips.โIt doesnโt give any right to act out, Valerio.โ I said again, everything coming out of my mouth with so much difficulty because the difficult part was yet to come. The reason I was here.โYou canโt keep supporting him in this bloody time!โ He seethed angrily as he watched me, his expression a mixture of anger and denial.From the corner of my eyes, I could see Valentino watching us. I bowed my head slightly as I played with my fingers, my whole body tensed.I couldnโt back down. I canโt go back on my word just because of the kind of emotion that was flowing through me at that point.โIt doesnโt matter anymore.โ I said and raised my head t
โWhat is it?โ I watched him,a little scared of what to expect.I wasnโt sure why. But when it concerns Rose. It was good enough to get me nervous.He sighed heavily and shoved his hand through his hair. โI shouldnโt be telling you this butโฆ.โโGo on Vicente.โ I chimed in smoothly as he watched me with a nervous expression.โIt was a setup.โ He said as I raised my brow. โWhat is?โ I asked.โThe whole thing.โ He said again.โUgh?โ I prompted, now feeling uneasy at the way he was breaking the words, mounting my fears.โWhen I visited Valentino the other day, Iโฆ.โHe started to shake his head as if trying to remember.โI overheard him and the doctor talking. About his blood pressure.โ He said but I still couldnโt understand where he was heading to.โIsnโt it normal for a doctor to discuss the patientโs condition with him?โ I asked with a slight chuckle, as I tried to cover my fears with a feigned smile.โYeah. I think he told him to disclose it to your guys intentionally toโฆ.โโTo get Ros
VALERIO โFuck!โ I muttered under my breath as I turned to see my brother staring at me and Rose as if he couldnโt comprehend what was right in front of him.Vicente closed the door as quickly as he opened it and walked away.โHe looks pissed.โ I turned to Rose who had her hand stuck in her head as if thinking of what to do, but was obviously stuck.โIโll go talk to him.โ I said and licked my lips in exasperation and stood up, watched as she crouched up her legs and folded her arms around him, her gaze away from mine.โHey.โ I started to move close to her but she moves slightly away from me as if she was tasked to stay away.โGo to Vicente.โ She looked up to me quickly.โHe would get things wrong.โ She said with a worried expression.I sighed and nodded then moved away from the bed. โTell him what?โ I asked, my voice starting to sound irritated as she raised up her head to look at me in disbelief.โAnything!โ She retorted angrily. โWhat if he goes blabbering to Valentino about this?โ
VALERIO I moved closer and deepened the kiss, as if scared that she might change her mind at the last minute. I didnโt need any more confirmation from her as she held my head to her.Closely, as if I might withdraw.As we deepened the kiss as the minute passes, flashes of her rejecting me after all of this ends starts to come to my mind but I blocked out those thoughts as I led her instinctively to the bed.As we kissed, I placed her hastily on the bed, our panting breath, the only thing that filled my head as the urgency of the situation seized me.โValerio.โ She pushed me back as I stared at her flushed face, and maybe a hint of guilt starting to show.โThis is the last time.โ The words came out of her mouth and I didnโt even know how to react to it.She was looking at my lips like a snack that she has always wanted and has now gotten the chance.โLast time?โ I asked, my voice choked with emotion as she causally shifted her gaze to my eyes.โI chose Valentino.โ She said as if even
ROSEโThank you, doctor.โ I managed to say despite the huge lump of pain I was feeling in my chest at that point. But Valerio stood up abruptly and walked out of the room without saying a word as I shifted my gaze to gus retreating figure, watched as he banged the door following his exiting.โIโm sorry about that.โ I turned to apologize to the doctor who just managed a tight smile. Obviously, that didnโt settle well with him. And Valerio obviously wasnโt feeling what he said. I stood up and walked away, dragging my feet down the hallway.โFollow him or himโฆ.โArya asked through the mind linked in my head.I knew who she was referring to as him or him.I didnโt reply that, just made my way out of the hospital, and if I was mistaken, I saw Valerioโs car pass in front of me, speeding up without a care in the world.I clenched my fist and swallowed, as I tried not to stagger due to how weak I suddenly became.This is extremely tiresome. And whatโs worse, I canโt leave everything and leave