Chapter Ten

“Annie?”. Her mother was surprised to see her at home. It was 1am on Saturday and she’d originally thought she’d stay over at Cesar’s house. It wasn't a normal occurrence but she had hoped that this time it would be different. 

She wanted the same thing her daughter wanted; for her to tie the knot with Cesari Sandoval and to keep all that wealth in the family.

“Mom.” Annie sobbed and rushed to hug her mother. 

Monica Montalvo wondered what happened that her daughter was crying so hard as if she’d lost someone very dear to her.

“What’s wrong Annie?”. Monica inquired and pulled back to look at her. "Did Cesar do something to upset you? did he..”

“He doesn’t love me mother". Annie replied angrily, released her mother and walked over to sit down on the sofa. "After we.. fucked, I told him how I feel about him and he.." She hiccupped. "He broke up with me!”.

“I’m very sorry dear." Monica went to sit beside her. "But you don’t have to be so upset because he doesn’t love you back my darling. You’re a very beautiful woman and I’m very sure you’ll find someone who’d love you for who you are.” She assured her. "Another man's gain, his loss."

“You don’t understand! it’s Cesar I want! just him!”. She kicked off her shoes in a fit of anger.

Monica sighed. “You can force a horse to a river but you can’t force it to drink water.” She stated dryly.

Annie huffed. “We’ll see about that Mother.”

“You okay now? I’m going back to bed. I have an early flight to catch.” Monica said.

“Sure.” She mumbled.

“Want anything to eat?”.

“No thanks.”

Monica kissed her daughter’s forehead and left. She hoped that whatever her daughter was planning wouldn’t backfire on her because Cesari Islan Sandoval wasn’t just your ordinary easy billionaire.

******

“Mommy! Someone’s at the door!”. Miesa called.

“Coming!". Elyon turned off the gas stove, wiped her hands with a napkin and went to get the door. She’d told Miesa never to answer the door by herself so every time someone rang the doorbell, Miesa would call out to her to get the door.

“Who is it?”. She asked.

“Your boyfriend". Cesar replied gruffly. "Open up.”

Ellie sighed then unlocked the door and opened it. She saw Cesar leaning against the wall with a frown on his face.

“It’s Saturday.” She told him.

“I have no where else to be." He grumbled and stepped into the house.

“Come right in." She said with a hint of sarcasm in her voice. "It’s your house.”

“Where’s her royal Highness?”. He asked.

“Cesar!!”. Miesa let out a high pitched squeal of delight and flung herself at him.

“Woah!you’re getting bigger everyday princess.” Cesar said jokingly and made a show of not being able to lift her making her giggle.

“You’re funny.” Miesa said.

“He’s really not". Ellie said. "His jokes make me cry.”

“Your mom likes putting me down, doesn’t she princess?”. Cesar asked her as they walked to the living room.

“Someone needs to do it because your ego is way bigger than the galaxy." She walked to the kitchen. "I still wonder how I put up with you.”

Cesar kissed Mimi’s forehead with a promise that he’d come play with her real soon and followed Ellie to the kitchen.

“Coffee?”. She asked.

“Beer if you have it." He said. "I had a terrible night.”

“No beer. I have a kid in the house remember?”. She said.

“Fine. Coffee then." He groaned. "Black.”

Ellie got a mug and poured him coffee then passed it to him. She turned on the gas stove and continued with what she was doing.

“What happened?”. She inquired, knowing that he wouldn't just show up at her house without any reason. He looked troubled and she hoped whatever was on his mind wasn't anything serious.

Cesar went silent wondering if he should tell her because he knew she’d surely judge him for the way he treated Annie.

Ellie turned back to look at him when he said nothing. “You don’t have to tell me..” She began.

“Annie told me she loves me and I broke up with her. He blurted out.

“Annie?”. She arched a brow.

Cesar rolled his eyes. “Antoinette Montalvo.”

“Oh?”. Ellie’s eyes widened.

“Well..I didn’t break up with her because we were not dating or anything. I ended our fuck buddy relationship.” Cesar said.

“Just because she loves you?”. She asked in disbelief.

“It’s against the rules.” He frowned.

Ellie nodded in understanding. “I see.”

“Do you really?”. He asked. 

She said nothing.

“I’m waiting.” He rumbled.

“For what?”.

“Your judgement. I’m sure you have something to say concerning this.” He said. "So spill it."

“I don’t judge you.” She refuted.

“You so do." He countered. "Remember that time we went to De Santis Corporation and I said something awful about that idiot Jason?you called me a rotten cow and you said I’m just like him.”

“I was telling you the truth." Ellie stated. "And you’re really a rotten cow for treating Annie that way.” She added with a cheeky smile.

“See?!”. He threw his hands up in the air.

“I’m sure she tried not to fall for you but sometimes..you do things that stop that from happening. It’s not a crime for her to love you.” She said.

Cesar frowned darkly and looked down into his half empty mug.

“It was a crime for my mother.” He mumbled.

“That’s her headache,not yours." Ellie told him. "You still survived without her didn’t you? You’re way richer than six presidents combined and you’re just 29.”

Cesar arched an eyebrow. “You know my age, how?".

“It’s common knowledge.” Ellie replied in a duh tone.

“You don’t love me either.” He reminded her.

“Do you want me to love you?”. Her heart skipped a beat in her chest. 

Cesar shrugged nonchalantly.

“Then I love you.” Ellie beamed at him.

Cesar’s heart skittered in his chest as he searched her face to see if she was telling the truth.

“Really?”. He breathed.

“Yes." Ellie nodded. She bit her lip.

“I have told you not to bite your lip Ellie." Cesar warned her. "You know what that does to me.”

Ellie rolled her eyes and released it. “You’ve told me that a million times so how can I forget?”.

“Good.” He said.

“I just don’t love you the way Annie does." Ellie informed him. It was a lie but what he didn't know wouldn't hurt him.

“You see me as a friend?”.

“Yep.” She popped the “p”.

“How about I change your mind?”.

“No you can’t.” She scoffed.

“You seem so sure of yourself.”

“I told you Cesar..you’re not my type.” Ellie said and winked at him.

“We’ll see about that Ellie love.”