Chapter 2

            After my encounter with little miss smarty mouth, I headed home. I needed to clear my head from the fact that I could be getting divorced soon. That he’d gotten a ring meant he was probably working on divorce papers. I took off my suit in front of the pool so I was standing in a matching set of white underwear. I jumped into the water and swam for minutes until I was exhausted.

Right from when I was twelve, swimming was a means of comfort for me. Whenever I wanted to avoid my parents or just get away from things, I would come to the swimming pool. It felt as though I was washing my concerns away. It felt superb.

I moved my hair away from my face when I heard footsteps. “Finn, I told you to go to the...” I paused. It was Levi. Judging from his hostile glare and how his face contorted into one of rage, it was obvious what had happened. “She called you, didn’t she?”

“What the hell is wrong with you?” he stretched out his tie. “Do you have any idea what that restaurant means to her and her family? It’s their livelihood.”

I simply stared at him, refusing to utter a word. He would always do it to me whenever I was upset at him for doing something wrong. He needed to know what it felt like to be ignored, as though one was speaking to a log of wood.

He ran a hand through his hair. “You won’t say anything after threatening to kill someone?”

“What?”

“Did you think she wouldn’t tell me you threatened to kill her?”

That piece of shit! I swam toward the edge of the water and got out. No longer were his eyes on my face. Instead, they travelled from my face to my collarbone, then to my breasts. I lowered my eyes to my breasts as well. My nipples were poking at the material of my bra that was now see through because of the water.

Lusting asshole.

I folded my arms over my chest. “Is that what she told you?”

He met my eyes. “Yes. Why would you threaten a poor girl with death? Did you think that would be enough to keep her away from me?”

I huffed out air. “I did not threaten to kill her.” I paused, “But I threatened to bring down her restaurant. You know very well I’ve been looking for a suitable plot of land to build Techya’s new tower. That place seems perfect.”

“Zesa!” he shouted angrily, fist clenched at his side.

I grabbed my towel and tied it around myself. “I’ll see you later.”

I’ll admit it. It felt good to walk away from him. It felt so darn good to leave him speechless, like he always did to me. After changing out of my wet underwear, I showered and changed into comfortable clothes. I would work from home today. One of the perks of being the boss. I went into my study, sat down, and turned on my computer. As expected, there was a lot to take care of. Minutes into my work, Levi came into the study. He had styled his hair after messing it up.

I flipped through papers as I spoke. “You didn’t leave yet?”

“Get dressed. We have to go somewhere.”

I placed the papers down. “I can’t. There’s a lot of work for me to do.”

“You think I don’t have work to do as well?”

Annoyed from the disturbance, I met his gaze. “Where are you taking me to?”

“To lunch.”

<>_<>

            There’s a feeling that rises in a woman’s chest when the man she loves wants to take her out to lunch. Especially if that woman’s love language is food, and I intended to make excellent use of that opportunity. As I stood in front of the mirror, I couldn’t help but feel beautiful. I wore a dark brown off shoulder paisley print maxi dress with a black belt, held a black purse in hand and wore suede buckled cutout stiletto heels on my feet. My blonde hair that was in a bun and hazel eyes simply made the entire look perfect.

 I left the room to join Levi in his car. He was seated in driver’s seat. Even after I sat down in the car, he did not bother to spare me a glance. Whatever. It’s not like I was expecting him to compliment. I knew how good I looked. His compliment meant nothing to me.

Barely five minutes into the drive, I realized it meant something to me. I wanted him to tell me I looked beautiful for the first time. I wished he would look at me and smile. A sigh fell from my lips when I realized what I wanted could never happen as long as Nina was around. She would get the compliments, the smiles, hugs, kisses and even sex. She was getting all of them and all I got were cold eyes.

Despite that, I smiled at him. “What restaurant are we eating at? La Caverne? Starlight?”

“Those are all five-star restaurants.” He said, eyes on the road.

“I know. Won’t we be visiting any of them?”

“You’ll see when we get there.”

            And I saw. Sapphire Vine Eats. His girlfriend’s restaurant. He parked the car and killed the engine. I followed him with my eyes as he got out of the car and walked around it. He opened the door for me and lowered himself so he could see me break.

“Won’t you come down?” he questioned. There was mockery in his eyes and in his smile.

A fresh swell of rage rose in me. “Did you bring me here to insult me?”

“Of course not. I brought you here because I wanted to eat with you.”

I turned away from him. “Let’s leave. There are other restaurants to eat at.”

“But they have really wonderful coffee here. I know how much you love coffee.”

“I’m good.” I moved to shut the door, but he latched onto my wrist. “Let go.” 

He forced me out of the car, almost making me trip. I stood speechless as he locked the car before dragging me behind him by my wrist into the restaurant. This wasn’t right. He had no right to do this to me, even though we were married. I was Zesa Russo. No man should do this to me. I whacked the back of his head with my purse and he let go.

“If you touch me again, I swear I’ll call the cops and tell them you’re harassing me. You know what that will do to you.”

He paced in front of me for a bit. “You don’t want to come in?”

I dived into my purse to bring out my phone. Edwardo needed to come get me. One more minute here would make me lose my shit. In my line of business, one’s reputation was very important “I’m leaving.”

Just as I turned around, he held my wrist. “My mother is in there.”

That was enough to change my mind. If his mother was in there, it meant he was going to get scolded in front of Nina. Marie wouldn’t dare go against me. After all, I was the reason she could still hold her head high amongst her peers.

I looked at him, now smiling. “Why didn’t you just say so?”

As I walked into the restaurant, I could feel the heat of his eyes on my back, burning a hole in me. Poor thing. I halted in my steps once inside the restaurant. It wasn’t too sloppy, neither was it my taste. I’d give it a five out of ten because of the wonderful aroma that infiltrated my nostrils. I scanned the restaurant until my eyes fell on a gray-haired woman with her hair styled in a way that reminded me of Marilyn Monroe. Marie Del Campa. Standing in front of her with her head down and hands in front of her was Nina Meyer. I made my way toward them, wearing the biggest smile because she would make my visit to this place worthwhile.

“Zesa.” She stood up when she saw me, coming for a hug. She smelled like pink lily and passion fruit with a little musk. Dolce Lily Eau De Toilette—my mother’s favorite perfume before she passed away. Marie and my mom were friends before her death. It was how I got to know Levi. I hugged her back briefly before pulling away.

“Please, sit.” She told me, gesturing to the seat beside her. She lifted her eyes to her son, who had his attention on Nina. “Sit down, Levi.” He sat down in front of her. “You too, Nina.”

Nina shook her head. “I’m fine standing.”

Marie hit her hand down on the table. “I said sit.”

It was not a request. It was an order. I bit the inside of my cheek when Levi nudged her. She glanced at him before sitting down. Marie’s eyes flickered between the two of them as she probably thought of what to say.

“What do you want?” she asked Nina.

Nina lowered her head. “I don’t understand.”

“Why are you trying to destroy my son’s life?”

Levi reached for Marie’s hand. “Mom, please don’t do this. Nina isn’t—”

Marie glared at her son, forcing her hand out of his. “Shut it. You have no right to speak here after the disgraceful things you’ve been doing with this woman here. I’ve had my eyes on you to be sure and if I’m being honest, you don’t deserve Zesa.”

Well said.

She continued, her attention on Nina now. “What will it take for you to leave my son? How much money will it take for you to leave his life and never show your face to him? A million?”

I faced Marie. She was dead serious about offering Nina money to get lost. I liked it. “Five million.” I offered, crossing one leg over the other.

“I cannot leave him because of money.” She said, lifting her head a bit.

She was lying. Nina was from a poor background and she was smart. She knew what the best thing to do was, yet she was stalling. She wanted more money from us. If I was right, she would increase the amount in a moment. I could see Levi’s jaw tick and it only encouraged me.

“Because you love him?” I asked, the corner of my lips rising.

“Yes.”

“You don’t love him, Nina. You’re here for the money.”

She met my accusing eyes. “What makes you say such a thing?”

“Because you’re Nina.”

I’d been keeping tabs on the both of them from where they went to and who they met. Most of the things she bought, the places they visited, were all expensive, and they were all her ideas. She would go home with expensive gifts after whining in front of him and questioning his feelings for her. Levi being a bit stupid when it came to the things that concerned her would give in and do the things she wanted. I’d seen them on videos gotten from my informant. She was a gold digger, and I was going to take care of trash like her. She was using his feelings for her own good, and he could not see it.

“… I know you’re with him for his money.” I finished.

Something changed in her facial expressions. She would make the deal really soon. “Even if that is true, what makes you think I’ll leave him for just five million?”

When Marie opened her mouth to speak, I stopped her. “What is your price?”

To Marie’s and Levi’s surprise, Nina leaned forward with her hands on the table. “Fifty million.”

Marie gasped, and I swear I saw Levi almost pass out. He put a hand to his temple, shocked to the bones. This was the true color of the woman he thought was in love with him. Nina was a gold digger, and she’d just proved it.

I brought my hand for a handshake, grinning from ear to ear. “Deal.”