CALAIS' POV
“I heard a rumor that you have a secret relationship with Zerro,” Felicity started.
She invited me here at her house for some private talk, well, that's what she said. And as a curious human being, I agreed. So, this is the issue she wanted us to talk about? Zainea being in a relationship with Zerro, which is her fiance?
I was quite surprised when she introduced herself as Zerro's fiancee. How bold. She still claimed herself as his fiancee behind the fact that she's been stood up at the day of their wedding.
Is she blaming Zainea for that? Partly, yes, there's no doubt that it's Zainea's the reason why Zerro can't marry this woman.
“A rumor.” I smiled. “You asked me here to confirm that, am I right? You just said it's just a rumor, why bother ask me?”
I tried to let Zainea out to let her settle things with her love rival, but I couldn't. That's the biggest question I have right now. Is she supposed to take over her body once a day? Why is she not appearing?
“Are you saying it's not true?”
“If it's true, I won't be here in front of you. I should have eloped with him, don't you think?” I'm so sorry, Zainea. I know how much you love Zerro and you don't want to deny him, but I can't the risk to make another enemy. You have enough enemies that might delay my main task.
She's weighing my words.
I grinned. “That's not what you want to hear from me, I see. But I won't force you. I have my Zayden now, so stop overthinking.”
I was about to leave when she talked.
“That's not what I heard from him.”
“Pardon me? Y-You talked to him?”
“I met him few days ago, and he explained everything to me. It's not just a rumor. He loves you, and I know, you feel the same way. You don't have to lie.”
She gave me a business card. It's Zerro's.
“You don't have to worry. I did not invite you here to argue with you nor expose your relationship to the media. Honestly, I'm so glad that Zerro did not appear on our wedding day.”
I got confused. Glad instead of being angry or something like that?
“What? What do you mean by that? I-I heard from Megan that you like Zerro.”
She bitterly smiled.
“I love him, but I don't want to be the reason of his sadness. I cannot force him to marry me. I don't like that. I want a genuine love, a genuine person, not someone who's already in love with someone. I'm not fond of marry before love,” she sincerely said. I can see pain in her eyes.
She's not the fierce woman who fetched me at the set anymore. Right now, all I can see is a gentle and understanding Felicity.
“I saw how miserable he is when the love of his life married another man. He also lost everything he has just to fight for you. He went against his father, Zainea. Tell me, isn't that enough for me to stop already this selfishness I have? I don't want to add more salt to his wound.”
I salute this woman. It's hard to let go of the person you love, but she did it.
“There are times I want to destroy everything you have because you didn't fight for him like he did, but I controlled myself. I know Zerro will not let me off if I did that.” She chuckled.
“I just hope you find the courage to break your marriage off with Zayden and go back to Zerro. That way, you won't deny him nor your feelings for him.”
“I-I... I don't know what to say...”
“You don't have to say anything to me. I'm sorry that I realized this just now. If only I was not blinded by my love for Zerro, I could've canceled the engagement earlier. You could've announced your relationship to the world before it became this complicated.”
“Hm, no. It's not totally your fault. Aside from you, we couldn't publicize our relationship since it was against the contract I signed with my management. We were waiting for the contract to expire, but this happened. I got married off with his brother. So, yeah, don't blame yourself.” And I know, even if Zainea and Zerro publicize their relationship, their fathers won't give them the blessing. Especially Zerro's dad, there's something in him that I can't explain. Why did he let Zayden marry me, instead of Zerro? They're both his sons. I should not have behaved like an ideal woman in front of him that day I met him. First impression, psh. I should've shown my rude side so that he'll think that I'm not qualified to be Zayden's wife and let go of me.
“Zainea?” She waved her hand.
“O-Oh. I'm sorry. I spaced out.”
“Anyway, I told my father to break off any relationship or contract he has with Zerro's dad. From today on, I won't be a big obstacle. Zerro's just waiting for you to file a divorce paper. You two can finally have your happy ending. Leave Paris and live your lives somewhere.” She raised her right hand like she's pledging.
Right, don't give me that reason where their grandfathers had a deal. That's shit. That can be broken off. Mister Aki Constello, what are you hiding? I'm sure that Zainea's father has no other intentions other than obeying his father's (Zainea's grandfather) last will which is to marry Zainea off to Zayden. I can sense that her father is nice.
“And I promise, I won't tell a single soul your whereabouts. You have my blessing.” Her smiled didn't reach her eyes. There's still a glimpse of sadness and pain. If I were her, I can't do the same. Imagine letting go and giving my blessing to the relationship of the person I love and my rival, that's like killing myself.
She puts down her hand. Her faint smile fades away.
“You're hesitating.” It's not a question. It's like she's very sure of what she said.
It's me, Calais, who's having hesitations. Zainea won't hesitate even for a second if she's given the chance to elope with Zerro. But I can't just leave Paris. I still have a mission.
“I can't leave here yet.”
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TRISTAN'S (ZAYDEN'S SECRETARY) POV
“We'll be building the phase 3 here—” the team manager who's presenting their plan stopped talking when President Constello's phone rang.
This is new. He didn't put it to silent. He even answered the call.
“Oh. Have you found where he is?” he asked.
Everyone in the meeting room are secretly talking to each other. Some are busy texting while some are whispering.
This is the very first time he answered a call amidst a meeting. Even if that's an important call from his business partners, he won't answer it unless the meeting's done. Who's the caller that he didn't hesitate to answer?
His eyebrows almost meet.
“What? Make it quick. I'm busy.”
Is that his wife?
“What? I can't hear you. Why the hell are whispering?! Where are you?” He seems to lose his temper.
“I can't hear you! Damn it. What happened to that loud voice you have? Where are you?!” he shouted.
All are shocked with that, so they remained silent and stopped what they are doing.
After all, they're afraid when President Constello's mad. No one dares to move a single muscle.
“The nerve of you.” He ended the call, and turned off his phone.
Only a person can make him this pissed, it's Miss Zainea Amadeo.
“Continue the meeting tomorrow. Tristan, call Cala—damn that. Call Zainea's manager, and ask what's the problem.”
He left the meeting room. I followed him.
What Cala? I didn't mishear it, did I? He's supposed to say another name.
He entered in his office.
I tried to call Miss Zainea's manager, but she's not answering.
President Constello comes out.
“Boss, she's not answering. Should I call the director?”
“Forget it. There's something I want you to do.”
“What is it, boss?”
“Tail Caileigh Ruscitti. Watch her every move and report to me.”
“I got it, boss.”
“Hmm. Cancel all the meetings for today, we'll be going to the airport.”
Today's the arrival of Madam Constello. I nearly forgot.
“Are we going to fetch Miss Zainea before going—”
“No. Directly to the airport.”
When we arrived at the airport, Madam Constello is waiting outside. She smiled when she saw Zayden. I took her bags and put them in the trunk.
“Why are you alone? Where's your wife?” I heard her say.
“Busy. Don't worry, she'll be home. You'll see her.”
Madam Constello pinched boss's arm.
“Why are you letting her work?! What kind of husband you are? She should be at home, enjoying life. And where's Zerro? I haven't seen him for five years, yet he didn't come? Call him!”
“Stop nagging, mom. Come, let's go home.”
“Who's nagging?! Zayden, I'm telling you, you should not treat your wife that way or else I'll break your bones. Every woman is a precious gem, men shouldn't abuse them.”
“Mom, I got it. I got it, okay?”
Madam Constello sat at the back.
“One devil woman is frustrating enough. Now it's two,” boss said to himself, but I heard it.
There's another woman who can make President Constello under control—Madam Kiara Constello.
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CALAIS' POV
After my conversation with Felicity, she accompanied me home. I refused, but she insisted.
When I said I can't leave yet, she still respected my decision for she knows that what I'm doing is for our good. She knows that I have a better plan for our or should I say, for Zerro and Zainea's relationship.
She promised not to say anything to Zerro, and that's what I admire about her. As a woman in love, she understands the feeling of keeping all the burden to herself than saying it to the other which will only make it complicated.
“Thank you for the lift.”
Felicity just nodded. “Don't let Zerro wait that long, or I'll snatch him away from you,” she said before she left.
I won't let that happen. Zainea won't, too.
“Wow. The rude guy is home. I thought he'll work overtime again.” His car is parked outside the house, not in the garage.
This is good. I'm going to kick him. How dare he not help me? He even hangs up my call. He's not the one who called, why would he?!
I hastily entered the house. I saw him on the couch sitting while watching. He's relaxing, really?
“Greetings, Constello!”
He looked at me. “Oh. You are home,” he imitated the kind of tone I used last night to him.
I took the pillow and hit him.
“Aw! What is that for?”
“Why did you shout at me?! You even turned off your phone after hanging up on me! I needed your help there!”
“You should have talked like that on the call. I could have heard you.”
Gosh, how could I do that? What will they think of Zainea? An actress who doesn't have professionalism? Seeking help from her husband because she doesn't want to do the scene?
“Calais.”
“Yah! How could you easily say my name? Do you like me that much that you love to voice it out? What if someone is wiretapping us?” I lowered down my voice.
“What do you think of my house, less secured? Hmm, Calais?” He whispered my name.
I laughed. “Are you trying to piss me off? Wait.” I took out my phone. “Come on. Say it one more time. Say my name, dear. In your most seductive voice.”
I'm going to record this. For keeps.
His forehead furrows when he frowns. I took that chance to capture his expression.
“Pfft. Look at your face here—what the?!” He suddenly grabbed my phone and throw it away. It cracked the moment it dropped on the floor.
“You're so evil!” How will Zainea contact Zerro now?! I have to settle their relationship, so that I could move on to my main job without ruining them!
I jumped on him and strangle his neck.
“Why are you so rude?!”
“Stop!” He's removing my hands from his neck.
“No!”
He carried me and switched our position. Now, he's on top of me. He looked at me directly in the eyes. Those blue eyes...
“Kiss her, son.”
We both looked on the person who said that.
She's holding a phone while smilingly looking at us. Beside her is Zayden's secretary.
“I didn't know my son is so aggressive. You have a room, why are you doing that here?”
Zayden's mother?!