Page 112 of Game of Revenge

“This is the guy I wanted to introduce you to, since you wanted to meet the owner,” said Francesca, all proud, pointing to Alejandro as he joined us.

“Amelia and I have been acquainted,” said Alejandro with a smirk, hands in his pockets, having overheard Francesca’s comment.

“Oh, you two know each other? Well, then this is just perfect!” said Francesca as she and Alejandro kissed on the cheeks. “And here I was, about to introduce you two! Amelia is just in love with your vineyard, Alejandro. She was even talking about being interested in doing business with you to supply your wine in her hotels!”

“Is that so?” he teased. “Well, in that case, would you give us a second?” he asked Francesca.

She looked a bit confused at the request but did not retort. “Of course! See you both later!”

Alejandro just stood there, studying my every reaction, waiting for me to process. The shock made space for anger as dots were connecting in my head.

The label-less wines we drank, the villa being available when everything at this estate is usually booked about a year in advance, the special vintage wine bottles I got—“courtesy of the hotel,” I was told. It all made sense now. They reminded me of the label-less wine, but I hadn’t put two and two together until now.

“Shall we take a walk?” he asked, offering his hand.

Without so much as a sound, I turned around and started walking in the direction of the vines to the side of the building, painfully aware of his presence behind me. When I was satisfied that we were far enough from the group, I brusquely stopped and turned around to face him.

“I'd ask what you are doing here, how you knew where I was when I barely told anyone, but given that all this is yours, I guess I have my answer.”

“I’m here to see you,” he said casually, like we had an appointment.

“Did I miss a diamond or something? Do you need me to go back?” I asked, mocking him.

His jaw clenched a bit. “Are you really going to pretend that’s all this was between us? Don’t offend me, Amelia. Don’t.”

He looked more hurt than angry as he got closer to me. I needed to look away. I needed to regain the upper hand.

“You asked for space. And I gave it to you. But at this point, it feels like you are avoiding me. You left LA without a word.”

“I left because there was nothing to stay for,” I said, trying to hold back the tears. The few seconds of silence felt eternal.

“Stop lying, Amelia," he said as he grabbed my arm. “Stop fighting me, please. I am not going to hurt you. I would never hurt you, and if you want me to stay, I will never leave your side.”

Eyes opened wide with terror, I stood there like Alejandro had tried to stab me. What was he doing? Still trying to get me to admit how I felt, what I wanted, when we both knew I wasn’t the woman he needed. I hoped that with the passing of time, he would stop trying, and I would live with this love, feed off the memories, and pray to all the gods that they would be enough in the long run.

But seeing him here, the need I felt to my core was like dynamite that could explode at any minute. I was confused, and all I could feel was sheer panic as I took a step back.

“Elena and you, are—I can’t—I won’t be another one…I can’t just…”

“Elena means nothing to me, mi niña. Por dios. She was helping me with this. She was involved in this before I met you. You know this. I’ve told you a thousand times. I needed to keep up appearances with Richard. That’s why she was part of the plan—as my fake girlfriend, that is all. I’m not saying that we were just friends then, but we have been just friends since you, and we were never seriously together.”

“But—"

I was interrupted by Alejandro as he pulled me closer into his arms.

“Stop talking,” he sighed. “I am here now, with you, Amelia, not with Elena. I came here, alone, for you. You are the first thing I think about when I wake up and the last thing I think about before I fall asleep. I need you. I want you. I need you to be mine, now and forever. If what you want is to wait me out, to wear me down, it's not going to work. Don’t you get that? I feel you under my skin, baby. I have you in my blood. You are mine. I am yours. Stop fighting this.”

I couldn’t stop the tears. I felt weak, happy, terrified. He grabbed me by the back of my neck and pulled me closer as he leaned down and took my lips. I was pushing him away but to no avail. He kissed me, long and hard, his need for me invading every one of my senses. And I kissed him back with every bit of frustration and longing I had for him that I had been fighting each day.

When I finally took a step back, we were both out of breath, the heat emanating from his body enough to burn the world down.

Part of me believed him, because that was all I ever wanted—him, offering to be mine and only mine. But to accept that I was entitled to so much happiness was naive. And to trust him, to trust that he meant his words, that I was enough for him… Well, that would be like diving into dangerous waters headfirst. That would be ridiculous. I just couldn’t understand how we could make this work.

“I need some space. You need to leave. I can’t do this,” I said, avoiding the hurt in his eyes as I ran past him back to the tour location.

To my surprise, Francesca was still there, alone, just sitting and sipping some wine. She quickly got up to take my sobbing self into her arms. Together, we took the long walk to Francesca’s villa in silence.

Francesca forced me to take a seat while the maid prepared us a strong cup of coffee. The walk hadn’t done much to calm me down.