Page 36 of Always Meant To Be
I smile instantly and admit without care, “That’s awesome; he’ll make a great Pakhan, especially with Valerie by his side.”
Liliya scowls at me. “The fucker cut me off!”
I scowl back. “You are in a school, Liliya. Watch your language or get out!” She narrows her eyes, and I continue, “Maybe it’s time you allowed Papa to give you an arranged marriage, or maybe, just maybe, get a job!”
She takes a menacing step toward me and sneers, “I would have been married to a Don already if it wasn’t for you!”
I snort. “Really, so you slept with the Cartel leader and got knocked up because of me?” She curls her lip. “So whenyou screwed a seventeen-year-old barista on the day you were supposed to meet your future husband, after making him wait for you for two hours, was my fault?” I sneer at her, “I didn’t even want to go that day, but Mama forced me, and you know exactly how because you filmed it. Now, if you’re looking for sympathy for your actions, then you’re not getting it here, so leave before the kids come back from recess.”
She growls, “It doesn’t matter how I got here. Maxim has cut me off, and you’re hanging onto the man who wants me!”
I shake my head. “I’m not hanging onto the man who wants you, Liliya, I’m bound to him because of your actions.”
She scoffs, “Really, then why haven’t you had his kid yet so you can divorce, huh? I’m not stupid, Elena, Mama had us both tested for fertility before my first pregnancy, remember? And Romeo would always wear a condom with me because he was unsafe with you!” She gets a lustful look on her face before murmuring, “God, I miss licking his scar on his thigh….”
I try not to flinch at her words as my patience runs thin, the urge to hit her pulls me, and I snap, “I haven’t had his kid, Liliya, because I don’t want a child in a loveless marriage.” She sneers, but I continue, “Five years, Liliya, that’s how long I was given to have his heir, if I didn’t, I would lose my career, and he would lose me!” Her eyes widen in shock, her mouth opening a little, seemingly not knowing that part of the contract. “Four months, Liliya, that’s how long you had to wait, but instead you caused crap, you screwed around with Renata even knowing how crazy she is.” I scoff, shake my head, and limp to my bag. I root through it and grab my purse, before finding what I need.
With much force, I limp over to Liliya and slam the card into her chest. I state, “As soon as this contract is over, I’m gone, one way or another.” I move my hand out of the way. She catches the card, looking at it confused, and I continue, “That card is unlimited and has never been used. It’s Romeo’s. Enjoy,sestra.”
Nothing but hate consumes me as she slowly grins, and turns without another word toward me, leaving.
“Why couldn’t I have been born into a family that loved me?” I mutter under my breath, angry tears wanting to fall, my eyes on the empty door.
It’s pathetic how much my heart wants a man who doesn’t want me, and it's even more pathetic knowing Liliya doesn’t want him for who he is; she wants him for his title and his money.
She wants a free ride.
She doesn’t care how when he smirks, a dimple shows on his left cheek, or how two little lines appear at the bridge of his nose when he’s concerned. She doesn’t care that he hates eggs but will eat avocado on toast with a fried one on the side.
She doesn’t care that he prefers the right side of the bed, closet to the door, and loves to spoon, she doesn’t care that he likes to have his coffee made black, one sugar, or that he likes to walk around on bare feet, wearing just a pair of checkered pajama pants.
She doesn’t care…but I do, yet he wants her, breaking my heart daily.
He made me fall for him, and I’ll never forgive myself for giving in, for not fighting harder to run, and now I have to live with this pain day in and day out.
The sooner I figure out a way to leave, the better….
The rest of my day goes smoothly, and I even manage to dodge Damian Allens, the 4th-grade teacher, who seems to always be around and ignores my wedding ring.
The man spends more time looking at my breasts than he does teaching, like the slimeball he’s trying to pretend not to be.
I close my computer and grab my bag, looking around the room once to ensure I haven’t missed anything, and each desk has a piece of paper and the correct supplies for our pop quiztomorrow, when my classroom door opens. I wince, thinking it’s Damian.
Looking toward the door, I instantly wish it was, which says a lot.
“I thought you had to work late tonight?” I mutter as I stand, placing my bag over my shoulder and hobble over to the board, pulling down the scroll.
Rome smirks. “I did, especially with us away for a few days after tomorrow, but the bank called….” I raise a brow at him. “Apparently, someone tried to buy a Bentley, the Flying Spur, to be exact. They blocked the transaction and called, and imagine my surprise when they told me it was used by my wife’s card, and yet my wife was in class.” He raises a brow at me, “Care to explain,farfalla?”
I shrug without a care, though I want to laugh.
That’s what she chose to buy?
I clear my throat, hoping the chuckle doesn’t come out and ask, “What’s there to explain? I only gave her what she will have soon anyway.”
His beautiful blue eyes darken, and he takes a few steps toward me, getting in my face. But I don’t back down because, well, I know he won’t hurt me. Even when he brings his hand up, I don’t flinch.
His eyes soften a little as he gently cups my cheek, his warmth sending tingles throughout my body, making me silently curse the traitorous bitch.