the bitter betrayal

"Are you okay?"

Femella turned to me from staring out of the car. She looked so distracted. She smiled at me without the usual glow and fierceness in her eyes.

"Yeah, I'm okay. Don't worry."

I returned my focus to the road.

"Where will I drop you off? Will you go back to your apartment first?"

I had noticed her strange silence earlier while we were at home and having breakfast. She is not responding to my questions which is making me worry. I tried to put on a conversation but she didn't seem to be buying it. She will just answer me with a small smile and a shrug. I wonder what went wrong.

Did she change her mind? I gripped the steering wheel and squeezed my teeth at the thought.

No way in hell I'm going to let her go. I've already decided to explore this new terrain I've discovered.

This was the first time I felt this so I just had to do everything to keep Femella with me.

I accelerated the speed of the car. I can already see the helipad and the propeller of my helicopter.

I looked at Femella again. She didn't answer my question. She seemed to be too immersed in her own deep thoughts.

She was still caught in a trance but the determined expression on her face was making me feel uncomfortable.

I pulled the car in the corner and turned off the engine.

"Stay here. I just need to talk to someone."

I didn't wait for her reply and got out of the car. I saw my pilot and assistant talking to each other. On their back is my Bell 525 Relentless.

I approached them and shook the hands of my pilot.

"I'll take it from here," I informed him.

The pilot went back to the aircraft. I faced Ivan and nodded at him.

"Brief me about the recent updates about my deal with the Kurasakis."

He took out an Ipad to look for a file and then showed it to me.

"They are requesting another investor for a recommendation. I tried to argue but they wouldn't budge. What's the next step from here, sir?"

I put my hands in my pockets.

"Don't worry about it. Luther has some prospects in mind. We will set a meeting this week for that. Anything you wanted to report?"

"Your mother called me yesterday, sir. She's asking when will you come back but she didn't elaborate any further."

"I'll call her later. Anything else?"

He stepped closer to me and lowered his voice.

"Mr. Butch came by this morning in the office. He told me to say hi to you."

My face became hard.

"Finally, some good news."

Ivan had something more to say but was completely taken aback by the loud sound of a helicopter approaching our direction.

"Who could this be? Did you tell Luther about my location?"

"No, sir. I didn't."

We waited for the helicopter to go down. The door opened and out came two big-looking guys. The man assisted the woman who was wearing an all-black outfit with very big sunglasses on her face.

The woman took off the glasses and walked to us.

Just what the hell is Vida doing here? How did she know about our location?

She stopped right in front of me.

"Hi there, Mr. Fuentebella. I thought we would not see each other for a long time after our very unlikely meeting."

She smiled but it didn't reach her eyes.

"I thought so too. What brought you here?"

"The deal is over. Of course I'm here to collect Femella. Where is she?"

She began looking around the place.

"I'm afraid that you don't have to do that. Femella and I have reached another agreement. This time, no third party involve."

She grinned at me.

"What do you mean?"

"Femella is cutting her ties with your club. She's mine now, Vida. Mine alone."

My thick accent gave out an imminent warning.

"Really?" She laughed sarcastically. "Where is she? I need to talk to her."

She stepped forward but I got hold of her arm. The two men immediately approached us but Vida just raised her hand to stop them.

"You heard what I said so leave her alone," I warned her in between my gritting teeth. Anytime my temper could go berserk.

What unlucky men if they try to do something I do not like.

"Relax, Mr. Fuentebella. It's so unlike of you to act like this. You sound so territorial. I just want to talk to Femella. Besides, aren't you curious who gave out your location?"

I let go of her arms and ask with a frowned face.

"Speak."

"Someone called me last night."

"Who? Who called you?"

"Me. I called Vida to get me from here."

We both turned to the speaker. My head immediately heated up seeing Femella. Her face was devoid of the warmth I saw during our stay together. The walls are back. She's back being the woman on that auction night again.

"What? What did you say?!"

My angry voice reverberated.

Femella walked past me and talked to Vida.

"Can you give me a minute? I'll just have to sort this out."

Vida nodded and retreated. The men followed her. I also asked Ivan to leave us.

"Tell me I did not hear it right," I said in a cold voice.

Femella met my burning eyes.

"It's true. I did call Vida to get me."

I gritted my teeth.

"Why? Didn't we already patch things up last night?"

"No, we didn't. I never said yes."

I grabbed Femella by the arms and pulled her closer to me. I only have a thread of patience left in me.

"You're never a good liar, Femella. Tell me what happened so I can do something about it."

She struggled in my grip but I didn’t let her get away.

"So I was right along. My observation about you was definitely right. You are just like anyone else who will get angry and act like a brat when things don't go your way." She smiled painfully. "For the record Mr. Fuentebella, I never said yes to your proposal. You just assumed it."

She pushed me with all her might so that she could get out of my grasp. I just let her even though it's against my will.

"Don't you dare deny it! You feel it too, don't you? There's something going on between us, Femella and you can never deny that."

"So? What about it? I don't want to pursue any of it." She breathed hard. "Look, I admit that I enjoyed my stay here. Thank you for that but the contract has already ended just like my service for you so we have to end whatever we have between us if there's any."

I did not say a word. I just studied her entire face from her trembling lips and the reddened eyes that were already filled with tears. My eyes went down to her tightly clasped hands.

"Alright," I said calmly. "I am acknowledging the end of our contract, Femella. Thank you for your valued service. I enjoyed tormenting you."

I watched closely how she bit her lower lip to stop her tears from dripping. I leaned over to her and locked her face in my hands.

"Would I become a monster in your eyes if I say that I'm happy right now?"

She lowered her gaze.

"Because I know it's not just me who's suffering now. I don't know what your reasons are but I know that we both feel the same."

I carefully wiped away her tears as she closed her eyes.

"You're a big mystery I want to solve, but unlike you, I'm not a dictator so I won't force myself on you."

I took off the jacket I'm wearing and put it on her shoulder and stared at her whole body.

"That's my favorite shirt," I pointed at her t-shirt.

I took a step back and put my hands in my pockets.

"It was a pleasure meeting you, Ms. Alcantara."

She looked at me after drying her tears.

"Likewise, Mr. Fuentebella."

She turned her back on me.

"But we both know it's not the end," I promised.

"It is. It is the end. Thank you. I'll be going," she said without looking back at me.

She stepped towards Vida who hugged her. I even followed them until they boarded in the helicopter.

"Sir, there's an incoming call," Ivan interrupted me.

I took another look at them before turning my back and ascending to my helicopter.

The two helicopters rose into the air at the same time and traveled in the same direction.