CHAPTER 81

“So, Astraea, where do you guys meet?” She began asking me a question right after Levi went outside to go to the bathroom.

I inserted my loose hair into my ear before turning to her. I hovered over it with a look. I can say that she’s a common woman. The face is common, the dress is common, and the speech is common. But there is something about her that I can’t tell. Do I need to know that?

“We met at their private land, at Tierra Fima,” I simply replied to her.

I saw her eyebrow rise as she looked at the folder she was holding.

“Tierra Fima? One of the best private lands of the Acuzar. We also renovated that whole resort for the summer last year,” she stated so I just nodded.

“Why are you there? Vacation?” she asked.

I don’t mind her asking me such questions. I just couldn’t understand why she was interviewing me. She seemed to want to know something about me.

“Our company had a free trip then. That was five or six years ago I guess. It's been a long time,” I casually replied to her.

She just simply nodded at me. There was no reaction on her face. It’s just a neutral face. After a while, it finally turned to me and plasticly smiled.

"I see. I am often on that island. I just love where it is. Levi and his family also often invite me there. Nice place, right?” she uttered.

I just nodded at her and smiled sparingly. I know what she’s doing. She’s provoking me to ask her a question back that I’m sure will make me think of what she will answer. Who is this woman?

Some time later, Levi came back and immediately grabbed me by the waist. I saw Anne's gaze again focus on Levi's hand on my waist before looking at me and the folder she was holding.

“So, as I was saying, you both like the minimalist theme of the inside. What about the color outside? We are done with the design because I have already shown you the samples and you have already made your choice,” she explained very well.

Honestly, she impressed me because she was so good at speaking. Clear and affordable for anyone to understand. She’s so professional, something no one else can do. It's only once that I catch her simplicity holding Levi that I don't really like because I feel like she meant it.

“I like it pure white with a touch of gray,” Levi told her.

Anne looked at him and smiled. It got up from her chair and quickly approached the latter. It approached that folder containing her samples. I just kept watching the two of them.

“This one or that—”

“I like the second one,” I cut her off.

It quickly turned its gaze to me.

“Really? But the first one is great. Right, Lev?” She insisted and then held his arms. Not just holding it, it seemed to caress it so I raised an eyebrow.

Levi looked at me for a second before turning back to Anne. It smiled at her and I saw how he removed the latter's hand from his arm.

“Rae will decide. What she wants, that’s also mine,” he declared which made me smile but it immediately disappeared because of what this woman said.

“But you should choose, too, because she chose the interior design. Don’t get me wrong, please, I just want it to be perfect because you are my friend,” she said proudly to my future husband.

I can now feel the sudden irritation inside of me. It was slowly eating away at me and I felt like one more word from her would completely cut the cord of my patience.

Before one of them could speak, Levi's cellphone suddenly rang. He immediately took it and momentarily said goodbye to me. I just hugged him.

As soon as he came out, I just turned to Anne who was silent. It was as if someone was looking at another folder lying on the table there so I didn't hesitate to approach her.

"This project is important for you, right?" I asked her.

She immediately look at me with her forehead furrowed.

“Of course, Astraea. Why?” she asked me again.

I shrugged and hovered over the samples she had lying on the table.

“You’re great. Your samples are all great, what if it's a real house, isn't it?” my continuation.

When I looked at her, she was just looking at me so I laughed. I meant for her to see how I looked at her from head to toe which made her forehead furrow even more.

“What are you talking about, Astraea—”

“Call me Ms. Laxamana, Anne. My fiancé is your client that makes me your client too,” I told her and stared at her intently.

She was stunned for a moment by what I said and averted her eyes. When she turned to me again, I smiled at her. I came closer to her and stroked her hair.

“This is our house. We will live in this house after we get married. Just me and my daughter, you are not included so why are you interfering with the design of our house?” I asked her directly.

She didn’t answer right away so I didn’t let go of her ‘that’ view. After a while, she looked away from me again.

“I’m sorry, Astraea, I mean Ms. Laxamana. I didn’t mean to interfere,” she apologizes and simply adjusted herself in front of me.

"Levi took you because he already knows you and he trusts you. Now, if you want this job to be yours, stop eyeing on my fiancé, Ms. Lopez. I know what you’re doing,” I uttered to her as I was trying to calm myself.

Even before she could answer, Levi suddenly came so we resumed the meeting. I noticed a change in Anne's actions so I never touched her again.

This meeting ended peacefully. Levi also invited Anne to have lunch with us but she refused so I just smiled at her. When we said goodbye, I silently got into his car while still thinking about the matter.

Do I have to tell him to just hire another architect to build our house? I mean, I’m not threatened. As he said, I want it to be perfect because we will be together forever in that house. I don't want to see that right away even if I haven't done it yet.

"Hey, are you alright?" Levi asked me as we made our way home.

We just finished eating and Ria passed Acel and is now on her way home. We left my daughter there first because I still didn’t want to take her home to her grandparents ’house.

"Yeah, just tired," I replied sparingly to him and turned my gaze outside.

I’m overthinking things again and I don’t want him to know. He might say I'm just acting. There are things that really aren't exaggerated, especially since one has nothing to do with it. I just don’t like the idea of ​​it— that Anne is also his ex. The number of exes he has!

“Are you sure? Did you do something to Anne?” He asked so I quickly turned to him.

"No, why?" I lied to him.

I heard his chuckle so my forehead furrowed.

"Nothing. I've noticed that she's been avoiding me since—”

“Why? Do you want her to be so close to you?” I cut him off from what he's going to say.

His laughter got louder so I was even more irritated. I don’t know why I’m being like this again!

“That’s not what I meant, Lumiere. Come on, don’t start a fight,” he says which made me even more irritated.

“So, you think that I was starting a fight?” I asked him again.

Later, he suddenly stopped the car but did not get my full attention. I was still looking at him with a trace on his face that he was still teasing. What is his problem? My questions are correct. Why is he laughing?

“Don’t laugh. Is there anything funny about what I said?” I couldn't stop talking to him.

He raised both his hands as if surrendering so I almost laughed. Some time later, he suddenly came over and grabbed my hands. He gently kissed both of them as I was still staring at him.

“Do you want me to get another architect to do our house?” he suddenly asked so I was alarmed.

“N-no! No, no need, Levi. Stop it. She’s fine,” I was quick to hear what he said.

Even though I really want to replace that bitch. My conscience can't handle that.

"But you're not comfortable," he insisted so I immediately shook my head.

“I’m not but that doesn’t mean you will replace her immediately. I can do it. She is not what I think,” I lied to him again.

He even cupped my whole face and kissed the bridge of my nose down to my lips. I almost chased after her lips when we parted.

"Are you sure?" he laughed at my question. "Still chasing my kiss, huh?" he added.

I bit my lower lip while still staring at him. Its ear is starting to redden. I grinned and pulled him from his polo shirt closer to me.

“I don’t know why I’m still thirsty for your kiss until now,” I whispered to him and start kissing him again.

This time, I was the one who initiated first just like our first night at Tierra Fima before.

-

“Are you going?” Levi’s mom asked us.

I looked at her and just stared at what she did to me so I just bowed.

Today is our flight to Tierra Fima. Instead of just flying, Levi suggested that we take a private airplane for less hassle. Ashamed as I was, I didn't deny it when I thought of Ria. She’s not into crowded place that’s why.

“Yes, ma. Uncle Raul called me because the harvesting on the farm was starting. I need to be there for a week or two,” I heard Levi answered to his mom.

I saw his dad coming. Its aura is lighter than when I last saw it.

“Where’s my granddaughter?” he asked as soon as he saw us.

Suddenly, Ria jumped out of nowhere and ran to her grandfather. I just smiled because of that.

“I will miss you, grandpa,” Asteria cheerfully said to her grandfather.

“Of course we will miss you here, too. Take care, ha. Tell your mom to call me immediately if there’s an emergency, okay?” Uncle Saldy told her.

I feel my heart leap because of that. Later, he lowered my daughter and turned to me.

“Be careful, Rae. Call me if there’s anything wrong, we’ll follow right away,” he told me so I just nodded.

Before I turned around, I heard Aunt Criselda calling me. I turned to her quickly. I saw the glimpse of the stingy smile on her lips.

“Let’s talk when you get back here. Be careful,” she said softly to me.

I bit my lower lip when I heard that. Before I could cry with joy, I felt Levi holding my hand and guiding me.

“One step at a time,” Levi whispered to me before kissing the side of my head.

I nodded. Yeah, right. One step at a time. Hopefully this will continue.