Page 97 of Who's Loving You

33

VALENTINA

Lucy: Babe…there’s something you need to see.

Me: Okay. Way to be ominous. What is it?

Lucy: I don’t want to be the messenger, but I love you and you deserve to know. It’s another BonBons and Tea article. Read it and call me after. I’m cutting my day short and will go home and wait for you. I think we’ll need a sleepover.

Me: What in the world are you talking about? You’re acting really weird.

Lucy: Just read it. Love you.

Lucy: >

Now that his secret is out, could this be the end to his fairytale relationship with PR Crisis Manager Valentina San Ramón?

I read the article more times than was necessary because I couldn’t believe that this was anymore than a stupid story someone made up for attention. But when I remembered the text Nic got on Thanksgiving, I started to think that maybe there was way more to the story. So instead of sitting around and wondering, I did what I do best.

I grabbed a shovel and went digging.

My clients over the years had brought me more than just money and notoriety amongst the wicked. They also brought me many resources at my disposal from which I could gather information. I had acquaintances in high and low places, and it was time for me to tap in.

This one called for someone who lived in the shadows and knew about things that go bump in the night. I flipped through my rolodex until I found her name, then promptly gave her a call.

I gave her the details that I knew and she immediately sent me on my way with a little bit of information and another name who could give me more. I thought I’d been sent on a wild goose chase, but her contact had everything I needed but wished I didn’t.

Lascivious was the name of the sex club, and they did indeed have a client list of the rich and famous. I didn’t get any names from the list because of NDA’s the members signed, but that confirmation was all I needed to know that there was some truth to that “story” online.

I was given a few keywords that I could use to search for other clubs like this one here in Houston and sure enough, there was a Club Wanton in Arkansas. It doesn’ttake a genius to understand the innuendo of the name. And oddly it was extremely close to Zeiders University.

Add in the mention of his best friend Nick Soba, and I was totally convinced that the words were true. And with that, my world had come crumbling down.

My head and heart are weary and I stand up from my desk to begin pacing my small office. I look out of the large windows and see the football stadium far off in the distance. What a fool I’ve been. While I was falling in love, Nico had been fucking his way through a house full of women. Men too, apparently.

Oh geez. How many times did we have sex without any more protection than just my pill? I trusted him when he said he always used protection and would never put me in danger. Athletes go through physicals and tests, so there’d be something reported if it wasn’t all clear. But now I wonder if that was all a lie, too.

A big, deceitful lie to get me into bed and fuck up my life. Was I some type of entertainment for him? Did he and his stupid friends have bets on who could bag a cougar first? It’s clear that Soba was a part of it all, so naturally I assume Papas was too. Somehow his name was missed in the article.

A chill runs through my body and I fold my arms over my chest. I need to call him. I need to call Lucy. I need to do so many things right now, but all I can manage is staring blankly out into the never ending horizon.

There’s a knock at my door but I can’t be bothered to answer. I don’t have the energy or mental bandwidth to deal with anyone. If I stand here quietly, they’ll eventually go away, but another knock comes followed by my name.

“Valentina.” The voice is deep and cautious and one that used to send flutters rushing through my body. Now it just makes me want to vomit.

I hear the door open but still I stand facing the world outside. The one inside this office is too troubled to face. It’s all heartbreak and anger. If I stay focused on the world outside, I can pretend that mine isn’t falling apart.

I feel his presence behind me and when he lays his hand on my shoulder, I flinch and step out of his reach.

“Mi Reina. Are you okay?” The heat from his body warms my hardening and cold heart. “I…I need to talk to you about something. Think we could sit?”

I inhale and turn around to face him, my eyes burning with hate for a man I was just learning to love. “Talk about what, Nic? How you’ve been fucking around with other women,and men,at a sex club? How you lied about cheating on me? Or how about you tricking me into believing you were a good man? What will it be, because there’s plenty we can discuss.”

His eyes grow large and his face pales. It’s obvious he had no idea I knew his little secret.

“Ho-how did you know?”

I shove the phone in his face and push on his chest, allowing me to get by him and behind the shelter of my desk.