|| LORENZO KING's POV ||
I stared hard at the video tape, sent by my assistant just a while ago. Someone had recorded the entire fight between me and Rick, posted online. However, I wasn't totally convinced about the situation. The fight happened inside a five star restaurant. Apart from the staff or guests, no outsiders were allowed.
Then how was it possible to be slipped past random people's hands? Could it be a conspiracy?
At that moment, I could only remember a single person who could harm me, Leonardo. He must have done it on purpose to lower my status in front of my father.
Fuck....
I cursed, clutching the phone tightly. Valentina was sitting on the bed. Her face was contoured with pain and sadness. I knew that called herself guilty but she wasn't at fault here. Leonardo was just aiming her probably to get his revenge on me.
Soon,my phone started buzzing. I looked down at my phone and it was a call from my dad. After answering the call, he sounded pissed off,
" Lorenzo King!! What the heck are you doing on the internet? Did you have a fight with the heir of Ning International? How can you be so stupid to have a fight outside? Look at the video! The media is going crazy over this."
I didn't deny the truth this time. He had to know what his precious son was doing behind his back. I sneered, clenching my teeth together before spatting,
" Yes, I hit him! I wished to kill him at that place. He dared to molest my girlfriend. Do you know that? He was fucking harassing, Valentina."
My dad was unexpectedly silent then let out a heavy sigh. After a while, he responded with a softer tone,
" You..you should have been more careful around him. Anyways, the Ning International is surely going to cancel their deal with you. Are you okay with that?"
I was surprised to hear his response. My eyes subconsciously fell on Valentina who was still eyeing me, worried. It sounded like Dad had developed a great liking towards Valentina. Or else, it was impossible for him to support my actions though he didn't know the actual identity of Valentina. I had a doubt whether he would treat her the same after knowing the truth.
I blurted without a second thought,
" Yes! Nothing is more important than my woman's reputation."
He hummed without arguing further, gave his suggestion before hanging up,
" Arrange a press conference tomorrow to clear everything. I don't want people pointing their fingers at my son."
The call ended and I let out a helpless sigh. I needed to find out how it was leaked on the internet although I didn't regret hitting the bastard. Valentina spoke in worry, her soft raspy voice sounding hurt,
" Lorenzo..Is it worth it to cancel the contract with such a big company? We can just stay separate for a while until the baby is born."
" What are you saying?", I barked, turning my head back in a whip to glare at her silently. Her pink lips pressed together tightly, not saying anything. I didn't know how she had become my world. Now, thinking that letting her go away was more painful than losing my reputation.
I got her with big strides, gripped her by chin as tears welled up her eyes,
" You aren't going anywhere! You are mine! You heard me, Valentina? Yes, it's worth canceling their darn deal because you aren't my girlfriend but my baby's mother. So don't ever think that you aren't valuable."
Her tears slipped off subconsciously. I kissed her tears away before smashing my lips against her. She wasn't going anywhere away from me.
After a passionate kiss, Valentina suddenly pushed me away, furrowing as if she had remembered something important. Her swollen lips parted to murmur slowly,
" I..I think...I remember something, Lorenzo..I saw someone holding the phone up when you were fighting..Can it be that person who leaked the video.."
My brows tightened together, emitting a cold aura. I blurted grabbing onto her shoulders hard,
" Tell me in detail! When was it?"
___________
|| VALENTINA's POV ||
" Thank you!", I nodded at the staff politely, sipping my coffee as she brought for me without being ordered. I guess, my staff had already understood that I was distracted and not doing well today.
Lorenzo was awake last night. He didn't sleep for a minute but coaxed me to sleep in his arms. That morning, he was gone already. His company was facing hardship because of the fighting rumours. I felt like a stupid, worthless girlfriend who gave him troubles for no reason.
Maybe, it was a curse in my life that I was a stripper. As I was lost in my thoughts, a female attendance came to me with a piece of paper. She showed me the bill and said nervously,
" Mam! This bill from the morning is under your name. Would you like to pay it off now?"
I gave her a confused glance, and saw the number of the amount. It was fucking 2000 dollars. I asked her back cluelessly, reading the descriptions of the clothes that had been bought,
" I didn't ask anyone to buy today. Who was it? Did she give you any name?"
The female attendance blurted confused as well,
" Your sister, Sophia!"
I was stunned for a while. Sophia came to my shop to buy without telling me. Who gave her the permission to buy whenever she wishes? Worst of all, she bought everything without money?
I called Sophia immediately which was answered fast with a sheepish voice,
" Hey sis!"
I barked, lowering my voice,
" Did you just buy from my shop? Sophia, I warned you many times not to go overboard. Lorenzo is the owner of this clothing brand, not me. How dare you put the bill in my name?"
Sophia let out a scoff, yelling back anxiously,
" Is this how you are going to treat your sister? Come on, I just bought some clothes. Your boyfriend is rich and he is practically my brother-in-law. Can't I buy his money? I think that you are jealous. You always think that I am prettier than you. You want to sue me, go ahead. I will just call Lorenzo to tell him how you are bullying."
She hung up the phone on my face before I could say anything. Now, I could understand what mistakes I made by introducing her to this shop. I thought of giving her the last chance and told the staff that I was going to pay for it.
On the lunch break, Jenny showed up at my place surprisingly. After coming to me, she asked faking her concern,
" I heard that Lorenzo is having a scandal. Is that true?"
I replied confidently, wearing a fake smile like her,
" Just some small matters! Don't worry, Jenny. He can handle it."
She replied, eyeing at me suspiciously,
" I wonder what happened exactly. I heard that it has something to do with you. Why would the heir start a fight for you? Hmm! Don't tell me that you have a special identity?"
I didn't like the humour of her words. She sounded like she knew everything. For Lorenzo's sake, I had to hide my identity. I smiled big at her before telling,
" I am special because I am Lorenzo King's girlfriend, Jenny. Nothing else.."
Jenny's lips twitched in disgust and jealousy. She knew very well that Lorenzo had a bigger reputation than Leonardo. Her pick-up skills weren't taking her anywhere. She scoffed before getting outside angrily as if I had offended her deeply.