Chapter 17 - Lorenzo Cumson.

The island was beautiful and not overly crowded. It was just what the girls were looking for. It was one of the least popular beaches in Ibiza and far away from the famous beaches like Salina.

Although the seemingly nameless beach was popular with nudists, Amelia and her friends were wearing their bikini as they sunbathed in their beach chairs. They had a wild fun filled night and luckily they all made it to their hotel and slept the better part of their morning away. The next day they had brunch and went to the
Punta Arabi Hippy market where they examined the shops for souvenirs. The market was filled with food stalls, live music and one of a kind jewellery and it was shaded by tall pine trees that kept them away from.the harsh sun.

After that they took a tour to the Old Town which was an ancient sandstone fortress that was built as a defence against pirates and other invaders. They were able to try the local food and they found a great view at the top of the hill down to the Marina and the new districts in Ibiza.

At the beach the sky and the water seemed to fuse into one; blue on an already blue palette; but the colors of the island were very different, the subtle greenery mixed with the white sands of Ibiza's island.

The weather was also much hotter as the rays of the proud sun relentlessly shone and the few people on the island were forced to cool out in the water.

Molly waved to her from the water and Amelia waved back as she smiled at her. Molly loved to get into the water whenever they were at the beach but the waves were calm and there was nothing much to be doing. Ruby was lying next to Amelia with sunshades and her mustard yellow bikini as she sipped her drink and she sighed contentedly. They still had  very long list of places they wanted to go but luckily they still had a few more days.

"So, are you going to talk about last night?"

Ruby asked as she turned slight to face Amelia. Amelia's hair was in a loose braid and her violet eyes were covered by her thick sunshades. She was wearing a leopard print one piece.

"Last night? What happened last night?"

"Well, you kept talking and dancing with the same guy. And this morning when Xavier called, you never answered."

Amelia rolled her eyes. Nothing got past Ruby's critical eyes, she was always very observant.

"The guy was good company. And his name is Adrian if you must know. I ignored Xavier's call because I didn't feel like talking to him."

"But you know he's going to be so worried about you."

Ruby said in a small voice and Amelia looked away as she concentraed on her glass of sweet sangria.

"He's going to be fine."

"I think you should call him."

Ruby suggested after a long silence and Amelia turned to her and gave her friend a look.

Ruby shrugged.

"I know Xavier has his faults, but you're out here in Ibiza having the time of your life and he's back home worried sick about you. The least you can do is answer the phone."

Amelia was taken a back for a few seconds. As hard as it was to admit, Ruby was right. Xavier must be worried sick about her and the only thing she could do to stop it was if she called him back.

She couldn't explain why she didn't pick his calls, it wasn't as if she was not thinking of him all day and night. He was always on her mind every minute and every second, but Amelia was stubborn.

"I don't have my phone. I'll call him when I get back to the hotel..."

"You're in luck. I have mine..."

Ruby said as she stretched her hand out and gave a bewildered Amelia her phone to use.

Two minutes later, Amelia was out with her feet digging in the sand as she waited for Xavier's call to connect. She paced around the shore nervously until she heard Xavier's voice and she breathed a sign of relief. She had been so scared that he would not pick her calls.

"Hello Ruby. Is everything okay there?"

Xavier asked with a slight panic in his voice and Amelia's heart warmed at the sound of his voice.

"It's me Xavier..."

"Amelia? Oh thank God! I tried your number so many times!"

"I wanted to call your friends but then you asked for space and I didn't want to intrude."

He said and Amelia nodded.

"Yea, thanks. I'm sorry I ignored your calls. I had a lot on my mind"

"It's okay. At least I can hear your voice now. Are you enjoying your girl's trip?"

"Yes, I am. Ibiza is beautiful."

Amelia replied with a smiles as she tried to picture Xavier's face.

"So how is everything going there?"

Amelia asked and there was a short pause from Xavier.

"It's fine. It's going good. I saw my aunt and the kids this week so everything is fine."

"Awwwn how are the kids?"

"They're good. They miss you so much."

"I'll be travelling to Tokyo tomorrow for a business trip. I was thinking I'd come to New Uork after, what do you think?"

"Xavier..."

She started as she frowned her face slightly at the sun. She walked back to the shade where Molly was already sitting on a beach chair and drying herself with a towel.

"Amelia Please.... It's been a week. I'm sorry. If I could do anything differently, Id take back those stupid words I said about you leaking the story."

"It's not that! It's just that I told you I needed space and you want to come to New York..."

"How long? How long Amelia? I really miss you. Please..."

Amelia could hear the desperation in Xavier's voice and it only made her heart ache more. She missed him as much as he missed her. She still couldn't forget what happened that day, how easy it was for Daphne to manipulate Xavier into thinking she leaked the story. How many more of the drama was she going to endure.

"How's Daphne and the baby?"

Amelia asked the question she had been asking as she gulped hard and there was a pause on the phone.

"She's good. Everything is good here... That's not what I'm talking about Amelia.."

"Xavier, please. Like I told you, I need space. Please just give me little more time. Let me think everything through."

"So you don't want me in New York?"

His voice sounded dejected and Amelia felt hurt that she was breaking his heart and her heart even more.

"No, I don't want you in New York."








It was a very old house, Daphne could see it from the design. The door in the centre, a square window (divided into quarters) on each side of the door.
Although it had been refurbished and it looked shiny and new, she could still spot the tell tale things that gave away the house's age.

Amelia had not only picked a house that was far away from Atherton where she and Xavier lived, she had also made sure that the house was horrible. The house was not something Daphne herself would live in, Daphne loved shiny and modern apartments with sophisticated interior designs, not old suburban houses in dull neighbourhoods. But because she had to keep up the facade that she was pregnant and broke, she swallowed her pride and took the house in peace, while also hinting to Xavier that she needed a better place.

She wasn't quite sure he would listen to her though, he had been jumpy and withdrawn ever since Amelia left, she had thought Amelia leaving was going to be the ticket that would get her close to Xavier but Xavier had proven that things were going to be the complete opposite. Xavier could barely stand her for five minutes. For some reason, she felt like he was irritated by her presence although he hid it very well.

She needed another master plan. One that would make him more receptive to whatever she was going to be saying or doing but she didn't know what to do.

She walked around the house as she frowned at the simplicity and the clash of colours that annoyed her. There were a lot of things she hated about the house, she couldn't even bare to stay in it for so long.

She debated going out, she was missing her friends and she had been out of the social scene long enough for people to be talking and she didn't want Xavier to think she wanted the public to find out about their messy saga.

She was running her hand through the mahogany desk when her phone rang.

It was a strange number. An unknown caller ID.

"Hello?"

"I was afraid you wouldn't pick up... Are you happy to hear my voice?"

The voice sent chills down Daphne's spine as she rested on the nearest wall. Her vision became blurry a bit and she suddenly felt dizzy. She tried and regained her composure a bit..

"Lorenzo?"


"Surprise surprise. The charges were dropped..."

Daphne's heart skipped a beat.

"Oh! That's well... Disappointing. A sexual offender like you should be behind bars."

Daphne gulped hard as she tried to sound nonchalant.

"Sex offender? Oh God, you're really reaching. Maybe next time you want to accuse someone for sexual harassment, make sure you have actual evidence."

"I'm not the one who did accused you... It was Larissa and you know it."

"Yes, but I know it was you, why else were you willing to testify? Come on, I know you did it. And now I know the reason why"

"Lorenzo! I didn't do anything.... Larissa was the one who pressed charges, not me."


"You can stop the lies now. Larissa admitted to ms that you were the one who told her to sue me for sexual harassment. I mean.... That could have ruined my life. It almost damaged my career!"



"And then I saw that story on Celebrity Inside Out and I knew exactly what was going on... You were trying to get rid of me."


"I don't know what you're talking about..."

"Of course you do. You used me to get pregnant and now you're passing off the baby as Xavier Black's.."

Daphne chucked.

"That's a silly stupid tabloid and they're always spreading fake rumours..."


Lorenzo chuckled.

"See, I don't believe you. I still remember that conversation you had with your friend Nina. You made it clear to her you wanted to get pregnant. And don't forget the things you told me about Xavier Black... I know how much you hated his wife."

Daphne felt angry all of a sudden. She had been foolish. Leaking the story was one of the biggest mistakes she had ever made. Lorenzo would not stop until he uncovered the truth. The whole truth.

"I'm tired of your crappy stories and lies. Don't ever call me again!"

Daphne snapped as she ended the call and threw her phone across the room.

"Arggggghhhh!!!!!"

She was angry and pissed off.

Lorenzo would know the truth.

He would know that the baby was his.

Because almost three months ago, Daphne had approached Lorenzo Cumson, a co actor and a distant friend the night she had drugged Xavier and she had slept with him. She had lied to Lorenzo about being on the pill, because she hoped their sexual encounter would get her pregnant. After that she kept him around her for a few days till Lorenzo overheard a phone call between Nina and Daphne and found out she was trying to get pregnant.

He was determined to get to the bottom of it. Daphne acted fast, she wanted him out of the equation, regardless of what he already found out. She needed him out of the picture. Lorenzo was a flirty actor and he was always giving everyone mixed signals, it didn't take long for her and Nina to find someone willing to sue him for sexual harassment, even when he was completely innocent. And Daphne was planning to testify in favour of Larissa.

The news of the sexual harassment kept Lorenzo busy for a while, but Daphne didn't anticipate that the girl would drop the charges without informing her or Lorenzo would figure out about her pregnancy.


If she didn't act fast, Lorenzo would be on his way to tell Xavier everything.