Chapter 43

Tiana's eyes sparkle as she steals a glance at Damien. I can feel Liza's anxious gaze on me but I ignore her.
"Oh, hi Tiana. It's been a long time since we met. Nice meeting you" I say grinning. Damien's phone rings and he goes over to a corner to pick it up. I've never been as greatful for a phone call as I am right now. Sam follows him so we're alone with Tiana.
"What a lovely surprise Tiana" Liza says smiling.
Tiana's eyes lit up "surprise indeed, talking of surprises, Francesca you're married. That's huge, you didn't even let me know. I never knew you were even in a relationship"
I roll my eyes playfully "considering we last saw each other three years ago, I didn't really think we were still friends"
"oh, please. We don't have to meet to be friends. Either way, I'm here now"
"Oh, that's good. How's your acting career. I'm pretty sure you've been in over a thousand movies since we last met" Liza says trying to start a conversation.
"oh, that's right. It's been hectic and busy at the same time. I didn't even have time for my love life. I'm surprised Francesca who is a surgeon had time to get married" Tiana says shyly. Oh, why did my parents not get me married to a normal man, at least they'll have spared me all this drama. It's almost like everybody likes him.
"Well, what can y
I say? When you treat relationships like something sentimental and important and not like a financial ticket or fame ticket then you'll find the time for it"
I watch as her fake smile slowly falters and my words sink in. Good, that was exactly the reaction I was expecting. I gulp down the contents of my wine and go over to Damien who just finished his call.
"I want to go to the VIP room now" I simply say biting my lips. I think going there is the best option. I'll have the opportunity to be alone and also get away from Tiana and her drama. Good luck to her trying to date Damien. That will be the most difficult movie she'll ever act in her life.
Damien raises his brows "why the change of plans? You're so indecisive. Infact it's ridiculous, I don't have the time to bend to your needs anytime you feel there should be a change of plans. I have better things to do you know"
I stare blankly at the arrogant jerk in front of me, there's already a hard come back at the top of my tongue but I decide against it. I'll just leave, the only reason I'm at the club is for Liza anyway. I've had a couple of drinks and had a few laughs, that's enough. I can't put up with Damien when I can be having a cup of hot tea while reading my favorite romance novels under a duvet in this cool weather.
I just shake my head at him and turn around, making my way to the bar. "I'm leaving Liza, I'm incredibly tired, see you tomorrow" I grab my purse and give a dumbfounded Liza a tight hug.
"you're leaving already, I just got here, let's catch up" Tiana says innocently.
"I wish I could but I can't. Maybe next time"
"do you know how hard it was for me to get a ticket? Now you're leaving barely two hours later? The club doesn't close for five more hours" Liza pouts innocently.
"oh, stop being a drama queen. Bye. Love you" with that I make my way out of the club.
Once I'm outside, I remember that I asked my driver to go and that I'll call him to pick me up. He works part-time at at a restaurant and the restaurant is a twenty minutes drive to this club. I'm sure he's there now, I can't wait another twenty minutes for him. I'll just call a cab, that's the best thing to do cause I can't stand Damien's arrogance or Tiana's cunning moves right now.
Lights start blinking and I hear the sound of pictures being taken and when I turn, I see it's the paparazzi. I totally forgot about them, this is messed up. They're literally coming towards me, even though the security is stopping them from coming closer, I still can't stand the lights. It's making me dizzy, it reminds me of how much my privacy was invaded as a child. The lights from their cameras and noises they make, makes me a little disjointed as I try to get out from there. Suddenly, a man grabs my right arm and guides me into a car that looks like a cab.
"Hey ma'am, you won't get a cab by just standing here. It's a residential club, cabs aren't allowed here. Luckily, I just dropped off someone important whose car had broken down so I was allowed in. Let me get you out of here, the paparazzi can be so violent" the man I'm assuming to be the cabman says.
It all happened so fast that I don't know how it all happened. One minute I'm standing and the next minute I'm in a cab that's already diving out of the club.
"Where are you going ma'am?" The driver asks. I don't know why but I feel a little anxious and weird about being in this cab. Oh Francesca, the innocent man just helped you and you're busy feeling anxious. That's why people are scared to help others these days.
"Lorenzo estate. Just drop me off at the main road. Cabs aren't allowed there either" yes of course Damien has his own estate and street named after him.
"Ok ma'am, no problem" he says. I still can't get the contour of his face. He seems to be wearing a face cap. Just as I notice he's taken a wrong turn I start feeling dizzy. I'm about telling him he's heading for the wrong way when I feel a sting in right my arm. Looking down at my arm, I see a red patch which seems to be spreading fast. That's exactly where the driver held me. My eyes widen in realization and I'm about to open the door to jump out when I feel my body stiffen and my vision start getting blurry. Suddenly, darkness envelopes me and I fall back numbly on the car seat.
____________________________________
Damien's POV
"Okay, let's go to the VIP room" Sam announces grabbing Liza's hands. I put my phone in my pocket and roll my eyes at their obnoxious lovestruck behavior. They've been all over each other, she's literally the only person Sam talks about now. He's always daydreaming about her and I'm the unlucky one that has him as a best friend.
"Can I come with?" the lady that came to greet Francesca asks. Oh please, is this some kind of charity organization now or what? First, her sister stays in our house and now whoever this is wants to go to the VIP room.
"No you can't" I simply say before making my way to the VIP room. Ridiculous people are the worst kinds. She looks oddly farmiliar, like... You know what, that's irrelevant.
Sam and Liza join me in the VIP room minutes later and when they stand fondling each other, I take my phone from my pocket and start going through my emails to reply investors and people who want to collaborate with my company. Others are work related, people inviting me to parties, people applying as models. Making sure to delete the irrelevant ones and replying the relevant ones, I keep myself busy. For some reason people invite me to parties through my email, I can't blame them though, I rarely read all the invite and envelopes I get daily. Some people also apply for jobs directly to my email which is a wrong move. That's why I have a PA, secretary, etc. So I won't have to do the hiring. I receive over 800 emails daily, that's minus the ones I consider spam
Over an hour later I notice something, we're only three in this room. That's not right, where's Francesca? I quickly put my phone in my pocket and glance at Liza.
"Where's Francesca?"
Liza untangles herself from Sam who looks confused as if realizing that she's not here too. Liza's brows furrow as gives me a weird look "she left already. Didn't you know?"
I roll my eyes "of course I didn't know. If I did, I'll not be asking you"
"be nice Damien, she's my girlfriend" Sam growls.
"I'm never nice, you know that"
"I thought she informed you, because she only told me she was leaving after she spoke to you" Liza says biting her lips while a frown appears on her face.
I remember the scenario instantly "but when she spoke to me, she told me that she was ready to go to the VIP room" I say recalling her words, why did she suddenly leave?
"Did you say something?" She asks.
"Of course, I said something. I didn't just stand there after she spoke"
"I meant did you say something rude or did you offend her?"
"good, be more specific. I don't know, to me, I didn't offend her. I just made a statement but if your definition of rude or offend is telling her she's indecisive and that I have better things to do than bend to her wishes, then, I offended her"
Sam and Liza look at me incredulously while I just shrug. "You have serious issues" she says eyeing me.
"Man, that's messed up" Sam states.
I just shrug and stare blankly at them. Why are they exaggerating? I don't sugar coat words. I spell it out, they better understand.
"But I'm sure she's fine, Francesca will never leave just because of Damien's arrogance. She was probably just tired, I had to force her to come here in the first place" she says shrugging. "she would have probably thrown sass at him"
Sam nods in agreement and they start talking conversing.
But her words echo in my mind. She's right, Francesca would have most definitely thrown sass at me and she would have also not left because of what I said. Then why did she leave? For some reason i keep asking myself that question. My phone rings and i see a new email, I shrug my thoughts off and continue working.
Thirty minutes later, I gulp down the contents of my drink and call it a day. I'm exhausted, this wasn't as relaxing as I wanted it to be. I wanted to talk about our marriage contract and it's complications to Francesca since she doesn't know of it yet.
I inform Sam I'm leaving and make my way out of the club. After passing through the mob of paparazzi, I get into my car and drive off.
After parking my car in the garage, i use my fingerprint to open the door and I'm surprised that it's weirdly quiet. The lights are off, it seems like no one's home. I rush upstairs to my room and find it empty, that's weird. After checking Francesca's room and still finding it empty I start getting confused. It's 10pm, where is she?
I also remember not seeing her car in the garage which is also weird. I'd normally go to sleep and let her do whatever she wants but my instincts tell me not to. I hardly have a conscience but it seems like it's bugging me today.
"Francesca" I shout. No response, "Francesca" again, no response. A door opens and I turn expecting to see her but it's her sister. "Hey Damien" she says waving.
"Did Francesca come home?" I ask dipping my hands in my pocket.
She raises her brows "no, not that I know off. I've been sleeping so I wouldn't know"
I take out my phone and dial her number. "is something wrong?" She asks coming down the stairs.
I ignore her and frown when the call is rejected. When i try again, it says the line is switched off. That's incredibly weird, the call was going through when I first dialed but then it was rejected. Now when I tried again, it was switched off? Maybe she's upset with me. Ladies can exaggerate sometimes.
I call Sam. "Sam, tell Liza to try calling Francesca. Right now" I say after he picked the call.
"is something wrong? You went home right? Isn't she there?"
"no she isn't, her car isn't here and her line isn't going through. Ask your girlfriend to call her and please give me a feedback as soon as possible. I'm on my way to the club right now" with that, I end the call and rush to my car.
"is everything okay?" Francesca's sister, who I happen to not know her name asks following me. I just shake my head and drive off.
When I reach the club, I rush inside and go straight to the VIP room. I don't know why my instincts keep telling me something's wrong. For all I know, she may just be somewhere or with a friend. But I only know one her friends, maybe I'm feeling guilty for snapping at her. I just want to know that she's fine and I wasn't the reason she left.
"Her line isn't going through Damien, we've called several times" That's the first thing Liza says when I open the door of the VIP room. I assumed she'll speak to Liza if she's upset with me, but that's not the case.
Where are you Francesca?...