Chapter 12 A Landlord
Cara stared wide eyed at him like he had said something so crazy and absurd. A house! A freakin house! He bought it for her? Why?
“Is something wrong? Hold on.” Romeo spoke up. He clicked on the mini screen of the car and set it to auto drive then let go of the steering wheel to look at her properly. “Did– did I make a mistake by buying the house? I made a few efforts while we were back at your parents house.”
“You bought me a house!” She stressed on the word so he would understand what she was saying. “Romeo, that's… that's too expensive! How do I pay you back?”
He smiled softly, looking like the most handsome playboy in the world. “Carina… you don't have to pay me back.” His voice was as soft as the wind.
“But I do! This is an entire house! All to myself? Why?” She didn't know how to react to this information. She kept feeling like she was panicking. Probably feeling like it would be too costly if she had to pay him back.
“Because you need one, remember?” He responded amidst a slight chuckle.
“Yeah I do, but I–”
“Okay listen, this is how it's going to be Carina. Take this as my first investment in you, you need this. Some companies offer an apartment, car, feeding allowance and such, I'm doing that for you so you never have to worry about a penny. I got you.” He smiled gently.
Carina– sorry Cara found herself smiling. She didn't know when she got so used to him calling her Carina. Was it four years ago when they met or longer? But it didn't matter because she liked it.
“Thank you.” She said softly and he nodded. She continued. “I'll pay you back when I become successful, I promise.”
“You do that.” He responded with a smile.
Jessica walked into the kitchen to pour herself a cup of rosé wine. She took it as their first defeat since Chris’ father refused to answer their calls or call them back.
Sitting at the dining table, she took a sip from her glass and let it wander about in her hand for a while. ‘How does she know Romeo Armani?’ She asked herself while staring off into the distance.
If only Cara had been a true friend to her and told her about Romeo Armani from the start of their friendship then she would have made no effort to steal Chris but Romeo in his stead.
She picked up her phone and checked the time. “Few past four.” The day was coming to an end and Chris’ disappointment of a parents would see be back from their job.
She dropped her phone on the table and took another sip from her wine.
Chris walked into the kitchen just then and walked up to her. “Did you make dinner yet? My parents will be home soon.”
She turned to look at him with a long thin arched brow. “Dinner? I can't cook my love, what if it affects the baby? Get the maids to do it, what are they here for?”
“But Cara always made our meals herself or at least let the maids assist. My mom always prefers it that way too and my dad.”
“Well Cara is no longer here and that way of cooking has to end. Have the maids whip up something before your parents get back. I mean, if they aren't doing the cooking then why the hell are they in the kitchen?” She rolled her eyes as she looked away from him.
Chris let out a sigh. By that time of the day, the mouth watering scent of something too delicious to be true would have been lingering about the house, caressing all their noses and causing stomach to grumble.
The year before, Cara had taken cooking classes out of boredom and did it for six months. She earned a certificate and a right to cook regionally and internationally. She could have become a chef if she wished but she said it was to better her skills in her husband's kitchen.
He wished he could taste her food just one last time.
“What are you thinking about?” Jessica questioned with a frown. “Cara?”
He sighed and shook his head. “Just… what to eat.”
“If you're that hungry then just order in.” She rolled her eyes once more and focused on her wine.
Back at Romeo's car, he got down from the car after asking her to hold on and then went to open the door for her. She smiled and got down from the car.
The parking lot in the building was filled with cars of different high models as she stared at them. The people living in the residence must be very rich.
He led her into the elevator and the packing crew he had invited went through the second elevator. She didn't even know he had called a packing crew.
The elevator led them to the tenth floor where her new apartment was and he took her to the front of an expensive looking door. It seemed the door alone would have cost the same amount she planned on using to rent a house.
Entering the door, it led them through a passageway and then the living room. The living room was just as big as the one back at her ex husband's house– if not bigger! Like he had mentioned, it was fully furnished. Sofas, centerpiece, chandelier, a rack for small decorative flower pots with several species of plants there already and other ceramic arts.
Paintings, fully air conditioned, everything!
The house must have previously belonged to an angel as everything that needed a color was a glossary whiter. Easy to maintain and beautiful to the eyes.
She refused to believe she now owned that place. It was like a dream! “This place is amazing! It's spacious, neat and I love these paintings!”
“Well,” Romeo started. “You can stare at them all day long every day because they now belong to you.” He walked up to her and smiled. “This house itself belongs to you. You're a landlord now.”
She shrieked silently in excitement. The feeling of happiness was overwhelming. She didn't even realize it when she flung her arms around his neck and pulled him into a warm embrace.
All she wanted to do was to show her appreciation but she went ahead and over did it. Now she just stood there, arms around his neck, not knowing what to do or how to react.