Chapter 71: Chapter 71
(Vivienne)
"Are you going to eat all that?"
"Uh-huh...you got this for me right!?"I nodded and said with my mouthful and looked at the piece of pizza in my hand. Both like me and I spent the entire afternoon together. It was fun hanging out with him that I felt happy
"Is that even healthy, sweetheart?"he asked and I frowned and turned to look at him. I was having a good time eating my pizza. I asked him to order one for me because I wanted to eat pizza. I didn't know if it was okay but I had to eat before Victor saw me
Since I didn't see him, I guessed he stayed in the study after all. He was kind of weird, sometimes he was cool and other other times he was grumpy like earlier today he was grumpy but I didn't care as I sat with Leo
"Sweetie what's happening to you?"After some time Leo prompted on his elbows and turned to look at me. We were sitting outside by the poolside. It was getting dark, the weather was blissful and I loved it. The sky was turning dark, making me relax as I leaned back and stretched my arms above my head. I tilted my head towards Leo and he had that serious facial expression that meant he and a question of some sort
"I don't know what you mean"I simply said and resumed eating. I could feel his piercing gaze on me but I had to ignore whatever he had for me
"Tell me the truth, little one...I know you by now...you are never this comfortable" he said more seriously.
"Leo I don't know what you mean...you don't know me Leo...it's best you skip asking me questions"I lashed out not sure why but I felt irritated with him. He didn't know me even if he said so. No one knew me and I wanted it that way. I hated it when people tried to pry into my affairs
"You can act tough...think the world is in your hands but...you are still a child craving love Vi '' Leo said as he moved close to where I was, I felt he was sitting beside me and his sweet cologne hit my nose giving that homely feeling but I ignored him. I lost my appetite as I tried to keep my head away. I was not a child. I didn't know what he was talking about. If he thought I was a child then he was wrong
"It's best you don't talk about this"I said and tried to flee but he held my hand and gently pulled me down. I didn't want to stay, especially if the topic was a sensitive one. Leo kept his hand on me despite the way I tried to shrug him away
"I saw you and Victor today...how do you feel when you are around him?"Leo asked as he turned me to him so I could look at him. He cupped my face thinking I would look up at him but I kept my gaze lowered. I didn't know what he saw
"Leo what do you want from me...I'm only here as his surrogate...don't think much"I said looking up at him and he had that serious expression on his face. His warm hands were on me as he scooped closer
"You feel happy when you are around him... Vi do you like Victor?"unexpectedly, low said and my eyelashes lifted instantly as I looked at him with wide eyes. How on Earth did he think about such a thing
"Leo that's…"
"This is serious...you can act tough but deep down you are just a child...you think you are mature but...you crave for love and you find comfort in Victor" he cut me off before I could defend myself. He was being ridiculous saying such nonsense. I was just his surrogate where did Leo get such a crazy idea from
I considered Victor as my boss and nothing else. Even if I had to admire him I did it at a distance because he was a good man despite everything he wasn't so bad and any woman would get attracted to him but that wasn't it. I respected him because he lost his wife and of what I had seen, he loved her more than anything. His only concern was having his child whom I was carrying. If I gave birth I would leave their lives and move on with mine
Leo was making wrong assumptions about everything based on what he saw which made no sense
"You are wrong...I live for myself...I had to make up a lie just to do this..my only concern is giving birth...get paid and continue with my Future plans"I said more boldly as I looked him in the eyes. He seemed taken back by my words as his grip on my face loosened. He stared at me with a blank expression and I shrugged his hands away from me and turned to look at the pool full of water. If I knew how to swim I'd have dived in and relaxed my body
Leo was putting ideas in my head. I only had a goal and that was to earn enough money. Finish my studies and become someone
"Vi...you don't have to do this...it hurts me seeing you like this...this is a risk you are taking...how on Earth did you decide this...you are just 19 years old...what if something happens to you"Leo lashed out, although he wasn't trying to sound angry he showed his anger and I was not in the mood to talk to him. He was adding to my worries. I was already worried about everything
"Just leave me alone"I muttered, not daring to look at him. It was best if he left me alone. I felt movements around and then nothing. I shifted my eyes to the sides and found that he left
An exhale left my lips as I dragged myself up and walked closer to the pool edge. I hated anyone who thought I needed someone for comfort. I didn't need anyone because I could take care of myself. I've done it since I was young and I don't need anyone now.
Leo was wrong when he said I found comfort in Victor. He was just a stranger and nothing else even if I was naive enough to develop anything for him
"The chances of him looking at me is zero"I said out loud as I looked at the blue water which was darker due to the night sky. Leo was being delusional Victor was a refined man. I felt a small pain in my heart and took a step back unfortunately I felt something and before I could balance on my feet. I stumbled around feeling a gush of wind d send me forward and I ended up slipping and fell in the pool
"Ahh!"I panicked as I tried to keep my head above. Everything was blurry, I didn't know how to swim which was the worst part
I gulped down water while trying to breathe and ended choking and coughing violently as I kicked viciously through the water. I felt an intense pain in the back of my head not knowing how to get myself up
I was helpless. I found myself sinking to the bottom of the pool, I tried bouncing on my tippy toes to get to the surface but my arms and legs gave out as they became even weaker. My breath was agonizingly painful and short as I struggled to keep my head above the water grave that wanted to swallow me whole.
"H...help"I attempted to voice out but I ended up swallowing a cupful of water immediately when I opened my mouth. I grasped for my last breath of air but its cold water flooded in, my throat burned as if a thousand needles had been plunged into it
"H...help"I tried again but I felt powerless as the water kept on dragging me down the bottom. The pool was a deep one and the water was rushing through making me helpless as I felt light. Submerged with water swirling around me, crushing me. My lungs were filled up leaving no room for air. Was I dying?
***
Meanwhile, Leo was humming to a tune when he left the pool area which was to the left side of the mansion. The area was a little hidden with various flowers and some pool chairs. It was a large squared pool having both shallow and deep. He decided to leave Vivienne to be by herself knowing he triggered some emotions within her
It was late and the sky was dark blue, he needed to shower get ready, and go out and have some fun but first, he needed to talk to Victor
Earlier he was right about Victor being jealous. And seeing his reaction when he was massaging Vivienne, he knew some hidden feelings was lingering in the air and the thought of it made him laugh but stopped when he got to the main entrance to the mansion and nearly bumped into Victor walking out
"What's up bro...going somewhere?''Leo asked, seeing Victor looking all dark in the clothes he was wearing. Although not some business suit which always made him look scary and intimidating like some old man
"Leave my house now," Victor said straight to the point as if he didn't want to talk to Leo. Of course, Leo was in a happy middle hence he laughed sarcastically and looked at his friend with a smirk but Victor was not happy
"Look here bro...just loosen up a bit...stop acting like an old grumpy man and live a little...smile okay it doesn't hurt to smile and laugh"Leo remarked while shaking Victor to loosen up and stopped being so grumpy. he never smiled nor laughed which made people to fear him but Victor shrugged Leo away in irritation as his expression darkened ever more
"Pack your bags and leave… Or I'll kick you out myself!"Victor growled out in a low tone and prepared to walk away but Leo stopped me before he left
"Seriously you are going out...why don't you take Viv...she seems bored staying here...maybe a late-night drive will make her feel better" Leo suggested as he pointed towards the pool area. Victor's eyes narrowed shifted to where Leo was pointing and was even more irritated
"She's that side...sitting by the pool looking miserable...take her for a drive, with you? '' Leo added and patted Victor on the back and he happily walked away heading inside. He'd rather trouble Monica while Victor took Vivienne out if he could
Victor stood there not sure what to do. He was going out for a drive since he decided to relax. And now he was debating on whether to go ahead and take his troublesome surrogate with him or he just ignored her and went his way unfortunately he decided to go with the former.