Jayden's POV

Bella's fashion house is boldly written in front of the transparent door leading to the beautiful fashion house.

A sense of fulfillment fills me up and I feel the sudden need to talk to her.

Isn't it high time I swallow my ego and call her? It's been a week already and I won't deny that I miss her.

The thought of coming back from work every day for the past 7 days now to meet the absence of someone I have already gotten used to makes me miss her more.

It has always been like an inconvenience having her around in my room, when I am eating, sleeping, or bathing but now I don't even care about going to the bathroom with a towel tightly wrapped around me.

I haven't called her. All I did on the day she arrived was to text her.

I waited impatiently for her reply which came very late in the night but I still couldn't bring myself to call her.

Instead, I called Alejandro who attacked me for not coming along with my bride. I couldn't ask about Isabella in order not to arouse suspicion.

This gift in front of me is supposed to come a month before our contract will expire but I have been spending these past few days getting things together for her to come back home to something as amazing as this.

This is her dream and this is what I promised myself. Helping her to achieve her dreams while she helped me achieve my goals too.

She deserves this and more.

She hasn't really said much to me about her dreams of having a fashion house but I could read it all in her eyes. She lacked the capital to give such a huge business a try but it is what she had always wished for.

It makes me smile. And proud of myself.

I really can not wait for her arrival. Just yesterday, I was blaming myself for granting her the permission to stay there for two whole weeks instead of giving her just a week to be back home.

If it was a week, then she would be home by now and this emptiness in me won't be there.

I know how much void she has filled. She has been nothing but a good friend and I appreciate her for that.

Ever since I spoke to her about Helena, I barely feel the guilt, coupled with the fact that Helena keeps smiling down at me anytime I dream about her.

Isabella told me that Helena would want me to be happy again but I didn't believe her because I felt Helena won't be happy whenever she is and it will be unfair for me to be happy when I caused it all.

But Helena's constant smile which is in contrast to the initial screams and anger on her face puzzles me.

It is giving me the sense that Isabella might be right and I ought to be happy again.

Taking note of the remaining things left to finish up the touches of the building, I twirl around with my arms in my pocket before heading back to the car.

Everything should be done before she is back. The car door opens and I enter. Sitting quietly at the back of the car, I watch the building as the car drives away.

I made sure I secured a good building that isn't too far from our house. I don't know why I did this but I know I didn't consider the fact that I might still be seeing her around after our divorce.

All I had in mind was the ability to go to her place of work whenever I was home early.

With her thoughts hovering in my mind, I remain silent with my back on the car seat, till we get home.

I wonder what she is doing by this time of the night. Is she having dinner with Alejandro? Is Alejandro keeping her company?

The only reason why I am rest assured that she might be a little safe from Alejandro's charm is the fact that she is staying in a hotel far from his country home. I specifically told her not to stay anywhere else but in a hotel.

My ego might be at work, I admit but it is taking me a whole lot of courage not to pick up the damn phone and ask her for 6 nights in a row what she is doing and who she is spending the night with.

Isabella would be surprised or offended. This is why I don't do it.

We aren't real and she deserves a good life after all of this sham is over. But whenever I think about the major factor for her visit to Verona, I can't help but feel annoyed.

It wakes up an angry demon in me.

She is out looking for true love. Has she found it now?

I climb down from the car immediately after the car is parked in the open garage. Jude assists me with the briefcase and I walk towards the front door with one intention in mind.

Tonight, I am giving her a call.

I am damn curious to know how she is faring. Damn interested in hearing her voice. That soft caring voice.

I guess I miss her more for her caring nature. Sometimes, she makes me feel like a child.

Her consistent 'Jayden, are you ok?' amuses me. She is always worried or concerned about me.

"Welcome, Master", the two maids at the entrance greets politely with a bow of the head.

"Good evening", I reply casually without stopping my walk towards the staircase which I will take to my room.

My empty room. A room without Isabella.

Taking three stairs at a time, I get to the top in a split second and I am strolling to the bedroom door, holding my briefcase firmly.

I get to the door and push it open and my gaze falls on the bed immediately.

What was I expecting? Is it an unexpected Isabella in bed reading a book?

Honestly, I was hoping to meet her at the house. I was yearning for her to surprise me by arriving earlier than the agreement but she isn't here.

She is still in Verona, probably laughing with some Italian assholes.

Muttering a few curse words to myself, I pull off my tie and fish out my phone from my pocket to give her a call.

I don't need to call Alejandro tonight to know if all is well, I should call Isabella directly and hear from the horse's mouth.

Funnily, she hasn't called me either. Isn't she supposed to call me first to tell me about what she has seen in the City and to tell me about her flight?

I dial her number and it rings without a response. It makes me more desperate to hear her voice.

Is everything ok? Is she fine? Why isn't she picking up?

I dial the number again and it rings for a while before going into voicemail. I curse silently and dial her number again.

What the hell is happening? Should I call Alejandro to know if they are together? Wait, if they are together, then why isn't she picking up?

Before the call will go to voicemail, she picks up, and my breathing hitch in my throat, sending a comforting shiver down my spine.

She isn't saying anything. She is laughing instead.

Is she laughing at me because I am blowing up her phone with calls?

"Hello", she says randomly into the phone after she sobers up and I feel a stab of anger. She falls silent before she exclaims. "Oh, Goodness, Jayden?"

I don't say anything. Why is she acting strange? Didn't she see my name on her screen? Am I a joke to her? Is she drunk?

I am here worrying myself to death while she is there enjoying herself and oblivious to the fact that I am worried and I'm finally calling her after a whole week.

Who the hell is she out with? Who is making her laugh so hard? Is it Alejandro?

I gaze up to see the time. It is 10 pm already and she should be back in her hotel room already. Where is she? Did she receive a guest in the hotel or is she still out?

I ball my fist in infuriation.

"Jayden, are you there?" She asks but I can't find my voice. "I'm so sorry, I didn't know it was you. I didn't check the caller ID before picking it up."

"And that is because you were laughing with some asshole to realize that", I can't believe I actually voice out my thoughts.

She does not say anything again and I bite my lips in regret. Biting my lips reminds me of how everything I do or see reminds me of her.

The biting lip is a habit I got from her.

"I'm sorry…I.."

"Where are you?" I cut her short instead.

I hear nothing from the other side until I realize she is whispering. "Romeo, where are we?"

What? Romeo? Who the hell is that?

"I really don't know, Jayden but I'm on my way to the hotel already…"

"Where is Alejandro?" The frown on my face deepens to realize that she isn't even with Alejandro but with some random guy just as I speculated.

I would actually feel relieved if she was with Alejandro, not some stupid Romeo who has a name with the fictional Romeo.

What the hell is that?

"He dropped me off at the hotel earlier on and he said we would meet tomorrow", she sounds guilty.

"Alejandro dropped you off at the hotel and you just told me you are on your way to the hotel? Do you know anywhere in Italy?"

"I know but I actually went out with a friend…"

"A friend?" I interrupt her from going further. "A Romeo, right?"

"What? How did you know his name?" She demands sharply, sounding surprised that I know his name when her supposed whisper was loud enough for me to hear.

My anger continues to rise with each passing second. At her calmness. At the guilt in her tone. At that stupid guy she calls Romeo and at myself for being here while she is with some stupid guy who she might eventually claim she has fallen in love with by the time she is back home.

Italian men can be dangerous. Some parts of Italy itself can be dangerous. She isn't safe. I need to go there.

Without thinking, I blurt out. "I am coming to Verona first thing in the morning. See you tomorrow", I announce and disconnect the call before she can react to the news.

When I drop the phone, it dawns on me that I have just given a promise to take the first flight to Italy tomorrow morning because I am being overprotective of her.

Abruptly, I shoot up to my feet and hit my fist into the air at my decision. "F**k!"

****

Did he just make a hasty decision of going to Verona? Do you think he is going to go there?

Why?

Is he jealous? Is he feeling insecure?

Air your views and don't forget to vote for this chapter. This chapter made me smile so much.

💓