PAPER VOWS Novel Chapter 13

I storm to my room. I hope my mother and Kelly leave me alone. I just want to be alone right now. I cannot believe Dante. Why are men like this? You meet them, and they are the most horrible person you ever dated. Then they meet the next girl and treat them like she is the best thing that happened after sliced bread.

I don’t care that I called things off; I had no choice because Dante was always busy. That man didn’t even want to take photos with me, but here he is posting on social media. Something that he has never done in his life. Indeed, the other gender will embarrass you because what is this? Is this the same man I was with just a year ago? A man who barely even said the words I love you is now making another woman smile like that.

“Miss Willow!” Kelly knocks, opening my bedroom door and lets herself in.

“You are on your last strike, Kelly!”

“Your mother asked me to come check on you,” she says in a lower tone. My mother’s bedroom is downstairs; she has trouble going up the stairs, which is why she sent Kelly.

“Tell her I am fine, now leave me alone.”

I watch for her to leave the room and call my best friend Paula. She is the only one I told about Dante. She is the only person I used to vent to when that man was never home, telling me that I was the only woman in his life. He was telling me that it’s me he wanted to be with, yet he was always busy. For many nights, I would sleep alone when he was out doing God knows what. Dante never wanted to talk much. He was always busy with work. Is being a club owner so serious that he would sleep out?

Paula: Hey, girl!

Me: Hey, have you been on the media today?

Paula: Not yet, I am at my man’s house getting that meat since last night. What’s going on?

Me: Dante and his new woman are trending.

Paula: Dante? Your Dante?

Me: Girl is there any Dante you know? Yes, that one. He has a new woman; she is all over the papers and the internet. She is now on a million followers.

Paula: I thought you said Dante didn’t like being in the public eye.

Me: That’s what he said to me. Just a year ago, he said he wanted us to be private.

Paula: I am sorry girl. I know how much you loved that man. How do you feel?

Me: I am pissed Paula. Dante even posted on his Instagram for the first time. He posted his woman. When with me, we had thousands of rules, and he couldn’t even take pictures with me. Then this girl comes, she is not even that pretty or rich for him to do all this.

Paula: I am sorry, girl. Not to add salt to your wounds, but men go about and beyond for women whom they value.

Me: Are you saying he didn’t value me?

Paula: Don’t let this get to you. Dante is not worth all this stress.

Me: But he is. Under all those rules, I loved him, and I enjoyed being with him.

Paula: I am sorry, Aria. Do you want me to come there? We can have some ice cream, and you can vent all you want.

Me: That would be lovely, but you are with your man.

Paula: You are my girl, he will understand. I will be there in no time.

Me: Thank you.

I hang up and toss myself on the bed. I have been pacing the room since I got in. I cannot believe that man. I don’t care that it’s been a year, but how can he treat me the way he did and then, a year later, be a completely changed man? Was I not worth it, as Paula said?

“Kelly!”

She rushes into the room, “You called me Miss Willow.”

“Make yourself useful and get me some gin and tonic. Make sure to bring me that fruit platter. I need to eat a little.”

“Yes, Miss Willow,” she says and rushes out.

I take my phone and go to Dante’s Instagram. That photo he sent now had a lot of likes, more than a hundred thousand likes. I go through the comments. People are asking if this is The Mrs Lyon. That woman cannot handle a man like Dante. I bet it will be over in no time.

Kelly walks back into the room and hands me the glass of my drink I asked for. “I need more than one glass. Paula is also on her way tell the kitchen that we will need more alcohol.”

“Yes, Miss Willow.”

The fact that I don’t even have one picture to prove that I was once with Dante kills me. At this point, people will just think I am a bitter ex if I try to say anything about what kind of man Dante is. If they knew how he is not a good partner, they wouldn’t put him on this high pedestal. I gulp down my drink like it’s water and frown at the bitter taste.

“Kel…” I don’t get to finish my sentence, she walks in with more alcohol.

“You almost lost your job.”

“I was coming, Miss Willow, here you go,” she says as she puts the tray with three more glasses on the bedside table.

“Thanks, you can go.”

“Yes, Miss Willow,” she rushes out.

I have more alcohol, trying not to think about Dante, but he is the only thing on my mind. Why am I getting jealous of him getting a new woman? I was fine until I saw his new woman. I swear I was over him. I take my phone and look for Dante’s number on WhatsApp. I forgot that I deleted the chat history.

‘Hey Dee.’ I look at the message for five minutes before hitting send. It ticks once – I quickly sit up. Did this man block me? I try calling him using the direct call, but it doesn’t go through. I cannot believe this man.

I get off the bed, gulp down another glass of alcohol, then head out. He blocked me on WhatsApp and even blocked my calls. Did he do this to keep me away from him? I know I last talked to him when we broke up, but blocking me is just crazy. He is the one who dared to ruin us, but blocks me – how mature of him.

“Tell Zach to get the car. I want to go somewhere. Tell the kitchen to put more alcohol in a bottle for me,” I say to Kelly, who then rushes off to get Zach. I need to visit that man. I am not even those crazy ex-girlfriends, but men will make you lose your mind.

I first tell my mother that I am going out and then send Paula a text message telling her that I am stepping out for a few minutes and I will find her at the house.

‘Where are you going, Aria? Please don’t tell me you are going to Dante.’ A test message from Paula.

‘I am just stepping out for a second.’

‘Don’t go there, you will only embarrass yourself. I am half an hour away. Stay home!’ – Paula.

I ignore Paula’s message and get in the car that is already waiting for me. I tell Zach to drive me to Dante’s house. Dante and I need to have a chat like grown adults. Paula is trying to call me, but I am going to ignore her call. I will talk to her when I get back from Dante’s. Dante’s house is just twenty minutes away from mine. I might get back to the house before her. I try to keep busy, but I keep going back to Jade Marshal’s social media.

“Where is my alcohol?” I ask Kelly. She quickly hands me the bottle.

Twenty minutes later, we are in front of Dante’s house. Usually, when we get to the gate, they open it for us, but today the security guard walks to the car without opening the gate.

“Open the gate,” I say when he gets to my window. I always forget his name, but Dante told me a couple of times. I am not good with names.

“Hello, Miss Willow. Mr…”

I interject, “Open the gate, what is wrong with you?”

“We got orders from Mr Lyon not to let you in. I am afraid you would have to call him.”

I laugh. Is Dante crazy? He blocked me, so I am not allowed at his house. Does he think that little of me? “Where is he right now?”

“He drove Miss Marshal to her house.”

“Open the gate, I just called Dante, he said you should let me in,” I tell him, sipping on my gin.

“I am sorry, Miss Willow, but I cannot do that. Not without confirmation from Mr Lyon,” the man says before walking away. Are these the same people who used to greet me with smiles when I was coming here? Now they are acting like I am a stranger. How tables turn.

“Where to from here, Miss Willow?” Zach asks. His voice is annoying me right now.

“Kelly, give me your phone,” I say. She tells me she didn’t get the chance to grab it. Useless! I am surrounded by useless people.

Just as I am about to ask Zach to take me home, I see a car stop behind ours. I know that’s Dante’s car. I hand Kelly the bottle in my hand and get out of the car to talk to Dante.