The Billionaire's Betrayed Love.

102: I Love You.

ALMA

I love you.

That was what he said and there wasn't a part of me that didn't fight the urge to say it back. To blurt it out as my finger ran through his hair and peck him on the forehead for how good he'd been.

But I panicked. I was too quick to click the disconnect button and calling Carl back wasn't an option, especially after how awkwardly I'd let the call go. His phone stuck to my head, replaying over and over like bells as the phone slid down my ears to the couch and tumbled and I slowly lifted my head to Beverly who was silently observing everything.

This woman would do amazingly well as a therapist, too. She should know that. She curled her lips and I expected the question. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah..." I blinked away the lie. "Yeah, it should be." Well, he said he loved me but I was too cowardly, too careful to say it back.

Did that count as an explanation? "Are you sure? You look...disturbed."

"Oh, I definitely am." I had told Beverly about Alice and how Carl and I had helped her, but I didn't tell her about that doubt that was slowly budding somewhere in my mind about who she was.

An ex-lover? A friend? I was the one who told Carl not to tell me when he tried to, in order not to embarrass her but I wanted to know so badly. "Is this about the girl?"

My head snapped to Beverly. "What girl?" Okay, now I did look guilty. Beverly flashed me a knowing smile and I sighed.

"Okay. Okay." Oh, hell! "Maybe..." My voice trailed. I was acting like an insecure teen and I did trust Carl, to an extent. He'd done a lot to prove that he was trustworthy but that didn't mean I wasn't bothered that the past could repeat itself.

And I'd be a fool to let that happen. Beverly shuffled in her seat, her body shifted in my direction as she crotched slowly to indicate that she was listening.

"I'm not jealous or anything but...Carl and I have only started this...sweet phase where everything seems to be going well. I mean, I like him. Velma likes him, s-she's always excited to see him and even calls him daddy! There's...so much happy things happening and trust me, I do want to enjoy it, but-"

Beverly clasped her hands. "But...?"

"This...gorgeous lady is saved by the man I love and you should have seen the way he called her name. In his eyes, he cared. I could tell he cared about her and that is no bad thing. Humans should care about other humans but with Carl, I don't know...I'm scared!"

But she called him Mr Harrison, not Carl, right? Why was I even thinking about this!?

"You're so adorable right now and I should make a recording of you and show all your workers how much of a fluffy bunny you can be!?"

I winced, taking a sip of water. "Beverly, this is scary...

"It is. You'll not be human if you weren't anxious. And I'm surprised you didn't let him tell you who she is, though I doubt this lady in question is a threat." She reached out and held my hands. "Alma, it's okay to be scared. There's nothing wrong with that. You've been hurt once and your mind recognizes it, that's why you feel this way when a pattern comes up. I know Carl. He wouldn't do anything to hurt your feelings."

"Right?" I couldn't believe how pathetic I was right now, but I couldn't make it stop. I was a sulking mess and would very much love to wipe Beverly's memory clean of all these scenes before I left. "He wouldn't...hurt me."

"He wouldn't." Her assurance sounds like something I could believe. "Let's be proud of that little man for saving someone and you too! I'm pretty sure you saw it first!"

I blushed, then the excitement bubbling inside of me faded. "I'm such an embarrassment! I should be proud of him for doing such a good deed but look at what I started thinking instead!" I buried my face in my arms and pulled my legs closer. "I'm such an embarrassment!"

"If you're an embarrassment, what would that make me?" Beverly cocked her head. "I'm pretty sure if I were in your shoes, Alice and I would be in the same hotel room right now. Or I'll have a sniper monitoring her by the next door roof!"

"As if!" We laughed, especially me. I laughed hard at how much of a pathetic little kid I'd become, all because I loved a man.

Love was so regressive. And I couldn't wait to see Carl tomorrow. Not just because I wanted to know who Alice was, I missed him. My heart was yearning for him, a lot.

A lot.

*

The tables flipped.

Or not, because either way, I was going to see Carl. He invited me to the hotel where Alice was, because he wanted me to speak to her and do a proper introduction. Initially, he'd asked if I'd be comfortable having her over, to reduce the stress of moving around- for me, but I politely declined.

It was better to see her in an environment she was comfortable in. Asides that, I'd had my share of people after Claire. I parked my car and the moment I stepped out, Carl was right outside, waiting for me.

A smile broke on his lips as he walked towards me with his arms in the pockets of his gray hoodie and sweatpants. He was a complete snack and I couldn't keep from salivating. I met him by the transparent windows and he threw his arms around me, hugging me tightly as his arms settled on my lower back.

"I missed you so much, mama." His lips were so close to my ears, making me slip slowly out of my senses. I was beginning to forget why I was even here.

I pulled away, flustered. "Keep hugging me that way and you'll be paying for two rooms."

A mischievous smirk grew on his face. "Pay? Why pay when I own the entire thing?"

"Show off." I scoffed and playfully hit his chest. "Let's go see Alice. I bet she's feeling better?"

"I guess? I was waiting for you to come, I haven't seen her today. I wouldn't know what to say or I figured you'd help out."

I smiled, adjusting invisible collars. "Well, let me show you how it's done."

We arrived at the room Alice was in and one knock at the door, it clicked open, gently pulled by the person on the inside- Alice.

Oh shoot! She looked ethereal. Just yesterday, one could barely tell what her hair color was and how vibrantly blue her eyes were. She was so petite and pretty that my lips automatically tugged into a smile. How could anyone have thought to hurt a beautiful woman like this one?

"Good morning..." She said slowly. Shyly. She wouldn't even look at me. "T-thank you so much for yesterday."

"That was nothing, honey. Please, sit." I said, then cleared my throat. Was I sounding too official? I needed her to be comfortable with me since Carl was standing by the door, without a smile.

I almost nudged him to be nicer. Alice sat directly in front of me, hugging her arms. I didn't know if she had any bruises but I'd suggest she got checked. "It must have been a lot to handle, but you're safe now. You know that right?"

"Yes, I do and I'm so...grateful for your help." Her voice broke as she spoke. "You wouldn't understand what you...saved me from. Words don't quite sum it up."

I shuffled closer. "Make me understand then. I'm willing to."

Alice sighed deeply before she dived into full details of the abusive marriage she'd found herself in years after her mother died. Yes, I also learned that she used to work for Carl.

The realization wasn't as climatic as I made it in my head. Meanwhile, she'd been through a lot of horrible things and I just wanted to help, one way or the other.

"Now that...you have a chance to start afresh, what do you want to do?"

Alice swallowed hard, eyes wandering around the room. "Work. I want to work."