The Billionaire's Betrayed Love.

108: Questions.

ALMA

"Hello," I held the phone to my ear, leaning on my side in bed. I wanted to hear his voice, and talk to him a little before going to bed. I also thought he could finally have the chance to tell me why he's staying at the suite for that long.

Carl answered the phone, and I could hear the deafening music and the rowdiness echoing in the background. Weird. I cocked an eyebrow, sitting up in bed.

Where was he? And why was it so noisy there? It made me uncomfortable and curious.

"Carl, why is it so noisy-"

"Is that Alma?" I heard a voice question in the background, and not just any voice. I recognized her voice. I couldn't miss it.

The voice was definitely Alice but that didn't make any sense. Alice couldn't be with Carl this late. She shouldn't but I know what I heard, and it was definitely her.

I immediately felt sick to my stomach, dreading the answer as the words left my mouth, "Is that Alice?" I asked and tried as much as possible to sound as casual as I could but It was almost impossible to hide the annoyance in my words.

I mean how was I supposed to feel about that?

"Oh! Yeah. She's here," he responded so casually without any explanation as to why she was there.


Did he think that was normal or something?

I was irked but I tried to hold my shit together. Perhaps there was a plausible explanation for it.

"Here, as in where?" I questioned.

"We are at the club."

"Club?" I reverberated. It seemed to be getting worse and worse by the minute. "What are you doing at the club with Alice?" I asked, dreading the answer to the question.

Did I even want to know?

I wasn't sure but I knew I didn't want to not know. My rage was building, and any moment I would definitely lose it. I was sure.

"It's work. I was giving my clients a tour of the place. We decided to check out the club, and I bumped into Alice."

I hesitated for a minute, trying to process all of that but it honestly sounded like nonsense to me. He bumped into her at the club. What was she doing at the club? And why was he still with her?

It wasn't adding up. Nothing made sense, and I couldn't come to terms with the fact that Alice was there at the club with him alone while he was with clients. I didn't understand any of this.

What was she doing with Carl by this time of the night? Forget that. Why was he with her? Why were they still together at the club? It was driving me crazy, and I needed answers but I also wasn't sure I wanted to hear anything else right now because it would only sound like an excuse, and so far he hadn't explained why she was there with him.

He shouldn't be with her. There was no reason why they should be together by this hour but somehow they were. And the fact that Alice had asked if the person calling was me wasn't helping any of this.

"Alma? Alma?" Carl's voice echoed through the phone, pulling me out of my thoughts, "Are you still there?"

I couldn't speak. My stomach curled with disgust, rage, jealousy, and a whirlwind of emotions that engulfed me. It was suffocating, and if I were to talk to Carl tonight I had a feeling that I was going to say something I would regret because why...

Why? Why was he staying at the suite for four days? He never told me why, thanks to her! And now he was with her! I wasn't okay with that. How could I be? Alice was literally everywhere, and Carl was the last person I wanted her around yet they were together right now.

I exhaled sharply, "Yeah, I'm still here but I gotta go. I think Velma's awake. I'll talk to you later," I lied, and instantly hung up. I couldn't do this right now, or rather I wasn't going to. It was exhausting, and I wasn't sure my heart could take anymore of this.

After everything I had gone through in the past, another woman was the last thing I wanted to worry about. I slipped back into bed, and closed my eyes, waiting to doze off but that never happened. I couldn't sleep. I couldn't stop thinking about Alice and Carl and whatever the hell they were doing at the club.

I didn't want to think about it but I couldn't stop my thoughts from racing, and it was killing me. I stirred in the sheets for almost an hour, trying to get some sleep, and failing woefully.

After another thirty minutes of tossing and turning I climbed out of bed and went downstairs.

I descended the stairs, heading towards the kitchen but my feet suddenly stopped at the sound of hushed whispers coming from inside the kitchen.

I stepped inside, and found Agatha, whispering on the phone but I couldn't make out what she was saying, and she immediately stopped talking when she saw me.

"Alma," she whispered, flashing me a smile, "What are you doing downstairs by this time?" she asked, slipping the phone in her pocket.

My eyes lingered on the phone, then back to her guilty face. It was obvious that she was talking to someone, and trying to hide it but I couldn't understand the secrecy. Who was she trying desperately to hide from me?

"Can't sleep. Wanted to help myself to some alcohol," I told her, and she helped me grab a bottle, handing me a glass.

"Thanks," I muttered, pouring myself a drink, and taking a drink before glancing at her, "What about you? Why are you still up?" I asked, and glanced at her pocket, "And who were you on the phone with?"

"Uhm...no one. Just a guy that I'm seeing," she gushed, flashing me a smile but I couldn't shake the feeling that she was hiding something from me. "I should go to bed," she said, "Goodnight."

"Night."

****

My phone rang on my desk for the hundredth time today. I reached for it and dropped it when I saw the caller ID. It was only Carl, and I didn't want to talk to him. I couldn't talk to him not after last night.

I still couldn't stop thinking about the fact that he had been with Alice last night, and only God knows if something had happened between them. I didn't want to even think about it but I couldn't help it. Once bitten you could say.

Carl had been calling me all morning, and I hated ignoring his calls but the thought of answering wasn't something I felt capable of doing right now so I had thrown myself into my work, dodging my own feelings that felt kike poison.

In the afternoon, I left work to pick up Velma at school. Agatha had texted that she was feeling sick, and couldn't make it, and I honestly didn't mind. I waited outside the school, and once Velma stepped out she grinned as she saw me.

"Mom," she hugged me

"Hey, you. How was school?"

"Good."

I took her hand, and led her to the car, holding the door open for her. Velma slid into the passenger seat, and I put on the seatbelt for her before circling the car.

I opened the door, and as I was about to climb into the car my gaze fell on a car in the parking lot. My gaze widened as I caught the familiar sight of the driver. It couldn't be. Before I could take a proper look, the car drove away, leaving me trembling.

It couldn't be.

I left the school, and dropped Velma off at home before heading to Beverly's. I needed a friend, someone I could pour my heart to before I went totally crazy.

I sat on the couch, holding a cup of coffee with Beverly watching me as I took a sip from the cup. "What happened?" She asked with a look of concern.

I narrated everything that happened with Alice and Carl last night, and how awkward, and angry I felt about it. Beverly didn't say anything as I spoke, she just listened and then afterwards she leaned back in her seat, regarding me with a look that made me a little uncomfortable.

"What?" I cocked an eyebrow.

"Can I ask you a question?"

I nodded.

"Does Alice's presence bother you?"

I froze.