CRIMSON KISSES

CHAPTER XX

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"You were there?

"And you have a stalk—"

Before Rosé could spill the beans about that anonymous message, I clamped my hand over her mouth. Her eyes widened, and I offered an apologetic smile to the onlookers as I slowly removed my hand.

"What. The. Hell?"

Lyla's glare could pierce steel as she sipped her hot chocolate. If looks could kill, I would've been six feet under the moment I mentioned the Bianca incident.

"Look, I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner," I began, my voice softer now. "I wasn't in the right state of mind, and I didn't want you worrying about me."

"Oh, Valeria, for God's sake, since when did we start keeping secrets? You are our first priority, everything else is secondary,"

Lyla stated, her voice filled with frustration.

If only they knew... I felt a pang of guilt, knowing there was so much more about me they had no idea about.

"We care for you because we love you! Gosh I feel betrayed"

Rose sighed, leaning back in her chair while Lyla crossed her arms over her chest. The sour taste of guilt spread through me.

"I'm sorry... I... I didn't mean to keep it hidden from you... But I was scared that whoever this person is might come after you next."

My voice trembled as I spoke. The stern look on their faces softened as they exchanged glances and then turned towards me with small, reassuring smiles.

"Fine, we understand you weren't ready to tell us. But have you informed the police about this?"

"Yes, I have... But... Apparently, the IP address is untraceable, almost like it never existed. The messages come from a new number every time."

"Seems like he's quite savvy with technical stuff," Lyla remarked.

"Yeah. One moment everything seems unreal, and the next, I have no idea what's happening," I admitted, frustration seeping into my voice.

"I understand what you're feeling. It's difficult for me too. Settling into a completely new cabaret is exhausting," Lyla said.

Rose and I nodded in agreement. I glanced out the window of the Morning Café where we were sitting. A week had passed since my date with Mr. Valentino, and he had messaged me almost every day, asking about my day and random things.

The clouds were dense and gray, as if snow could start falling any minute. I loved winter. I turned back to my friends, and they both gave me reassuring smiles.

God, what did I do to deserve such amazing friends?

"By the way, how are things going between you and the masked guy?"

I asked Rose, taking a bite of my sandwich. Yummy.

"Not much. Actually, I haven't seen him since last week. I wonder if he found someone else,"

Rose said, a hint of sadness creeping into her tone.

I looked at her, making sure it was really Rose I was talking to and not someone else pretending to be her. Rose? Getting sad over a guy she barely knew? Almost impossible.

"Don't give me that look. I know I barely know anything about him, but somehow he always manages to make me happy," she confessed.

"Rose Torcellie, are you in love with that guy?" I asked, half-joking, half-serious.

She burst out laughing, but the bitterness was evident in her laugh.

"Love? You think a man is capable of loving a cabaret dancer without thinking she's cheating on him with different men every night?"

Disappointment and realization tugged at my heart simultaneously. Is Mr. Valentino really interested in knowing me, or am I just another girl he's toying with?

"These men... There's a hint of doubt every time they look into our eyes. They see us as nothing more than mere entertainment,"

Rose continued, her voice tinged with frustration and resignation.

She was right. I knew that look all too well. The conversation between us died, and we sat in silence, looking at each other. Three strangers who met one day and decided to trust and love each other for the rest of their lives.

I couldn't be more thankful to God for at least making one thing right in my life.

"But somehow, he manages to hide that doubt, and that's enough for me,"

she concludes. Each word resonates with me, striking a chord deep within. A sudden pang seizes my chest, an unfamiliar sensation of hurt. I can't even identify its source.

Am I truly distressed by Mr. Valentino's opinion of me? For men, lying comes so easily. Is he merely toying with me, or do I genuinely mean anything to him?

Don't we deserve happiness? We have feelings too. We yearn for love, but I suppose the world will never comprehend the heart of a dancer. To them, we are nothing more than fleeting entertainment.

My phone dinged with a notification and dread filled my consciousness.

UNKNOWN: Morning, Beautiful.

VALERIA: I was having one until you decided to pop up.

UNKOWN : How bad isn't it?

VALERIA: Cut the bullshit and stop texting me, you creep.

UNKOWN : Creep? That's cute. I just saved your pretty ass from getting kidnapped and sold off.

VALERIA: How lovely, isn't it? I bet you're the one who planned that whole scenario.

UNKNOWN: Were you impressed? Ahh... I see you're with your girlfriends.

My head snapped up instantly, scanning the crowd for any suspicious-looking person, but spotting a lone figure in this mass of people was like finding a needle in a haystack.

UNKNOWN: No, sweetheart, don't try to find me. You'll never figure it out.

VALERIA : The day I get my hands on you, I'll cuff you and drag you to the police station myself.

UNKNOWN : Oh don't need the police to get me handcuffed baby. I'll let you do whatever you want to me.

I stared at my phone in absolute shock
How can he say those things as if we are a long dating couple and this isn't something new for us. So casual about it.

This guy is impossible.

RAFEL'S POV :

I chuckled, looking at my laptop screen. My little flower was dressed up in all cute winter clothes, her muffler wrapped around her neck, making her look like a small burrito.

My eyes are on her everywhere she goes, every step she takes. I can't let any wrong hands or eyes get closer to her. If I wanted, I could have her locked up in my mansion, but I'm not that bad of a person.

Now, am I?

She's not someone to be locked up. I would never want to snatch her freedom away. She deserves to see the whole world with those Beautiful green eyes of her.

I'm going insane.

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BWAHAHAHAHA. MY EXCITEMENT IS GROWING BY EACH CHAPTER. I HAVE LOT PLANNED FOR THIS ONE.
SO I HOPE YOU LIKE IT DON'T FORGET TO VOTE AND COMMENT.

OKAY I LOVE YOU ALWAYS BYEEEE.