AMORE

A mans world

Bella

Everything had changed since the day I stupidly made that challenge with Lorenzo. He honestly took it too seriously and didn't even come back to the room in three days. Not only that, but when he appeared, he declined my offer to sleep in the bed. I couldn't be mad at him though; we had come to a mutual decision to inflict each other pain. Was this his way of doing that? Ignoring me? Or had he just forgotten about the challenge? Who am I kidding, Lorenzo never forgets challenges.

Jasmine was sick a lot, which honestly was starting to worry me. Both me and Adam had taken it upon ourselves to help her out, but we didn't cross paths at all. If Lorenzo wanted to destroy our friendship, he had been successful. Just the thought of him winning, irked me.

I had spent most of my time with Diego and Ali, doing stupid stuff together. We had occasionally been scolded by Scar for arriving home late, but it was from a good place. We would sit together late at night and bicker about what would happen next. The boys would fill me in on the information because Lorenzo and Khalid liked leaving me in the dark. Now that we were sitting on the couch, clutching blankets to our chest, an idea popped into mind; "Guys" I started, snatching their attention. Just when I was about to continue talking, Lorenzo entered the living room with the phone to his ear.

He was mumbling something in Italian, making me fall silent. The awkward atmosphere nearly strangled me until he walked out again to continue his phone call. "What is he doing?" I asked the boys, who lifted their shoulder and shrugged to tell me that they didn't know.

"What did you want to say?" Scar asked, to which I sighed loudly.

"So, I want to apply for a job and work" I told the boys, who looked at me with blank expressions. "I know that Khalid probably has told you that it isn't safe for me and blah blah, but I don't want to wait. I want to do something with my life and sitting in my bedroom all day is not my vision" I told them, but none of them answered.

I could feel eyes piercing on my back but ignored it. "What do you guys think?" I asked, hoping for them to uplift me.

"Well, Khalid is your brother and what he chooses goes" Scar was the first one to speak. I furrowed my brows at his statement and was about to answer back until Diego interrupted. "Bella, you can work in England" he spoke, caressing my back as if to console me in a way.

I shook my head and chuckled at them; "You are kidding right? Diego, I am not going back to England, knowing Khalid. I moved here for a reason" I turned my face to Diego as I spoke.

"Right and your brother won't allow that" Scar spoke sternly, making me halt in my movements.

"I am a whole ass woman" I exclaimed and laughed, waiting for them to tell me that they were joking. However, they didn't. Instead, Adam was the first one to enter from the front door, that Lorenzo had forgotten to close completely.

"And how is that supposed to strengthen your point?" he asked, snickering. "A woman looks more beautiful in the home" his disgusting mouth uttered before he walked towards his room. Khalid was the next one to enter and he smiled brightly, hugging me. I hugged him back but felt so belittled amongst the men in the room. I quickly said my greeting and walked out the living room as I saw Lorenzo barging in angry. I rolled my eyes at his temper and decided to take a stroll around town and be with Esta instead. A powerful woman.

§

"A dancer?" Esta asked, to which I facepalmed myself. "A bartender? A waitress? A teacher? Oh, what about working in a café, like you did back in England?" she thought out loud as she removed her makeup.

"I can be a janitor, Esta. I don't care. I just...I just don't like how conservative they are" I told her, to which she nodded understandingly. "none of them are my parents. Frankly speaking, even my father wouldn't say no to me. So why does Khalid? Not only that, but his dumb friend just has to put in his two words, doesn't he?" I spat out, getting angry yet again.

"Men are pigs" Esta muttered as she threw the makeup wipes in the trash. I nodded her way as I laid down on the bed. "Esta?" I asked, to which she hummed. "Do you think I did the right thing by leaving Lorenzo and coming here?" I asked her the question that had bothered me in five years.

"Can I be honest?" I heard her ask and I lifted up my hand to give her a thumbs up. "So, I just think that" she started off as she took off her clothes in front of me. "If you still think about him, then you clearly aren't over him. He did do some terrible things, but that is his world. Just like this is yours. I cheated on my husband and became a dancer. In my world, that is the worst thing a woman can do, Bella. That doesn't make me a bad person. I know that murder isn't equal to cheating but think about the circumstances too" Esta spoke wisely, making me confused.

"Fuck Esta, when did you become so smart?" I chuckled at my joke, as she threw her clothes on me. I laughed before sighing tiredly; "But Esta..." I started to which she hummed.

"He is dating this other girl that really likes him and he likes her. The last time we talked, we came to a mutual agreement that we both wanted to inflict each other pain, but I lied. I just want him to think I dislike him, so he doesn't rub his relationship in my face. Plus, a job would help me divert my focus somewhere else" I told her honestly, feeling her sit down beside me in her casual clothes and not the dancing attire she had worn.

"I could have talked to my boss and got you a dancing job here, but we both know that the boys won't like that" She told me and picked up her bag.

I listened to her statement as an evil grin plastered on my face; "No, talk to your boss. I would like the job"

Esta smiled excitedly before jumping up and down, screaming on top of her lungs; "WELCOME TO THE STAGE; BELLA KHAIIIIR"