Ciara Mendes
I never thought I would remain so composed the day I met the woman who is supposedly carrying the child of the man I see a future with. Rhea Rivera did not seem like a bad person. Her personality was nothing like those of the women I knew Giovanni would normally have flings with and to be honest, that scared me.
Her blue hair that was growing out to a natural auburn colour sat on top of her head in a messy bun, her hazel eyes focus on the raw edges of her rip jeans she paired with an oversize blue shirt that look like it could hold two more persons.
Rhea appeared to be pleasant despite her lack of words, she didn't flaunt herself and seem to be shy which makes me wonder if Giovanni had indeed met her at a club are he was just mistaken. The young woman who sat across from me did not come off as someone who would even visit a club much less dance half naked on a pole in front of thirsty men.
At first I thought it was an act, that she was pretending but the lack of eye contact when she spoke and the way her hands were shaking I could tell that I was wrong. There's no way this girl was a threat to me are anyone for that matter.
Bridget words from earlier came back to me. 'Don't fall for it Ciara, that girl seems like a good actress. If you don't play your cards right the next thing you know she's seducing Giovanni again."
I for one though just couldn't she it. She didn't speak a word to him and whenever he'd say something whether it was directed to her are not the death glares that she sent his way could not be missed. Not even I look at him with so much hatred when we first met and that's saying something considering I found him to be more annoying than wearing a thong.
Two days ago Bridget had showed up at my house, uninvited of course, with her designer bag hanging over her shoulder and her four thousand dollars dress clinging to her body like a second skin. The way she had walked past me into the house and insisted we talk clearly meant she means business. That's when she informed me that she had managed to track down Rhea who works as a janitor at a highschool forty six minutes away from where she currently reside.
Knowing how she was I didn't even bother asking how she found someone whose name she wasn't even aware of. I didn't know how to handle this but she took it up in her hands along with mom and that's how currently the five of us sat in my living room having small irrelevant conversations apparently we were waiting for someone.
"I didn't poison it, just in case you're wondering." I say to the girl sitting across from Giovanni and I, unfortunately sandwich between my mother and sister. The latter sending glares her way every second after the other.
Rhea glance at me then the glass of water I had given her five minutes ago before hesitantly taking a sip. I guess I would feel the same way if the roles were reversed.
She look around nervously before asking, "Can I please use your restroom?"
That was honestly the longest sentence she ever said since she arrived about an hour ago with Bridget and mom. "Sure, just turn to your left and go straight down. It's the door on your right."
She nod before making a hasty escape. "I'm sorry you have to go through this." Giovanni says frustratedly running his fingers through his hair. "I promise I won't ever hurt you in anyway possible again."
"You better not are else you won't like the consequences Mr Haynes." Mom says before I had the chance to reply.
I watch as Giovanni eyes widen and Bridget smile clearly amused by the situation. It was clear from the beginning when Gio insist she call him by his first name and her reply was 'I'll call you whatever I damn well please' that mom did not like him.
"You won't have to Msâ I mean Viviana." I couldn't help but giggle when I saw the look mom gave him. Even though she was close to fifty she hated when people referred to her as Ms just like how she hates when Zen calls her grandma.
"That girl doesn't seem half as bad, what do you think dear?"
Mom question was directed to me but of course Bridget had to have a say in this. "I don't like her."
I roll my eyes. "She seemed decent but I'll just see how things go as time progresses."
Giovanni seem to relax next to me, he open his mouth to say something but the door bell went off an indication that shows whomever we were waiting on all this time had finally arrived.
"Ciara why don't you get that." Mom says a sly smile on her face as she look at a nervous Giovanni. I never thought I'd see the day when my mother showed so much interest in my life are the day when Giovanni seemed anything but confident.
I glance at the three once more before leaving the room to see who we were waiting for.
The man who stood on the other side of the door was hardly recognizable. The last time I saw him was at his University graduation in Canada, he moved there after senior year to attend College and after he had decided to stay there since Uncle Rodney and his ex wife Mel was going through a divorce and he didn't get along with either of them; therefore moving back to Colorado wasn't an option.
No longer as skinny as I remembered, Enrico Mendes now owed the appearance of a fully grown man.
"Aren't you going to give your big cousin a hug."
"Only by five months." I smile before I pull him in a hug, "What are you doing here?"
"Bridget called, said it was urgent for me to get here after explaining everything over the phone. Are you alright?"
"I'm holding up better than I thought IÂ would. Bridget was just exaggerating." I stood back for him to come in after which I close the door and led him to the living room.
"You know how your sister can be, always the drama queen." He says upon arriving in the living room.
"I'm happy to see you too." Says Bridget as she stood from the couch to hug Rico.
"Aunt Vi." Rico greeted as mother got up to give him a small hug while saying how much he have grown and how handsome he was.
After that I introduced him to Giovanni, Rico glared at him but still shake his hand. "So you're the famous heartbreaker that my cousin still wants to be with."
"I messed up and I know but this is our businessâ" he motion between him and myself, "there's no reason to point out my mistake."
"She is my cousin and whatever concerns her concerns those who love her as well, so this is damn well my business too Haynes not to mention I'm the doctor doing the paternity test." Placing his hands in his black pant pockets I watch as his blue eyes glare at Giovanni.
Before the two men could go to war Rhea enters the room looking nervously between the two men.
I couldn't help noticing how Rico seem to forgot that he was glaring at Giovanni as his eyes runs over Rhea appearance, before anyone could get a word out he was closing most of the distance between the them. He held a hand out introducing himself, Rhea glance up at him her cheeks burning red as she try to pronounce her name.
I look at Bridget who was already looking at me with a perfectly trim brow raised and a smirk on her face.
Giovanni Haynes
It is quite obvious that Ciara's hot-tempered cousin had a liking for Rhea though he only met her about an hour ago, it seem the feelings were mutual and I couldn't be more happier. The very most I'm expecting is for them to get together so that Ciara could stop seeing her as a threat.
I did tell her that not in a million years I would leave her to be with Rhea, that I didn't even like the girl like that but she still seem a bit scared as she talk about Rhea being too nice.
Her cousin had already taken the test which involves swabbing my mouth and taking blood from Rhea who he flirted with at every chance he got causing the girl to look as red as the blood he took from her.
"I think they would make an adorable couple, don't you?" Ciara ask clinging to my arm as we stood staring at the two who were having a conversation in the foyer.
Enrico was carrying the test to a lab and we would know if the child is mine in the next twenty four hours. We were told that it normally took longer but since he was doing this for family he would make sure we get it back as soon as possible.
At first I despised Rhea mostly because she had caught me at the wrong time with news that I never wanted to hear from a stranger; but Ciara was right. Rhea was a decent girl and did not come off as someone who sleeps around.
"Yeah." I say not really interested in having this conversation, I was more concern in how much it will change things between Ciara and I. Hopefully the three of us could be civilize if the child did in fact turn out to be mine.
"You know I forgive you, right?" She says softly looking up at me.
I don't know how she could. If I found out she was carrying the child of another man I would go ballistic, I would probably make sure that whomever the scum was wouldn't be able to impregnate another woman again. Yet here was the most beautiful and audacious woman standing next to me telling me she forgives me for something that I'm sure a large percentage of women wouldn't.
"It's obvious that the so call universe are whatever is currently fuâ messed up because I don't know how it gave me someone as perfect as you."
"I'm not perfect Gio." She says shaking her head. "Far from it."
"In my eyes that's exactly what you are." I pull her in my arms and press a kiss to her forehead. "You better believe that I won't do anything to jeopardise our relationship again."
"I sure hope so because you're starting to grow on me."
"Is that so?"
"Yes." She says before brushing her lips against mine, before she could pull away I tighten my arms around her.
"I guess that's a good thing because the last few days without you were the worst." I place a kiss on her lips before she could say anything.
Just when I was about to deepen the kiss, someone clear their throat. I was force to pull away from Ciara as she turn to look at Rhea who stood behind her. I glare at her for interrupting but she ignore it as her eyes were focused on only Ciara
"I'm sorry to interrupt but can I talk to youâalone." She exaggerate the word as she look at me before looking back at Ciara."It's important."