Jose had asked Valeria to meet him at an event center, and of course, she had instantly declined.
If it wasn't for Mylene's pleading and constant disturbance, she wouldn't have left the house.
She was on a short dress with a leather coat and a pair of silver heels. Mylene was okay with makeups and she had painted her face with just the right amount to highlight her beautiful eyes and sexy lips.
"Oh my God, you look beautiful sis!" Mylene complemented and Valeria only rolled her eyes.
"You promise to stay home with the kids, and--" Valeria was still saying when James walked in. He stared at them for a while, but left again. The silent treatment broke Valeria's heart.
"Maybe I should just stay back. He's still mad."
"No. You're going, sis. Honestly! If you continue to do this to yourself, he won't treat you right. You need to go out and at least hear what Jose has to say."
"Has to say? He wants me to accompany him to a venue!"
"Just go! If you don't ever want to speak with him again, then fine."
Minutes after a long contemplation, Valeria agreed. Once she'd left, James came back and saw Mylene on the couch.
"Where are the kids?" He gruffed.
"Upstairs." Mylene frowned as she replied. She never liked James anyway.
"And Val?"
"She went out." Mylene hadn't expected it, but the wrinkles that delineated his forehead indicating James's anger was not something she had hoped to see. Why was he angry that she went out?
She said nothing and was glad James said nothing too.
Meanwhile, Valeria had arrived at the venue just a few minutes later than they'd agreed to meet. She was welcomed by Freddie, Jose's friend. He treated her nice.
"Jose is busy with some friends. He'll speak with you shortly." He said after placing her on seat, then excused himself. The hall was grand with fine touching of light and decors.
Her phone rang and she was surprised to see Sabrina calling. "Oh hi, Sab. What's up?"
"Turn around!" Replied a cherry voice.
Valeria was even more surprised to see her friend seated behind her, waving hands so vigorously she hoped they wouldn't detach from her body.
Sabrina has been her friend since they were in high school and although they hadn't really been too close since the whole marriage with James happened, Valeria still considered Sabrina to be her only friend!
Both ladies exchanged pleasantries and it wasn't long before they began to reconnect lost bond. Sabrina thanked her for ever introducing her to Jose and she wouldn't stop talking about how amazing he was.
At the back of her mind, she wondered why her friend was so obsessed with Jose and she wondered whether Jose had been that much obsessed with her too. But she was a married woman, right? She had no right to be jealous?!
Valeria used that medium to bring up a topic. Just because Sabrina was her only friend doesn't mean she trusted her. Even, Sabrina has done some terrible things to Valeria in the past that would warrant the doubt and suspicions.
"Freddie said you were asking about me. If you wanted to catch up with me, you know where I live." Valeria said, and this made Sabrina uncomfortable.
A slight awkward smile appeared on her face. "Well, I'm sorry. I just missed you, and I know James doesn't like me too well. That was why I asked Freddie."
Valeria wished she could believe her explanation. Sabrina had always been jealous of her when they were younger. She claimed that Valeria had wealthy parent while she had poor ones who couldn't fend for her. But now, Valeria had lost everything! Sabrina was clearly doing better than her.
"Okay then. So Jose invited you?"
"Yes he did! He's such a caring gentleman. You know what? Can you help my career even more? Put in some good words for me, huh? Let Jose hire me permanently!"
"Uh, Jose and I aren't really close. I think you should talk to him yourself," Valeria managed to say.
Sabrina resumed on sharing some information about her life that Valeria just wasn't interested in. All she could think of was where Jose was, and why he had invited her in the first place!
Minutes later, Jose arrived and joined their table.
"Oh welcome back. You're here!" Sabrina said.
Valeria on the other hand was slightly angry. He came back without even acknowledging her presence! And she had dressed just fine that Mylene had assured her she would be irresistible to him.
"Keep it together, Val. You're a married woman." She thought to herself.
Jose was now speaking to Sabrina about some fashion terms that she had no idea what they were saying. She was a makeup artist with some stylist experience, he was the owner of a big mall, they were perfect for each other!
This conversation went on for a long while, and even, one man came to join in the boring talk. He made it all worst even.
Valeria couldn't take it anymore, so she excused herself and left. Jose hadn't even noticed her absence!
She took a stroll wandering about in the hall, some parts she admired, some parts she criticized. There was a large painting by the wall, and she wondered why artist create such huge mess and called it a masterpiece. She knew she would never understand art.
"It is quite lovely, don't you agree?" Said a voice from behind.
Slowly, a smile began to form on her lips. She was so happy he had finally agreed to join her. She turned with excitement but was met with a huge disappointment.
It was not Jose behind her, but rather a man who looked like he was in his fifties. "You look disappointed, dearie?"
Of course she was! "Oh, I just thought it was someone else." Valeria managed to say.
"Oh, my bad. You look really beautiful by the way." The man said, his compliment accompanying a smile.
Valeria smiled back, though it wasn't from the heart. Deep down she was hoping someone would save her from that awkward conversation now.
"Can you hear me, sweetheart? Or are you shy now. Just say thank you,"
Silence etched up her mouth, because she didn't know what to tell him! "Oh, uhh..."
"She's certainly not deaf, Jeff. Just go." Jose said as he walked down to meet them.
"Jose? This one's yours too? Oh come on!" The man said, then began to curse in a foreign language as he left.
"Your presence is a powerful one. You chased him away." Valeria said, pretending she felt hurt.
"So was your absence." Jose replied.
"Nobody seemed to have noticed my absence. Anyway, why have you called me here? I'm here now and suddenly, Sabrina and this old man seemed to have been more important than I am."
Jose laughed, but in a way that meant no harm. "Technically, they both are more important to me than you are because they work for me. Say you had agreed to be my P.A now, things could have been different."
"Why do you want me to be your P.A? There are other options for you to pick from."
Jose sighed. "Honestly, you seem like the perfect candidate." He said, then leaned closer to whisper softly in her ears. He smirked when he saw just how stiff she was. "Other girls would have fallen in love with me by now."
Valeria moved back a little, running from his sexy voice. "Dammit, Valeria! You're a married woman." She kept ringing that in her head so she wouldn't fall into any temptation.
Jose only smiled again. "You seem to hate me for no reason at all. Now, I'm not so sure. You see, I always have a way with women."
"Same way you have with Sabrina?" Valeria thought she was thinking it on the inside, only for her to realize she had spat it out loud.
"Who's Sabrina?" Jose asked, his brows arched up.
"Your new makeup artist!" She didn't know why she was jealous.
"Oh that lady? I totally forgot about her. Freddie said she begged him to come. Oh, that's where she's from. I just know I've seen her from somewhere before..." Jose kept mumbling to himself. Valeria then realized that he hadn't even really noticed her and Sabrina had only been lying that they were close. She'd even lied that it was Jose who had invited her to the event!
A bit of relief overwhelmed her. "Anyway, I'm sorry. I respectfully refuse to be your P.A. I'm a married woman and I want to he loyal to my family."
"Oh, so you feel you would cheat on your husband with me once you start to work for me? You dirty woman."
"What? No! I never said that!" Valeria's face flustered red.
Jose laughed even more, enjoying his dominance over her. He loved how she blushed at the slightest of things.
Though deep down, he was not happy she had rejected him again. No one has ever rejected him before!
As they enjoyed their little chat, Freddie rushed down to meet them, hurdling some people away. He then announced that they were reporters and they were now sharing everywhere that he was with his lover.
"Lover! What do you mean by lover?" Valeria snapped.
"And did you say we're on the news?" Jose had to ask again. One reported rushed down to meet them and with his camera and microphone, he began to stammer.
"I--Is, is it... Is it true?" Before he finished his words, more reporters stormed down asking for confirmation of what kind of relationship was existing between he and Valeria.
Valeria was surprised she had not fainted yet. How could she be on the news!?
"I'm a married woman." She kept on saying.
Jose leaned in to whisper to her. "Just because you're a married woman doesn't mean we still can't sleep together! Let's think of a smarter excuse."
Valeria's eyes widened. "Excuse? But we're not actually dating!"
"Which is why you have to agree to be my P.A now! That's the only plausible way to describe our relationship. What do you think?"
***
James wasn't one to watch the news, but he received several calls from his friends and even his sister to go check the news at once.
He wondered what could be happening.
Mylene didn't understand anything at first because he kept on calling his wife's name. It wasn't until she stepped foot in the living room and saw what James was watching. Valeria was being interviewed and she was now recognized as the P.A of Jose Terres! Instantly, she called her sister to hurry home and explain herself to her husband.
Immediately Valeria arrived home, panic was already roaring everywhere and James was at the center of it. Desiree was at her house as well as one of her manfriends. They abused her and called her a slut for sleeping with another man, and this only upset her. How dare James allow all these insults?
She sighted James and rushed to meet him. "James, we can talk about this. Why did you have to bring these people in!"
James frowned his face so hard he looked unrecognizable. But he said nothing. Before Valeria could ask another question, little Jose walked in and held on to his mother.
"Mommy? Is it true that you have found another man you love and would leave us to be with him?"
Valeria's heart sank low on hearing this. She knelt down to face him. "What? Of course not. Never! Who told you this?"
"Daddy." Little Jose replied.