Vino was shocked, he didn't know what changed in Skylar but immediately she walked away from him, he knew he wasn't going to like any decision she took.
He stood in the empty room a bit longer before he finally remembered that he had brought her here because of the gown he bought for her to wear tonight. Now, he couldn't give it to her because he had let his heart do all the talking instead of his head.
Vino walked dejectedly out of the room and walked back to his office to get the dress. He paused to glance through the hall but Skylar was not there. Vino forced himself to walk back to his office instead of going in search of her as it seems she wanted to be left alone.
Madison greeted him as soon as he got to his office but he ignored her as his mind was in turmoil. What was he to do? He has never loved any woman as he loved Skylar and he surely doesn't know anything when he comes to dating a woman. He would need to seek the help of his brother to be able to court Skylar without any insecurities.
Vino picked up the gold-wrapped box containing the dress and walked to Skylar's office while praying in his mind that she shouldn't be there. He didn't know if she would accept the dress if he gave it to her in person so he's only going to drop it on her table and turn back.
Vino opened the door to Skylar's office after stepping out of the elevator. He was surprised to see Paula smiling at him. In his happiness to get to the office this morning, he had forgotten to inform Skylar about Paula's visit.
"Look who's here" Paula exclaimed excitedly as she shot up from the couch to greet Vino with a peck on both cheeks.
"Unfortunately, Skylar is not here right now. She said she was going to check the decorations" Paula continued gently as she took in the big box on Vino's hands.
"What is that? Is that for Skylar? Give me, I will make sure to give it to her" Paula told him with excitement as she stretched out her hands to collect the box from a shocked Vino.
"Ah yes, here you go" Vino replied and handed the box to Paula with a smile on his face. He knew Paula was going to make sure that Skylar wears the dress tonight.
"I wanted to give it to her earlier but she seems too busy with the party planning" Vino rushed to explain himself to the ever-curious Paula. He didn't want her to ask him why he couldn't give it to Skylar in person?
"It's no problem. I understand, I will make sure that she wears the dress tonight" Paula reassured Vino as she turned to drop the box with care on the couch at the far end of the room.
Vino smiled, his visit here was successful, now he just has to go home and anticipate seeing Skylar in that dress tonight "Thank you Mrs. Ernesto if you'll excuse me, I'd like to go back to my office. See you at the party" Vino called to Paula who waved him off without bothering to look at him as her eyes were fixed on the big box in front of her.
Vino smiled at her and turned to walk back to his office. He wouldn't want Skylar to meet him there.
Vino walked into his office after sending Madison home to go prepare for the party tonight. He picked up his phone to call his father.
"Hello, Vino" His father's deep voice called into the phone after the third ring. He could hear his mother's voice in the background scolding his father to get on with his dressing.
He had invited both his parents tonight to introduce Skylar to both of them but with the way she was behaving, he doubts she will want to meet them.
"Dad, are you still coming over?" Vino asked his father. He didn't know how to tell them not to.
"Of course, son. Your mom is on my neck, scolding me to dress up fast. She can't wait to meet the woman that you are in love with" His father replied, causing Vino to frown. He surely can't tell them not to come again.
"Okay, dad. See you at the party" Vino told him and hung up. He took his suit jacket and car key and stepped out of the door, planning to go home to prepare for tonight.
***
"Vino you've gotten thinner. Are you sure you are eating on time?" His mother asked him, running her hands through his cheek with an affectionate look in her eyes.
Vino smiled at her. He didn't know how to tell her that he was eating perfectly okay but the thought of one woman in his mind has kept him awake all night. There's no way he wasn't going to get thin after all that.
"I'm fine now. I've just been stressed with work" Vino replied as he stepped away from his mother who was holding on to him like he was a little boy who would vanish any moment from her side.
"That's true son. You've done a good job with the Thompson Art centre. I'm proud of you son," Mr. Thompson replied as he pats Vino lightly on the shoulder and turns to take in the paintings on each side of him.
With his father distracted, Vino was left at the mercy of her mother who had inched closer to him and whispered in his ear "Where's the woman you love? Is she in this room with us? I can't wait to meet her?" The mention of Skylar got Vino to glance at his clock. What was she doing at home? She ought to have arrived by now?
Is she having a second thought about coming here tonight? Vino thought to himself, he was about to step away from his mother to go call her when he saw Skylar's face pale looking up to a man at the painting area like she just saw a ghost.
He shouldn't have felt angry but that mad man was dragging his woman forcefully out of the hall. Vino was about to follow her when he felt a hand on his shoulder, he turned to see Mr. Falcone smiling at him "Mr. Thompson, a very good evening to you" Mr. Falcone greeted him. He was extremely happy tonight as they were making double money from tonight's sales and it's all thanks to Miss Evans.
"I've not seen Miss Evans. It's time to award the gifts and signing of the contract" Mr. Falcons continued slowly, he took in Mr. Thompson's countenance to see that he was worried and about to leave the room.
"She's a bit busy right now. Handle the gifts and signing of the contract. Thank you" Vino called to him before running out of the room.
He was scared. What if something happened to her before he got to her? Who was that man with her earlier? These were thoughts running through Vino's mind as he searched around for Skylar moving from one office to another.
After searching all through the offices and toilets to see that Skylar was not there. He was about to give up hope when he suddenly remembered that there was a garden at the back of the hall.
Vino ran up the hall into the elevator and punched in the code for the ground floor while praying in his heart that Skylar would be safe. He didn't know who that son of a bitch was, but he hoped he wouldn't hurt his woman.
Vino stepped out of the elevator as soon as it came to a stop and ran down the corridor after discarding his suit jacket on the floor. His black Louis Vuitton's shoe made a clicking noise on the floor. He got to the garden and hid behind a tree as soon as he saw Skylar arguing with the man. It seems she knew who he was.
"What do you want from me?" Vino heard Skylar say to the man who stood in front of her his face completely hidden by the plant in front of them.
"What do I want? The man let out a psychic laugh "Why Skylar, you know what I want? I'm here to take my baby?" What the man said next caused Vino to freeze on the spot. What baby are they talking about? Skylar never told him that she had a baby? And who was that man?
"Baby? How dare you ask about your baby? Where were you when we needed you the most? Where were you when I needed a shoulder to lean on? You left me hanging and now you have the gut to ask about your baby. You can go to hell and ask about your baby."
Vino heard Skylar scream at the man. He had confirmed that Skylar did have a baby for this man? And from her tone of voice, this man has hurt her a lot. Who was he? And what is he doing coming back now when he had just started winning Skylar over to his side.
Skylar was about to walk away from the man, but he pulled her back and rough handled her. Skylar screamed as she tried to free her hands from his powerful grips "Let me go, Leon, you are hurting me"
Leon? Leon, that's her ex-boyfriend. Vino exclaimed to himself. Why didn't she tell him that she had a child for Leon? Was that the reason why she was annoyed with him when he was curious about Leon? Was it because she wanted to hide the child away from him? Vino was devastated; he felt betrayed and it hurt so much. He had spent the rest of his days and nights longing for her, that he couldn't wait to make her his only to discover that she has a child with another man.
Vino turned to walk away back into the elevator but Skylar's scream caused him to pause. He turned to see that the man had slapped her across the face. Vino angrily strode to meet them, even though Skylar had betrayed him. She was still the woman he had ever loved. He needed to save her from the man.
"Unhand the woman now!" Vino commanded Leon as he waited with a blank expression on his face. He avoided Skylar's eyes as he was hurt.
"And who are you to meddle in our affair? Shoo, rich boy, go back to the party. That's where you belong" Leon called to him, waving him off.
Vino walked closer to them and forced him to release Skylar's hand before turning to punch Leon in the face.
"That is forever hurting a woman" Vino called to him as he delivered another punch on Leon's face. Leon was too shocked to fight back. He didn't think anyone would help Skylar when he came over tonight.
"And that's for hurting the mother of your child," Vino told Leon again after slapping him across the face. Leon stood up from the ground and ran off, disappearing into the night.
Vino turned to look at Skylar briefly before turning to walk away but Skylar's tearful voice stopped him.
"Vino, I can explain '' Skylar called to him as tears streamed down her face. She never knew her past would come back to hurt her in the future. If only she knew, she would have explained everything to him when they first met.
"Save your explanation for a willing ear. Goodnight, Miss Evans?" With that, he stepped into the night and walked to his car where he drove home.
Skylar slipped down on the floor sobbing loudly into the night as she clutched her chest tightly. She was hurt and scared, she never imagined that Vino would come to know about her secret and in such a way!