Skylar walked down the stairs sluggishly with a feeling of dread. It was past 6 pm and she wasn't feeling like talking to anyone but Paula insisted that they all had a bonfire dinner and tell each other tales about themselves. Skylar couldn't help rolling her eyes at her suggestion, as far as she knew they weren't some kind of high school teenagers that she could tell.
"There you are. I was about to come to get you from your room. I thought you'd develop cold feet" Skylar turned to see Paula smiling up at her from the stairs, she was standing in front of the receptionist staring at her.
Skylar rolled her eyes at her as she brushed past her but paused as soon as she saw Elise dressed in white skimpy clothes clinging to the arms of Vino like her life depended on it" Wait, did you tell her about the dress code? Or is this some kind of fancy dinner meeting?" Skylar turned to Paula with a mocking smile on her face as they both burst into laughter as soon as they saw Elise brush past them with an angry look on her face as she glared at them.
"I wonder too. I don't blame her; she is doing everything to make sure that Vino stays with her. Anyway, I'm happy to see that your sense of humour is back" Paula told Skylar as they both walked down the starry night to the beach where the men were making barbecues and dinner.
Paula suddenly paused, causing Skylar to stop also as she turned to look at her, surprise written all over her pale face which she didn't even bother with makeup nor blusher since the only man she would ever dress for was now more focused on the mother of his daughter" Anything the matter?" Skylar asked Paula whose face was a shed of white like she had seen some ghosts.
"Don't you think she is somewhat protective of Vino these past few days? I mean she's behaving like some possessive virgin" Paula explained as Skylar turned to watch Elise and Vino laughing and chasing each other around, her laughter carrying over through the wind.
"No, that isn't new anymore. That's how she's always is with Vino" Skylar replied as she resumed walking, leaving Pula to follow closely beside her.
"I know but it seems__" Paula paused as she searched around her brain for words to describe Elise's new attitude.
"Yes, I've got it. She seems abnormal. Do you think she knows about your pregnancy?" Paula asked Skylar who had paused and turned to watch Paula suddenly getting the meaning in her words.
"No, I don't think so. She can't possibly know, right? I mean it isn't showing yet and I haven't been showing any symptoms except from the morning sickness" Skylar asked Paula as she watched her with fear in her eyes. Though she knows that Elise won't be able to tell Vino about her finding because she will want to protect her relationship with____
"Oh my God! I think she knows. I mean that's the reason why she's been possessive of him" Skylar suddenly exclaimed as she turned to watch Elise who was making an "I'm watching you" signal with her hands.
"I guess she just confirmed that right now. Let's go, we'll confront her after. As far as I know, she won't tell Vino about that, she too smarts for that and love him well too much to do that" Paula answered already dragging Skylar to the beach as she waves to Ernesto who was so happy to see his wife arrive as he was dying being the odd one out in the two men between him.
"Mi amore. I've never been so happy than I am right now as I saw you" Ernesto called to Paula as he hugged her close after greeting Skylar who had made herself comfortable beside the fire far across from both Vino and Gian.
"Why? What happened?" Paula asked her husband as she took the seat beside him as she sees to the barbecue which was still on the fire.
"Nothing, it was just that they had been staring at each other like some kind of silent combat. I was getting afraid that they might tear themselves out with their eyes" Ernesto replied, shrugging as his eyes flicked to the two men in question who were still in a staring match with each other.
Paula didn't need to ask who the men were to know that it was Vino and Gian. She turned to watch them, surprised that they were once friends with each other. She walked angrily to them when she saw that they were about to ruin her evening and Skylar's face was washed in guilt as she stared at her for help...
"Okay, guys. You both got something to say to each other, go out there and say it, stop behaving like some sissy. For crying out loud, you both are grown men" Paula paused to see if her words had any effect on them but if it did, they sure had a way of hiding it as they were both staring at each other, their fists clenching in a deadly menace.
"I can see that you both aren't grown men cause real men to fight and make ____" Paula couldn't complete her sentence as Vino had jumped on Gian and punched loudly on his mouth which he retaliated too soon.
"Oh my God! Will you both stop it; I was only joking" Paula screamed as she tried to separate the two men but they both ignored her as they bawled with each other.
"Ernesto, please do something. They will kill themselves" Paula screamed as soon as she saw Vino getting on top of Gian and punching him on his chest.
"No, let them be. They need that, we can't stop them" Ernesto replied, shaking his head, he always knew all evening that it would come to this, he never knew it would be too soon as he went back to his spot at the barbecue stand.
"I'm sorry, I know they are doing that because of me. Oh! I can't believe I caused a rift between two friends. I so hate myself right now" Skylar told Paula with tears streaming down her face as she sobbed on her shoulder.
"No, don't say that. This isn't your fault" Paula replied as she comforted Skylar in her arms. They both paused as they saw Elise storming to the two men with annoyance visible on her face.
"What is she doing?" Paula called as they both Elise glared at the two men who had stopped and were watching her, one spotting a broken lip while the other only had a bruise in his eyes.
"Aint, you guys the stupid men have ever seen on earth? What are you both fighting for? A woman? Have you ever stopped and asked yourself if she's worth it? And you?" She paused and turned to Gian who was trying to clean the blood from his broken lips...
"Who do you think you are, Huh? How dare you come over here from Spain just to fight over a woman. Are there no women on earth?" Elise screamed at him as she saw him smile before he spat out blood from his mouth.
"But no one could hold a candle to her. She is the prettiest woman I have ever seen. I would gladly bawl again just to have her" Gian replied as he turned to wink at Skylar who was already on his side trying to help him stand but Vino's loud thunderous voice caused her hands to hang in the air.
"Don't you dare touch him" He screamed at Skylar as he stood up, brushing the sand off his expensive slack, he took a long stride to Skylar and held her on both shoulders" What do you think you are doing? How dare hold another man in my presence" Vino screamed up at her, shaking her shoulders angrily as he tried to get her response but Skylar was tight-lipped letting him do anything he wanted to her.
"What do you want? I will give you anything, just anything much more than he has. Please be mine" He pleaded as he tried to will back the tears from his eyes, as he hoped Skylar would accept his pleas.
"I'm sorry I can't. I ___"
"Is it money? I have them all. Here, take, you can have my black diamond card. It's blank, there's enough money in it" He pleaded, tears already falling down his eyes as he watched Skylar throw the card angrily on the floor.
"I don't need your fucking money" Skylar screamed up at him as her heartbreak for the broken man in front of her. She wanted to gather him up in her hands and muttered words of love to him all through the night but remembering the little face of Adora's as she played with her at the hospital caused the words to freeze in her brain as she angrily pushed him away.
Vino ignored her outburst as he searched frantically around his pocket for his wallet, he finally saw it and took it out, a black shining Louis Vuitton wallet as he took out some cash stash neatly in them" Here, Have this. I know it's small but I can't write you a check. Please, just accept to be mine" Vino pleaded as he bent to hold her again but Skylar stepped away from him as she slapped him loudly on the cheek.
"I hate you, Vino Thompson. You know what, I regret ever meeting you. You disgust me" Skylar screamed up at him with tears in her eyes as she turned to walk away from him with Gian holding her hands to guide her away from him but Vino held on to her other hand refusing to let her go which stuck at Skylar's heartstring as she sobbed uncontrollably" I'm sorry Vino, but this is for the best. I can't have you hate me later. Your daughter needs you more" Skylar called in her mind as she forcefully freed her hands from him and ran back into the hotel with Gian on her heels.
Both Paula and Ernesto had abandoned the barbecue to watch the disturbing drama unfold in front of their eyes. The burnt smell of the barbecue caused them to run to the barbecue stand in seconds.
"Anything to save for dinner," Paula asked Ernesto as she tried to wipe her eyes and clear her throat. Watching and listening to Skylar and Vino's love story had brought tears to her eyes. She wished there was something she could do to help them but after today, Skylar had severed the remnant of their relationship with her hands. There was nothing she could do to help them. It was sad to see them break up after so much____
"Nothing, everything is burnt to ashes" Paula cried silently as she couldn't believe that their relationship was burned to ashes.
"Are you alright, Amore?" Ernesto asked his wife with shock on his face. He couldn't believe she was crying so badly when she was quiet a while ago.
"Shush!! Come here, baby. I'm sorry" Ernesto called to her as he pulled her close, hugging her close to himself as he comforted her. He was so ashamed of himself for not being able to help his friend nor his relationship...
"Do you think this is the end of their relationship?" Paula raised her eyes to stare into her husband's deep hazel ones which were staring at her, shaking his head, he opened his mouth to reply but paused as soon as they heard Elise screaming at Vino. They both turned to watch them, lashing angrily at each other.
"Do you know how pathetic you are right now? A CEO and a father. Have you ever wondered if anyone, your employee or daughter should see you right now? What do you think will happen? Your sale will drop and____"
"Enough, enough. I don't want to hear anything from you again, Elise. I will gladly do anything to have Skylar. I want her and no one else, not even my company nor you"
"Why are you doing this to yourself? Why are you belittling yourself because of a nobody? Surely_____"
"Because I love her. Yes, I love Skylar Evans. I love her because she's a nobody but I guess you wouldn't understand what love means since you're a heartless bitch" Vino called to her as he turned to walk back to the hotel, his hands going to dab his eyes trying to rid the remaining tears in his eyes. He was still angry at Skylar for rejecting him and choosing Gian over him....
"What are you both looking at?" Elise screamed at both Paula and Ernesto before turning in the opposite direction of the hotel heading to the bar. She needed strong wine to get over the embarrassment of tonight...
Paula sighed as she turned to Ernesto who pulled her closer as he walked her into the hotel to their room. Paula, on getting to bed, turned to stare at Ernesto with sadness in her eyes as she whispered to him" Do you think that's the end of Vino and Skylar's love story? Do you think Elise won and Skylar lost?"
Ernesto paused as he stares out into the darkness ahead of him before turning to his wife who was waiting for his response, a faint hope in her eyes" No," Ernesto whispered not sure of his answered
"No" He repeated, his voice laced with a conviction," No, that's not the end of their love story because love always wins" Ernesto smile as he pulls his wife closer to himself and pulled the duvet over them, closing his eyes with a smile on his face as he went to sleep.
"Love always wins" Paula repeated as she smiled and relaxed on Ernesto's arms, sleeping soundly with a smile on her face.