Elise stepped into the bedroom, which she shared with Vino after she had to get away from the restaurant. She was surprised to meet Vino in the room, he stared angrily into her face like he's ready to punch her if she did anything that wasn't alright.
Elise sighed heavily and walked into the room, closing the door gently as she went to stand beside him, she knew he was in a bad mood. She imagines his father talking to him angrily about the drop in the shares and her heart reaching out to him.
"I'm sorry about your shares. I wish we all knew about the reporter who ratted you out. If only_____"
" Why didn't you tell me about Adora?" Vino asked her as he stood up from the bed and made himself comfortable on the couch opposite her as he wanted to watch her facial expression. mix-up
He was surprised to receive Michael's call today asking for information about Adora, information that he was too stupid to ignore. He couldn't help going back to his last conversation with his doctor, now he was finally able to understand why all of this was happening to him. First was his break up with Skylar and now he found out that the daughter he had dedicated all his life and happiness to was not his...
Elise froze, of all things to happen today, she wasn't expecting Vino to say that. She was so shocked that she couldn't form words in her mouth.
" Answer the damn question, Woman! When were you planning to tell me? " Vino screamed up at her as his eyes blazed hot with anger. He stood up from the couch and paced around the room in annoyance.
He stopped and turned to look at her clenching his fists in anger" I can't believe you could do this to me. After everything, I have done for you"
Elise gulped nervously, never in her life could she imagine that Vino would find out so soon about the secret she has been hiding for the past six years now, she paused and turned to look at him, wondering how he came to know about it while feigning ignorance about his questions" I don't know what you're talking about. How can you say Adora isn't your daughter? You're the only man I have ever, ever been with. You know I love you so much, I can never think of hurting you, please Vino, I____"
"Enough. Stop spouting lies from your mouth, Elise. Your game is up" Vino screamed up at her in anger. He was so angry that he had been fooled the second time by Elise. Why couldn't he see between her lies? He was sceptical the first time she told him about the pregnancy, he had always known he used condoms the first time with her but seeing that he was drunk that night, Elise had told him, he didn't and he had believed her.
"Vino, please it isn't what you're thinking. Adora is ____"
"Who does she belong to? Who owns her?" Vino asked her as he stood up from the couch to pace around the room while trying to reign in his anger. He was so devastated with her. He couldn't believe he had let her play him.
"She is yours, Vi___"
"Cut the crap and start speaking the truth" Vino shouted at her, he was so tempted to slap her loudly across the face but he couldn't lay his hands on a woman. With the way he had been screaming all morning, he's surprised that no one is trying to break down his door.
As if reading his inner thoughts, a loud knock sounded on his door. At first, Vino wanted to ignore it but the knocker didn't seem like he wouldn't be leaving soon which sent Vino going to the door, he opened it and wasn't surprised to see Paula and Ernesto.
"What's going on, Vino? Hope this isn't about your company? I'm sure it isn't Elise's fault; you shouldn't be taking it out on her" Ernesto rushed into the room and chastised Vino while trying to hold him away from Elise who was sobbing at the edge of the room.
"She is a fucking lying bitch. I hate her so much! She lied to me, for good six fucking years, can you believe that?"
"Calm down, Vino. I'm sure there's a misunderstanding here. Elise wouldn't have done such, right Elise?" Paula asked Elise as she stepped into the room looking directly into Elise's eyes as she made to pacify Vino.
"I didn't know about it. I never lied to him. I'm sure there's a mix-up somewhere" Elise explained slowly while playing the victim card at Vino. She needed him to believe her like he always does. He was the last person who had always trusted her. Even Fabio, her husband, never trusted her in the years they have been together, he only left her his property because she threatened him.
" Really? How then can you describe my blood not matching with Adora's? You knew all along that she wasn't my daughter but you pushed her on me," Vino told her angrily, causing both Paula and Ernesto to gasp in shock as realization dawned on their faces.
"You what? Adora isn't Vino? But how?" Paula rushed to ask as she stepped away from Elise, anger overcoming her being, she slapped her across the face, shaking in anger she made to go again but Ernesto stopped her
"How could you do that to him? How could you push another man's child to him? I've always known you were heartless but I never knew you were this wicked?" Paula shouted at her in anger as Ernesto rushed to walk her away from Elise else, she did more damage.
"How did you find out, Vino?" Ernesto asked as he threw an angry look at Elise before turning to Vino who had sat back down on the couch, his clenched fists folded on his knees.
"Michael called me, he told me he took Adora for a DNA test. At first, I was angry with him for doing that behind my back but he explained his reason. And it turned out she wasn't my daughter. Apparently, Michael had doubts just as I did. Nothing in her matched mine" Vino explained slowly, he was so ashamed of himself right now. How could he call himself the king of the boardroom when he let a stupid woman deceive him for six years.
Vino stood up, walked to the door, and opened it, "I'm going to the bar. I need a strong drink" Vino called to them as he turned to walk out of the door with Ernesto closely behind him.
"I'm coming with you. I don't think I can stay a minute more in the presence of this vile woman" Paula called at them as she rushed to the door. She paused as she turned to glare at Elise one last time before she stepped out of the door.
Paula stopped at the door, her hands going to massage her head as she was spotting a migraine. It wasn't surprising considering the dramas she had to witness these past few days. To think that she had planned a two weeks getaway from work only for all of these to happen.
"Where the hell is Skylar?" Paula exclaimed loudly as she ran up the stairs to her room in search of her phone while Ernesto and Vino went to the bar.
" Fuck! Not now! When I'm a step away from achieving my goal. Think, Elise, think. You're too smart to accept defeat" Elise told herself as she paced around the room, she stopped in front of the window, staring out into the night.
"Skylar Evans, I really hate you right now. After all these years, why would he find out now" Elise screamed up into the silent room, she was so angry with Skylar.
" I hate you" Elise screamed into the night sky, she was frustrated with everything happening around her and now Vino does not want to see her again. What could she do? She needed a huge sum of money and only Vino could give that to her. She has no one.
Elise paced around the room, anger seeping out of her veins as she clenched and unclenched her fists, she walked to her phone and picked it up just as she heard Vino and Ernesto's voice returning from their booze at the bar.
She paused as she walked to the door and rested her ear against it trying to make out their wordings. She heard them after some futile attempt, they were debating what to do with her" Vino, I don't understand what's going on with you. I never knew you were the type to be easily fooled by Elise. I thought you always hated" Ernesto's voice carried out to where Elise stood with her ear pressed against the door.
Elise grunt as soon as she heard Ernesto's voice" Damn that stupid man, is he trying to instigate vino against her?" Elise mustered to herself; it was no surprise as she had always hated him.
" I don't understand either. I mean I did hate her but after she told me about having a baby for me there was nothing I could do" Vino replied as he sighed heavily. He was still annoyed with himself. How can he be so easily fooled by Elise? Is that how obvious he is that he loves kids?
" What are you going to do with her? And Skylar?"
" I will have to hand her over to the police for slandering my image and about Skylar, I'll love to go back to her. I love her if only she wants me"
Elise rushed away from the door as if being burnt, "Vino was coming to arrest her, no, not now. Her mother needed her, she might lose her life if she didn't get the money for the operation on time" Elise paced around the room, her hands went immediately to the door and locked herself in to buy some time to plot her escape.
"Think Elise, Think. You're smarter than this" Elise told herself as sweat perched her brows, her eyes ran through the big spacious bedroom with gold splendour, there was nothing that could aid her escape, she was about to give up hope when she noticed the big duvet on the bed. She rushed to pick it up, wielding the material in her hands. She was glad to see that it was a quality material that could hold her weight.
From the other side of the door, Vino tried to open the door. He was surprised to see it locked, was Elise out of the room? Where could she be? Vino thought to himself as he tried the lock again.
"What's going on?" Ernesto asked him when he noticed there was a frown on his face,
"The door. It isn't opening. Do you think she escapes?" Vino turned to Ernesto who had rushed to stand in front of him, he tried the handle and wasn't surprised to find it locked" I think she lock it from inside"
"Elise, open the door right now!!" Vino screamed as he pounded on the door loudly, not in any way scared that he might be uprooting the peace of other guests.
Vino waited for some time but there wasn't any moment in the room signalling that Elise was going to open the door. "Fuck! She has escaped. Get the reception" Vino told Ernesto who took out his phone to call the reception. He was glad for taking precautions to save the number on his phone.
"What's going on here?"
Ernesto dropped the call and turned to Paula who was looking from him to Vino who was busy on the phone. From his stride, Ernesto could tell that it wasn't a good call.
"Elise has escaped. She locked herself in. I'm guessing she used the window. Any luck with Skylar?" Ernesto shrugged as he turned to his wife as soon as he remembered her telling him that she was going to put a call through to Skylar.
"No luck yet. Her phone is not reachable. I'm beginning to get scared. Do you think that Elise kidnapped her"?
"No, she can't do that. Elise might be a lot of things but she isn't a kidnapper" Both of them turned to stare at Vino was through with his call and had come to stand beside them.
"That was what we all thought until she pushed a bastard on you" Paula scowled angrily at Vino. One could see the annoyance in her stride.
Vino was saved from answering as the receptionist chose the moment to appear with a set of keys in her hands closely followed by the manager who was throwing apologies at Vino who doesn't seem to listen to anything he said.
"I'm so sorry, Mr. Thompson. I never knew something like this would happen, I could have had guards stationed in front of your room" The man apologized profusely with his head bowed as they waited for the door to open.
As soon as the door opened, they all rushed in, the first thing that got their eyes were the dangling of the duvet on the window slid," Fuck!" Vino swore angrily as he turned to the manager who had bowed his head in shame, expecting him to lash out at him. He was already expecting Vino to sue the hotel for incapability.
"Book me the first flight to New York now," Vino told him as he rushed into the room to pack his few luggage while Paula and Ernesto followed behind him in shock.
"Is this about the tabloid news?" Ernesto asked, guessing why Vino was returning to New York.
"I'm afraid yes, the board had called for an emergency meeting on ways to remove me from my position as the CEO. I need to be there. I just spoke on the phone with Michael '' Vino explained with a sad look on his face, he took his briefcase and walked to the door, he paused to stare at Paula while forcing a sad smile on his face.
"I'm sorry for ruining your perfect vacation. This was a perfect location; I just wish everything had gone through as planned but I lost everything" Vino sighed heavily as Paula pulled him into a hug as she clutched him hard.
"No, Vino. This isn't your fault. This is all Elise's fault. You don't need to apologize '' Paula called to him as she tried to comfort him, Vino nodded and pulled out of her embrace, he smiled at Ernesto. He opened the door and stepped out after mouthing a quick 'thank you to them.
"I guess it is left to us to settle the mess around here," Ernesto told his wife as he tried a poor attempt at humour which caused Paula to smile as soon as she noticed how messy the room was.
"I guess so too, '' Paula replied as they both stepped to give their statement to the local police who the hotel manager had called, while also begging them to keep the news from the media.