When Regina left, Andre sighed softly. He turned and glanced at his mother, “Are you alright mom?” He asked. Even though she appeared alright and smiling, he just needed to ask all the same.
“Of course I am,” Alice replied, walking over to stand before her son. She ran her hands over his shoulders and said “today, you didn't speak as Andre Torello. I have never heard you speak to anyone like that before.
You spoke like Andre Kamal, the prince of Ashanti Kingdom. Your identity is already reflecting on your person and the way you speak and I am proud of you. And I want to proudly assure you that you have my support in whatever decision you take.
Take everything back my prince. You must go ahead with your decision. That's what makes you a royalty. You can't back down on your words nor will you consider pardon. Take everything back, I am with you on this, do it, prince Andre” Alice urged.
She wants Regina Logan and her family to suffer for what they did to Andre. Since they didn't remember to be kind enough to pay Andre back for his love and concern towards them.
They broke him and left him shattered without as much as sparing him a glance. They used words on him and reminded him that he was the boy from the orphanage. As if they didn't know those facts about him when he gave up everything for them for Jasmine, for love.
Regina called her a jealous woman and even scratched her face like a cat that she really appears to be. Now, she doesn't want Andre to be lenient towards them. That boy from the orphanage has ended up being a prince of the great Ashanti Kingdom.
“Mom please. I didn't want to do this but that woman Regina crossed the lines when she dared to threaten you before me, and right in your home. That's preposterous mom. And for that, I'll teach her and her entire family a great lesson” Andre concluded.
He wouldn't want to hurt Jasmine nor her family because of the place she once occupied in his heart. But these people never felt remorseful treating him the way they did and his mother has to suffer humiliation from Regina again?
Never!
“Yes, she did. How dare she threaten me? And to think that she'd scratched my face months ago. Don't spare her, make her bite her fingers until they bleed” Alice urged, hatred fueling her words.
“Why do I feel you only have hatred for your friend mom?” Andre asked, chuckling and walking towards the door. He needs to leave already.
“That's the only thing I feel for her and her family henceforth and no, she's no longer my friend. After what she and her daughter did to my son, we can never remain friends nor can I care about her anymore” Alice replied.
Andre smiled and walked away. At this point, he doesn't have anything to feel hurt about anymore. Camella loves him and he knows it. He sees it in her eyes and his only worry is being able to love her back as much as she loves him.
The training for the tournament went well but somehow, Andre was having the feelings that he might not be participating in the tournament. His parents might tell him he cannot play because he'd suddenly wake up to realise he is a prince.
As usual, this time Rita loved hanging around. She's a doctor but it appears her attention has only been on Andre and not that entire athlete. There are definitely other men who want her attention but she wants Andre's attention.
“Can I ride in your car with you?” Rita asked. She so much desires riding with him. Other trainees joined them, the atmosphere was lively and they all heard it when Rita asked to drive with Andre in his car.
“Is someone crushing here?” A trainee asked, passing glances from Andre to Rita and back again. They all know that Rita is not one of the athletes but she's the head of the paramedics.
“Stop talking nonsense. We're best described as friends” Andre replied quickly. Somehow, he knows she has a crush on him. A number of times, he'd caught her staring at him with admiration.
For fucks' sake, how many women was he supposed to be dating per time. As far as he is concerned, he is already in with Camella and there can't be anyone else.
“It doesn't seem to be so to me, Torello. I have eyes and I can fathom what I've been seeing” another trainee responded and they all laughed and dispersed.
“You haven't answered my question” Rita insisted and Andre chuckled and said “I have a few places to go and I wouldn't be…” he was saying when Rita interrupted him.
“You wouldn't want people to see us together?” She insinuated and Andre said “fine, get in. I'll drop you off” he compromised.
On the way, Rita asked “Are you in some kind of relationship? I mean you're dating someone?” She asked. A grown man like him shouldn't be without a girlfriend.
“Yes. I have a girlfriend” Andre responded. When a woman starts asking a man such a question, it is heading somewhere and he knows where it's destination is.
“That must be the reason why you wouldn't spare people like us a glance…” Rita trailed off.
Andre chuckled. That has always happened to him. Ladies are easily attracted to him and he doesn't like it. He is not the only good looking guy in N.Y but he is sick of hearing and seeing women falling for him.
“Perhaps. When a man is obsessed with his woman, he doesn't realise that there are other women around him to spare a glance…” he made a random excuse. In his heart, he knows he wasn't that obsessed with Camella yet, but he would get there soon.
Just then his phone buzzed. It was Camella. When he saw the caller ID, he smiled, he was just talking about her and she called. Their hearts are probably calling out to each other.
He glanced at Rita and mumbled “excuse me” before answering his phone.
“Hello Cam” he adjusted his Bluetooth while still being focused on the steering wheel. They were supposed to go to lunch together and she was calling him based on that.
“Hello Andre,” Camella said. She had waited this long to call him. She wished she could get to him wherever he was at that moment and hugged him.
“I'll come and pick you up soon. Get ready” Andre informed. Rita sat quietly and listened to Andre's conversation with his girlfriend and soon he chuckled aloud before hanging up.
Turning to glance at Rita he asked “Where will I be dropping you off to?” He is so eager to be with Camella. There's a deal she needs them to sign and she was ready to talk about it over lunch.
“I was hoping we could go for lunch together…” Rita was saying when Andre interrupted her “It's not going to be possible. I'm having a date with my girlfriend. Besides I took this turn just so to drop you, otherwise I would have taken the another route”
Rita felt disappointed and it was visible. How dare he turn her request down?
“Are you refusing me, Andre?” Rita asked, a tone of threat laced her words. This young man should have known her position and influence in the final selection for the tournament. He might have thought the selection was over but she can make it unrealistic for him.
“Yes, Rita. I am refusing you” his voice was bland. Why does he feel she was threatening him somehow? Feeling frustrated, he continued “I can't stand my girlfriend up for you, it's just not right…”