Chapter thirty-one

"That sounds like jealousy to me," Paige said running her fingers through her hair, untangling the knots that formed at the end.

What Paige said annoyed her, Jealousy?

Why would she be jealous?

Back at the suite after work, she explained to Paige what she saw in the magazine?

Somehow her trust reduced in Leonardo and her insecurities seeped back in?

What if he doesn't love her as he claims?

That other woman she saw with him was a beauty compared to her. Unlike her, she was well built, had no fats, and has a beautiful body shape meant for seduction.

Her eyes, her Kohl-coloured eyes created an enigmatic feeling of mystery around her, the way she smiled, Alison was sure she hasn't seen any teeth whiter.

It's like they were dipped in bleach or something.

While she had layers of belly fat, her legs were a bit thick which made it short, and her heavy spoony shape didn't make it any better.

Before she births Samantha, she was comparable to a model, if there was a nerdy model you could call her one?

But after she conceived, her body took a different shape marveling at her. It was finally great to have the curves that come with pregnancy.

Until Richard called it fat, and how the fat made her disgusting.

She endured a lot of things from Richard, he never for once considered she was the mother of his child.

The comparison became too much when she was in her last trimester. He would compare her with other women he saw on the streets, his friend's wife, and even other pregnant women.

Thinking back in those days, she wondered how she kept up with his awful talks, present Alison would have liked to give him a dirty slap also on the face for disrespecting her like that.

But she was still naive at that time, innocent willing, and kind. She was the prey that married a narcissist.

A man who never cherished her success.

Recalling how she forgave him after finding out he was cheating on her, with his more attractive newfound girl, she regretted that moment.

She should have discarded him like trash, threw him out of her life once and for all, but no, she never forgave herself and let her insecurities he inputted in her, work out their magic.

Seeing Leonardo with this woman, made her feel inadequate.

She tried to hide the fears she felt deep in her blood.

Remind yourself Alison you are not defined by a man.

But why would Leonardo stare in your direction again, you told him you don't love him?

Why the jealousy? Her mind taunted evilly.

He did say he loves me, and would not give up on me? She replied her nasty thoughts.

Today she won't run away from them, they would have to fight it out and see who comes out as a winner.

Who knows, maybe he is already tired of trying, that explains the woman by his side.

Leonardo loves me, I am sure of it. The woman by his side might be his assistant.

No!

An assistant wouldn't compromise her job by staying so close to her boss, and the smile on her face was a happy one.

Then who is she?

His lover, a whisper-like voice echoed in her thoughts.

She could feel the blood flushing out of her face.

Is it possible, for Leonardo to be tired of waiting for her? Or as she earlier suspected was she his plaything? And when he realized she wasn't budging, became tired of her and sorted for another woman.

"Alison!" A feminine voice echoed in her ears bringing her back to the present.

She steered her head to the side room of the voice, Paige stared at her with a concerned look.

"What are you thinking about? I have been calling you to help me with my hair for a while now." She paused scanning her face, "You look lost, what is the problem?" Paige asked concerned.

"The lady... She is so much better than me, why would Leonardo want to be with someone like me? I feel stupid for ever believing that he loves me? I never learn." She mumbled.

Paige sighed, it would be miraculous if Alison gets herself rid of insecurities.

"You- you are the one making all these assumptions? Have you ever seen yourself in the mirror? And appreciate how beautiful you are? Your eyes, your long dark silk hair, smooth skin."

"You are beautiful Alison, and I get your ex-husband destroyed your self-esteem, but the woman I worked for is the most confident architect I have ever seen. Your work makes your colleagues to be intimidated by you.

"And as for Leonardo, you ask him who that lady beside him was? For now, you have no right to feel angry, you hold no relationship with him yet? He just confessed his feelings to you that's all, and you never bothered to reciprocate it to him, you only discovered these new feelings for him recently.

If this lady beside him is related to him in any kind of way, then he never really loved you, or wanted to wait for you." She paused, concern expressing themselves with her expressions, "But please Alison, don't stop living because of a man. You are so much better than that, you wasted your other years over your ex-husband. If in any way Leonardo, isn't to be trusted with your heart, or he uses you don't stop living again, live for yourself please." Paige pleaded.

Seeing Alison this past week, she knew her friend was capable of happiness, seeing her fall to her former states was a thing of fear.

Alison should be happy she deserves it and as for Leonardo, Paige is sure there must be another explanation considering the picture.

At least love makes you feel other things, other than affection, care, and passion.

There is a dark side of love which is jealously, and the series of insecurities Alison is always facing.

"The little time I have known Leonardo I have come to know him, and love him too. If changing the status of our relationship by confessing my love to him would keep the ladies away from him, then I would gladly do it."

"I see how fierce you are when it comes to those you love."

"I am fierce and in love, I need Leonardo to know my feelings for him. I admit jealousy is a bit strange and weird for me to feel but it is a product of my love for him. I am bound to feel jealous whenever another lady comes close to him."

Surely she loves Leonardo, being jealous is evidence of love, but she has to wait.

Wait the same way Leonardo waited for her, surely he loves her.

She has seen firsthand of his love, so being insecure over some lady would not be wise.

It looks ridiculous to her, fighting with a woman over a man. With all that said, she can't help but feel she is becoming clingy and possessive of Leonardo.

The days passed by quickly, but to her, it seemed like a century has passed. Her giddiness could not be contained that she would see Leonardo tomorrow.

The most important thing about tomorrow was the fact that she would confess her newfound love for him.

It was a big day for her, finding love after four years was a big deal.

She was filled with mixed jumbled emotions, nervousness, anxiety happiness, and many others.

She spent the afternoon talking with Samantha and Lily until Sam felt sleepy.

Gran went out for a medical check-up leaving Lily with Sam.

She had a lot of fun with Samantha today, they played games.

The new board games Gran bought for her, Lily represented her, as she directed Lily on what to.

At the end of the day Samantha was five, she, Zero.

Not that Samantha was that good, she and Lily agreed to allow Sam to win all the games till it bored her.

They were trying to get her to sleep.

Her little moment with her daughter relieved her of some of the emotions she was feeling.

Gradually, the day grew into night, and her anticipation returned, she eased some of her feelings by deciding to take a walk around the hotel premises.

First, she went to the pool area, and memories from that particular night played back in her head.

A light breeze flew into her face, she closed her eyes willingly, relishing the cool evening.

Settling on the bench of the bar, she scanned the dark area for people.

But it was empty no sign of life around the pool premises, it seems that at night the pool was closed or people don't find it necessary to come at night.

Either way, it was in her favor, she gets the chance of having an empty, quiet place to arrange her thoughts and clear her head.

Raising her head upward, she looks at the star-spotted black sky, the stars were little lights scattered everywhere the night was also illuminated by a half-moon.

She seemed to be lost in it for a while mesmerized by nature, it cleared her thoughts from her head.

Closing her eyes once more, she saw a familiar pair of grey orbs tenderly staring at her.

Leonardo has expressed his love to her in every way, now it is her turn to do the same.