Chapter 5 THE TRUTH

My knees are literally shaking while I'm climbing down the stairs. I immediately went to the kitchen and drink a glass of cold water to calm myself.

"You look pale. Are you alright?"

I raised my head and forced a smile. "I'm fine, Harper. Don't mind me."

She suddenly lunges towards me. "Is it true? Mr. Sarmiego and his friends are in one of the VIP rooms?" she asked enthusiastically.

I suddenly felt anxious when I heard that name again. "Y-Yeah, they are in room number three. But he's the-"

I wasn't able to finished my sentence when she shrieks out of the sudden. She held my shoulders and shakes me violently. "For real?! How was it?! How does he look like in a closer view?!"

I swallowed a lump and tried to fend her off. "H-He looks fine," I answered.

Her gaze suddenly narrowed. "Fine?! That's it- just fine?! Florence, that term is not enough to describe him! He's a sinfully gorgeous man that God sent to Earth for mortals like us to worship!"

I scoffed hearing her dramatic description of the man. He's handsome, that is something that I could not repudiate. But I'm yet to see his attitude- something that really matters. Who knows what is hiding behind his perfectly sculpted face?

"I wish I can have a taste of his lips," Harper said dreamily that made me coughed.

She raised a brow at me. "What? I know that's preposterous but who knows, right?"

I just nod my head as a response. I can't tell her the reason behind my reaction- that I already kissed the man she's fantasizing because of a petty reason. Harper was not here when that night happened.

"How did you know him, by the way?" I asked.

She gave me look of disbelief. "Are you serious, Florence? Are you living under a rock?"

I rolled my eyes. "I would not bother asking if I know him."

She sneered. "He's the current CEO of Sarmiego Winery," she answered proudly.

I nod my head. So my hunch is right. He's indeed wealthy. Harper wants to add something about that man but Aria called her name.

Thankfully, they did not press the button so I didn't have to come back in that room again. I went straight to my apartment after my work.

I was about to sleep when I suddenly remember something. I grab my phone and search for something.

"Sarmiego Winery is the largest wine distributor headquartered in Modesto, California. It was founded in 1957 by Amadeus Sarmiego. It is the largest exporter of California wines that has been pushing the boundaries of the wine and spirits industry for nearly a century. However, the great Amadeus Sarmiego passed down his position to one of his grandson, Zyair Storm Sarmiego. The latter is continuing the legacy that his greaf grandfather left."

My mouth hang open after reading the article. I know from the start that he's not a normal person, that was later on confirmed by Harper earlier. But I did not expect that he is this rich! Storm Sarmiego is a big deal.

I pulled my hair. "What have you done, Florence?!" I castigated myself. I just stumbled upon on one of the prominent man in the business world. Damn it!

I lay half of my body on the bed. "His second appearance in the bar was purely coincidental, right? Or maybe his friends just invited him over," I tried to convince myself.

But that notion would contradicts what he said. "Tell Crimson Amber that I can't wait to see her again." Those are the exact same words that he told me.

"Why would he look for me, though? It doesn't make sense. I'm pretty sure he has bunch of women flocking over him. He can't be smitten by a complete stranger," I whispered to myself. I know that was far-fetched, but that's the only reason I can think of.

I sighed heavily. He's not even here but I'm already frustrated thinking of him.

There are dark circles under my puffy eyes when I woke up in the morning. I had a hard time sleeping last night.

"Good morning," I greeted Ali groggily when I enter the shop. My forehead creased when she just looked at me with a stern expression.

I want to ask her what's wrong but I chose to ignore her sudden change of mood.

"Did you and Ali had a fight?"

I look at Elyse. "Why did you ask?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "She did not greet you back." She noticed it too.

I sighed. "I don't remember any reasons for us to fight. Maybe she's just not in the mood."

"Elyse, Florence, stop lumping around and do your job," Ali interjected.

Elyse gave me a meaningful glance before she went back to the counter. She was right. Ali never calls me "Florence" not unless she's mad. I don't have any idea why. I will just confront her later.

The entire day is tiring, but it became worse because of Ali's hostile behavior, that is mostly directed to me. The others probably noticed it as well but they did not ask.

I walk towards her who's sitting on the table.

She looks at me and arched a brow. "Do you need something, Florence?"

Great. She's really mad.

I heave out a sigh. "What is wrong with you?"

She looks at me with indifference. "What do you mean? There's nothing wrong with me."

I rolled my eyes. "I know you know what I mean, Ali. You've been bitching around me since this morning."

She stared at me with a dead-pan look for a couple of moments. "How long do you intend to keep it from us?"

My forehead creased. "I don't know what you're talking about. Can you at least enlighten me?" I demanded.

She scoffed. "Please drop the act, Florence."

I fleetingly close my eyes to calm myself. "I'm not putting up an act, Ali. I really don't have any idea why are you acting like that."

She averted her gaze. "Go in Cleo's place later. We will talk there," she said dismissively and stood up from her seat.

I stared at retreating figure. I just shook my head.

The roads shimmered in the heat of the afternoon sun when I went out of the shop. The sunlit skyscrapers pierced the hot, blue sky. I passed by my apartment to take a bath before going to Cleo's place just like what Ali told me.

The white gate of their house greeted me as soon as I stepped out of the cab. I press the door bell, and a middle age woman wearing a maid dress came out of the huge double door and hurtled towards me. I beamed when I recognized the woman- it's Cleo's mother.

"Aunt Cora!" I screamed her name joyously.

She opened the gate and squinted her eyes on me. "Florence?"

My smile widened. I nod my head fervently.

She guides me inside. "Your other friends are here as well."

Someone suddenly sprinted towards us, a bright smile was plastered on Cleo's lips. She greeted me with a hug.

"I miss you, Rence."

I smiled and return her embrace. "I miss you too, Cleo."

The three of us entered the house and went straight to the living room. Sitting on the long couch are Erin and Rylee. They both lunges towards me and enclose me in a warm embrace that made me chuckle.

Ali, who's silently sitting on the single couch, rolled her eyes upon seeing me. Seriously, what's her problem?!

The atmosphere is undeniably heavy. The five of us are trying to weigh the situation.

"So..." Erin tried to break the silence. She crossed her arms and arched a brow at me and Ali. "Seriously, what's going on with you two?"

I shook my head. "Ask her. I don't have any idea either why she's acting like that."

The three of them gave her a questioning look. Ali bored her dangerous stares at me.

"Do you really look at us as your friends, Florence?" Her voice is laced with contempt.

I pursed my lips. "Of course."

She sneered. "Really?" she asked scornfully. "Then why did you lie to us about your work?"

My blood run cold. I stared at her with great disbelief. H-How did she know?!

"Wait. I'm lost here. What's with Florence's job?" Rylee asked.

Ali looks at her. "Florence is working as a stripper in Stag Nite bar."

The three of them gasped in surprise. They look at me with wide eyes.

"Florence? Is that true?"

I bow my head and shifted uncomfortably on my spot. "I'm sorry..." was all that I could utter.

Deafening silence hover between us, and it's making me more anxious. This is what I feared the most- them knowing about my secret.

The space beside me shrinks. Erin hold my arms. "Florence, we don't condemn the kind of job that you have because that's decent. But we know your past, and we can't do anything to heal all your wounds. The least we can do is to disaffiliate you from anything that could remind you of those memories," she said.

"We have agreed that we will not give you financial assistance for free. We also respected your refusal to the help that we offered for your brother. We tried to ignore your hardships because you said that you want to prove something to yourself- and that you don't want to rely on other people. You told us that you'll work as a waitress in a bar, and we respected that despite our reluctance," she continued.

"We trusted your decisions. But why do you need to lie?"

I bit my lips to stop myself from crying when I heard the disappointment in Cleo's voice.

Rylee stands up and sit beside me. "Florence. We can tolerate you burning the candles at both ends, but this? This is too much. You're trying to bring yourself closer to pain."

I breathed deep and look at them. "But I don't have a choice-"

Ali cuts my words. "You have a choice, Florence. We've been giving you so many choices but you keep on protecting your pride."

I wanted to protest but I chose to keep my mouth shut.

"You will quit your job, Florence. No more buts. This time, it was you who needs to listen to us," she said those words with finality.