Slapped Markos

Markos called his secretary to inquire about Valeria's arrival. "Why isn't she here? Call her right now and inform to bring the files to my place." Planning something for her, he wanted to see Valeria once again. Now that her whole life was in front of him, Markos felt uncomfortable in his chest. 

Meanwhile, Valeria was at home in her bed while dealing with some files. When she received the call from Patrick in the midst. And upon recognising his voice happiness spread over her face. "A reunion? That sounds like a great idea! Who else is coming?" Valeria's voice was energetic as she inquired.

Unlike Markos, Valeria had a popular life in university. Plenty of boys roamed around her like moths claiming to love her. However, her heart got stuck on Castello Karman. The hottest senior who played basketball and hailed from a rich family. She fell in love with him on the court at first glance. 

Reliving all those memories made her excited yet nervous. There was only one problem; encountering Castello Karman there. "Oh? I see." Upon hearing that he was also coming, Valeria could not help but feel tense. "No, no. It won't be an issue. Why would I be worried?" She forced a smile over her face while shaking head. 

"Oh? Is it tomorrow evening? Certainly, I will be there." Reluctantly she agreed to attend despite knowing the consequences. Public was not aware about her wedding to Castello and now facing him there would be a hassle. He proposed a contractual time period marriage for mutual gains. 

Only Patrick was the one who knew about Valeria's one sided love story and their secret marriage. Being the gossip bitch of the university he was the one who had abundant stuff to blackmail and bully others. When he returned to Italy Patrick arranged for the reunion and for some weird reason he remembered Markos.

After ending the call it didn't take more than a minute when Markos' secretary called. Informing her about dropping the files to his place tonight. "But why at his place? I can deliver them right now to his office." The secretary refused saying that she was only doing her job. The order from Markos was clear. 

"What the heck do you want now, Markos?" Valeria cursed him under her breath while slumping back in the bed. "I wonder if he will go or not." She knew Patrick must have called him too. "Markos hadn't had a good time there. I doubt he will attend the reunion, so I shouldn't worry." 

For some reason Valeria did not want Markos and Castello to come in front of each other. Nonetheless, she picked up the file and arranged the papers. Making sure everything was ready, she headed to slip into some formals. Even though Valeria was supposed to go to his house, the meeting was strictly business.

Reaching his place it was already past evening. The guard allowed her inside and she reached the lounge led by an elderly maid. "Why is he taking so long?" Upon not finding Markos despite waiting for more than ten minutes she grew agitated. "Is this new way of Markos teasing me?" Leaning in the sofa she scoffed. 

Valeria looked around only to see wealth reeking from every single decorative item in the lounge. Pursing her lips, placing the files on the table, Valeria settled comfortably in the sofa. Staring at the ceiling she closed her eyes briefly while waiting for him. Tiredness clouded her body and the woman drifted to sleep. 

Markos walked in the lounge clad in a bathrobe, water droplets dripped from his wet hair. "When did she come?" It was his relaxing hours and the servitude staff wasn't allowed to disturb him. No matter how urgent things were. A soft smile graced his face upon seeing Valeria's sleeping face. 

Raking through his hair he approached Valeria and crouched down in front of her. Seeing Valeria peacefully sleeping he couldn't help but smile at her innocence. Markos shook his head with a scoff, even though he did not want to admit about still having feelings for her. 

It was the moment he noticed the tiny tear near the closed corner of her eye. Lifting his hand Markos wiped it off gently without waking her up. Leaning in he slipped his hand underneath her thighs and other behind her back. Picking up Valeria, Markos ended up waking her.

"What the heck are you doing, Markos?" Valeria misunderstood his intentions, panicking as she wriggled out of his arms. "How could you do something like this to me?" Being in anger and not in the mood to listen to anything, Valeria slapped him hard across the cheek. A grim silence hovered in the room immediately.

Markos shifted his gaze back to her without getting angry. Whereas, Valeria was not in the state to listen. She grabbed his bathroom while yelling in rage and tears. "Am I nothing to you? Not even a human anymore? Just a bratty bitch whom you can sleep with? Tell me!" 

Valeria could not hold back her tears as she looked into his eyes. Markos' silence made her even more saddened as she smashed over his chest. "Tell me, Markos. Am I really nothing to you? Don't you even feel sorry for my miserable state?" Jerking him by grabbing his bathrobe she tucked her head on his chest.

Sniffing with a continuous crying Valeria became vulnerable. Somewhere deep down she also longed for his touch. For Markos' warmth and his frank nature. The Markos who gave her confidence she could be liked by someone too. Genuinely. Valeria's shallow voice melted his anger caused by the slap.

Markos lifted his hand and wrapped around her, hugging Valeria whose legs became wobbly. She slipped down and slumped on her knees when Markos followed her. Hugging her tightly in his big strong arms Markos let her cry. The man had been aware of her past, the suffering, loss and conspiracies she had endured.