Gemma

Today was the five month anniversary since Sofia was rescued. Though she appeared to have forgotten about it, I knew it was an act to show how less she cared.

In reality, I knew Sofia better to know how much it bothered her.

Since morning, she had avoided breakfast and the small family meeting where we wanted to discuss about Aurelia's welcoming party.

She pretended to have a headache but when it was time for lunch and Maria forced her to sit at the table, she had to adhere to the command.

Maria wanted her granddaughter Aurelia to be properly introduced to everyone. The party seemed like a good plan for it. Maria also wanted Agustin's engagement to be made official too – and what better way to do so than by way of inviting the family for the celebration.

Agustin showed no support or reluctance to the idea. So as Sofia agreed to have Aurelia be prepared to meet every head of the cartel we were friendly with, the decision was made.

~

Weeks leading upto the party was hectic. It was not only a well-rehearsed party to put our power on display, it was also a means to show our unity. Come rain or sun, the Moralez would always be a well knit clan.

No matter what, this family would brave through everything and come out stronger.

Or atleast that was what they wanted to portray.

While Gabriel and I were incharge of the security, the Moralez men were ensuring every ally of theirs deserved the praised and acknowledgment in aiding Sofia's rescue.

And when it came to the allies – Vincent – stole the show.

Right from mingling with everyone, he ensured Antonio received every support he could garner for him. I had known that Vinny and Anto were college buddies, but I never could understand their friendship.

"Gemma," Sofia called me as she walked closer, holding Aurelia in her arms. "I need a small favor. I've to use the washroom. Can you please keep an eye on her?"

My vision scanned the room. At every corner, a security personnel of ours stood, guarding the place. Inside the ball room, Moralez family had spread out.

Yet, Sofia trusted nobody.

Picking Aurelia off her mother's hold, I nodded. "I'll be here. Go, freshen up."

With a tight lipped smile, Sofia moved away.

Aurelia turned to me, her wide eyes scanned me.

"Aren't you dancing, Emm Aunt?"

"I don't know how to dance, Reli. Me and Gabriel Uncle weren't taught how to dance, so we only knew how to dance like chickens."

"And how do you dance like chicken?"

I knew I had baited her.

Putting her down, I curled my arms to my sides, beating it up and down and clucking while walking around in a circle.

Aurelia clapped, hopped and joined me.

To the soulful, romantic music in the background, we both acted like nomads. We didn't care who saw us.

Inface, with Aurelia around me, I didn't care who watched me do stupid stuff. I wanted to act foolish around her, if that made her laugh.

I wanted to act like I didn't care, and maybe I didn't but the thing that was most important to me at that moment was seeking her booming laughter.

Gabriel saw us from a corner and walked across the dance floor to join. He had a different dance move – an Egyptian Pharoah hand gesture – while walking around.

Aimlessly, we danced. Hopelessly we tried coordinating our moves but failed.

Yet, there wasn't anything else I would have different with Aurelia.

Sofia walked back, eying us with delight on her face. She swung her daughter in her arms and joined us.

After a long, long time, I'd seen Sofia laugh without any hesitation. She looked tired – perhaps from all the worrying for her daughter since her kidnapping, or the fact that she'd spent many a sleepless nights since her rescue. But laughter made all her tiredness vanish.

She looked around the crowd after spotting her brother and moved alongside Aurelia towards him. Gabriel too left, patting my shoulders.

I stood in a corner, nursing my half empty drink and watching Renata and Agustin dance with other couples.

The music, soft and slow, made Renata to pull Agustin closer to her. The dimmed lights gave the couple their privacy. Yet, I could see their every move.

I could see how she looked into his eyes and he smiled down at her. How she pulled him closer to her, coiling his tie in her hand.

How Renata said something to him, leaning closer. The happy couple held hands and walked into the deserted corner of the room before vanishing.

I scanned every corner. I walked around, checking everyone.

Nowhere I could see Renata or Agustin.

"Where are you?" I whispered to myself, hoping my searching would soon be over and the happy couple would appear from somewhere.

My mouth soured at the thought of Agustin and Renata being intimate. The very thought of them...crap I couldn't even imagine.

As I turned around to cross the room and check for them in the upstairs hotel room, I bumped into someone.

Vincent managed to save his drink from spilling. His arm coiled around me and saved me from a fall. "You need to be careful, love. You just can't roll over and expect people to save you all the time."

"I know you'd save me."

There I was, again in the embrace of a man whom I wanted to avoid hurting. Like always, whenever he appeared, I'd seem to forget that I wanted to separate from him.

"Do you want to get out?" I asked. "I know a good place where there'd be nobody."

Vincent's eyebrows bridged, his smile faltered. Probably, since the last we spoke, I'd made my intention of our divorce clear. And now, I was reeling him back.

All because I saw Agustin with someone who wasn't me. All because I couldn't get what I'd wanted, so I sought for the one I could have.

Coiling his arm around my waist, Vincent walked me out.

We reached the poolside, where as I rightly mentioned, nobody was present.

I dipped my legs in the shallow end and sat at the edge, bunching my gown in a ball on my lap. Vincent loosened his tie, uncuffed his cufflinks and tossed away his shoes and socks.

He watched me as I swung my legs back and forth in the warm water.

After careful consideration, he sat next to me, dipping his feet in the water and sighing.

"I'd love to swim but I don't have any spare," I said. "I've not bought any swimming costume."

"I don't remembering an attire ever stopping you from jumping in the pool before."

"Really?" I turned to face him.

The rippling shadows from the pool, the soft lights from the surroundings made Vincent look ethereal. His blue eyes sparkled, his brooding looks appeared soft.

"Let me remind you, Vinny, I've never done anything stupid except for that one time when I was drunk."

"Except for the seven other times when you've jumped in the pool, thrown mimosa over that woman's face who thought I was ready for a hookup, and many others, including trying to enter a zoo because you wanted to pet a penguin."

I shrugged. "What can I say, I love penguins."

"Indeed. I'm just glad we never lived in Florida. Or you'd have bought home an alligator."

"Alligators are cute too."

"Pandas are cute, Emm." Vincent pointed at my face. "So are baby seals and Otters. But not crocs and Alligators."

"No," I swung my arms and lost balance.

Vincent grabbed me.

Gravity took hold.

We both feel in the water. He wiped his face, his white shirt was now a drenched piece of fabric that clung over his body. His wet hair, body and everything else was a visual treat I tried avoiding to see.

"Eyes up here lady," he pointed his fingers up, towards his eyes. "I need to ensure you're not thinking something..."

I was partially drunk, perhaps from drinking on an empty stomach. And probably from seeing Agustin be with his fiancé.

So when Vincent pulled me closer, helping me to navigate through the pool and move out, I turned around and pressed my lips against his.

He didn't lose a moment in reciprocating, coiling his arms around my body and pulling me closer. His tongue deepened in my mouth, his whiskey tang coating me. My hands roamed over his wet body, peeling his shirt off.

"Emm..." Vincent's raspy voice held me back as did his hands. "Let's get you dry."

Without another word, he moved out and pulled me up. My gown soaked up water and spilled everywhere as we began walking.

He held my elbow, steering me around the corner while I was busy bundling my soaking fabric.

"You'd find something in here," he said, pointing towards the laundry room in front of us.

I rushed inside to change. A clean set of bathrobe caught my attention.

I peeled the wet layer of fabric over my body and slid into the warm, buttery pink robe. When I walked out, Vincent had already changed.

"Where did you find such perfect fitting shirt and pant?" I asked, pointing at him.

He stood up from ground and shrugged. "I've my ways."

"Good, because there weren't any men's attire inside." I pointed inside the laundry.

He didn't say anything. Peering into the ground, his occasionally looked up at me.

I knew it was confusing for him. It was for me too.

Assume asking your spouse for a divorce and then finding him appealing enough to kiss him. Only I could be capable of making such fucked up decision. And dragging Vincent into the turmoil I called my life.

"Let's get you to your room." He walked ahead of me while I followed.

The hallway, well lit with small chandeliers, gave a warming relief to my cold body. I coiled my arms across my chest, rubbing my sides.

Vincent slid my card key inside. The door beeped open.

A well made bed, a warmed room and the sight of a champagne bottle greeted me.

I turned around to him, my eyes running over his perfectly fitted shirt.

My mind, however, raced with wild thoughts. I needed him. Over me. I wanted Vincent's body for warmth more than the artificial warmth.

"Emm," Vincent crossed the threshold and moved inside. "Make yourself comfortable."

"Come inside," I whispered. "Stay."

"I can't." His throat bobbed. His jaws tightened. "I can't stay. Else, I'd never be able to leave."

"Whose asking you to?"

He looked up. In that moment, I realized the mistake I made.

I asked him to leave. I didn't want Vincent in my life. But at the slightest of discomforts, I ran back to him.

He was my abode. And the unfamiliarity of this new place made me want him back. I was selfish to tempt him, knowing very well what Vincent felt for me.

"I'm sorry," I said as I moved back to give him space.

"Don't be." He sighed. His sight fell on the ring he wore on his left hand. "I came today, because I wanted to talk to you."

"About."

"I'll sign the divorce papers, Emm."

It was funny how we humans would wish for things but the moment those wishes materialized, we'd began questioning it.

I'd wanted Vincent to sign the divorce papers for long. After endless phonecalls and emails, all of which were unanswered by him, I'd given up hope and had decided to seek separation in other ways.

When he agreed to give me what I'd wanted, it began hitting my insides.

Why was he suddenly ready to sign?

"Are you hiding something, Vinny?" I asked, moving closer. "Why did you agree to sign the papers now?"

"Because." His stare intensified. "Because I've thought long and hard about what you want. And I wanted to give you what you needed."

"Why?"

"Are you kidding me, Emm? You wanted this, isn't it? You wanted a divorce. But now you're questioning me?"

"I'm just-"

"Just what? You can't believe that I agreed? Or that you think there's some foulplay?"

My vision hazed. Breath hitched in my chest.

I wanted to cry loudly but something pricked my throat, rendering me voiceless. Numb.

Vincent's strong arms held me in place, carefully seating me on the bed. He cleared wisps of hair from my face, and wiping the layer of sweat from my forehead.

"I'm ready to sign now, because I want you to be happy." He cupped my face, the pad of his thumbs wiping my tears away. "I was selfish to keep you with me when you wanted to leave. But now I want you to be happy, Emm. Even if it's without me."

"What about..." Words hitched in my throat. "...about your happiness?"

He smiled down at me. "It always began and ended with you."

Kissing my forehead, Vincent' warm breath caressed my face. He remained glued in that form for a long time. Longer for me to realize, this warm and affection I felt whenever he held me, kissed me was the last I'd feel.

Vincent and Gemma's story was ending. And it wasn't a happily ever after.

Tears spilled as I saw him walk away and open the door. Before he moved out, he turned over his shoulder.

"I hope you get what you've been looking for all your life, my Emm."

~
And there we have it

The final nail in the coffin.

As heartbreaking by this chapter was, I hope you all enjoyed it

Let me know your thoughts in the comments