CHAPTER 17: Get to know the competition better 

Alaia 

“That was close. They’re gone, but what an arrogant pair.” Ash put her hands on her hips. 

“Ignacio called before they came in and I told him you wouldn’t see the donor, but he walked in 

without permission. Who does he think he is? God?” she ranted. 

“He thinks he is, you can be sure of that,” I affirmed. “I’ll have to warn everyone about the 

donor’s presence in this building and have them inform us as soon as he shows up. These 

unexpected visits will happen again; he’s determined, and as much as I’d like to deny him 

entry, it won’t be possible, for obvious reasons.” I leaned back on my chair. 

“I don’t know, Ali. Do you think it’s a good idea for your kids to come here?” She crossed her 

arms and leaned on the desk. 

“It is. I won’t stop my life because of Nick, and Ash. I’ll see my children as much as I can. I just 

won’t let him know about them and I’ll take steps to prevent any encounters.” 

Ash’s phone started ringing and we both gasped when we saw the picture of the flamboyant 

Tino on the screen. 

“Get ready because he probably thinks we haven’t called him in days, and now he’s going to 

throw a huge fit.” She swiped her finger to answer the call. 

“You bitches!” he yelled, and we knew that was his way of saying hello. “You haven’t even been 

in Los Angeles for a week and you’ve already forgotten about me.” He placed the back of his 

hand on his forehead dramatically. “Those little angels better not have forgotten about me 

because I’ll die!” he wailed. 

“For heaven’s sake, we’ve been calling the store because your phone is always dead, but we 

could never find you,” Ash explained, as she put his hands on the desk, trying to remember. 

“Hmmmm, I turned off my phone because Mateo hasn’t stopped calling me.” He lowered his guard and delicately moved a lock of hair from his forehead. 

“He wants you back!” we both shouted and laughed. This happened to him a lot. 

“You gossipy bitches.” Tino laughed and we glared at him playfully. “Calm down, my darlings. No, he doesn’t want me back. He’s just angry because I went out with Tony. Oh, Tony! Speaking of, I have to tell you, Tony has the biggest d**k you’ve ever seen, although I haven’t given myself to him yet. I’m scared.” He touched his chest. We started laughing. Tino being Tino. “What was I saying?” he asked, fanning himself with his hand. 

1/5 

3 Point 

CHAPTER 17: Get to know the co… 

“The jerk,” I said. 

“Oh, right. No, he doesn’t want me back. He’s just angry because I went out with Tony. He’s 

called me every name in the book, but I don’t care. Tony treats me like a queen.” He batted his 

eyelashes. 

“Perfect, it’s the least you deserve,” Ash said, and I agreed. 

“I know, I know! I almost forgot! Your father came this morning and stormed into the store 

looking for you. He made a huge scene; I thought he was going to kill me,” he cried out in 

mock distress. 

“Are you okay?” I asked, concerned, even though he had been fine a second ago. But with Tino, 

you never knew. He nodded, closing his eyes. 

“I am, my warrior princess, but he’s not. He’s completely crazy. He had one of his bodyguards 

grab me by my perfect suit, lift me off the floor, and press me against the wall while your 

father bombarded me with questions.” He wiped away his imaginary tears. “I held out as long as I could, darling, I swear, but in the end, he forced me. I had to tell him.” 

Ash and I exchanged a look, unsure whether to believe him. 

“Valentino,” Ash said seriously. 

“I know, I know.” 

“Man, it’s unbelievable that my father managed to” 

“I told him you were in Bosnia with the Peace Corps, saving children from the war,” he assured us, nodding repeatedly. 

Ash and I couldn’t help but burst into laughter as he put both hands under his chin and smiled 

innocently. 

“Honey, I was about to book Ash a return trip to go and kill you,” I said when I stopped 

laughing. 

“You should have seen their faces,” he said, still smiling. 

“We’re not in the mood for these jokes, honey.” 

“My bad.” He blinked, and we shook our heads. “Ahhh, by the way, who is the blonde bodyguard that accompanies your father? You should have seen his power and strength when he held me. His scent was that of a stallion, an alpha male. I went into heat while he had me trapped in his strong arms.” He hugged himself. 

“Valentino, you prick,” I said, still laughing. 

2/5 

CHAPTER 17 Get to know the co 

→ 

• Point! 

“Is he straight? Is he married? Tell me.” He tilted his head coquettishly. Ash let out a sigh like she was just so done with everything. 

“I don’t know, honey. My father barely lets anyone near him. And what about Tony? A second ago you were talking about him, now you’re talking about my father’s blonde bodyguard.” 

“As long as there’s no ring on this finger, I’m fair game. Well, I’ll have to find out about the blonde myself,” he said, looking at his nails. 

We ended the amusing call with Tino, who promised not to turn off his phone and got ready to leave. I went to the playroom to see my children, and they were quietly playing with some geometric shapes. 

“They woke up a little while ago,” Loli said. 

I nodded and we got them ready to go home. 

We arrived at the house and got the children out of the van. They were the first ones to run inside. We followed after. When I reached the living room, I kicked off my heels to feel more comfortable. Ash showed me the comfortable shoes she wore with her suits and laughed. 

“b***h,” I said, pretending to be annoyed, and she walked to the kitchen, letting out a loud laugh. 

“Dad!” I said in surprise when I saw my father in the garden with each of my children in his arms. I was thrilled to see him so soon. 

“My girl.” He smiled. I hugged him and kissed his cheeks. 

“What are you doing here? We weren’t expecting you yet,” I said, pulling away. 

“Alaia,” Aidan came up behind me and hugged me. My day was complete. “My little one,” he said and kissed my blonde hair. 

“We came early. I thought Aidan might get sick if he didn’t see the children soon. I also moved up my visit to the company, and we have a special interest in the Garnetts‘ business.” As he said that, my smile turned into a frown. 

“My father came, too. We want to get to know the competition better. They’ve sent an invitation to the offices in the UK and we’ll be meeting at their facilities next week,” he explained, and I didn’t know why I didn’t like the sound of that invitation at all. 

“If you think it’s a good idea, although I don’t think they’re anything special and I have a bad feeling about them,” I said, remembering Nick’s grandfather, who had probably contacted 

them. 

“Knowing the competition’s weaknesses is always a good option, and we’ll be careful honey,” 

3/5 

+8 Рон 

CHAPTER 17. Get to know the co….. 

my father said. 

“Alright, Dad, I’m sure you know what you’re doing,” I said, and he nodded confidently. 

We spent the afternoon talking and enjoying our time together until it was time for dinner. My mother had been out all day and arrived just before we sat down at the table. She was very surprised to find my father here. 

“How about we go on a trip this weekend since we’re all here?” Ashley suggested. 

“Yeah! I want to go to the beach. I want to go to Universal Studios, and to the Hollywood sign,” Aidan said excitedly. “It’ll be fun, right, little ones?” he asked, looking at my babies. 

“Yes!” they said enthusiastically, making us laugh. 

“We could go to the beach in Malibu. I have a house there that I haven’t used in years,” my father said, looking at my mother, who lowered her gaze. 

“I love the idea, Dad. You never told me about that house.” 

“I haven’t used it in so long that I forgot I had it. Maybe I’ll sell it and we’ll buy a new one“one that’s much bigger. It’s always good to have a place to go to relax.” He shrugged. 

“Say no more, we’re going to the beach!” Ash said, looking at the children, and they cheered excitedly,***** 

After a busy week, we were finally all ready for the trip. It would be less than two hours away. wore a long, fitted beach dress. My precious Alana wore a light blue sleeveless dress and a very cute white hat, while Noah wore dark blue Bermuda shorts and a polo shirt“the same blue as Alana’s. Aidan had decided to dress the same as Noah; they were a dynamic trio. 

We got into the vans, and our moods couldn’t have been better. Once we arrived in Malibu, we went inside and walked through my father’s beautiful house. It had ocean views from every angle. There was a large patio with beautiful green grass, outdoor furniture, stone paths and shrubs, a fireplace, and, at the end of it, a gazebo that provided a beautiful view of the beach. You would have to go down some stairs to get to the sea. The pool was covered and was on 

the side of the house. 

“What do you think, honey?” my father asked as I was looking out at the sea from the gazebo 

on the patio. 

“It’s beautiful.” 

“The couple I introduced you to have kept it in excellent condition.” 

“I can tell, I love it, and the kids as well,” I said, and we both watched them run and scream on 

the grass as Ash chased after them. 

4/5 

CHAPTER 17 Get to know the co 

“Dad, about Mom…” I started to say since she had decided not to come. 

“Leave it, honey. I know what I did wasn’t right, and this is the consequence.” 

“An eternal consequence,” I clarified. 

බ 

3 Point 

“I’ve come to terms with it.” I nodded. “I’m going to take a walk, see if my friends are still alive,” he said playfully. 

“Dad,” I said, laughing. He said goodbye and went down the stairs to the beach. 

3