Nicole's jaw dropped and a hint of panic flashed in her eyes. She concealed it and was about to speak when Xavier extended his palm sideways. A man among the customers walked up to their table and placed a file in Xavier's hand before walking away.
"You have no idea what a headache you caused but thanks to the pictures you sent, I did some digging. You can't blame me for my lack of trust especially knowing the cunning person you are." He threw the file on the table and papers with information as well as her baby's sonogram and pregnancy test fell out.
"I must admit, you almost had me, but when I did a little research", he laughed. "Oh Nicole. That sonogram shows that the baby in your womb is only two months old. Now that made me wonder, how is that mine when you and I stopped being intimate at least a week or so before we broke up? And yet, since that time, it has been almost four months."
"X-X-Xavier-" she stuttered as she picked up the papers with shaking hands.
"And of course, before you say anything else, those results are credible, it's the same hospital you got tested at and you can ask them. There was no abuse of authority involved, I simply exercised my right as the supposed baby's father, but of course, we now know that's not the case."
"Xavier, Xavier", she left her seat and knelt before him. She was close to breaking down as she pleaded with him and that sent everyone into shock! How the tables have turned! Does she mot learn?
Xavier looked at her then Stainer who faced away, reeling in pain from the broken nose but visibly beating himself up for the failed plan. Xavier looked back at Nicole then scoffed, "First it was your best friend, now it's your brother you worked with to make a fool out of me. After years of getting less than I deserved in relationships, I finally found my happiness, my love, my home." He looked at Lorraine with a gentle gaze and who stared back with complicated gaze. He kissed the back of her hand.
"Xavier. Xavier please", tears streamed down her face as she pleaded with him.
"I think I let you off too easy the first time. This time, you almost cost me something so precious. You'll pay for this", he promised.
"No, please, think of my baby. It needs me, please", she pleaded.
"Fuck thus!" Stainer abruptly stood up and made to leave. He had only taken one step when he was quickly surrounded by three huge scary looking men. The leader shook his head no with a sly smirk playing on his lips.
"I am innocent in all this, it was all her!!" He shouted at Xavier.
Ping!
Xavier's phone chimed, followed by Lorraine's, then everyone else's chimed in that moment. People murmured wondering how they could all have received a notification right then.
"It's a video."
"Play it!"
Lewd sounds echoed in the room especially since most of them played it at the same time. Nicole felt the judgemental gazes directed at her and she quickly reached for her phone and her eyes grew wide in horror. It was like dejavu! There she was, bent over her desk in her apartment, stark naked and her 'brother' pounding into her from behind.
"What did you do?" She looked to him. His face spelled confusion and she got up from the floor and grabbed his collar in anger. "Why is there a video of us circulating?"
She showed it to him and he grew shocked and horrified. "I-I only had those on my phone. But I didn't do this!"
"Those? There's more? How could you do this Stainer???" She cried and hit his chest with her clenched fist.
"They're in an encrypted folder only I know the password."
"Then how do you explain this Stainer?"
"I've been hacked! Someone hacked my phone!"
Xavier stood up taking Lorraine with him and led her out of the restaurant. Nicole saw Xavier leaving and rushed to him only for another set of bodyguards to block her path. Videos of them were being taken and the paparazzi fed off their predicament.
"Stop taking pictures!" She shouted while shielding her face with her hands.
"Stop it! I'll break your fucking cameras!" Stained shouted in rage.
Yet, that did not stop anyone. Nicole watched Xavier pull out of the parking lot and she slumped to the floor. It was all over for her.
Meanwhile, the car ride home was silent. But the atmosphere was different from early on. The two felt like a heavy weight had been lifted off their shoulders. Lorraine was so lost in thought when suddenly Xavier stopped on the side of the road.
As soon as she turned to him, he grabbed her face and planted his lips on hers. He licked her lips seeking entrance and she granted him. His tongue lapped against hers, stealing every breath of hers until she could not handle it anymore.
He broke into a big smile as he rested his forehead against hers. She was smiling too as she caught her breath when realization dawned on her and she pulled away and started hitting his arms.
"Ow! Ow!" He whined while trying not to laugh.
"How could you! How could you?! Do you know how hard it was to not show my surprise? You could have given me a heads-up that you found all that out!"
Lorraine had insisted on going with him because she saw how frustrated he was with the whole situation. Nicole was treating Xavier like a fool, humiliating him like he meant nothing. She could not stand for it, she knew how pathetic it looked, but she at least wanted to stay by his side. Was she stupid or had she really falled for this guy thag badly?
Xavier caught her wrists and pulled her into his chest. He breathed in her scent and relaxed, "Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for sticking by my side. I almost lost you and I couldn't just sit and watch. I didn't tell you because I was afraid of giving you false hope and I only learned of the results this morning on our way since the doctor was busy. I am so sorry Lorraine, and thank you."
She hugged him back and laced her fingers in his hair, massaging his scalp. After all the drama, everything now felt peaceful. That's one of the things that Lorraine made him feel, peace.
He closed his eyes to bask in that feeling. The two stayed like that for a moment when a thought occured to him. Something Stainer said clicked in his mind. He released Nicole and dialed for Amy's number.
"Xavier", Amy answered more softly. She sounded exhausted.
"I guess someone kept you up at night", he mused.
"Huh?"
"Roserie. She kept you up, didn't she?"
"Oh-Oh! Yeah", she cleared her throat awkwardly. "I'm sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. I guess you didn't need my help after all."
"No, yesterday's phone call was a big push. That's what made me realize the truth that was staring at me right in my face. Thank you for that", he said with sincerity.
She chuckled, "You're welcome. We're family."
"But then again sis", he started. "Did you have to send their video to everyone?"
"Oh that! I meant to send to just the four of you but I picked on the different IP addresses around you and haha! My fingers slipped."
"That's enough, she needs to rest", Zach said, taking over the phone. "You did well."
He hang up right then making Xavier glare at the device. He looked up to find Lorraine who had her jaw dropped and realization soon dawned on her. "She's really A.J?"
Xavier chuckled at how cute she looked and was about to respond when his phone rung again. His lips curled up seeing his mom's caller ID before he answered.
"Xavie-" Victoria's sobs echoed between them as he had put her on speaker as well. "Xavie, I'm so proud of you. I'm so proud of you. Your father stopped me from going after you but we watched it online. I'm so proud of you baby."
She sobbed some more making Xavier smile. Most of the time, it had been Zach who cleaned up after him but watching him put his foot down and not fall into the trap Nicole set for him, she could not help but feel proud. All of this because of Lorraine, he didn't want to lose her.
"And about Lorraine", she sighed. "I don't know what to say...."
"I'm never letting her go", Xavier said, making a silent promise to the said person with the meaningful gaze he gave her. She smiled in response.
"Oh! You don't have to tell me twice....", Victoria chuckled then sniffled. "Bring her over. I'll have lunch prepared for both of you."
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