31. Chapter 31
Chapter 31
Vicente Godoy
I ’ve been so busy lately that I have neglected some of the people closest to me. My friend, Gio Bianchi got married, and although I had initially RSVPd to attend with Camila and Ava, we had to miss the wedding.
We’ll have to visit him and his wife, Ruin, next winter—the only downtime we’ll have at the vineyard. Good thing it’ll be summer in the United States.
We’re leaving for Alamo Peaks next week, and today is our last day in the office. It’s a bittersweet day, especially for my employees. None of them were really surprised that Camila and I are moving to Chile. But they are definitely worried they won’t be able to find a job. I just hope the surprise I have for them is enough to cheer them up.
“Vicente, lunch is here. Let’s boogie,” Camila says, doing her little dance, and I chuckle.
I hope this lightness never ends between us. We make such a great team.
The office buzzes as the employees gather, some standing and others leaning against their desks, all eyes on me.
“Everyone, I’ll keep this short. I wanted to thank you all for all the hard work and dedication you have put into your jobs while working for me,” I begin.
Camila clears her throat.
“Working with me,” I correct myself.
Everyone chuckles, and Camila winks.
“As I was saying, I’m very grateful. Although it’s bittersweet to close this office, I know there’s success ahead for every single one of you. You are hardworking, smart, and dedicated, and I am confident you all will find jobs soon.”
Everyone murmurs their thanks as they begin to move to the buffet line.
“Hold on a moment, I’m not done yet,” I say, and they all turn to face me.
I continue, “I’ve decided to give you a one-year salary on top of the severance payment we had agreed on—plus a bonus for your hard work. With that and my glowing letters of recommendation, I have no doubt your future is bright.”
The office erupts in cheers as everyone makes a beeline to hug me and thank me personally.
Once the room empties and we’re the last ones in the building, Camila turns to me.
“Remember, I’m taking Ava to say goodbye to Mrs. Evans. Are you sure you don’t want to come with us?”
“Yes, wife. I’m sure. There’s one more thing I have to do before we leave, and I can’t delay it anymore.”
“Should I be worried?” Camila asks, biting her lip.
“No, wife. There’s nothing to worry about. I’ll see you in a couple of hours. Yes?”
Camila nods and kisses me. I could kiss this woman all day and night for the rest of my life—and die a happy man.
I arrive at Onyx with only one thing in mind: to give Owen one last warning to stay away from me and my family.
“Mr. Godoy, long time no see,” Charlie greets me as I enter the gym area.
“Is Clarke here?” I ask, my tone firm.
James nods and points toward the sparring ring, where Owen is trading blows with someone I’ve never seen before.
“I call next,” I say as soon as I’m near the ring.
When Owen spots me, a surprised expression appears on his face, but he quickly masks it.
“I can’t wait,” Owen says as he throws a one-two punch at his opponent.
They go on for two more rounds, until Owen knocks the other guy unconscious. I guess he’s a newbie.
“Godoy, you’re up,” Owen shouts from the ring.
I go up in one swift movement. I can’t wait to remove every single trace of cockiness from this arsehole.
“I thought you were already in Chili ,” he says with a smirk, dragging out the word just to make his mockery clear.
He’s trying to poke me. Mispronouncing the name of my home country isn’t going to shake me. I know what I want, and I’m one hundred percent focused.
“No. I still have one more thing to deal with before we head home,” I say.
“Let’s get to it then,” Owen says as he throws the first punch.
I sidestep with ease and land a solid punch to his side.
Owen shakes his head as he starts jumping in place. “That’s all you got, Godoy? I thought you were going to be a better opponent, given that I know the face your wife makes when she comes.”
Fuck it. That does it.
I growl as I charge him, pushing him against the ropes. I hit him left and right relentlessly as he dissolves into laughter. This motherfucker.
“You’re so easy to read, Godoy. Always emotional. I wonder how you were able to get this far in the business world.”
“You’re talking about business after disrespecting my wife? I thought you were my friend,” I shout, continuing my assault on his ribs.
The ref separates us, declaring the first round mine.
James gives me water, and I nod my thanks.
The ref calls us to the middle of the ring, and the second round starts.
“Yes, we were friends. But as time went on, you kept growing—becoming richer, more respected in our circle, while I just became Gemma’s husband . A man only considered worthy because of his ties to royalty,” he spews, bitterness dripping from every word.
I shake my head in disbelief. All this is because I became a better businessman?
“You’re a worthless piece of shit, Owen,” I spit, trying to connect a punch to his face.
This time, I don’t see his punch coming, and it hits me right on my jaw.
Fuck.
I feel dizzy for a couple of seconds and walk a couple steps back before finding my bearings.
Owen takes advantage of my grogginess and lands another punch, this time to my stomach, and all the air leaves my lungs.
The ref awards the second round to Owen.
“And here I thought Vicente was tough. It turns out he’s just another new rich idiot who thinks he’s on the same level as us royals,” he taunts.
I laugh at his comment. He’s not a noble—his wife is.
“You know you can be a funny lad, Owen? You only invoke royalty when it’s convenient for you. So tell me—are you mad you married into it, or are you proud of it?”
Owen tries to make me lose my footing, but I recover quickly and bring him down with me. Since I’m taller and have more body mass, I easily put myself on top and hit him over and over on his jaw. Left, right. Left, right.
The ref steps in, forcing us apart. Once we’re both on our feet, I lunge at Owen and land a brutal hit to his temple, knocking him out cold.
The moment the ref declares me the winner, I raise my hands and look down at Owen, the man I once thought was my best friend, now nothing more than a wanker.
Good riddance.
“Oh my goodness, where were you? What happened?” Camila rushes to look at me up close the moment I get home.
“You should see the other guy.” I try to joke but immediately wince in pain. Owen really did a number on my face.
“Vicente, this isn’t funny. What happened?”
When I see the panic in Camila’s eyes, I immediately feel bad.
“I needed to have one last conversation with Owen.”
Camila’s face falls, and I feel like a prick.
“You’re lucky Ava wanted to spend the night with Mrs. Evans. Imagine the horror on her face if she saw you like this,” she says, grabbing my hand.
I don’t fight her. I’m too tired.
I follow her to our bathroom, where she pushes me down on her vanity chair.
“You’re right. I’m sorry. I know this is not the way you wanted to see me either,” I rush to say. I don’t want her to think I’m a barbaric arsehole.
“What were you thinking? Owen is in the past, we’re leaving tomorrow,” she says defeated.
I feel like an arse. “I know, I know,” I say as I release a breath. “I just wanted to punch him one last time before we left.”
Now that I say it out loud, it sounds childish and stupid, but what’s done is done.
Camila chuckles, and when I look up at her, she’s shaking her head with a beautiful smile on her face.
“You’re lucky I love you,” she says, leaning in as she pats my bruised lip with a cotton ball soaked in alcohol.
I wince in pain, and she immediately kisses the spot.
Pulling her closer, I guide her to my lap, and she straddles me. I moan at the contact of her core with my growing erection. Damn, this woman fires me up with a mere touch.
“Wait, I need to finish cleaning up your wounds,” she says as I trail kisses down her neck.
“Later. Having you will make me feel better faster.”
Overlooking the way my abs scream in pain as I lift Camila and place her on the counter, I make quick work of removing my pants and briefs.
Camila removes her panties and lifts up her dress.
“I love how easy it is to get you naked when you wear dresses. I’ll make sure to buy you every single dress imaginable when we get to Chile.”
Camila chuckles but it dies as soon as my tip graces her clit.
“Hmm, mi cielo . This feels so good,” she moans.
And fuck if I don’t leak precum the moment she calls me that. “I know, wife. It feels incredible for me too.”
Camila is so wet that my dick practically glides inside of her.
We make love all afternoon, tangled in each other.
After having a candlelight dinner for two, I make love to my wife until we fall asleep—me still buried deep inside her.
If this isn’t heaven, then I don’t want to go when I die.