Ashes of the Past

Inside Vionessa's study, Ravina sat opposite her with a glass of wine in her hand. Vionessa smiled as she looked at the woman in front of her.

She hasn't aged a day. Ravina was a beautiful woman, so beautiful that she still looks stunning in her fifties.

Her long brown hair fell down her shoulders. She has pink, plump lips, beautiful eyes, and a pointed nose that made her look so young.

"So what don't you like about the girl in question?" Ravina asked.Vionessa frowned. "Well, for one thing, she is beautiful-not beautiful, actually; she is slutty ". Ravina chuckled.

"And?"

"And I think she has a grudge against me and my children." Vionessa stated as she tapped her fingers on the table. Ravina chuckled.

"Well, then why haven't you fired her yet?" she asked. She knows Vionessa, and it is unlike her to ignore someone that she suspects.

"How well do you know me, Vina?" Vionessa asked.

"I haven't dismissed her, because I am keeping my friend close and my enemy closer!" She stated firmly. Ravina laughed out loud.

"You think she is your enemy?" Vionessa shrugged her shoulders. Ravina smiled, revealing her beautiful white teeth. She looked at her friend and said;

"Oh Nessa, you haven't changed ". Vionessa smiled, which was rare; she is always being bossy and bitter.

"Well, I'll have to see the girl in question before I give a verdict." Ravina said and drank her wine.In the kitchen....

Valeria was preparing something for the staff. The meal is her and Luciano's favorite, and she was making it for the both of them, actually.

The smell of the soup went out of the kitchen; it got to Ravina, who was passing by, and she decided to check the kitchen. She walked into the kitchen and saw a girl.

The girl was bending her head to add something to the soup, and Ravina couldn't see her face. Her hair was made into a ponytail, but it was still disturbing her.

Without thinking, Ravina walked to her side and held her hair. Valeria was stunned, but she didn't raise her head. She knew it wasn't Dorian, so she stood still and continued.

After putting in the ingredients, Valeria raised her face, and she froze. Ravina froze too, and for a moment the both of them just stared at each other quietly.

"Who are you?" Ravina asked the moment she regained composure. Valeria blinked and said, "I'm, I'm Valeria ".

"Valeria Rune." She completed it

"Good day, ma'am." She greeted her. Valeria didn't know who the woman before her was, but from the clothes she was wearing, Valeria knew she was rich.

"Hello, Valeria, I'm Ravina Vance ".

"Vionessa's friend." Ravina said with a smile. Valeria raised a brow. "Oh, ma'am, you didn't have to help me." She said quickly. Ravina chuckled.

"Chill out, girl, it's all good ". "You are so beautiful, by the way; you shouldn't be cooking and cleaning; you should be a model!" Ravina stated with a smile. "Oh, ma'am, you are just too kind." Valeria said, waving her hand.

. "No, I'm being serious; you are a beauty." Ravina said sincerely. The aroma from the food wafted through her nose, and she felt her mouth go wet.

"You like moqueca soup?" Valeria asked. Ravina nodded.

"But you might want to stir it again ". Valeria nodded and stirred the soup. Ravina still held up her hair and told her to use a hairnet next time.

"Do you want to try it?" Valeria asked, and Ravina nodded.

"Oh I haven't had these in a while!" She says excitedly. Valeria dishes out for Ravina, and she eats it right there.

She closed her eyes and savored the feeling of the good food. Valeria watched her with a smile on her face. Ravina finished the food with a satisfied look on her face.

"Oh, you, Valeria, you are an angel. I loved that!"

"I'll eat this for dinner!" Ravina stated and left.Valeria chuckled as she saw her retreating. This woman was nothing like she expected her to be.

As Vionessa's friend, Valeria expected her to act like an old b*tch. But she was the opposite. Maybe not all rich people are bad after all, Valeria thought to herself.

Her thoughts were interrupted when Dorian came and told her to get dressed. She didn't ask questions, and she changed.

He took her to the garage, and Valeria was shocked by the number of cars that she saw. In one section was the Bugatti; there was a black one, a blue one, a pink one, which was obviously for Selena, and a white one.

On the left-hand side, Valeria spotted two limousines. She couldn't even bring herself to count all the cars. Just how rich are these people?Dorian noticed her gaze and waved.

"Oh, most of them are Xavier's."

He said. Valeria's smile flattered immediately. She quickly slid into the Mercedes W196, which apparently was the least expensive car in the garage.

Valeria fastened her seat belt and looked ahead. What if she burns down the whole garage?

Will that be enough to make up for all the pain these people caused her? She shook her head unconsciously.

They might just buy new cars to replace the old ones.

"Where are we going?" she asked Dorian.

"To the market." He replied. Valeria nodded; she thought as much.Soon they arrived at the market, and Valeria was shocked to see that Dorian took her to a local market.

What shocked her the most was that he was mixing with local folks properly, even though he had to wear a disguise. They got ice cream together, and Valeria smiled as she watched Dorian eat his ice cream.

Their little date came to an end, and they went home. Valeria couldn't deny the fact that she had a great time with Dorian. After finishing up her chores, she went to sleep.

Valeria frowned when she heard someone knocking on her door.

She checked the time, and it was already past two in the morning. Valeria walked groggily to her door, rubbing her eyes.

She saw the face that she didn't want to see this early.

Xavier stood in front of her door with his hand in his pants pocket. He was wearing black sweatpants and nothing else.

His full chest was on display, and Valeria frowned. She had a long day and needed some sleep.

"My girl is hungry; I exhausted her, and she needs to eat ". Xavier said nonchalantly. Valeria's frown deepened. Xavier's eyes moved from her face to her body.

She was wearing a black pair of pajamas that didn't cover much of her body. The shirt was sleeveless, and her shoulders and neck were bare.

The shorts too were revealing her beautiful white thighs. "Get dressed and go prepare the food." Xavier said after giving her a strange look. *ssh*l*! Valeria cursed and went into her room.