Hearing the cold and accusatory tone, Valentina pulled back and calmly arched a brow at Kaiser.

“I beg your pardon? I was out. Doing what I wanted to do. Is there a problem?” She replied cooly.

She had thought that something major had happened to him, but seeing as he was asking about her whereabouts, she guessed not. He was just being nosy.

Although she had nothing to hide, the tone in which he was asking questions was not to her liking at all.

“Is there a problem?” Kaiser laughed incredulously while staring at her calm expression before his lips twisted into a slightly bitter smile, and he started listing off her crimes in a cold voice. “You were spotted out drunk with Rio last night after being on a date with him all day, laughing, touching on each other, and clearly having a good old time. And then you didn’t come home all night and didn’t even have the decency to update me. So, let me ask this again. Where. Were. You?” Kaiser stood up and approached her, his gray eyes flashing angrily as he marched up to her.

Hearing Kaiser’s restrained anger and intensity, Valentina almost backed away before standing firm and cooling her gaze.

Although she had been feeling guilty about her actions yesterday getting out to the press, that didn’t mean she would tolerate someone questioning her like a disobedient child or employee.

Not even the man that she had come to like.

“If you are saying all that, why are you asking me? You already have an answer in your mind, right? I was out. With a friend. What’s the problem?”

“A friend? Heh. You were out. All night with another man. And didn’t come home and didn’t message me. And you don’t think there’s a problem with that?” Kaiser asked angrily.

“I don’t like the way you’re talking to me, and I don’t understand why you’re upset. I’m an adult. This is not my home. I didn’t do anything with anyone, and I don’t owe you an explanation about my whereabouts. I haven’t done so before, and I’m not about to start now. Since you’re so upset, clearly state why you’re upset and what you think I did so wrong. I can tell you what I thought I did wrong, but from the way you’re spinning your words around, I highly doubt we’ll come to an agreement. Will you go first, or should I?”

He saw her stare at him in a challenging manner, although he wanted to calm himself down and speak with her calmly.

He wanted to ask exactly what she did with him, what they talked about, what they laughed about, why she looked so happy when they got so close to each other, and why she let him hold her like that, where she slept last night, whose clothes she was wearing.

He wanted to tell her he had waited all night, worried. Called her phone numerous times and had to rely on media photos to find out that she was okay.

Instead, the words he wanted to restrain just tumbled out of his mouth.

“You want me to state it clearly? Fine. You went out, not a problem. You’re an adult, it’s your life. You didn’t update me on any changes, didn’t call, and didn’t even have the courtesy of being discreet and getting caught by the media, which I took care of by the way. You’re welcome. You come back the next morning dressed in his clothes, smelling like him, after being caught on camera. I warned you Valentina, did I not? I warned you to keep the distance just right because there’s a lawsuit going on. To not get too close. After everything I’ve been doing for you, the money I’m sinking in, and the effort I’m putting in, this is what I get in return? I waited up all night, prepared food, searching for news about while you were cavorting with another man. While you were giggling with him, I was here fixing both of your messes, and the only thing you have to tell me is, is there a problem? This is how you repay me? After everything I’ve been doing? What the hell, Valentina?”

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Hearing those words come out of his mouth, Valentina narrowed hers furiously and felt as if she were about to explode.

‘After everything I’ve done for you, this is what I get in return?’

She hated that sentence more than anything.

It held so much coercion, so much power, and forced her to be so vulnerable all because someone felt that because they had helped her or done her a favor, they deserved to have her do something for them in return.

As she looked at Kaiser, she wanted to slap herself for being a stupid idealist without a single brain cell.

Because otherwise, there was no way she would believe his sweet words and soft touches were genuine. That he was helping her from the goodness of his heart. That he never wanted anything in return except what she wanted to give. That he actually cared for her. And that he would never use those words against her.

Clearly, Rio was right. Nothing good was done without an expectation attached to it. His words of being her friend and wanting to help her were just that, empty words.

Good. Great. Amazing.

She was glad this was cleared up before she invested even more feelings and truly fell in love with him.

Making her expression cold, she stared at him as if he were a stranger.

“You’re right. You’ve done a lot for me, and because of that, you deserve to know every little detail about my life. Obviously, I owe you a lot, and I should just roll over and treat you as my Lord and Savior, right? Report my every movement, every moment of the day, because that’s the price of having you do something for me. There’s no such thing as a free lunch, right?”

Hearing the clipped tone and seeing the hurt expression, Kaiser immediately felt his anger calm down. This wasn’t how he should be going about it.

“Valentina, that’s not what I meant-”

“It’s fine. You have every right to think that way, even if you haven’t said it before. You’ve put in a lot of work and money, and you’ve taken it slow and considered my feelings, so good job on that. I must feel like a slow return on your investment, so I apologize. Even if I wanted to pay you back or return everything you’ve given me and done for me, I simply don’t have the means right now.

I don’t have enough money or the resources to pay you back. You’re mad I was with Rio? Or maybe it’s not Rio; it’s just any man I hang out with.

Should I give you a play-by-play of everything I did with him and discussed? Or do you want to check my body to make sure I didn’t do anything with him since you think you have some claim on me? Sure. No problem. Take a clear look. I don’t have a single thing to hide.”

As she began lifting up her shirt, Kaiser quickly grabbed her hands to stop her.

“Enough, Valentina.”

“It’s clearly not. After all you’ve done for me, right? No need to circle around the issue. You think I did something, and you don’t trust me, and you think I owe you, or rather, you own me? That’s fine. I’ve heard your message loud and clear. Since you don’t want to come out and say it, I’ll let you know.

Nothing happened between Rio and me. I was just letting loose and relaxing with a friend and ended up spending the night at his place because I was drunk, my phone died, and when I tried calling you with his phone, the call didn’t go through.

If you want to verify it, go ahead. It won’t be the first time you’ve invaded my privacy to find something out about me, and it probably won’t be the last. Don’t worry; I’ve heard your message loud and clear. I’ve remembered every little cent and noted it down. I will properly pay back everything, every single thing you have ever given or spent on me, so those words will never be said to me again by you or anybody else!”

Hearing her words and clipped explanation, Kaiser could feel his heart drop.

“Valentina, t-”

“The only thing I can say I did wrong yesterday was get caught by the media with Rio. I should have insisted on us staying in a private area instead of getting caught by the media. Anything else is not something I am ashamed of. I want to say thank you very much for handling it. And don’t worry, you never have to do that or anything else for me again. The lawsuit? Pretend it never happened and send your lawyer’s bill to me. Even if I have to sell a kidney, I’ll find a way to pay for it.”

Giving him a polite smile, she turned away, “I have to go shower and change into my own clothes since these ones disgust you so much. Do I have your permission to go to the room you have so generously provided in the house you have so generously provided? Ah, and also use the water you have generously provided as well as the towels and toiletries to shower and remove this smell from my body?”

“You don’t ever have to ask for that. It’s your room. What the hell, Valentina?”

“Is it? I don’t think so.”

Her green eyes flashed angrily as she glared at him before looking away and taking a deep breath. There was absolutely no point in continuing this argument. It was useless. If she opened her mouth again, she might just curse him out, and even though she was angry, that was a line she never wanted to cross for anyone. Especially not a man.

“Valentina, let’s talk this over.”

“Talk what over? I heard your words loud and clear and said I agree with you and see no need to argue. You’ve made your point, and I understand it. Do I have your permission to go to the room you have so generously provided for me? If not, can you please allow me to call a taxi here so I can leave? Or am I a hostage until our contract with each other is over?” each word was enunciated carefully as vibrant green eyes glared at him as if she wanted to burn him alive.

Seeing that she wasn’t in the mood to talk, he sighed and nodded, “Let’s talk later. I think we both need to cool off.”

Valentina simply gave him a grim smile: “Then I’ll see you at Luca’s appointment. Excuse me, Mr. Grayson.”