“Heads up, Matty,” Jeff said nudging his brother as they perused the foods on the catering table. Matt looked up and caught sight of who Jeff was talking about.

“Hey, Val,” Victoria said hugging the young woman who had just entered the cafeteria.

“Vic, I love your new hair,” Valentina said smiling, her crystal blue eyes sparkling as she scanned the area. She spotted Matt and Jeff and excused herself from Victoria.

Matt’s breath caught in his throat as she headed their way. It was obvious to anyone with eyes that Matt had been in love with Valentina for a long time. To him she was pure perfection. She tossed her long jet black waves over her shoulder as she walked, her crystal blue eyes connecting with Matt’s. Jeff elbowed Matt in the ribs, making him breathe again.

~God broke the mold
When he made this one I know
She's breathtaking but so much more
She walks in the room
Your lungs close
Making you never want to breathe again
Her boyfriend has got so much dough
So much ice his neck and wrist froze
Is he faithful to her? Hell no
But she chose to be with him~

“Gentlemen,” Valentina said once she got to Matt and Jeff.

“How you doin’, Val,” Jeff said smiling giving her a hug.

“Good,” she replied. “How are you doing, Rainbow?”

“Eh…so so,” Jeff replied.

“So, Matt, do I get a hug or a hello,” she asked with a smirk.

Matt snapped out of his daze and smiled, hoping it looked natural. “Of course,” he said, hoping she didn’t notice the blush that crept into his cheeks. He gave her a hug, savoring the sweet smell of her perfume.

“So, Dave let you off the leash for a while, huh,” Jeff asked.

“Who says he has me on a leash,” she replied winking at the younger Hardy, who began to chuckle.

Just then MVP joined the group. “Valentina, could I show you something,” he asked, motioning that she should leave with him.

“All right,” she said arching a brow at him. He led her away rambling on and on about something he thought she would really like to see.

Moments later Batista appeared, a buxom blonde on his arm. Matt growled something under his breath as he watched the larger man pull the woman close for a kiss before slapping her ass and motioning that she was dismissed. Jeff patted his brother on the shoulder.

“Matt, if you really care about Val maybe you should say something,” he suggested. “Instead of just watching from the sidelines.”

“She obviously chose him for his money,” Matt grumbled. “I can’t compete with him.”

No sooner had the woman left than Valentina was back, MVP trailing behind her apologizing for wasting her time. “Montell, relax. It’s all right,” she said chuckling. She spotted Batista and headed over to him.

“Hey,” he said plastering on a wide smile and giving her a kiss. “I was wondering where you got off to.”

Valentina frowned, smelling the cheap perfume on his clothes. “You promised, Dave,” she said, her eyes filling with tears. “You promised no more rats.”

“Baby, I don’t know what you’re…”

“Don’t,” she said sniffling before rushing off so no one could see her cry.

~She's so confused
She knows she deserves more
Someone who will love and adore
But his money's hard to ignore
She really doesn't know what to do
Girl it's just a matter of time
Before he finds another more fine
After he's done dulling your shine
You're out the door and he's through with you~

“Now’s your chance,” Jeff said to Matt.

“No,” Matt replied.

“Matthew Moore Hardy, the woman you’ve been in love with for almost two years is cryin’ her heart out because that dumb ape broke it AGAIN,” Jeff growled. “You go find her and cheer her up. At the very least plant the idea that she doesn’t need his sorry ass to make her feel like shit.”

“All right,” Matt replied, not able to believe he was seeing this side of Jeff.

He followed the sound of sobbing and found Valentina sitting on a crate, her knees pulled up to her chest. She was softly sobbing. “Val,” he said softly. She looked up, quickly wiping the tears from her eyes.

“Hey, Matt,” she said forcing a smile.

“I saw what happened with Dave,” he said taking a seat next to her.

She chuckled mirthlessly. “Guess everyone saw it,” she replied. “I bet you’re wondering why I stay with him, huh?”

“Yeah, kinda,” Matt replied.

“I guess…out of convenience,” she replied with a sigh, raking a hand through her hair. “That sounds so horrid to say out lout.”

“You’re with him for his money, Val,” Matt asked.

“I guess you could say that…it wasn’t always that way,” she replied. “I did love him at one point in time, but…”

“But what?”

“But…then he cheated on me once…then twice…I’ve lost count now,” she replied with a sad sigh. “I stay because it’s familiar…safe.”

~Tell me is the money worth your soul?
Tell me what's the reason that you hold on
When you know that dude
Has a whole wall of 'em just like you?
And girl you're just way too fine
Gotta be treated as one of a kind
Girl use your mind
Don't be just another dime~

“Is it worth it,” Matt demanded, his voice cold. Valentina looked at him wide eyed, never hearing him speak to her in such a tone.

“It what worth it,” she asked softly.

“Is your soul worth all his fuckin’ money,” Matt demanded. “I see how he treats you, Valentina.” This got her attention. Never in all the time they had known each other had he ever used her full name. “He runs around and fucks everything with big tits and a pulse and then buys you a gift to make up for it.” He pointed the diamond earrings that adorned her earlobes and the tennis bracelet around her wrist. “Is it worth it?”

“Matt,” she said tears filling her eyes.

“He’s using you, but you’re too comfortable to even see the damn truth. He's gonna make you lose that light in your eyes and then he'll be on to the next conquest,” he fumed, pacing.

~I can't take
Seeing you with him
'Cause I know exactly what you'll be
In his gallery
Just not fair
And it's tearing me apart
You're just another priceless work of art
In his gallery~

“Please stop,” she said sniffling, lowering her head. The tears slipped down her cheeks.

“Val,” Matt said softly, tilting her head up so that she met his eyes. “I hate what he’s doin’ to you. You’re too beautiful for him to be steppin’ out behind your back. If you were mine…” He stopped fearing he’d said too much.

~You're a masterpiece
I know that he
Can't appreciate your beauty
Don't let him cheapen you
He don't see you like I do
Beautiful not just for show
Time that someone let you know~

“If I were yours what, Matt,” she asked, needing to hear what he was holding back.

“If you were mine I’d treat you like the work of art you are,” he said smiling. “I would never break your heart like Dave does.”

Valentina stood, pulling Matt into a tight embrace. His arms encircled her, holding her tightly. “Thank you,” she said softly before placing a feather light kiss on his lips. “I think I have something I need to take care of,” she said smiling when the kiss was broken. With that she left Matt with a wide smile on his face.

Jeff happened upon him a few moments later and smiled to himself. He knew his brother had finally gotten the nerve to tell Valentina how he felt. From the sounds of Batista’s yelling she had taken his words to heart and broken things off.