“You should have told me the truth from the beginning.”
“About the money, I agree. About Nina, I’m sorry, but no. I didn’t know who you were and needed to protect my daughter.As for what happened between us, it wasn’t planned, but I don’t regret it.”
“I don’t care about the money, Guillermo. I don’t want anything from that woman. From those women. Keep it for Valentina.”
“It’s rightfully yours.”
“I’m not for sale. Their sins will have to be paid before God. I won’t change my decision.”
“Alright. We’ll talk about this another time.”
I know I should give her space, but I’m afraid of what will happen to us in the future. In my carefully planned life, Olívia, the woman I desire, is an uncertainty.
“The more I got to know you, the more attracted I felt. I wanted you, regardless of how fate brought you into my path.”
“Is that why you didn’t make love to me on the day of the celebrationbrigadeiro? Because you hadn’t told me the truth yet?”
“Mainly because of that, but also because I was already doing a lot of wrong things. When I found out you were a virgin, I wanted you to have a choice. Then, you went out with that guy, and I went crazy with jealousy. Since that night, I couldn’t let you go, but I also didn’t know what you would do when you found out who Layla was to me.” I lift her face to look at me. “I still can’t let you go.”
She turns to face me. “I don’t feel connected to her.”
“Layla?”
“Yes. Neither of them, really. They are strangers to me. I didn’t know them in life because they never wanted me, so it would be a lie if I said that just because I share their blood, I feel any affection. There’s no feeling towards them inside me other than contempt.”
Hope begins to play in my chest, but when she breaks free and sits in the armchair, creating distance, a coldness spreads through the room. As if an icy wall has been created.
“So, between us . . .”
“I didn’t say I forgive you.”
“I won’t give up.”
“Really? How far are you willing to go to prove that you love me?”
I walk over to where she is and kneel in front of her. “You have no idea.”
“Is your love great enough to give me space?”
I try to keep my face impassive, but inside, I’m scared as hell. This is what I feared, that she would push me away. “How long do you need?”
“I don’t know. I need to think. Maybe it’s better if I resign from the hotel.”
“No. You have the coffee course next week. I’ll respect your wishes.”Even though everything in me screams that you’re mine.“I’ve waited for you my whole life. I’ll wait until you’re ready to make a decision.”
She looks at her hands. “I’m very confused. I don’t want to be a man’s second choice. I deserve better.”
I stand up because otherwise I won’t be able to keep my promise and give her the time she needs to think. “Olívia, I know you’re not obligated to believe what I say, but I give you my word that you were never my second choice. You’re theonlyone. Until I met you, I had never fallen in love.”
She looks away. “I want to go home. I’ll do what you suggested. I’ll stay away from everything for a few days to attend the course, then we’ll talk over the weekend.”
I park the car in her building’s garage and get out to accompany her to her apartment.
“You don’t have to. I can go up alone.”
“No. You’re my woman, and I won’t leave until I’ve made sure you’re safe.”
She doesn’t protest, but a dense silence falls between us as the elevator goes up to her floor. When we arrive, I wait for her to open the door. Before she enters, however, I grab her by the nape, pulling her into a desperate kiss.
