CHAPTER 7

I asked for a few moments alone with Blanca to discuss the points that I consider urgent and essential for our long-term agreement. Will Dominique like it? Possibly not. But it's necessary. I return to the office ready to argue. Blanca passes in front of me, holding the list made with an eyeliner she found in her handbag. The three of them are laughing and I didn't even know Maurice could do that. As I close the door behind me, the laughter stops and they adopt a serious, rigid posture.  I look at Dominique and walk over to the sofa, sitting down in front of him again. Blanca has taken on the role of lawyer, also becoming serious as she shoots a glare in Maurice's direction.

“My client is totally dissatisfied with the rudeness and coarseness that your client has directed at her, without a shred of politeness. I have documented evidence of him dragging her out of a party like a soulless troglodyte, as if he had any right to my client.”

Blanca shows the cell phone with yesterday's video to Maurice and Thierry, who stare at the screen in complete shock, turning their attention to Dominique, who puts on the most blatant face.

“And as of today, it's only fair that she be compensated for any gross offenses her client commits. We'll start with a fine of twenty thousand euros and a diamond for each offense committed”, Blanca is serious.

I look at Dominique and nod.

“Vetoed! Totally vetoed. He'll go bankrupt faster than a fucking sand store in the Sahara. Are you crazy?”, Maurice anticipates.

“That's nothing to him”, Blanca insists.

“Put that on the table for the next six months, ma'am. Bearing in mind that this animal”, he points at Dominique, “Starts his day by telling everyone to fuck off and goes to bed with a cane full of cock for others to drink, not to mention the jokes that upset traditional families... If we're to take what you're saying seriously, this man would have to give up the Le Blanc name and that still wouldn't be enough. If your client wants to live with him, let her accept the factory way, like all of us here.

Dominique is proud of the turn Maurice has taken. It's nonsense! And he winks in my direction.

“That's why he's the way he is, you support him!”, I retract.

“‘Support’ is a very strong word, my dear. We accept it and do our job”, Thierry comments, while typing.

“Are you suggesting that the animal associated with you cannot be courteous or show a minimum of sensitivity towards my client?”, Blanca says, angrily.

The three of them remain silent.

“Dominique, I've seen that movie. It's a horror movie and the monster kills everyone at the end. It's called ‘Wedding’”, Maurice says, dropping the pen he's holding.

“So that's the explanation for the end of your marriage”, I say it out loud, but I swear it was only meant to be a thought.

A second wave of silence covers the office. Thierry and Dom look at Maurice in doubt.

“Is it true?”, Thierry asks.

“That's not the fucking point”, Maurice replies.

“I call that a blessing, brother”, Dominique says, cheerfully.

“Can we come back here?”, Blanca says seriously.

“Are you still cackling? What more do you want, my child? Is there more to talk about?”, Maurice asks.

“I have a lot more. If he doesn't intend to improve his behavior and doesn't want to open his pocket”, Blanca turns towards me, “Why are you staying here?”, She raises her arms, in bewilderment.

“Didn't you want to do my part? Make me stay, Blanca”, I say, as I settle down on the sofa.

Maurice lets out a deep sigh, visibly frustrated. He runs a hand through his hair with a tense gesture, his expression showing a mixture of annoyance and resignation. His eyes meet Dom's and before long, he orders:

“I think you'd better make Kiki stay.”

“Holy shit!”, Maurice runs a hand through his hair, “We will establish a penalty of 2,000 euros for each rudeness or infraction committed by my client or his client after signing this contract. This penalty will be levied on a weekly basis and can be paid by alternative means of payment, excluding cash. For example, if a bount is not collected, your client must compensate my client with a favor equivalent to the amount of the final debt, as agreed by both parties. That's fair. What do you think?”, Maurice asks us.

Dominique agrees, and so do I.

“Man, you pull some things out of your ass, that, seriously…”, Thierry says to Maurice, still typing up the contract.

Maurice's countenance conveys an air of self-satisfaction.

“Go ahead, Miss de la Rosa”, Maurice gets up from his chair and puts his hands in his pockets.

“My client is demanding that he stops coming home drunk, at least for as long as she is there. This practice is not pleasant, it is not healthy, and it’s certainly not in line with her wishes for him”, Blanca finishes by straightening her long hair.

“Damn it, Kiki. Send me to celibacy at once”, Dominique lets out an angry snort.

Maurice turns to Dom with a doubtful look on his face.

“Are you sure you want to sacrifice all that just so she'll stay?”, Maurice asks.

“Sacrificing is heavy, isn't it? It's okay to cut back if you want to reach a consensus”, Dominique says.

Thierry looks away, not believing what he's typing.

“Go on, blonde”, Maurice clearly wants to give up the points.

“The next one is marked as very important. My client's need is urgent: she wants a minibar in her room to store bottles of water and ice”, Blanca says.

“You've got to be kidding…”, Maurice says, taking his attention away from Blanca and turning to me, loosening his tie, “This can't be serious…”

“I'm the one who vetoes this shit. This motherfucker wants to put cans in, that's for sure. Do you think I didn't see the thirty cans stacked up on the shoe rack in your closet?”, Dominique says, standing up.

I put my hands to my lips.

“What have you done, Dominique?”, I ask, angrily.

“I threw them out of the window. All of them.”

I slam my hands flat on the coffee tables.

“You've got to be kidding me. How disrespectful! Did you go through my things while I wasn't here?”, I speak, loudly.

“You're always going through my things, you little prick. Do you think I don't know that you've blocked the entrance to the games room by the number of times you've tried to find the password, you naughty girl?”, his tone is high.

I freeze, but I don't lose my pose.

“Never! It must have been Berta who forgot. Imagine... I was going to disrespect you in your own home? After having welcomed me so well?”, my face is certainly the most disguised in Monaco.

“Do you want to lie to a liar?”, Dominique asks, “Put a lie clause in there, Maurice.”

Blanca signals with her index finger, stepping forward:

“If any lies are found after the signing, the parties will separate immediately. My client will leave for a location determined by me to ensure her safety and confidentiality. You will not have access to the new location, and you are forbidden to try to find or contact my client, under penalty of legal action. What do you say, lawyer?”, Blanca concludes.

“No fucking way!”, Dominique exclaims.

“I love it!”, I speak almost in the same tone as Dom.

“Keep quiet”, Maurice smiles, checking Blanca from head to toe and nodding in agreement, “You've made a good point. It's the most sensible way out. We jump straight from marriage to divorce. Just an addendum: if this happens to my client, I'm going to take her ass cloths and throw them out of the window. And I warn you, it won't just be them, but her too”, Maurice finishes with a sip of whisky.

“I'm kind of enjoying wasting my Sunday on it. What time does the food come out?”, Thierry says, looking at his watch, “Mathilde is late”, he speaks with an invigorated mood

“When we get out of here”, says Dominique, returning to the sofa, running his hand through his hair.

“Next topic”, says Blanca, “Since it's clear that the minibar has been vetoed, I suggest enlarging the closet because a stylist needs space. As for extreme sports, since my client apparently likes to be aligned with death, we wish your client would take her to such activities twice a week.”

“When will he have time for that? You're aware that he owns the casino, right? His routine is exhausting. I'm absolutely sure that every principality put together has more leisure time”, Maurice retorts.

“So what? Let him stop screwing two whores a week and take her out for some fun.”

After a long laugh, Thierry asks:

“Am I really supposed to write about whores? Or do I tone it down?”

Maurice, already exhausted of patience, looks away, staring at Blanca.

“Let's add it like this: he arrives in the evening, kisses her goodnight, she serves dinner, they talk about how their days have been... then they sleep spooning, the next day they go parachuting and do you know what happens? They go without a parachute and turn into a red stain on the ground. That's it. No more inconvenience for us.”

When I hear the phrase, I do a "enough" gesture with my hands.

“My God, you're the same. All of you”, I speak in disbelief.

“You've only just realized? Damn…”, Thierry says, indifferently.

“I'm not a bit surprised.”, I cross my arms, “Go on, Blanca.”

Blanca clears her throat, starting again.

“My client would like to use the shower in her client's room.”

Maurice is caught off guard and I hold back a laugh as Dominique stares at me in shock.

“Maurice, tell them I'm not going to agree to my shower, no matter what. Aren't you already making a bigger fucking closet? Put an identical one in for her too. And just to be clear about this renovation, I don't want any trace of it when I get home. Hire someone quick to sort it out next week when I go to Italy and take the opportunity to put it in there, so that when I travel, the little beauty goes with me, otherwise she'll starve.”

“What about my clients?”, I raise my hand.

“Do it on video or you'll starve, because you won't eat cans. Take advantage of this, Thierry, and put it in the food clause”, Dominique signals

“Since you're there talking about her work, once a week you'll go shopping with Kiki to engage. I want your influence”, Blanca says to Dominique.

Dominique purses her lips and remains silent for a few seconds.

“Maurice, find a way to make my day 48 hours instead of 24. Do you think I have nothing to do, Kiki? That I'm just scratching my head all day?”, Dom says, sarcastically.

“I think you have a lot to do.”

I get up, walk around the coffee table and approach the sofa where Dominique is sitting. I sit down next to him, immediately smelling his delicious perfume. His gaze locks onto mine, and I feel a strange revolution inside me, as always happens when we're together. The room seems to get smaller and smaller, the atmosphere more intimate and denser. Discreetly, trying to keep my focus, I make a shell with my hand and approach his ear.

“Did you say you want to look after me or have you now changed your mind because I'm not naked?”, I say, reminding him of why we’re here, “But, if you want, there's still time for you to change your mind. You can fuck me here on this sofa, or on your desk, just send everyone away. We'll forget about the contract and then I'll go back to Blanca's”, I whisper in a velvety voice

“Maurice…”

Dominique turns towards me, standing close, staring at me. His intense gray eyes don't seem to be waiting for anyone to leave, as if he's ready to attack me right now. I swallow at the tension that surrounds us.

“She may use the shower under Berta's supervision from today until hers is ready. And shopping and extreme sports, once a week each. Is that enough for you?”, he says without taking his eyes off me.

“What are you talking about? There is no secret between client and lawyer, Dominique”, Maurice interrupts

“Sounds great”, I say, quietly, curling a lock of my hair.

“You're a bitch”, his tone is a whisper

I shrug, slowly rising from the sofa, casting a quick glance at Maurice and Blanca, who are trying to understand what's going on. They exchange confused glances, searching each other's faces for an explanation.  I walk back to the sofa, feeling the tension. Dominique, on the other hand, gets up nimbly, messing up his blonde hair with one hand, as if trying to rid herself of a disturbing thought. His face shows an expression of indifference, he imitates a nonchalant posture, although his eyes reveal a hidden determination. With heavy steps until he reaches the sliding door that leads to the outside area, he pauses, turning slightly, casting one last glance at Maurice.

“When it's ready, I'll sign it.”

That's all he says before slamming the door. Berta enters, pouring bottled water for everyone.

“So no one will think I spat in it, sealed”, she says as he hands it to me, shooting me a wry look.

“And who would think that, Berta?”, Thierry asks.

“The forgetful one”, She's always accusing and doubting the morals of all the staff, as if we had nothing else to do, apart from trying to sabotage the princess' food, aren't you, Kiki?”, Berta says.

“I've already said it's nothing against you, I just can't do it”, I say, annoyed.

I still haven't managed to understand my instinct, I don't know how to identify the reason. But the thought of eating or drinking something that isn't sealed, without knowing where it came from, makes me feel uneasy. So I managed to eat with Dominique trying, but it's still complicated and this subject makes me uncomfortable.

“Come off it, cutie”, Blanca mocks Berta, “It's clear that we're talking about a trauma, and she needs time, not people like you judging her. Something you can't control.”

Berta rolls her eyes and leaves.

“Every minute I stay here, I feel like taking you away. Why does she treat you like this? Haven't you done anything? Have you?”, Blanca asked, sitting down on the sofa in a low tone.

“I don't know if it's such a big deal. But on my first night here, I was nervous and ended up dozing off on the sofa and in the morning, she wanted to tidy up the living room and I had a knife to protect myself, you know? — I whisper just so Blanca hears”, my other hand was in a fist. Berta woke me up in a fright, and I punched her.

Blanca lets out a laugh, leaning on my shoulder.

“That explains it.”

Dominique returns with the same indifferent expression as when she left. Her cold eyes and imperturbable face reveal no emotion; his gray gaze holds mine for a few moments before turning to Maurice.

“Is it ready yet?”, he asks, impatiently.

“Almost”, Maurice says.

We hear a knock and the office door opens in a flash to find Louis, dressed in casual jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. His brown hair is slicked back.

“What the fuck? You've got five minutes to finish whatever it is. If I were you, I'd do it in three, because Dad here is hungry.”

No one answers and Louis closes the door. Blanca looks at me confused.

“Is it always like this here?”

“I'd say it's one of the quietest days.”

Maurice places the papers meticulously on the table, lining them up precisely. He then hands the pen to Dominique and places a stamping device next to it, ready to use. I get up and walk over to the table. I pick up the document and start going through it carefully, checking each topic, one by one, making sure everything is in order.

As I finish proofreading, my eyes fall on Dominique, and I see him give me a suggestive, discreet look. I make a move to pick up the pen to sign, but Maurice stops me, holding my wrist tightly. His eyes meet mine with a seriousness that makes me stop. He leads my hand to the stamp, opening it and exposing the blue ink pad. With a resolute gesture, Maurice takes my thumb and presses it against the wet pad, moving it from side to side to ensure that it is completely covered in ink. He then guides my hand to the paper, pressing my thumb firmly against the surface, leaving a clear and unmistakable impression. Dominique signs right after me, in cursive, leaving his signature.

DLBLANC.

Blanca's cell phone rings and she picks it up and leaves the office. Thierry is the second to leave, and Maurice, who seems to thank God it's over, leaves without looking back, taking one of the copies with him. I look up at Dominique, who is standing next to me. Before I can say anything, his hand wraps around my hair, pulling it back tightly, exposing my neck. He leans in, his lips close to my ear, and whispers provocatively:

“You forgot one detail in your contract.”

“Oh yeah? Which one?”,  I ask, quietly.

I feel his teeth dig into my skin, almost at the side of my neck, in a strong, determined bite. The intense pain makes my eyes widen and a cry of pain begins to form in my throat. However, before the sound can escape, his free hand moves quickly, covering my mouth and silencing me. His tongue circling the bite he made sends shivers down my spine. And even though I know it's not right to approve of this kind of behavior, my body always reacts positively to any stimulus when it comes to Dominique, yearning for more. I feel him round the corner of my face with his nose, removing his hand from my mouth, staring at me, making my heart beat fast, feeling his breath merge with mine. I push him away by placing both my hands on his chest, noticing his stiff muscles.

“Dream on, Dominique Le Blanc.”

Blanca left. Francisco, her husband, arrived from a trip and she had to go. Dom tried my lunch, a delicious dish of grilled fish with wild mushroom risotto, with a perfect butter and lemon sauce. To go with it, a delicious soft white wine. Dominique tried the whole bottle for me. From the living room, I can hear the loudspeakers and voices of all of his friends shouting in unison "SHOOT, DAMN IT!", disturbing the Russian soap opera, without subtitles, that I was understanding until then. And that was a great discovery. So far, I've discovered that I'm fluent in Russian, English and Spanish, as well as French. I finish the cup and put it back on the stand.

“Do you understand anything?”, Lohan asks.

I found him looking away in surprise.

“Didn't you?”, I ask back, turning down the volume.

“That's one I don't know, just French and English. These days, I'm less fluent in Korean than I used to be”, Lohan says, as he approaches, kissing my cheek, “I missed you and decided to come and see you before I started playing.”

“You're always so thoughtful.”

Lohan carefully places a white teddy bear on the table. The teddy is soft, with bright button eyes. A vibrant red satin bow is tied around its neck, adding a touch of elegance. I look at it hesitantly, not knowing what it's all about, and hold it in my hands, finding three bracelets inscribed "VIP" in the pocket of the bear's red jumpsuit. I pucker my lips in confusion and take one in my hand.

“What is it?”, I ask confused, “Which club is it from?”

Lohan smiles and a dimple forms on her cheek.

“I didn't think you wanted to go dancing... which we can also do. But these wristbands are for access to a resort in the Maldives. I've reserved exclusive access for us and”, holding up the third bracelet, “This one is for Blanca.”

I nod in agreement, but my mouth twists, I can't disguise it.

“Is something wrong, my beauty?”, he asks, resting his hand on my thigh, just as he did on the yacht, but now the discomfort I feel is greater, and I gently remove it.

“Where's Dom's bracelet?”, I ask.

Lohan rubs the back of his neck, caught off guard.

“It's just that I'm improving my diet and he's helping me. So I could live for two weeks on water alone, I'm pretty resilient, you know? But I don't think I'd enjoy it as much, due to my lack of strength…”

“It's no problem taking him”, Lohan interrupts me, “We're great friends. If you want, we'll take everyone in the room.”

“I think it's a great idea! You're amazing”, I say as I stand up and get off the high stool.

“Where are you going?”, he questions.

“Let them know we're going to the Maldives.”

I hurry out of the kitchen and into the hallway, bumping into Dominique, who is coming towards me, holding a bottle of beer.

“We're going to the Maldives in two weeks”, I gesture with my fingers past Dom, excited.

I run into the living room and hear my cell phone ringing in my pants pocket. I take it out and see Blanca's name on the display. I stop and pick it up.

“Hi, Blanca!”

“Kiki…”, I hear her voice between sniffles and a pained cry.

“My God, Blanca, what's happened?”

“I need you here at home”, and she hangs up.

I stare at the device in confusion and change my route, passing the fervent shouts from the main hall, arriving at the elevator and heading towards the garage. I get into the car and start it, trying to calm my racing heart. As I drive, I find myself thinking about what might have happened to Blanca. She looked so well this morning, radiant. I drum my fingers nervously on the steering wheel, with a growing sense of apprehension. What could have prompted Blanca to call me instead of her husband? Wasn't he at home? Oh my God! What if something terrible happened to her? Why would she call me like that? My mind races to the worst possible scenario: The guys after me have found her and are holding her hostage. A shiver runs down my spine and I floor the accelerator, determined.

I enter Blanca's mansion, still stomping my feet, listening to the tires singing against the ground. As I pass the garden, my eyes find Blanca sitting in the middle of the staircase, her hands on her face, crying with deep sobs. She's disheveled and wearing a white robe. I park anyway, opening the door quickly and heading towards Blanca.

“What's wrong?”, I ask, hugging her from the side.

Blanca doesn't answer, she just intensifies her crying and strokes her back.

“It was my fault…”

“What's to blame?”, I ask, worried.

“I killed him…”

I blink a few times, trying to understand what this is about, or rather, who? I pull Blanca away, holding her shoulders. I find her green eyes lost and her face reflecting a pallor.

“Talk to me, what happened?”

“It's hard to believe, Kiki. He arrived so well…”, Blanca said, with a sigh, her voice laden with sadness, “I was so happy for the new branch in Spain, our home. It's going to be so hard to go back there without him by my side. He always took such good care of me... and now, I don't know how to deal with all this post-death bureaucracy. My husband never allowed me to deal with problems, even when I was his sugar baby. He has... he had a daughter my age, who didn't even care about him. Do you know what's going to happen now? She'll want to take everything that's his…”

I hug Blanca, wrapping my arms around her.

“Calm down, we'll deal with all this together. All right? Let me sort out all the paperwork you need.”

“Would you?”, she sniffs.

“Of course.”

The first step in sorting out the procedures was to call the police, something Blanca was unable to do. Poor thing, she's destroyed. The worst part of organizing a wake is letting people know about the loss. I must confess that in the midst of all this, some disturbing thoughts began to creep into my mind without my being able to control them. I began to question everything. Does anyone miss me out there? And if so, why haven't they found me yet? How important am I to them? A lump formed in my throat as I realized that I might never get an answer.

As the hours passed and I witnessed Blanca's suffering without being able to do more than I already could, I began to feel sick. Of course, I didn't show it, I just followed the protocols that Francisco had left.

In the early hours of Monday morning, the body was released. I had to come to Spain with Blanca. Vlad accompanied me and Dominique is aware of where I am and what I'm doing. We haven't spoken since yesterday. Vlad was very kind to offer me several cereal bars and even cans in secrecy, but I refused. I'm sticking to my agreement. The only lie is that I know the password to the games room and I don't intend to break in, even if I wanted to before.

We stayed in a luxurious hotel in Madrid. Blanca didn't want to stay in any of the houses they owned. The cause of death still shocks me... the funeral was closed to those closest to her, unlike the ceremony that took place in the morning. Blanca has stopped crying and is now serious, staring at the wall. We return to the hotel and are in the luxurious penthouse. The living room is the focal point, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a breathtaking view of the city. The furniture is uniquely designed, with soft leather sofas and gray velvet armchairs arranged around a glass and metal coffee table. A modern fireplace warms the room, built into the wall. Vlad is in his room, resting. It's been a stressful day...

“She never called him father and there she was, crying on top of the coffin. Doing that theater in front of everyone. As if she cared”, Blanca is furious.

Blanca's other friends came to support her at this sad time, while the deceased's family glared at her with hateful eyes. It's clear that they resent her. Maria Alba, Francisco's daughter, made a point of saying in front of everyone that she was going to take all Blanca's money and that she wouldn't keep a penny of her father's money.

“Don't worry, it's not that simple”, I say, sitting down next to her.

“She stormed off to the bathroom, declaring that no lawyer is going to be able to take away what is rightfully hers. Kiki, if it hadn't been for Francisco, I don't know what would have become of me. I wanted so much for them to reconcile and this is how she treats my Fran's memory? That's not fair to him, Kiki.”

“I know, Blan…”

“Kiki, I'm giving up almost everything I have so that she doesn't make a mockery of his legacy. I don't know what was left in the will and her taking it all by spitting on his name makes me even sadder. Besides, I think my life is going to get a lot harder now.”

“You have as much right as she does.”

“You don't understand. I was his sugar baby for 2 years and we were only married for 1. The daughter certainly has a preference.”

“This is no time to think about that, you need to relax a bit. When you're better, we'll find you a lawyer.”

“I have enough money to support myself for at least six months without having to change my routine, but this will be restricted until the inventory is completed. In a minimum scenario, I can support myself for three months without touching my money, unless an emergency occurs.”

“Like a disease?”, I ask.

“ If I need a Dior bag?”, Blanca says, lighting a cigarette.

I try not to let out a laugh.

“You know what? I need one”, I smoke.

I stroke her hair.

“Tomorrow we'll go back, okay?”

With a pout forming on her lips, Blanca hugs me.

“Thank you for everything, Kiki. Without you, I wouldn't have been able to cope on my own. I wouldn't even have come here. Every street reminds me of him. Did you know that when we first met, I worked at a gas station? I was a gas station attendant, very poor. I was 18. I hated that job, I'd come home smelling of gasoline. My hair was impregnated with that smell. One day, Francisco pulled up next to me with an Urus and said: ‘what's a beautiful woman like you doing in a mediocre place like this?’ And I replied: ‘I ask myself that every day’. He opened the car door and said: ‘You don't need this crap’. I got in and he took me to a restaurant. I didn't even know what to order. I ordered white wine to go with the meat. He was so nice to me! He said that red wine was fine, but he'd never tried white wine, so he drank it with me. We never parted again…”

Blanca finishes with tears in her eyes.

“I'm going to miss him so much.”

“Of course you will... but everything will be fine, you just need some time to deal with the grief.”

Blanca nods and gets up, handing me the cigarette and the bottle of whisky.

“I'm going to rest. Thank you, Kiki”, she kisses my cheek, dries the tear and leaves in the direction of the bedroom.

I put the cigar out in the ashtray and leave the bottle on the table. It's two in the morning. I'm exhausted, of course I can't remember when I last spent so many hours without resting. But I realize that my body is used to extreme situations. Like not sleeping, not eating, cold, rain and heat.

As I enter my room, I take off my black dress and throw it anywhere, heading for the suite, where I take a relaxing bath. I stare at the tiles, thinking seriously about everything I've discovered about myself and, in one fell swoop, I find myself wondering what kind of person I was and what I've been through. And my old self is far from normal. It scares me. I may have been a bitch! To the point of having done something so serious as to make those guys try to kill me in a hospital and then chase me with SMGs. Not to mention the people on the beach. Everywhere I've looked about myself, I've found nothing. I can't miss anything, because I can't remember. Every time I find out something about my instinct, I get apprehensive. They're all aggressive! My food issues, the resistance, the fight, opposite behaviors far from conventional ones. It's so strange! Maybe I don't have any answers, but today at the funeral, I realized how sad the feeling of loss is, it's as if I'm coming into contact with it for the first time. And somehow it touched me... if it were me in the deceased's place, would anyone miss me? Would anyone cry for me? And many uncertainties arise in my mind, making me press my head against the tile, unable to stand it any longer. I just turn off the damper, pull out the towel and wrap it around my body and get out of the shower, putting on black lacy panties and a tank top while I comb my hair. I'm too lazy to dry it. I open the bathroom door.

“The planet is drying up because of you, you know that? I've been here for over half an hour and the little beauty is wasting water”, Dominique says, without even looking at me, lying in the middle of my bed, wearing black jeans and a blazer of the same color over his white shirt, fiddling with his cell phone.

Dominique looks away from the device and towards me, observing every detail of my body with a slow, attentive gaze. I swallow, aware of my attire and feeling a little embarrassed, not understanding why he's here. However, his presence is good for me. I haven't seen him for almost two days.

“Who are you expecting at this hour, dressed like that?”, he asks with a frown, contracted

“If I'm lucky, sandman. After several hours awake and today, I just want to sleep”, I answer, taking the robe from the suitcase on the recliner, putting it on and tying it around my waist with a bow.

“What did the old man die of? Even Vlad doesn't know. What's with all the secrecy?”, he asks

“I wanted the secrecy. Blanca was devastated and we decided not to go into details. It was quite traumatic”, I explain.

“For him?”

“For her”, I whisper.

“I'm curious.”

“I'll talk, but if the info leaves here, I'll finish you off.”

Dom settles on the bed, putting the pillows behind his back, ready to listen. I take a deep breath.

“Here's what happened: they were having sex at 4 o’ clock…”

Dominique frowns, puzzled.

“He arrived happy after spending several days away. They were celebrating the new branch. And Blanca was so excited that she asked him to…”

I pause, closing my eyes, unable to believe I'm saying this out loud.

“She asked him to push harder.”

“Kiki, are you sure you're talking about his death? I don't want to know what happened before, just why. Until now, he seemed very much alive, more alive than most people”, Dom says, shrugging

I signal for him to wait.

“You'll understand. He asked her to get on all fours, to go deeper, you know?”

“I know.”

“!He gave it his all and then some. He went so deep that he died and fell on top of Blanca.”[1]

“I don't know why she didn't want to publicize it, it was an honorable death. I expect nothing less for mine.”

I left out the part where she got stuck underneath him, with him still inside. Poor thing, I can't imagine the scene! Exhausted, I throw myself on the bed and snuggle down. I close my eyes briefly, taking deep breaths. Suddenly, I hear the sound of a paper package being torn open and a delicious aroma of food invades my nostrils. I lift my torso, finding various foods and Dom placing them in front of me on the bed. He takes a bite of the gourmet burger and hands it to me, and as I chew, I feel the energy returning to my body. What a treat! Dominique tries a bit of each. There are macarons, croissants, quiche Lorraine and crepes filled with hazelnut cream. I eat a lot, until I can't stand it any longer, but I find myself focused on the thoughts that still insist on hammering away.

“It's the first time I've seen you in silence…”, Dominique comments.

“Do you think someone is looking for me? Is someone suffering because of my disappearance? What about my family? Where did I come from?”, I asked Dominique, as if he had the answer, “If it was me in Francisco's place? Do you think anyone would be there? Would they cry for me? Would I be missed? Or would I just be another one biting the dust? And I'm all for cremation. What are you in favor of?”, I ask Dominique.

He looks at his watch and settles down next to me.

“Of life. I don't worry about death. For me, it's all about living every moment to the full. Once it's over, there's nothing more to think about. As for who will cry for you, no one can control that. Unless you hire actors. As for family, I'm not the best person to talk about that, they’re all a bunch of assholes with your last name. Finding someone who's missing isn't easy and, in your case, it's not just about disappearing, it's about being erased from society. Even if they want to find you, if there is someone, it's difficult. In your case, it's even more complicated because someone is trying to kill you”, Dom says, with a relaxed tone, taking a sip of water.

“I don't think I'm a normal civilian…”

“And you’re worried?”, he questions.

“Aren't you?”

Dominique looks away.

“I don't care what you were, are or are no longer. You just must be safe…”

“I need to know who I am! What if I have a husband? A boyfriend? I horned in on him.”

Dominique runs her hand through her hair, messing it up.

“The hornless man is a defenseless animal. He'll thank you”, he says, convinced, “Especially ‘cause you're no longer his. Why would you want to know who you are? Have you ever thought that you might not like who you were? You have a unique opportunity to start over and be someone else, without having to deal with your own conscience. How many people would like a chance like that? To erase the past and deal only with the present and the future…”, Dominique says.

“I'd already thought about it... But this opportunity is only happening because I was lucky, right? What if it hadn't been you?”, I say quietly.

His gray eyes meet mine, intense as ever, grabbing my attention instantly. His expression is serious as his hands wrap firmly around my waist, fingers pressing possessively into my skin. I place my hands on his shoulders and feel Dom slide his hands down my legs, tracing a path that makes them curl around his hips.

“But it was.”

He says, as he undoes the lace of the gown with one swift movement, letting the silk slide down my shoulders. His fingers explore my body, each touch making me shudder under his skillful control. His teeth bite into my neck, marking my skin. Sunday's is out and I shiver, loving all the sensations he makes me feel, even the ones that make me dizzy are here. He makes me weak, while his fingertips circle my skin, making me shiver.

“Dom…”, I let his name slip out, which comes out as a plea.

And in response, he throws me on the bed, straddling me. His perfume is delicious and I feel numb, just what I needed. His face close to mine, I brush my lips against his, teasing, instigating. Searching for more, he slowly brushes his mouth over mine, clearly teasing me back, but pulls back, pulling away.

“See you at home, dolly”, that's all he says before getting up.

Dominique doesn't even look back as he leaves, all I can see is the door closing. I lie on my stomach among the empty packages, still gasping, feeling the heat that’s about to finish me off. And I find myself longing for more, even though I know I shouldn't be. It's not the most rational option, but I'm afraid. What if it gets to the point where I can't control it? I'll really have to go to Blanca or move away, and the thought of staying away from Dominique is no longer an option. I feel safe, as insane as that is...

We returned to Monaco this morning. Blanca wanted to go home, be alone and prepare for the reading of the will, since it will soon be read, and Francis' daughter is sure to take action against it. I had to run to Chanel because Odette is waiting for me for her consultancy. Vlad must have told Dominique that I'd arrived, because he told me that Dom would be waiting for me at 1pm at the casino for lunch.

It's 11 in the morning. The store isn't that busy, so I sort out a set of vests and tailored pants and hand them to Odette, who is standing in front of me with her face contorted in displeasure. Her black hair is tied up in a bun.

“Darling, isn't there anything tighter? Something tighter, sexier?”

I put my hand on his shoulder.

“Yes, there is, but your meeting is important, and the idea here is for you to show the millions in your account, not your breasts. You'll wear what I want and you'll look stunning, slim, chic, elegant. All eyes in the room will be on you”, my tone is firm.

“I really hope so, because I like attention.”

“And you will. We complement it with heels and a hairstyle with an incredible bow.”

“Only if it's like yours…”

“Of course, don't worry.”

“Now I need a dress for a night out that will make the guys fall over themselves. I want to get a serious boyfriend. You know what that's like, right? Sipping wine in front of a fireplace, watching the sunset in Tuscany, making sweet love in a chalet in the Swiss Alps…”

I nod, understandingly, finding this schedule a drag. I feel sorry for the suitor, it explains why she got divorced. Not that I'm judging, but where's the emotion?  Is he going to be handcuffed while she whips him? Will there be a bear for them to hunt on that mountain? Not that I support that kind of behavior, but anything less romantic with a bit more adrenaline, that makes them feel alive?

“Why do you look like that, Kiki?”

I shake my head, coming back from my thoughts.

“It's just that I find romanticism so tacky…”

Odette puts her fingers to her lips.

“Are you crazy? Love is the best thing there is. To be loved, idolized, put on a pedestal and pampered as I deserve. It's the very least. Someone who makes you tremble from head to toe with one look. Who takes your breath away with a kiss and makes you feel like the hottest woman in the world…”

I get shaky at the thought that some food might be poisoned. I get out of breath when I'm doing my legs at the gym and I don't need someone to make me feel like the hottest woman in the world, because that's natural. You don't need someone, you just must and accept yourself, right?

“Haven't you ever felt that way, Kiara?”, she asks

“We're not here to talk about that. I'm different, understand? I'm going after the dress you want.”

I turn away from Odette, my thoughts a little confused. Because I've already been left breathless and trembling by a look, a touch, a magnetic presence and a kiss that has certainly made me lose my footing. Every encounter with Dominique is a bombardment of emotions that I don't always like to feel. Perhaps because I lose control of myself. Because I always give in.

I go to the wardrobe, fix my hair and try to stabilize myself again. I hate thinking about feelings, it's exhausting! Aff! I look for a dress that catches my eye and find a beautiful navy slip dress. The thin straps and deep side slit complete the seductive look. I'll take that one for myself. Next, I find a short, elegant white dress, which gives off an angelic air. A coquette who wants a relationship and is even wearing white in case there is a wedding.

“Hi, how are you, my love?”, I hear a female voice answer the cell phone to my right, a little ahead, “Yes, I am. It's not because my husband is cheating on me that the world is over, is it? I've been doing the same thing for years. He doesn't even know…”

His voice gets quieter as he says it and I walk discreetly away to listen to the rest, while I look for another dress.

“You know how Dominique is, don't you? He doesn't care about the girl, he doesn't even answer me. I must talk to Amélie every time. He just leaves a message and doesn't even call back.”

I freeze when I hear his name and I know he's not the only one on the face of the earth.

“All he cares about is the casino and debauchery... No, love, he doesn't care about his family or this marriage”, she whispers, “Now I'm going to take the girl there for him to see. Maybe she can convince him to come for her birthday. Poor thing, she won't stop talking about him.”

I widen my eyes when I hear it. Is he a father? Is he married? How come nobody told me that? The poor thing has to beg to see her father? What unbelievable nonsense! It's not possible. Doesn't anyone know? Or does everyone know and support it? I squeeze my eyes shut in disbelief.

“Mom”, a little girl who looks about eleven approaches. She is wearing a pink sweatshirt with a chic Chanel brand and casual sneakers. Her blonde hair is long, falling softly to her shoulders and her green eyes sparkle with anticipation. Her face is delicately childlike, “Can we get Daddy some perfume?”, the child asks.

What a soulless guy! The girl is cute. Who wouldn't want to spend time with this girl? She wears Chanel. How could he not have told me something like that? I hate him!

“Let's look at the options”, says the woman with her back turned, all I can see is her long blonde hair, “I need to go, then I'll tell you the rest.”

I turn towards Odette, taking the dress.  Stunned, not knowing exactly what I'm feeling. A mixture of anger, disappointment and disbelief. I don't even know what to think.

“Oh, how beautiful! That's what I'm talking about”, Odette says, vibrating!

“It’s so you!”, I say, with my best smile.

It won't stay that way! I'm going to get this story out of the way today.

“Now I have to go.”

“See you on Friday, right?”, Odette asks.

I nod and say goodbye.

I pay for the dress, waiting while it is carefully wrapped by the clerk. Then I leave the store and, frustrated, I take my cell phone out of my pocket and dial Blanca's numbers, but she doesn't answer. Jeez! As I look down the street, I see Vlad leaning against his car, his hand in his pocket, clearly waiting for me. I get into the car in silence, not knowing what to say. I think about telling Vlad, but he'll probably deny it in favor of Dom. After all, it's something he doesn't want people to know, right?

“How was it, Kiki?”, Vlad asks as he drives towards the casino.

“It was fine…”, that's all I manage to say all the way to the casino.

Dom

 “The girl was dying to see you. You don't answer your cell phone, you don't reply to my messages. What's your problem, Dominique? What's the point of going to Chérie's birthday?”, Eva asks.

“This is no place for her, and certainly not for the newborn over there”, I point with my head to the nanny, who is holding Tomato in her arms, turned away to put him to sleep.

“You wouldn't have to come if you answered your cell phone or maybe came to see me”, Eva rebuts.

“You're needy, aren't you?”, I ask, resting my hand on my cheek and my elbow on the table.

I look at the clock and it's 1:05 pm. I never imagined I'd be happy about someone being late. All I need now is for Kiki to meet my sister. It's tragedy for sure.

“No, I just think your behavior is absurd. It's almost a month since I gave birth. And you haven't been here to see Charles, me or Marie Chérie, who really wants her uncle to come to her 11th birthday party”, she says angrily

Marie Chérie is standing next to her mother, staring at me with a typical pre-teen beak.

“My dear, you know uncle doesn't have time, don't you? But don't worry, I'm going to give you a nicer present than last year. How about a car? I'll send it to you with the driver and everything.”

“Uncle, you don't understand. I came here to convince you and I'm not leaving until you say yes”, her firm tone makes me smile.

“I'll call you later and we'll talk, okay, princess? Now, you must excuse me, I have an important meeting.”

I'm in the area reserved for the board of directors, as usual. I look tensely towards the entrance to the restaurant and soon find Kiki's figure passing by. I swallow, loosening my tie. She crosses the hall with firm steps, wearing a short red dress with thin straps, which highlights her figure. The white sandals I gave her as a present compliment her outfit, adding a delicate touch to her look. Her hair is loose, falling softly to her ribs, with her bangs perfectly aligned, framing her face. She looks beautiful, the complete combo for fucking me. Hazel eyes scan the room and for a brief moment, our gazes meet. I feel a chill run down my spine, knowing that the meeting between Kiki and my sister is everything I didn't want.

“You have to go now!”, I say, getting up and buttoning my suit.

And Kiki approaching in quick steps, with a glare in my direction.

“Why do they have to go now? What are you trying to hide, Dominique?”, Kiki asks

Eva, who is still sitting, turns her head slightly towards Kiki, finding her and measuring her from head to toe?

“Who are you?”, Eva asks.

“Your husband's mistress, using the term you said!”, Kiki says, firmly.

Marie Chérie begins to cry convulsively, sobbing loudly. Tears run down her face as she covers her mouth with her hand, completely shocked by the revelation. I signal with my hand to the nanny to take the girl away.

“How do you have the nerve to come to me and introduce yourself as a lover in front of my children?”, Eva asks, gritting her teeth.

“I thought I'd clarify things”, Kiki says, placing the bag on the table.

“Enough, both of you!”, I'm loud.

“Why is that enough?”, Eva stands up, throwing her napkin on the table.

“I have nothing to do with Dominique's lack of fatherhood!”, Kiki says.

“Kiara, she's my sister!”, I say, in disbelief.

Eva looks from Kiki to me, horrified.

“What the fuck is going on here, Dom? Who the fuck is she?”, I point at Kiki.

Kiki's cheeks are red, visibly embarrassed. She avoids looking directly at anyone, tucking a lock of her hair behind her ear. She doesn't seem to know where to stick her face. Her discomfort is evident, reflected in her stiff posture and hesitant movements. I cross my arms, directing a look of disapproval in her direction, feeling the tension rise in the room.

“I don't fucking owe you any satisfaction from my life”, I say to Eva.

I walk away, leaving the two of them behind. I've even lost my hunger and she's not going to eat either. Who's to doubt me? Do you really think I have time for a wife, son, lover and whore? That's a lot of dick. How can she think that if I had a family I'd treat her like that? And lead my life the way I do? If I've chosen not to have one, it's precisely because I prioritize the one I have. Damn it, I hate scandals, even more in here. I head for the elevator, listening to her heels behind me.

“Dom!”

I keep walking without looking back and approach the elevator, press the button and the door opens. 

“Dominique! I'm sorry, okay? I thought…”

I interrupted her:

“You tell me I'm a son of a bitch, that I'm going to cheat on my wife and abandon my children, all because I only like fucking”, I turn to her, stoping her from walking, “Then you leave the house, because I said you're mine. Not satisfied, you go around saying you’re my mistress to the four winds. Do you understand that this doesn't make any sense? You're the worst lover on this side of the fucking globe.”

I see her take a breath to reply and I interrupt her once again, my voice raised.

“Don't fuck! I'd forgive you all that, but to go and make a fuss in front of my family? Fuck you, Kiki. My life doesn't matter to anyone, understand? Now, you think I fucking want you.”

I get into the elevator without giving Kiara time to say anything. I press the button for the penthouse office and kick the door as it closes. I let out a scream of rage.

What a bitch! Who does she think she is to come here and do something like that and assume that I'm like that? Fuck off. I don't want to see her face in front of me. There, now she's given my family the subject they needed for this birthday. I didn't go because the "mistress" wouldn't let me. That's what they'll say. Not that I care what they think. I care about the trouble that will come from it. I know how this kind of gossip sets this family on fire. The phones don't stop ringing and people from all over the place, even from hell, want to know what happened.  It's too high a price for my current situation.

I arrive on the floor, stomping hard on the carpet, my fists clenched, heading towards my room without looking around. I want everyone, without exception, to blow up. I open the door and slam it shut, heading for the bar, picking up the bottle of vodka and pouring the liquid into the glass. I take off my tie and throw it on the sofa. The door opens and I find Amélie with a sheet pile. I throw the glass towards the wall, watching it shatter.

“Mr. Le Blanc, do you need anything other than for me to go to hell or fuck off?”

Amélie bends down, protecting herself with the paperwork.

“Don't let anyone in.”

“Right”, she says, hurrying on her heels, heading over to my desk, placing the pile of papers on it and quickly leaving.

After the meeting with the security department to review the casino's procedures, I go to the next one with the management team. At 7pm, I go down to the gaming hall, socialize and interact with some customers. Even though I pay attention to every detail, my mind can't stop thinking about Kiki. Thinking about her irritates me even more, leaving me in a constant state of anger. Later, I go back upstairs to my office and start reviewing the day's reports. I try to focus on the pages in front of me, but the image of Kiki continues to invade my mind, disrupting my focus. The thought of how she acted, of the words she said, all of it makes me angrier. I flip through the documents, almost tearing the pages. With every line I read, my irritation grows. My fist clenches involuntarily as I remember the look on Kiki's face. I try to push the memory away, but it's no use. She's there, disturbing me mentally, fueling my anger.  I let out a heavy sigh, trying to calm my nerves, but the anger only grows. Even with all the work ahead of me, Kiki continues to dominate my thoughts and this infuriates me even more.

It's midnight and I decide not to go home. I won't feed her, she'll go hungry. The gates of Maurice's house open, I greet the security guard and park anyway in the garage. I get out of the car, carrying two bottles of whisky, and am greeted by the owner, who is tying a knot in his black robe as he opens the door.

“What are you doing here?”, Maurice asks.

“I can't come home drunk, so I'll drink and wait for the buzz to wear off.”

“In my house? What about the whores?”, he asks, surprised.

“You're my favorite whore, Maurice”, I reply, with a sarcastic smile.

“Fuck you, Dominique. Turn on the video game and I'll get the glasses.”