Chapter 3 - A warning

By Catherine De Castro

I had to admit that at least that night, Hector was showing himself different from the vain and spoiled man who used to print the main gossip notes of the country’s media. I wondered what was making him act so kind to me, although, of course, it was apparent that it seemed like a hobby for him to piss me off. In fact, I knew that Hector had agreed to participate in this whole situation exclusively for money. It wasn’t part of his profile to care about anything other than that, but still I couldn’t deny that he was striving to make it work, even if our reality was far from looking like a happy and passionate couple.

As we drove to that unusual encounter, the silence in the car was fairly uncomfortable. Hector had put on a nice song to play and as we had no unusual subject, he just occasionally made some random comment about what we were listening to. The weather was strange, but it was also light, which made me realize that being with the heir of the Marques family, was not something as unpleasant as until a few days ago I imagined it to be.

The car stopped and I was surprised when he let out a heavy sigh as if something displeased him. Curious about his sudden change of mood, I asked:

"Is there a problem?"

"There are already some vultures on duty."

Unable to understand what he was talking about, I looked around to find the reason for his irritation, that’s when I saw some trees across the street, an unobtrusive guy with a camera in his hand looking closely at the entrance to the Japanese restaurant where Hector’s car had parked.

"It’s not like you can complain." My tone of voice surprisingly demonstrated patience. "Look where you brought us, Hector. This restaurant is one of the most expensive in the city. It’s certainly the kind of place frequented by the biggest celebrities in the country. Of course they want story holes."

"You wanted me to take the famous businesswoman Catherine Castro to eat hot dogs?" Heitor grumbled impatiently. "I may not be a gentleman, but I also never took a woman to eat hot dogs. It would not be my bride-to-be that I would take."

Heitor’s wink and mocking smile made it clear that he was mocking our situation, after all, one of his favorite pastimes was to annoy me, and probably knew that one of the things I despised most about him, It was his stupid reputation as a twig man.

"Please don’t make me regret accepting your invitation to this dinner." I rolled my eyes with boredom. "We’ll be right down before I decide to leave."

"You know what, Catherine? Your sense of humor sucks!"

I watched Hector get out of the car and as he went around to open the door for me, the paparazzi quickly positioned the camera to capture the image of who would leave, in this case me.

The door opened and he looked at me seriously. For a moment a conflict hit me full imagining the numerous notes that would come out the next day. So far we had not been seen publicly, and our relationship was nothing but uncertain rumors. However, I was aware that from that moment when I was seen accompanied by Hector, that would no longer be hearsay. We were assuming to everyone that we were together, even though that wasn’t really true, since in reality I had no intention of making that arranged marriage real, that is, I had no intention of assuming my role as wife in Hector’s life. In fact, the first chance I got, I’d get out of that marriage.

"Is everything all right?"

He wanted to know, and I noticed a concern in his voice. It was not common to see him acting like that with any woman.

"None! Let’s get this over with."

I held his hand that until then was understood to me, and then I got out of the car.

"I hate this sense of invasion of my privacy." I was sincere when I whispered near Hector’s ear. "How do you stand it all the time?"

"Believe me, so am I. But it’s not like we can be who we are and get rid of them. Now smile and start acting naturally as if being next to me is what makes you most happy. I don’t want my reputation as a good conqueror to be ruined by your ugly face."

I looked at him controlling my will to send him to hell in front of the approaching valet to get the key to Hector’s car. All I did was smile with pretense as if I was too much in love to laugh at any nonsense dictated by the man standing next to me.

While without any embarrassment the camera flashes of the man who photographed us almost blinded me, I said to him:

"You’re a complete idiot, Hector Marques."

In front of the insult Hector smiled without letting himself down.

"Your way of admiring me is suffocating, Catherine Castro. Be careful not to fall in love."

He whispered and without me waiting touched my face with his lips that kissed me in a feigned show of affection. I confess that as I was not prepared for that contact, my body tensed the muscles.

"For you? Never, dear. You’re not my favorite kind of man."

Hector looked at me seriously and I knew that at that moment he had hit his fragile male ego, but I didn’t care about that.

Without saying another word, Hector grabbed my waist possessively as if we actually had something and were used to living that approach, and led me into the restaurant. He was visibly angry, but it wasn’t something I cared about. If he thought I was the kind of woman he could play with, he was wrong. In fact, if there was one thing Hector couldn’t do to me, it was silly.

After entering the restaurant and being directed to a table, the discomfort in the presence of each other was something palpable, but as that was a situation without return, I took a deep breath and decided that this was a good time to get to know a little more of the man who would soon become my husband.

I tried to relax a little more and let myself be involved by the conversation of Hector. Throughout the night despite all the discomfort we felt, the dinner took place without great quietly and I can even guarantee that I was surprised to discover some preferences of Hector, such as his favorite hobby was playing tennis. The fact is that when I realized I realized that the moment of tension had passed and we tried to keep a friendly conversation.

"So, tell me Catherine, what do you expect from all this?" Heitor asked with interest.

"Honestly? I think all this is crazy. I never imagined that in these modern times there could still be this arranged marriage thing."

"If it’s any consolation, know that I feel as outraged as you do."

"We don’t know each other, Hector. And of course we both know that we feel absolutely nothing for each other. But we accept that, so I hope our coexistence is friendly. I also tell you that you are aware of one thing... I will never accept that you put me in a situation that ridicules me." I was firm in my position.

Hector narrowed his eyes without being able to hide how those words had taken him by surprise.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I am marrying you in strange conditions, Hector. I am becoming your wife, not your toy. A betrayal, for example... I will never accept being betrayed and ridiculed before everyone. That happens, and I swear to you I will get out of this marriage, but not before I end your image as a successful businessman."

Hector and I stared at each other for long seconds, and I was sure that now he knew I would not be a submissive wife.