BONUS DAMIEN I woke up to the sound of running water. I frowned and blinked to make my corneas adapt to the light. The sound of the water filled my ears again and I realized that I must have left a tap in the bathroom wasting water when I used it earlier. I quickly got out of bed cursing my inattention and walked towards the bathroom without bothering to put my shirt on. I pushed open the door and entered the bathroom, but tripped over my own steps when I realized that the noise wasn't coming from the toilet, but from the shower. But how could there be someone in there? I approached the shower stall while trying to remember how much whisky I had drunk by the time I got home that night, but my thoughts were shattered when I saw the woman through the glass. Her skin was tanned and she ran her hands through her hair, washing it gently. Her curves were perfect and I ran my eyes down her back, appreciating every inch of exposed skin. It was then that she turned around, catching me red-h
BONUS DAMIEN- Don't touch her. - I vented all my irritation without bothering to knead the stranger's fingers. Then I pushed him away from Ellen.He grumbled and tried to move towards me, but he was so drunk that he fell over his friends and gave up. I turned my attention to Ellen just as she became unbalanced in a dance move, but before she fell I managed to pull her towards me while keeping her firmly close to me.- Let go of me! - She stammered and tried to get rid of me.- I'm not letting go, Darling.Ellen tensed in my arms and raised her face.- Damien?I noticed Nicholas talking to Ellen's two friends a few meters away. There was another guy with them and Nick was holding Arianna, who seemed to want to get to us. I looked away from the group and focused on Ellen.- Why didn't you answer the damn phone, Ellen? - Concern succumbed to irritation. She was too exposed there. I could see the other men analyzing her like vultures. - Damn, I was worried and I hate that feeling, espe
BONUS DAMIEN It was my muscles that woke me up to the sun's rays streaming through the window. For a moment I wondered where I was, but then last night filled my mind and my muscle memory made a point of emphasizing reality. I groaned as I felt the spasm in the back of my neck denouncing my bad posture during the night. A whole night on the sofa in a woman's house. Perhaps Nicholas was right. I'd been collecting too many absurdities since I met Ellen. My phone clamored for my attention and I lifted my hand to reach it on the arm of the armchair. A reminder glowed on the screen. The meeting where I was to decide what to do or not do for the Álvares' company. Oh, shit. I'd completely forgotten about the appointment and didn't feel like going anywhere other than my soft bed. I lifted my torso off the sofa and ran my left hand through my hair. My shirt was folded over the arm of the armchair. I ignored it and I got up and looked for the bathroom first. It was next to the room where I ha
BONUS DAMIEN - Do you prefer juice or coffee? - Ellen asked with her back to me. She was dressed in light jeans and a simple T-shirt. Her hair had been carefully combed into a respectable high ponytail. respectable. It had taken her a considerable time to leave the room and I could now understand why. Ellen was nervous. - Juice, please. - I replied. She nodded and sighed. From where I was standing, I could see that her hands were shaking slightly. Why was she so nervous? After all the situations we'd been through, she had no reason to be. Ellen turned around and poured the glass in front of me. - Thank you. She just nodded and poured her glass. - Sit down with me. - I stood up and pulled out the chair next to me. I wanted her to stop acting like a waitress in a café. - I can serve myself.Ellen gave me a nervous smile, but sat down next to me. - That's fine. I leaned over and took a piece of cake. Ellen just continued to watch me.Aren't you going to make your meal? - I... Ye
BONUS DAMIEN I rested my phone on the table and closed my laptop while I waited for the man who would enter my meeting room in a few minutes. Gregório Álvares was coming in person to negotiate his company's situation. I wasn't in the mood for negotiations, but I had promised the meeting. I had left Ellen at my house and told the employees to be attentive to her orders while I was away. She didn't seem very comfortable with my orders, but she didn't argue. I knew she didn't like it all that much, but that was the way things were supposed to work. The sooner she understood, the better. Sharp knocks woke me from my reverie and echoed through the spacious meeting room. - Come in. - I ordered. The double door opened and a well-dressed man, looking well into his forties, entered the room. He was getting on in years, but had an elegant bearing similar to that of great businessmen. - Mr. Mason. - He held out his hand and I stood up to respond. - Mr. Álvares. - I nodded to the chair next
BONUS DAMIENI didn't answer her at first. I took advantage of the car's position and held her by the waist, preventing her from escaping.- About the dream you had about me. - I ran my nose along her neck. I loved the smell of her. Then I kissed her jaw.- I... I didn't dream anything. - She tried to pull away, but the car caught her.- I've already told you that you're not good at lying, Darling. - I ran my hand down her body until I reached the exposed skin on her leg. - I can find out for myself if I want to.- Damien... We have to go. - She protested in a hoarse voice.- How did I touch her? - I kissed her lips with little delicacy. - Like this? - I ran my hand down her leg, enjoying her silky skin.Ellen moaned when I tightened my fingers around her knee. The sound was all it took for me to lose control. I grabbed the back of her neck and kissed her soft lips. Ellen brought her hands to my hair and responded to my caress with vigor, without refusing me this time. Our touches bec
Absolutely not what I expected.When Damien parked the car and handed the keys over to a valet valet, I momentarily forgot the latest events. The gallery, whose French name I couldn't even pronounce, was surrounded by photographers and the press. The entrance reminded me of the premiere of an American movie and I was instantly intimidated by the magnitude of the event.My hands felt cold and I wrapped my fingers in the soft fabric of my dress. I wasn't prepared. This wasn't going to be like the golf match and I didn't feel confident facing all those people who werecame in richly dressed.- Ulysses is a bit of an exaggeration. - Damien's hand grabbed mine, making me loosen my dress.Damien, I don't think it's a good idea. I mean, I didn't imagine it would be like this and your friends, the people you know will be in there.inside. - I looked away from his face. - I'm sorry. I'm not suitable for this. Someone like me isn't suited to places like this.- Not suitable for an exhibition in
- I haven't known what that is for a long time. - Damien let out a sigh and I turned to look at him.He had a restrained expression, but when he turned to look at me I could see hurt in his blue eyes. I couldn't dodge the question:- Don't you know what?- Trusting people. In the position I'm in, trust can be very dangerous. very dangerous. It can be destructive. - the expression on his face turned hard. - That's why I solve my problems alone and avoid what needs to be avoided.It was disturbing to hear those words leave his lips because they were extremely familiar to me and I realized that I was beginning to understand a little more about the man next to me. Perhaps occupying a place in the elite wasn't all about ease and prestige. Maybe it was a bit lonely.- You mean you can't trust people in general? - I was curious to know more.- I trust only a limited number of people. You saw that, Darling. Willian tried to use you against me. In the world I live in, things aren't as simple a
BONUS DAMIENI stopped before entering the balcony, just enjoying it. She looked even more beautiful against the classic Italian backdrop. Her hair took on bronze tones in the sunset and the exposed skin that slipped through her robe glowed, capturing my attention. To think that the woman sitting on the parapet with her eyes focused on the Italian landscape was my wife filled me with pride and relief. I tightened my fingers around the glass, silently thanking her for having me. I wouldn't risk losing her ever again. I would take care of her. My eyes went down to her abdomen with our little miracle that still had no sign. I would take care of them both.She wouldn't suffer any more, I would make sure that everything for her went full and happy. That's what she deserved after so much suffering. I made her my life from the moment we walked up the aisle on the island of Solstice and I would love her until the very end.Ellen raised the coffee cup next to her to her lips and her well-drawn
To my surprise, Nicholas and Arianna managed to get along and ended up giving a speech together. Damien and I danced together once again in the Golden Room, to the same music we danced to the first time. When I heard Michael Bolton's final chord, I managed to snatch him into the garden before we were surrounded once again by guests. He looked as surprised as I had imagined when he saw himself in the hotel's empty garden. - Where's my present? - You'll have to look for it. - I nibbled my lower lip and took a step back.Damien frowned in confusion. - All over the garden? - In the immediate vicinity. - I nodded positively. He smiled and ran his hands through the hair on the back of my neck. Then he looked around and I smiled when I realized he was lost as to which direction to go first. - Look, Mr. Mason! - I urged him. Damien looked at me and smiled in my direction and then started walking towards a flowering bush. - It's not there. - I warned him. He stopped immediately. Then
" - I promise to protect and respect you, loving you and our family above myself and my desires. I'll be there every time you need me, because you're the woman I've always hoped for and the only one I've ever really loved, Ellen. As long as my heart beats, it will beat for you and to you."His words still rang in my ears, like a sweet dream. I closed my eyes to remember the recent emotions I had experienced in front of the altar, when he promised me that we would be each other's forever. I opened my eyes and looked at my reflection in the mirror. The happiness was so great that I couldn't keep the tears at bay. We decided on an informal ceremony on the beach before sunset. sunset. Solstice Island was the chosen location. There, six months after an intense night, Damien and I exchanged the vows that would last the rest of our lives. rest of our lives. It was almost impossible to believe that after the troubled way we met, things would end in such a beautiful way.However, things weren'
- No, no, no... - He pulled me close and wrapped his suit around my waist. I wanted to help him, but I was feeling weak and dizzy.- My love, don't... - Damien sobbed and his lips touched my forehead. - It's all my fault...I reached out slowly and took his arm. He hadn't forgotten me. He had come back to me, as he had promised. And although I was in a lot of pain, my heart warmed inside with happiness.- You came back... But when you called me... I thought...- Ellen, forgive me... - her fingers brushed my right cheek.- It was supposed to be a surprise... I wanted to make you happy...He seemed to despair even more and his sobs became louder.I held his face between my hands.- It's all right... Damien, I... - I felt a twinge and let out a groan, but I didn't give up. I had been foolish to hide my feelings from him and now there was no turning back. It was the deadline. - I love you. I love you with everything I am.Damien let out an agonized moan and more thick tears rolled down hi
I spent Monday trying to distract myself. I bought ice cream and rented romantic comedies to watch, even alone. Jenny and Arianna tried to persuade me to go to a club in Urca, but I refused on the grounds of feeling unwell. Which, in a way, wasn't a lie. They accepted my excuses, but assured me that they would come and visit me later.At lunchtime, I put a supermarket lasagna in the oven and mixed it with some rice. At times I couldn't help shedding a few tears and convinced myself that I was only doing it out of emotion for a few scenes in the movies. At least that's what I'd tell Julia and David when they arrived in the evening. I curled up on the sofa and stared at my cell phone. I'd called Arianna just before four o'clock, but she hadn't picked up or returned my call. She must still be at the club with Jenny. So I kept my cell phone in my hand, staring at his name.I should have told Damien. Told him how I felt. He was right when he said he was the only one fighting for what we ha
I watched the black liquid drip down and gradually fill the cup with dishes of the same color. I continued to pour it slowly and without any pretense of paying attention to the task at hand. That's how I'd been acting since that morning after the Solstice.The cup finally reached the goal I had hoped for. I sighed and brought it to my lips, trying to convince myself to face the hours that awaited me outside. I concentrated only on the taste of the strong coffee for a few moments, but soon the scene was back in my mind. His blue eyes had a melancholy glow and were as hazy as the cloudy morning sky when we arrived at theinternational airport. He tried to convince me to accept the keys to his house one more time, but I stood firm in my decision.Finally giving up, he gently took my hand and brought it to his lips, placing a kiss full of devotion under my skin. I choked back a sob and Damien moved closer, placing his cupped hand on my left cheek.- Are you sure you don't want to come wit
He seemed to hesitate and then let out a long sigh.- I need to go back. - He revealed what I already knew, but added something more.Things in New York have changed a lot and I'll have no choice but to leave. My trip is scheduled for tomorrow. - Then I finally understood what was happening. The whole thing was our farewell. It was to end our relationship. I felt my heart speed up and then tighten in my chest. This was the momentthat I had always dreaded, even though I knew it was bound to happen. Damien and I were from different worlds and at some point the gap between us would become apparent.- It's all right. - I stroked the hair on the back of his neck and held his gaze, but when I felt my eyes getting teary, I put my face on his shoulder. - I'll understand.I had nothing to complain about. When we got together, our time together became something precious to me. So it wasn't fair to spoil the moments he had prepared for us with tears.- Ellen. - Damien called me, but I couldn't
Damien rested his free hand on my waist and we walked to the garage as if we were once again going to one of the usual parties. He chose the Ferrari this time and before long we were crossing Rio de Janeiro.Damien kept silent about our destination and really surprised me when he maneuvered the car and parked it in front of the international airport.- You'll be well looked after, Mr. Mason. - A man in a suit with an airport badge met us. - The platform is ready for you.- Platform? - I looked at Damien without understanding.He just smiled and led me into the airport. Another employee greeted us with a smile and I was stunned when we stepped onto the take-off platform.- Your private jet is ready, sir. I wish you a safe journey.He waved goodbye.- Jet? Damien, we're going...- We're going somewhere special. And since I know how much you like that airplane movie, I got a bit of inspiration since I know how to fly and I think I look better than Tom Cruise. - I let out a laugh.- Wait
David had a huge smile on his face when he entered the house and the first thing he did was announce that it was time to catch up on his series. Jenny and Arianna were also with us. Aunt Meiry had gone to the hospital, but couldn't follow us home, promising to come and see us later.- Things seem to be getting back to normal. - Arianna glared at me as I finished sorting out the chocolate cake I had made for David.- Yeah. It looks like they are. - I agreed.- What is it, Ell? - Jenny stopped pouring herself a soft drink next to me and stared at me. - You don't seem very excited.- I am. - I smiled at her. - I'm very happy that David is finally home.- But... - Jenny insisted. - You can't fool us, my friend. Go ahead.She gestured to Arianna who went to the door leading to the living room and then came back.- David is explaining something about that series he likes to Julia and Renata. We can talk about it.- I'm fine. - I assured them. They both looked at me incredulously. - Damien i