Chapter 52

Tears poured from her eyes. It was hard to breathe. Her heart was racing, but she felt life escaping her body. She could not believe, once again, Alan's shadow was hurting her. Her past came back, like a voracious beast, trying to destroy the happiness she had worked so hard to rebuild.

She dried her tears in anger and headed towards the room. She picked her clothes off the floor and got dressed. She needed to get out.

Remembering the look in Dominik's eyes made her heart split in two. IT was charged with disappointment and he wouldn't even let hr explain herself. That hurt. Even more than all those horrible memories.

«How did they even know?», she wondered.

The people who knew she went to Narconon were Teresa and Carlos.

She opened her eyes in awe, contemplating the possibilities.

«Carlos».

She felt rage taking over her. He had betrayed her because she rejected him. She was feeling a mix of sadness and anger, and, it certainly, did not feel good.

She left the hotel fast as she could and took a taxi.

Samanta went into the coffee shop in a rush, carrying the magazine with her.

“You're late, Samanta” commented Gordon when he saw her.

“Where is Carlos?” She asked, without even looking at her boss.

“Something wrong?

“Where is Carlos?” She repeated the question.

“In the back, in the stockroom.”

“Good” She said, heading where Gordon had indicated.

Carlos, when he saw her, smiled.

“Hey, Sam! Good morning, I wanted to apologize about yesterday…”

“YOU RESENTFUL SON OF A BITCH” she snapped.

“What?” Carlos opened his eyes, surprised from the insult.

“Drop your idiot number, it doesn't fit you. I know it was you” Samanta threw the magazine at him, and it hit on his chest.

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“You couldn't take not being love back the way you wanted me to. You didn't have to go tell the press everything.

“Sam, I have no idea what you mean.

“It was you, Carlos, you, apart from Teresa, knew. She would never tell that to anybody —Sam was pissed.

Carlos looked at the magazine and his eyes were filled with surprise.

“Oh God! That was not me. I would never do such a thing.

“Give me a good reason to believe you —she demanded.

“Ok, it's true, I do have unrequited feelings for you, but … For crying out loud, Samanta! We're friends since we were 12. I know you like the back of my hand, We've been together through good and bad. Why would you even think I could do such a thing?

“If it wasn't you, then… Who?”

“What do I know! Alan?”

“Alan doesn't know I went to Narconon. The article is very specific. God! They even mention the substance.”

“I don't know, but it does seem suspicious he comes back around and suddenly, this?”

“What are you implying?”

“I don't know, Sam, I can't even think clearly.”

“Guys?” They both turned towards the door, where Gordon was. “I think you would want to see this” he said.

Sam and Carlos came out of the stockroom, following Gordon.

On the screen Gordon had set up for the customers to watch while they enjoyed their nice drinks, they were watching the World Cup games, they could watch a fruity man and a blonde lady chatting on the latest discoveries on the magazine Sam still carried in her hand.

“Shut it down” asked Carlos. He turned to Samanta. “I will find out whom it was. I promise.”

“What's going on, guys?” Inquired Gordon.

“Long story. Remember Samanta was dating…”

“Is” she clarified.

“What?” Carlos frowned.

“That's a story for another time” she said, waving her hand.

Gordon kept looking from Sam to Carlos. He was lost.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, people started coming in with cameras and microphones. Scavengers, trying to profit from the latest scandal. In a matter of seconds, a crowd of reporters and paparazzi surrounded Sam, Carlos and Gordon.

“What the hell is this?” Yelled the manager.

A stream of flashes blinded them.

“Is Dominik aware of this?” Said somebody.”

“Did you know he holds a radical stand against drugs?” Commented someone else.

“What can you say about this?” Questions came and went.

Carlos held Samanta by her arm and tried to cover her with his body.

“Let's go, Sam. I'll help you out of here.”

He was willing to ignore all the stupid questions and take Samanta to a place away from everybody, but one of those questions made his blood boil.

“How long since you last did drugs, Samanta?”

Carlos turned around, glared at the jerk who asked such question and, with a punch in the nose, made him drop on the floor.

More and more pictures.

Samanta was petrified from her friend's reaction. Carlos was the most peaceful person she knew. She had never seen him mad.

“Let's get out of here” he said, putting his hand behind her back, covering her from the cameras.

“Who is this? Your other boyfriend? Your lover? Another former addict?” Many more questions were shot at them as they went away.

They got on a taxi as fast as they could, as soon as they were moving, Samanta gave her friend a big hug, and bursted in tears.