I keep staring, seriously. I can’t believe what my eyes see. I cross my arms and take a deep breath, at the same time, in which I repeat:— What are you doing here?— I’m here to do what you said.— Carlos, fulfill what? - I ask without understanding. I run my hand through my hair and say. — Look, I have no time to waste...— I’m here to help you.— Help with what?— Dalia, you said yesterday you needed to sell a property, or you’d be on the street. So I had an idea.— You who called the real estate agency and made that appointment? - I ask, irritated.— Yeah. Like I said...— Carlos! - I mean, serious. I hold his arm and take him as far away from the reception. I stop in front of him and continue. — You shouldn’t have done that.— What do you mean? Why not?— Do you have any idea how much this apartment costs?— EUR 2 million, 600 thousand. - Carlos answers calmly.— Exactly! We do not have that money! Even if we sold ours, we would reach the entrance of this. - I speak, sitting in o
The real estate girls were so focused that they didn’t even notice when I opened the door and walked in with firm steps. They watched me walk towards the bell and swing with all my anger: yes, I sold the 2 million euro apartment! Mr. Suarez came out of his office at the break to see who rang the bell and then saw me. He leaned against the door and clapped his hands, saying:— Congratulations, and may this contract be the first of many.— Yes, this one is just the beginning. - I say, smiling.***And it really was. Bernard and his wife loved the apartment so much that they indicated me to other acquaintances who indicated me to other acquaintances and so I in two months set up a portfolio with new clients and gained more space in real estate , impressing not only my boss, as well as the brokers. Now, the properties I represented were worth around ten million euros, mansions that were sold exclusively by Suarez. It was this new portfolio that I was looking at when my phone rang:— Hello
Carlos drives my car towards our house. I hold his hand as I tuck my head into his shoulder. I was already hopeless about my husband coming home. He parks in our parking space and then helps me get out of the vehicle, closing my door. I do not resist and pull him against my body kissing him intensely. My cheeky hand slips into her pants, slightly squeezing her penis. He puts his hand over mine, holding it, as he faces me saying:— Dalia...— What? - whisper biting the lobe of his ear and then nibbling his neck, making him shiver. He pulls me away and it irritates me. — I told you I love you… What else do I need to do to get into bed with you?— Love, there are cameras... – Explains Carlos, looking towards one of them. Then he looks towards a car where an elderly couple comes down. — And neighbors.— And since when do you care about having an audience? - I ask with a sly smile on my lips.— Since we are parents. - Carlos replies, kissing my forehead.He holds my hand and then takes me
***After the small incident on the subway, I decided to take a taxi home. As soon as I arrive on the floor I can already smell the grilled salmon that my husband is probably preparing. I open the door to the house and walk towards the room, where I find Juan playing quietly. He faces me and then lifts one of his hands saying:— Mama...I stop in the middle of the room without believing what my ears heard: My son called me mom in Spanish. He gets up from the ground and walks towards me still repeating "Mama". I kneel in front of him and hug him tight letting the tears dominate my face. At almost two years old, finally, my son called me Mom, in his way, but said. Carlos then appears in the room with the biggest smile on his face:— Ah, I don’t believe Juan that you spoiled the surprise for his mother.— How? When did that happen? - I ask Carlos to put Juan in my lap.— Today in the park. - Carlos says wiping his hands on the cloth and then kisses me. — I watched some videos about speec
Left my husband’s office saying that I would wait for the ideal moment he was preparing, although I was still very frustrated.After work, he picked me up, and we went to Juan’s daycare with that white elephant among us, to the point that we could not even talk. We picked up Juan and went home, where he took care of our son while I headed to the kitchen to make dinner. I’m finishing the fish when I notice my husband appears in the restaurant uniform. He approaches me, gives a quick kiss and says:— I must go.... But don’t worry about waiting for me to arrive. I love you, even more.Simple as that. He went out and there I stood thinking if we did not rush back. That’s what stays in my head while I dine, shower, change clothes and go to sleep. At dawn, I feel my bed shake and it awakens me. I turn and find Carlos lying next to me. He approaches me, gives me an intense kiss and then releases a whispered “good night” and turns to the other side, fast asleep. I lie on my stomach, staring a
Isabel, Lucia, Paloma, Rúbia, Laura, Rachel, Alba, and I are facing each other thoughtfully. From the menu, the only thing we were sure of is that I would be the dessert. ***The great day D finally arrived, or rather, day S. For Carlos not to suspect I lied saying he was still closing the property with Alba and then would not have time to return. About Juan, he said that my sister was dying to miss her nephew and asked to stay with him. I confirmed a thousand times that he would not work that day at the restaurant, so tiredness was not an acceptable excuse for that occasion.I used and abused the candles. After all, as Rúbia well said, a romantic dinner without candles is not a romantic dinner. I bought candles of different sizes, colors, and aromas. I placed them strategically around the apartment. I made a path of candles from the hall to the dining room and also towards our room. I put some on the windows, on top of the tables even on top of the foot of some upside-down glasses, w
Carlos throws his body on the bed breathing hard and I lie on top of him after riding on top of him. I look towards my curtain and watch the dawn succumb to the day. We made love all night, literally. I straighten up beside him and put my head on his chest, listening to his racing heart. His hand caresses my hair and then he struggles and kisses the top of my head.— And then... - I ask with a faint smile on my lips.—Did you like the dessert?— Did I like it? - Carlos speaks pointing at himself and then his hand slides down my arm. — I loved it, but be aware that now I feel obliged to do better...— Hmmm, really? - I ask, staring at my husband. I touch his face and kiss him. — If you want, you can start now...— I’ll owe you now... – Says my husband, kissing the tip of my nose. — I need to sleep for the next three hours I have left, and so do you.I turn around, and he snuggles up on me, and we end up cradling.***A few hours later, our torrid night of love became the main topic of r
I couldn’t believe that Carlos had bought the apartment until we returned to the real estate and Rúbia delivered the documentation to him. Our life has taken a new turn...As a new apartment, we had to unfold our routine. Despite loving the loft as it was, both I and Carlos saw that we would need to make some changes to leave it with our face, which means: reform. We agreed to finalize the renovation before Juan’s birthday which would be in two months and I wanted a big two-in-one, anniversary and inauguration of the new house. So our routine got very tight because we had Juan’s birthday party, a new loft renovation, and the jobs we needed to keep to pay the mortgage on our apartment. Yeah, it sounds crazy and we probably wouldn’t notice and something would be left out, like sex. Maybe in the old routine, because in this, we are managing to include everything.The truth is we’re looking like two rabbits, just like we were before. We had sex in the shower before going to work, in the k
BRAZIL, MARCH 31, 2015.I'm engrossed in my phone, just a few lines away from finishing the book I'm reading, which, as incredible as it may seem, resonates with many aspects of my marriage. I'm so engrossed in the plot that I disconnect from everything else:"Dália!" my husband calls, drawing my attention. I look towards the wooden door from which he emerges with his charming smile. "Come see."I put down my phone and walk to the door, stepping outside where my husband stands on the sidewalk, looking at the facade. I join him and also start to admire the bold letters:Carlos's Delicacies"It's perfect!" I compliment, admiring the front of our restaurant.Yes, a lot has changed in my life... in our lives. After flying to Paris, we made some decisions. The first was Carlos quitting his job. He insisted on throwing his phone from the top of the Eiffel Tower when he finished his call with Rubens. I did the same with the real estate agency. However, I didn't throw my phone because we need
"Passengers of flight 357 to Lisbon, boarding will take place at gate C... Attention, passengers of flight 357, bound for Lisbon, boarding will take place at gate C..."This was what the announcement was saying when I arrived at the airport just a few minutes before my husband's flight was due to depart. Unlike what you see in movies, buying a ticket to enter the departure area isn't as difficult as it seems, because there wasn't a huge line in front of me, to begin with for buying a ticket."Good morning, ma'am, how can I assist you?""I need a ticket for any international flight departing right now.""Right now? Ah, well..." the young man starts, opening his screen.However, the clerk who attended to me wasn't very fast."Young man, I need to enter the departure area in thirty minutes," I say, looking at the departure and arrival display screen.Knowing my husband, it was unlikely he bought a first-class ticket or even a VIP one. As he always used to argue: at the moment of death, t
After leaving my children with the nanny and taking a shower, I head to the address of the summons, which happens to be Elson's office address. I press the elevator button that takes me to the penultimate floor in a matter of seconds. The panoramic view of the city welcomes me, and then I approach the receptionist:"Good morning, I'm Dália Penedo Salazar and I received a summons for today.""Good morning, Mrs. Salazar. Just a moment to inform Dr. Elson that you're here" says the receptionist.She smiles in my direction, raises her index finger, and then turns to speak on the phone. The receptionist exchanges a few words amid fake giggles and hair tosses, then turns to me, saying:"Dr. Elson is waiting for you in the conference room. Please follow me."She stands up from her seat, adjusting her tight but elegant purple dress, making me question my choice of wearing wide-legged pants and a white shirt. The receptionist says a few things, but I don't retain anything in my mind because al
X...As always, the night with you was wonderful and unforgettable. Your touch, your scent, your kiss, and the way you make love to me will always be etched in my mind. As well as your words...You were very important in my life. I tried to fight the desire I felt for you all these years, and lost the battle several times. You are a part of me; my life didn't make much sense until you appeared, and I'm grateful to you for being my friend, confidant, my lover...It's undeniable that we are perfect for each other, that we have harmony and chemistry... in bed.Our relationship boils down to the bed, to sex, and it has always been that way...A few years ago, I would have given anything to live this relationship beyond the bedroom door, but today I understand that it's not possible, and I know you will understand that too.When you said that you wanted me and couldn't live without me... I didn't feel what I wanted to feel when I heard those words. I know the first thing that came to your
My eyes search X's face for any trace of falsehood. His jaw is relaxed, and his eyes are serene... He turns towards the table where he tossed the envelope and retrieves it. Then he turns towards me, holding it up in my direction.“Open it, so you can confirm what I'm telling you,” he says.I take the envelope while taking a deep breath. My trembling hands struggle to tear the paper... or some greater force didn't want me to discover the truth. I press harder, and finally, it gives way, allowing me to see the report that I unfold calmly. There it is: according to the examination conducted using Carlos's blood, Juan was his son. I breathe a sigh of relief, but then the feeling of regret hits me. I could have avoided the dinner with Carlos if I had opened that damned envelope.“So? Am I right or not?” X asks.“You are,” I whisper as I let my body slide into one of the chairs. I stare at X and then ask what came to my mind. “How is that possible?”“I was born with a lack of reproductive d
Carlos wipes away his tears as he looks at the paternity test. His hands smooth the paper before he places it back on the table, taking a deep breath. His brown eyes lock onto mine, and then he says:“I don't want to know.”“Carlos, please,” I whisper.“Juan will always be my son, and no piece of paper will say otherwise,” Carlos says, pressing his index finger against the paper repeatedly. He hands me back the envelope, wiping his face. “He has been my son for four years, and he always will be. Juan Carlos is my son, he is a Salazar, and he always will be.”“Whatever you say,” I agree, putting the envelope away once again.“Does he know?” Carlos asks, looking at me seriously. His gaze is a sea of disappointment that I can't bear to meet.“No,” I reply, wiping my face. “He has no idea.”“If I were in his shoes, I'd want to know if I have a child out there,” Carlos claims.“Carlos, please...”“He has the right to know, Dália,” Carlos argues. “Tell him.”“Alright, I'll do that,” I affir
“What? How? When?”The sommelier approaches with our waters, pouring them into our glasses while pretending not to notice my tear-streaked face and the tense atmosphere. How did my husband know everything? How? I couldn't comprehend...“Africa,” Carlos reveals, withdrawing his hand from mine and then sliding his fingers through the cutlery without looking at me. “You always had the terrible habit of leaving your things open. When you traveled, I decided to use the home computer for work... I saw it all. Your conversations, your emails, you're asking him to call you...”“Why didn't you...?”“Why didn't I tell you? Or why didn't I leave you when I found out?” Carlos questions, thoughtful. “Simple, I loved you, Dália. When I read everything, I felt guilty. I threw you into his arms, but I wasn't ready to lose you... Give up on you. I was sincere when I showed up in Africa. I really wanted to be the husband you deserved, because if I could manage that, I knew I'd forget that man once and
La Barca looked as beautiful as that day when we came for the first time; that's what I was thinking as the concierge led me to the reserved table on the terrace. He pulls out a chair for me, and I sit down promptly. He steps away, and I find myself admiring the nighttime view of Barcelona while my mind wandered, considering the possibilities. There were chances Carlos might not come or might come with someone else. Even the possibility of being followed, and X showing up there. Regardless, I tried to convince myself to see it through. I place my hands in front of my face, repeating to myself: I needed to put an end to this, I needed to...“Dália?” Carlos calls, standing in front of me. “Is everything okay?”“Hi, Carlos,” I say, adjusting my hands on the table. “Yes, it is.”“Would you like something to drink before choosing your dishes?” the sommelier asks.“Just water, please,” I say, nervously unable to look at the young man.“Wow...”“What?” I ask quickly.“For you to order water,
I spun the envelope in my hands. I had buried that desire to know who Juan's father was many years ago, even now with everything that's happening. However, as they say, the truth always comes out. My fingers would glide over the edges in a simple gesture, and everything would be revealed. All it would take is my fingers coming together and tearing open the edge, and that's it. Simple... easy... Yet, I didn't feel like I was the one who should open the envelope. I didn't feel entitled to do so. I take a deep breath and then place it on my coffee table. Furthermore, I stand up and walk to the hallway, where I grab my purse, open it, and take out my cell phone. I scroll through my call list until I reach a specific number—the number of the person I believe has the right to know. After a few rings, the line is answered.“Hello?”“Hi, Carlos,” I say calmly.“Is something wrong?” Carlos asks, concerned.“We need to talk...”“Dália, if it's about the summons, know that it's for the best this