A Very Suspicious Conversation

    Her thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of an elegant man, wearing a black suit and with an expression as if he was constantly angry and hated everything and everyone, who stopped in front of her and stared at her as if she were a cockroach.

  “The boss told me to take you home.”

  Anna stood up immediately.

  “Is he all right? Is he awake?”

  He looked at her with disdain.

  “The orders weren't... From that boss.”

  Anna narrowed her eyes and stared at him fearlessly.

  “I don't have to obey the orders of any other 'boss'!”

  He nodded affirmatively.

  “He said you'd probably say that, but...”

  “There is no 'but'! Go back to your boss and tell him that I'm not going anywhere without my... Boyfriend!”

  The man stared at her again as if she were a worm, but he spoke calmly, and no one noticed the threat, apart from Anna.

  “You may refuse to accompany me, and in that case, I must hope that you had the good sense to say goodbye to your father, because you will certainly never see him again. Accidents happen, he might jump out of the apartment window, if I have to reach for my cell phone and...”

  Anna was furious, but she couldn't go up against the mafia like that. She had to make sure her father was safe. At the moment, she had no choice but to obey.

  “I'll go with you.” She said between her teeth and had the impression, for a brief second, that his lips twitched in an almost-smile.

  She followed the man out of the hospital and got into the black car, which was in a row of identical cars, with armed men and all dressed in black suits. She was taken to an apartment facing a fountain that gushed water every ten minutes, forming a rainbow. The room she was left in, however, overlooked other buildings.

  She threw herself on the bed and put her arms behind her head. She didn't know what would happen if All died. They had never talked about it. She had never thought about the possibility. She was too busy being happy with him. Her thoughts turned dark and she cried. She didn't want to lose the man she loved. And that's how she fell asleep.

  The next day, Anna remembered where she was, only when a strange-looking woman came into the room carrying a tray and put it on the bed and stared at her. Anna realized that she must have been sixty, but she was still beautiful. Her short, shoulder-length golden hair and dark brown eyes were a bit of a contrast, making her a pleasant figure to look at, but Anna felt something bad with her around. This impression was dispelled when the woman spoke to her as if she were her accomplice.

  “There's a bathroom in this room, I suggest you use it for your hygiene. I think you're going to be our guest for a while...”

  “What does your boss want with me? Is his mother here too?”

  “Yes. Mrs. Lens is a vindictive woman and she's planning horrible things to do to you, but I've been talking to her about your innocence... I don't think you're to blame for what's happening, are you?”

    “No. What does she want to do to me?”

  The woman gestured for Anna not to speak up.

  “You don't want to know... Maybe I can convince her to leave today...”

  “Someone said she's the second wife...”

  “Yes. The boss's first wife was...” The woman almost said human, but remembered in time. “She was discarded as a wife because she didn't have the same blood as All.”

  “Discarded? What did they do with her?”

  “After she... She had a child with the boss, his eldest son, and then she was reused.” The woman said as if she approved of their decision.

  “What does that mean?”

  “It means that the Lens don't waste anything, miss. Everything they buy, everything that belongs to them, nothing is left unused. They use it until it's gone. But since she gave Allister a son, they agreed that only Allister could use it and didn't send it to the usual place. The eldest son never met her and Mrs. Lens raised him and loves him like her own son.”

  “Why are you helping me?”

  “Because I know your father.” She said and looked around, as if someone might hear that revelation and continued whispering. “He asked me to look after you while you were here.”

  “My father? Is he here?”

  “No, miss. Your father escaped from the boss. He's safe now.”

  “So I can run away too? They have nothing left to blackmail me with so I'll stay!”

  “How do you think about running away?”

  “I'm screaming for help! We're in a building. Someone will find it strange at some point...”

  “Don't be an idiot, girl! This building only has conniving families who work for the boss in some way.”

  “I'll throw myself out of the window. I think it'll be a less painful death...”

  The woman looked at her curiously.

  “So you were really pretending to like the boss?”

  “No. I love him. But... His son and his wife won't let me leave here alive.”

  “He'll miss you. These last almost two years, he's dedicated his life to his whims, and even the business he's given into the hands of his son who follows in his footsteps...”

  “Is he all right?”

  “He'll have to stay under observation for a few days, but... Yes. He's fine.”

  Anna felt the sun begin to shine for her again. She really wanted to see the man she loved again.

  “Will they allow me to visit him?”

  “I'd like to see them try to stop the boss from seeing you...”

  Anna stood up and hugged the woman.

  “Thank you. You've warmed my troubled soul.” She said and walked away. “What's your name?”

  “My name is Sarah.”

  “Sarah, from today you're my best friend!”

  The woman smiled in satisfaction and left.