02

thomas

A week has passed since I confronted Caesar and informed him of my plans. He hasn't appeared in the company again, but he's in my sights. I will not allow you to run or hide before my plans for revenge are realized. I bet you think I was bluffing when I said I was going to take your most prized possession, probably counting on friendship, but I wasn't. I just had more important things to do, like meeting with different experts to see how best to get out of this scam without losing too much.

I hate to miss anything. I hate that things aren't within my reach, that I don't have control of every breath within the company. Things will go back to the way they were before, whatever the cost. Whatever the cost.

I alarm the car after parking in front of the building I've visited more times than I can count. I walk to the entrance and am easily greeted by the doorman who knows me very well and never announces me. I go up the elevator looking at my reflection in the mirror. I adjust the sleeves of my dress shirt and run a hand through my hair, waiting for the slow climb towards the penthouse. As soon as the metal doors open, I walk to his apartment. I ring the bell just once before the clerk appears to greet me.

— Your Thomas, what a surprise! - he says with sympathy and I smile in a greeting. "Come in, I'll call your Caesar."

The middle-aged lady disappears down the halls and I look around the room. I look for something different, anything I can use against the man, but my inspection is interrupted by Paula, the wife of my former partner.

'Thomas, dear…' I can tell from the years we've been together and from the look in her eyes that she doesn't know what's going on. At least she doesn't know that I'm aware of the stab her husband gave me. Now, if you know about the scam, I'll find out now.

“Paula,” I say in a cold greeting, the opposite of what she's used to getting from me. - Where's your family?

— César is in the office, he's only been leaving there to eat in the last few days — she says and makes a gesture of indifference with her hand, as if she's used to it. “Come on, darling, sit him down here and tell me why he's tense.

“I don't want to sit down, Paula. I'll wait for your husband right here. I stuff my hands in the pockets of my dress pants and look at my reflection in the mirrored wall to my left.

I look more tired than usual. I notice the dark circles under my eyes from the sleepless nights trying to think of a solution to all my problems. Despite this, which cannot be disguised, the rest of my appearance is meticulously in place: suit tailored, clothes well pressed, black hair neatly cut and slicked back, beard dark and neatly trimmed. Only someone who knows me too well and is attentive to details would be able to notice the signs of tiredness and stress. Fortunately, there are few such people in my life.

"Thomas..." I hear the man's voice and turn my gaze to where he is.

His face is completely fucked up from the beating he took from me and a weak smile is inevitable.

— You look good — I scoff and I see his jaw set, a sign that he's very angry. Excellent. For me, the more crying, anger and suffering, the better.

- What do you want? - He asks and looks at his wife sitting on the couch, as if she had just noticed her presence. "My precious, would you excuse us for a few minutes?" We have business to attend to.

— Oh, Paula, you don't have to leave — I say, having my answer. He hid the truth from his wife. “I know you don't have secrets between you. I won't be the one to change that.

"Thomas, leave my wife out of this..." Cesar points at me, but I really can't take him seriously with those puffy, purple eyes and nose, slashed mouth, and the rest of his face a green tint.

"But why, my friend?"

The tall, slender woman with shoulder-length dark brown hair and dark brown eyes stares at me suspiciously. She looks from me to her husband and I take the opportunity to let chaos reign for a few minutes.

I see several framed portraits spread across the few pieces of furniture in the huge living room and I approach them. Cecília is in most of the photos, from a baby with a head full of red hair like her father to a teenager, with prescription glasses and braces. I haven't seen her since she moved to study abroad, but I remember the quiet, well-behaved and polite girl who lived close to her father. Her greatest pride, her crystal...

"Stay away from my daughter, you sick fuck!" Caesar exclaims and I turn around in time to see the look of shock on Paula's face.

"What is it, Caesar?" Got crazy? she asks and the man runs a hand through his hair.

"Honey, I promise I'll explain later." But I really need to talk to Thomas alone.

“Sit here, Paula,” I say, ignoring the man, who glares at me as I approach his wife. “Wow, you smell fantastic today.

"I…" She widens her eyes and sits down on the couch as I settle in next to her. Her white face flushes to the roots of her hair and I hold back a laugh. - Thanks.

I was never anything but courteous to her, after all, I valued Caesar's friendship too much to even think about such a thing. Paula ended up becoming my sister down the road as well, but now that the friendship is over, I make a point of using everything to annoy the man.

— What happens is that I'm going to marry your daughter — I say and the face that was already surprised becomes comical.