The young man narrowed his gaze at the device, suddenly changing his grimace. He slowly straightened up as she spoke. "Miraculously, it was me who saw it. I didn't think I could do it, but I managed to catch you with that girl hiding in there. How could you think of bringing a woman into the sentry box? Have you gone mad? Aren't there enough hotels in Albany? How disgusting and unethical!" The young man looked at her with a lot of pallor and bewilderment, also annoyance and harshness. "At least you're still with her?" He didn't answer, barely breathing. "Look, just so we understand each other. You let me in, and I won't say anything to your boss about this." There was a silence that didn't last long. "Come on, Chris, I know what this is like. You and I know what it's like. Leonel upset? You don't want to see him like this. He's going to fire you, but because he feels mocked by someone he "trusts," he won't give you good recommendations, and that's little with what he could do to
Sofia didn't leave. She invested her time in researching everything she could through social networks, the Internet, or referrals about the two men who seemed to be great enemies. One of those men was the father of her son, that fleeting lover she had when she was younger and who abandoned her from the beginning. The other was the one who saved her from him, and a miserable life as well; the same one who was using everything in his power, it seemed, to drive her away. She was no fool. She defined herself as someone who changed, a person with some stages already burned, despite her young age. Sofia Sullivan was another woman. She was pretty sure that something very bad happened to the businessman, St. John's words confirmed it. But she was even more certain that Gael had something to do with everything. After the conversation she had with the detective, she left the house that morning with nervousness. She didn't like to see the black van parked on a corner again. She didn't know if
They talked just a little on the subject, she seemed to pretend well to feel open to it, but Larry heard another time about the Cliffs, owning a lot in New York State. He didn't know them, just as many didn't know him closely either, but they were ultra millionaires, creditors of organizations and businesses that even normal people couldn't spot. Larry agreed with Mr. Vos: Sofia had to be careful if a man like the businessman (who had previously saved her life and especially of the same family) was the one who advised her. She told him that was the reason she went to Raymond St. Jhons; that was pleased in a way because he knew the detective. His sister was a friend of his wife's, and at the Stone Village fairs, which were held in May, they almost always overlapped, greeted each other, and shared a word or two; the director liked him. Now, a couple of times, he wondered: «Do those men over there work for the New York Intelligence station or Mr. Vos?» Larry repressed his urge to find o
Sofia was seated in front of a table in a beautiful solarium with incredibly beautiful flowers that she had never seen before. There was peace, but only in the place. Sofia inside was a sea of many things at once. They never hid her face or her eyes, they let her see everything. They had taken off her raincoat, leaving her in a long-sleeved wool sweater, jeans, and boots. They didn't cross words with her at any time. She realized—perfectly—where Gael's house was, where he lived with his wife, of whom she knew absolutely nothing, scolding herself for not having investigated a little more. It didn't matter; she was already there and felt somewhat protected because, at all times, the man who worked for Leonel had followed them. The opulence was extreme. For her, there was too much luxury surrounding them as she passed through corridors and areas of high ceilings, marble floors, the finest furnishings, and pleasant smells, but no people; they didn't run into a single person as she was
Leonel wanted to be alone, but he knew that Frank, eventually, would have to come in. When Mark—one of his best men—told him what had happened, he could no longer carry out his chores, Leonel could not concentrate on anything else. He was no longer confronted only with the fact that Sofia was in town, not accepting his invitation to go on a trip. Now it was also about the grave danger she was in by leaving in that car. Also, his brain kept searching for the person who could have told Gael that she and Liam were there and not in Europe. Since she decided to stay, he began to embrace as good the idea of Sofia not leaving the same area, nor staying overnight in other areas too. He even liked the idea of her living at the principal's house, after realizing the teacher and Mr. McDonald had no romantic relationship between them. Cliff figured it out too fast. Leonel was sure that if Gael decided out of the blue to check up on him again, he would find out through those inquiries, wondering
Leonel got out of his pick-up holding a bottle with a golden ribbon. He was accompanied by Frank. A couple of men were also with him, although they only got out of another pickup behind and were stationed there to guard the main entrance and a little of the surrounding area. At the same time, the van that the businessman had sent for Sofia and Liam was still there, on the same corner. Larry saw him arrive. Leonel arrived at the celebration half an hour after the professor had been at the teacher's house. He approached the entrance to welcome the sponsor. "Mr. Vos." Both shook hands. He nodded toward Loman out of courtesy, receiving the same greeting. "Come in, please." "Happy birthday, Mr. McDonald. I have brought you this present." Leonel handed him the bottle of thick, tinted glass, much like the presentation of champagne. Larry nodded. "Thank you, that's very kind." They moved forward a few steps until they reached the middle of the living room, which was located on the righ
"Sofia, you have a visitor, can we come in?" She listened to Larry and closed her eyes. "Yes, of course, you can come in." The director opened the door. Leonel looked at the woman, he didn't move from the doorway. Now that he was there, he could understand the teacher's living situation. The apartment was small, but it looked cozy. He could see everything quickly, barely detailing things, but seeing her standing there, dressed so beautifully and looking into her eyes, which, despite the distance, he found sadness in them, almost destroyed his chest by the amount of emotions he began to experience. She looked directly into his face, but he could not hold her gaze. "Good evening, Mr. Vos. Well, it is almost late. Larry, have you been having a good time?" The director felt his heart shrink. He witnessed the moment when the businessman passed by her and entered the house, approaching her in short strides. "Sofia, I wish we could talk," Leonel said. The woman still didn't look at
Sofia was puzzled by the question. "The video of the tortures," she said. He froze again and approached her. "Sofia, how did you find out what Gael did to me? Didn't he tell you?" "He gave me his cell phone to show me a video." She swallowed thickly, trying not to let her stomach churn again with the images recorded in her memory. Leonel's gaze seemed to tinge with a strange mantle, something unhinged caused him to lose himself for a moment. "I didn't know he was recording." He turned his face toward her, but he couldn't see her. A sort of smile was about to appear. "So... he didn't tell you about it, but... you saw it?" Leonel reacted. "Fuck. Fuck, you saw it!" He put his hands on his head and turned away, turning his back on her, disgusted with himself for creating something as frightening as terror in that woman. "No way, you've seen it all. C'mon, what a fucking asshole!" He continued to wail, burying his fingers in his hair once more. She lowered her head, seeing him exp
Sofia removed the blanket from her face late at night. Larry's party eventually came to an end amidst singing, piano playing, dancing, drinking, and company she never expected. Raymond's sister attended, but her brother didn't, and Sofia thanked God for that, she just wanted to spend the rest of the night in peace, without too many complications already. Leonel looked at her and stayed close all night. They even managed to talk about the campus and things about Liam, who came up to them and was in their company during the cake bite. Larry, for his part, watched them still worried, but he understood that he should not insist on knowing more and that he would give the teacher time to tell him everything herself. Leonel left early and promised that he would see her very soon. He promised her that the men stationed out there would drive her to and from school and that she would work normally because he was sure that Gael would not do anything right away. If he had this plan between his
Sofia was puzzled by the question. "The video of the tortures," she said. He froze again and approached her. "Sofia, how did you find out what Gael did to me? Didn't he tell you?" "He gave me his cell phone to show me a video." She swallowed thickly, trying not to let her stomach churn again with the images recorded in her memory. Leonel's gaze seemed to tinge with a strange mantle, something unhinged caused him to lose himself for a moment. "I didn't know he was recording." He turned his face toward her, but he couldn't see her. A sort of smile was about to appear. "So... he didn't tell you about it, but... you saw it?" Leonel reacted. "Fuck. Fuck, you saw it!" He put his hands on his head and turned away, turning his back on her, disgusted with himself for creating something as frightening as terror in that woman. "No way, you've seen it all. C'mon, what a fucking asshole!" He continued to wail, burying his fingers in his hair once more. She lowered her head, seeing him exp
"Sofia, you have a visitor, can we come in?" She listened to Larry and closed her eyes. "Yes, of course, you can come in." The director opened the door. Leonel looked at the woman, he didn't move from the doorway. Now that he was there, he could understand the teacher's living situation. The apartment was small, but it looked cozy. He could see everything quickly, barely detailing things, but seeing her standing there, dressed so beautifully and looking into her eyes, which, despite the distance, he found sadness in them, almost destroyed his chest by the amount of emotions he began to experience. She looked directly into his face, but he could not hold her gaze. "Good evening, Mr. Vos. Well, it is almost late. Larry, have you been having a good time?" The director felt his heart shrink. He witnessed the moment when the businessman passed by her and entered the house, approaching her in short strides. "Sofia, I wish we could talk," Leonel said. The woman still didn't look at
Leonel got out of his pick-up holding a bottle with a golden ribbon. He was accompanied by Frank. A couple of men were also with him, although they only got out of another pickup behind and were stationed there to guard the main entrance and a little of the surrounding area. At the same time, the van that the businessman had sent for Sofia and Liam was still there, on the same corner. Larry saw him arrive. Leonel arrived at the celebration half an hour after the professor had been at the teacher's house. He approached the entrance to welcome the sponsor. "Mr. Vos." Both shook hands. He nodded toward Loman out of courtesy, receiving the same greeting. "Come in, please." "Happy birthday, Mr. McDonald. I have brought you this present." Leonel handed him the bottle of thick, tinted glass, much like the presentation of champagne. Larry nodded. "Thank you, that's very kind." They moved forward a few steps until they reached the middle of the living room, which was located on the righ
Leonel wanted to be alone, but he knew that Frank, eventually, would have to come in. When Mark—one of his best men—told him what had happened, he could no longer carry out his chores, Leonel could not concentrate on anything else. He was no longer confronted only with the fact that Sofia was in town, not accepting his invitation to go on a trip. Now it was also about the grave danger she was in by leaving in that car. Also, his brain kept searching for the person who could have told Gael that she and Liam were there and not in Europe. Since she decided to stay, he began to embrace as good the idea of Sofia not leaving the same area, nor staying overnight in other areas too. He even liked the idea of her living at the principal's house, after realizing the teacher and Mr. McDonald had no romantic relationship between them. Cliff figured it out too fast. Leonel was sure that if Gael decided out of the blue to check up on him again, he would find out through those inquiries, wondering
Sofia was seated in front of a table in a beautiful solarium with incredibly beautiful flowers that she had never seen before. There was peace, but only in the place. Sofia inside was a sea of many things at once. They never hid her face or her eyes, they let her see everything. They had taken off her raincoat, leaving her in a long-sleeved wool sweater, jeans, and boots. They didn't cross words with her at any time. She realized—perfectly—where Gael's house was, where he lived with his wife, of whom she knew absolutely nothing, scolding herself for not having investigated a little more. It didn't matter; she was already there and felt somewhat protected because, at all times, the man who worked for Leonel had followed them. The opulence was extreme. For her, there was too much luxury surrounding them as she passed through corridors and areas of high ceilings, marble floors, the finest furnishings, and pleasant smells, but no people; they didn't run into a single person as she was
They talked just a little on the subject, she seemed to pretend well to feel open to it, but Larry heard another time about the Cliffs, owning a lot in New York State. He didn't know them, just as many didn't know him closely either, but they were ultra millionaires, creditors of organizations and businesses that even normal people couldn't spot. Larry agreed with Mr. Vos: Sofia had to be careful if a man like the businessman (who had previously saved her life and especially of the same family) was the one who advised her. She told him that was the reason she went to Raymond St. Jhons; that was pleased in a way because he knew the detective. His sister was a friend of his wife's, and at the Stone Village fairs, which were held in May, they almost always overlapped, greeted each other, and shared a word or two; the director liked him. Now, a couple of times, he wondered: «Do those men over there work for the New York Intelligence station or Mr. Vos?» Larry repressed his urge to find o
Sofia didn't leave. She invested her time in researching everything she could through social networks, the Internet, or referrals about the two men who seemed to be great enemies. One of those men was the father of her son, that fleeting lover she had when she was younger and who abandoned her from the beginning. The other was the one who saved her from him, and a miserable life as well; the same one who was using everything in his power, it seemed, to drive her away. She was no fool. She defined herself as someone who changed, a person with some stages already burned, despite her young age. Sofia Sullivan was another woman. She was pretty sure that something very bad happened to the businessman, St. John's words confirmed it. But she was even more certain that Gael had something to do with everything. After the conversation she had with the detective, she left the house that morning with nervousness. She didn't like to see the black van parked on a corner again. She didn't know if
The young man narrowed his gaze at the device, suddenly changing his grimace. He slowly straightened up as she spoke. "Miraculously, it was me who saw it. I didn't think I could do it, but I managed to catch you with that girl hiding in there. How could you think of bringing a woman into the sentry box? Have you gone mad? Aren't there enough hotels in Albany? How disgusting and unethical!" The young man looked at her with a lot of pallor and bewilderment, also annoyance and harshness. "At least you're still with her?" He didn't answer, barely breathing. "Look, just so we understand each other. You let me in, and I won't say anything to your boss about this." There was a silence that didn't last long. "Come on, Chris, I know what this is like. You and I know what it's like. Leonel upset? You don't want to see him like this. He's going to fire you, but because he feels mocked by someone he "trusts," he won't give you good recommendations, and that's little with what he could do to