She settled into bed and tried to get back to her books, but found it impossible. The encounter she had with her brother-in-law had unsettled her. The way he looked at her and the woman he spoke of. Not knowing the details that others knew put her at a disadvantage, and she disliked it. She squeezed her eyes shut in a vain attempt to remember something, but all her mind offered were the visions she had already experienced with bitter feelings accompanying them.
Why did work bring back so many memories? She thought. Joining his company was a sigh of relief, and she longed to experience more of that, but it was almost an illusion. She looked at the house she lived in for just under ten years and it was unknown to her. Also the man she once loved, although she couldn't deny that she felt safe with him. Ciro was a good man, attentive and respectful, who made it clear to everyone how much he loved her.
She saw the door handle try to turn, and her heart raced. She didn't want Brahim near her. Not until she cut the roughness that was causing friction in their relationship and that, unlike her brother, generated insecurity and distrust.
-My dear? -Ciro's voice was heard muffled from the other side of the door, then Bethany jumped out of bed and rushed to open it. -What's wrong? Why did you lock yourself in?
The answer was hesitant. She considered telling him the truth: that Brahim's presence frightened her. However, she didn't want to raise any thorns between the Tonali brothers. Besides, it couldn't be something that would last forever. Perhaps it was just a matter of time before either her relationship with her brother-in-law improved or she stopped caring about his presence.
-I was reading my books and I didn't want anyone to interrupt me. - He concluded, pointing to the bed where the trail of books and the laptop were.
-I understand. I'll be back later, then…
-No, it's okay. It wouldn't hurt to stop for a moment. - She said, holding him back. She took him by the arm and pulled him into the room. Ciro sat on the bed, taking one of the books and flipping through its pages, not understanding anything he was reading. His fiancée still had a long way to go to become a real estate agent.
-How was your day? –Bethany asked, sitting down in front of Ciro, who looked up from his book.
-I expected worse, honestly. I spoke to my boss and asked, no, demanded that he give me some days off and after a long discussion we came to a mutual agreement and he gave them to me.
-Great, isn't it?
-Of course I will. I will oblige you, and we will go to the beach, and maybe we will escape to other places.
-Is Rome on your list? – the woman asked, subtly insisting on wanting to relive the experience in the hotel lobby. She really wanted to see the place where their story together began.
-Rome is definitely on the list. - He said, stealing a smile from her.
-How many days did they give you?
-Six.
-Six? - She repeated, alarmed. -It's a bit of a short time to venture to the capital, don't you think?
-I would have been interested in that before, and I would have cut back on the planning I already had in mind, but now I'm not worried. If we need more days to enjoy ourselves, I'll take them without even asking.
-You could get into trouble for that. You don't have to do it for me.
-I'm doing it for us, my dear. -He said, placing one of his hands on her bare ankle. -These have been difficult months, we deserve it.
- Are you saying it because of the accident or is there something else? - Ciro sighed. There was something else behind the accident, there was so much more. Their relationship was hanging by a thread, so severe was it that the fact that they were still together was a true miracle.
-There is definitely something else, and I will tell you in due time. -He said. He approached her and placed a kiss on her forehead.
It was bitter for him to remember the bad times, even more so to have to tell her about them. On the strength of his honour as a gentleman, he would not deny her. It was his privilege, or right, to know the details of her life.
The flight was leaving shortly before noon, so Ciro took advantage of the morning to run some errands and put his business in order. He did not have much faith in Brahim, who throughout his life had shown him to be an irresponsible and unfulfilling man. There was a good chance that, when he returned from his vacation, the companies would be, if not bankrupt, on the verge of ruin.The machines were working properly. He stopped in front of the conveyor belt and took one of the cans they were making, with a good imitation of the baby formula label he ran his finger over it, making sure of the quality, that the ink wouldn't run. He returned it to the conveyor belt to continue its journey, at the end it would be filled with the white powder. He got on the elevator to reach the last room where the employees finished giving the last details to the cans, subtly identifying which were genuine and which were imitations, then packing them on pallets. The order that was being prepared would be sen
Bethany's bikini was an indigo blue that left little to the imagination, with fringes that danced from side to side as she walked. She had been tanning by lying on the sand until she felt hot and then decided to enter the sea, which swayed to the rhythm of the waves.He remembered how he had longed to go to that beach. He had seen it in brochures and catalogues, wishing to see himself under its incandescent sun while he rolled on the sand and the crystal-clear water wet his skin. It was Eden on earth.She came out of the sea and approached her fiancé who was covered by an awning, sporting expensive sunglasses, sitting in a folding chair. He had not taken his eyes off his beloved for a moment.-Nothing?-Bethany asked, settling into the folding chair next to him and drying her locks with a towel.-Yes, although I don't feel like it right now. - The Italian refused, taking off his glasses. He wasn't a big fan of being in the crowd. It was the reason he had refused to take her to the beach
Calmer, he returned to the beach and its unpleasant crowd. He appeared before his fiancée with a smile that would wipe the bitterness from her face.-I'm sorry for the delay, I was... - He tried to think of a pretext, but his mind was ineffective at doing so.-Someone from the hotel informed me that the spa is ready. -Bethany said, not so smiling.-I forgot. -he said, uttering a curse. He planned to surprise her. Once again he allowed his work to distract him from what was important. They made their way to the hotel where they were led by a couple of masseuses to a private room. They were shown a second room where they could shed their clothes. They were in the mood to become a married couple so they were both led to the same room. Had they consulted, Bethany would have opted for one for herself.-Don't worry, I won't see anything. -Ciro consoled her, knowing her so well. And
Bethany's eyelids jerked up. The bad dreams continued to disturb her rest. A chase and gunshots, her running, escaping death. Visions that made her heart rate spike. It was torturous.She turned around in bed, feeling alone. Ciro wasn't there. She left the bed wearing a blue silk robe with white stripes. She left the bedroom quietly, her lack of shoes making her stealthy. She didn't have to walk far to find her fiancé who was in the living room, sitting in front of a laptop that she didn't even know how he got. He was holding a cell phone to his ear, which he assumed wasn't his, since it had flown into hundreds of pieces against the stones.-Stop production. The Russian police must be investigating its origin right now. We must keep a low profile. Cancel business phone numbers, emails or any other means of contact. -Bethany heard despite the careful tone in which she spoke.-...-Forget them. They knew the risks of the job.-...-That
She reached out with one of her hands to slide the alarm clock and glance at the time: 1:00 p.m. Bethany had been in bed for a long time without being able to fall asleep.She put on some fuzzy slippers and left the room. She knew what was wrong with her rest. One night sleeping next to Ciro was enough for her body to remember the essence of sleeping next to the warm shelter of another body.He walked through the hallways and came to the room where Ciro slept. The door was ajar so he entered without warning. There was no one there. The bed was unmade and Ciro's already familiar laptop was resting on it. He was seriously a workaholic. He crawled from under the bed to reach the device that was on the pillows. And when his fingers brushed the computer, he felt a second hand take his own. With one pull, Ciro lifted her up and kissed her.-What are you doing up? - the Italian asked against her lips.-I could ask you the same question. -Bethany replied. The second kiss was her initiative. T
Brahim took a piece of crimson cloth and used it to blindfold a white woman with reddish hair who was standing in the middle of the room dressed only in her white linen panties.-What are you planning to do to me? -Bethany asked, ecstatic.Brahim refrained from any response, as was his custom. The mystical essence was part of the game. He positioned himself behind his sister-in-law and parted her hair in two to place wet kisses along the length of her neck and down her back until he was kneeling. He grabbed her panties and pulled them down to her ankles.He placed a soft kiss on her right buttock, followed by a painless bite. Bethany bit her lower lip, feeling eager. Brahim stood up and gathered all of her reddish hair to throw it to one side.-Are you thinking about my brother? - He asked, whispering in her ear.-No. - She said in a whimper, reveling in the massage Brahim was giving her thighs, teasing her intimate area. -You don't look anything like him.-Is that a compliment?-Take
Bethany hadn't been able to get the memory that suddenly came to her mind out of her head. The one that reflected her lying on her back with a strong body on top of her. The unusual thing, and what had her thinking, was that, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't link Ciro with that fragment of her memory. The piece that fit precisely was that of her brother-in-law. In the beginning, it was his perfume that stirred the tide.-Bethany. - The Italian mentioned for the fourth time, finally getting her attention. Then she realized that she hadn't heard anything of what her fiancé was happily telling her.They were at the Florentín café, having breakfast. If Bethany knew Ciro, she would know that an average coffee shop that served cappuccino from a machine was not a place he frequented.-What do you say?-Bethany asked, picking at her salad. The other sighed.-I was telling you about your parents returning to the United States next wee
He left the bathroom and noticed that his fiancée was ready to go back out onto the street.-Where are you going? -He asked without sounding jealous.-With my parents. I know what hotel they're staying at. - Bethany answered, putting the notebook in which she wrote down her life's conjectures into a small cloth bag on her cross-body belt.His tone of voice was indifferent, the clearest sign with which Ciro could corroborate his disappointment.-I can go with you if you want.-No, but I appreciate it. –He didn't think about his answer. When he was about to leave the room, he felt the Italian's hand holding his.-Let me call the driver then. You're not ready to drive yet.-Do you have a driver?-We have a driver, yes. –He corrected her.It was a debate in which Bethany had few arguments in her favor. She hadn't even tried to drive since she left the hospital. So, swallowing her pride, she agreed. That pa
He left the bathroom and noticed that his fiancée was ready to go back out onto the street.-Where are you going? -He asked without sounding jealous.-With my parents. I know what hotel they're staying at. - Bethany answered, putting the notebook in which she wrote down her life's conjectures into a small cloth bag on her cross-body belt.His tone of voice was indifferent, the clearest sign with which Ciro could corroborate his disappointment.-I can go with you if you want.-No, but I appreciate it. –He didn't think about his answer. When he was about to leave the room, he felt the Italian's hand holding his.-Let me call the driver then. You're not ready to drive yet.-Do you have a driver?-We have a driver, yes. –He corrected her.It was a debate in which Bethany had few arguments in her favor. She hadn't even tried to drive since she left the hospital. So, swallowing her pride, she agreed. That pa
Bethany hadn't been able to get the memory that suddenly came to her mind out of her head. The one that reflected her lying on her back with a strong body on top of her. The unusual thing, and what had her thinking, was that, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't link Ciro with that fragment of her memory. The piece that fit precisely was that of her brother-in-law. In the beginning, it was his perfume that stirred the tide.-Bethany. - The Italian mentioned for the fourth time, finally getting her attention. Then she realized that she hadn't heard anything of what her fiancé was happily telling her.They were at the Florentín café, having breakfast. If Bethany knew Ciro, she would know that an average coffee shop that served cappuccino from a machine was not a place he frequented.-What do you say?-Bethany asked, picking at her salad. The other sighed.-I was telling you about your parents returning to the United States next wee
Brahim took a piece of crimson cloth and used it to blindfold a white woman with reddish hair who was standing in the middle of the room dressed only in her white linen panties.-What are you planning to do to me? -Bethany asked, ecstatic.Brahim refrained from any response, as was his custom. The mystical essence was part of the game. He positioned himself behind his sister-in-law and parted her hair in two to place wet kisses along the length of her neck and down her back until he was kneeling. He grabbed her panties and pulled them down to her ankles.He placed a soft kiss on her right buttock, followed by a painless bite. Bethany bit her lower lip, feeling eager. Brahim stood up and gathered all of her reddish hair to throw it to one side.-Are you thinking about my brother? - He asked, whispering in her ear.-No. - She said in a whimper, reveling in the massage Brahim was giving her thighs, teasing her intimate area. -You don't look anything like him.-Is that a compliment?-Take
She reached out with one of her hands to slide the alarm clock and glance at the time: 1:00 p.m. Bethany had been in bed for a long time without being able to fall asleep.She put on some fuzzy slippers and left the room. She knew what was wrong with her rest. One night sleeping next to Ciro was enough for her body to remember the essence of sleeping next to the warm shelter of another body.He walked through the hallways and came to the room where Ciro slept. The door was ajar so he entered without warning. There was no one there. The bed was unmade and Ciro's already familiar laptop was resting on it. He was seriously a workaholic. He crawled from under the bed to reach the device that was on the pillows. And when his fingers brushed the computer, he felt a second hand take his own. With one pull, Ciro lifted her up and kissed her.-What are you doing up? - the Italian asked against her lips.-I could ask you the same question. -Bethany replied. The second kiss was her initiative. T
Bethany's eyelids jerked up. The bad dreams continued to disturb her rest. A chase and gunshots, her running, escaping death. Visions that made her heart rate spike. It was torturous.She turned around in bed, feeling alone. Ciro wasn't there. She left the bed wearing a blue silk robe with white stripes. She left the bedroom quietly, her lack of shoes making her stealthy. She didn't have to walk far to find her fiancé who was in the living room, sitting in front of a laptop that she didn't even know how he got. He was holding a cell phone to his ear, which he assumed wasn't his, since it had flown into hundreds of pieces against the stones.-Stop production. The Russian police must be investigating its origin right now. We must keep a low profile. Cancel business phone numbers, emails or any other means of contact. -Bethany heard despite the careful tone in which she spoke.-...-Forget them. They knew the risks of the job.-...-That
Calmer, he returned to the beach and its unpleasant crowd. He appeared before his fiancée with a smile that would wipe the bitterness from her face.-I'm sorry for the delay, I was... - He tried to think of a pretext, but his mind was ineffective at doing so.-Someone from the hotel informed me that the spa is ready. -Bethany said, not so smiling.-I forgot. -he said, uttering a curse. He planned to surprise her. Once again he allowed his work to distract him from what was important. They made their way to the hotel where they were led by a couple of masseuses to a private room. They were shown a second room where they could shed their clothes. They were in the mood to become a married couple so they were both led to the same room. Had they consulted, Bethany would have opted for one for herself.-Don't worry, I won't see anything. -Ciro consoled her, knowing her so well. And
Bethany's bikini was an indigo blue that left little to the imagination, with fringes that danced from side to side as she walked. She had been tanning by lying on the sand until she felt hot and then decided to enter the sea, which swayed to the rhythm of the waves.He remembered how he had longed to go to that beach. He had seen it in brochures and catalogues, wishing to see himself under its incandescent sun while he rolled on the sand and the crystal-clear water wet his skin. It was Eden on earth.She came out of the sea and approached her fiancé who was covered by an awning, sporting expensive sunglasses, sitting in a folding chair. He had not taken his eyes off his beloved for a moment.-Nothing?-Bethany asked, settling into the folding chair next to him and drying her locks with a towel.-Yes, although I don't feel like it right now. - The Italian refused, taking off his glasses. He wasn't a big fan of being in the crowd. It was the reason he had refused to take her to the beach
The flight was leaving shortly before noon, so Ciro took advantage of the morning to run some errands and put his business in order. He did not have much faith in Brahim, who throughout his life had shown him to be an irresponsible and unfulfilling man. There was a good chance that, when he returned from his vacation, the companies would be, if not bankrupt, on the verge of ruin.The machines were working properly. He stopped in front of the conveyor belt and took one of the cans they were making, with a good imitation of the baby formula label he ran his finger over it, making sure of the quality, that the ink wouldn't run. He returned it to the conveyor belt to continue its journey, at the end it would be filled with the white powder. He got on the elevator to reach the last room where the employees finished giving the last details to the cans, subtly identifying which were genuine and which were imitations, then packing them on pallets. The order that was being prepared would be sen
She settled into bed and tried to get back to her books, but found it impossible. The encounter she had with her brother-in-law had unsettled her. The way he looked at her and the woman he spoke of. Not knowing the details that others knew put her at a disadvantage, and she disliked it. She squeezed her eyes shut in a vain attempt to remember something, but all her mind offered were the visions she had already experienced with bitter feelings accompanying them.Why did work bring back so many memories? She thought. Joining his company was a sigh of relief, and she longed to experience more of that, but it was almost an illusion. She looked at the house she lived in for just under ten years and it was unknown to her. Also the man she once loved, although she couldn't deny that she felt safe with him. Ciro was a good man, attentive and respectful, who made it clear to everyone how much he loved her. She s