"Not a chance Bogdanov. Anyway, why are we going to the mall?""Didn't you say I'm a rich cheapskate?" he asks and I nod.I couldn't say I wasn't, when he had proved to me that he was indeed too greedy and stingy a person."Well, now I'll let you buy anything you want at my family's mall" he says with haughtiness in his voice "Not to mention you'll have the best escort in the world" I look at him confused and at a red light, he stops and looks at me "Me, yours truly" Esteban says with mischief in his eyes.I don't know why, but something about this doesn't sit right with me.(...)After thirty minutes in the car we arrive at our destination, finding two rows of workers facing each other, ready to welcome us."Wait a moment" says Esteban as he opens the car door "Now if you can get out, my princess" he says opening my door and holding out a hand to me.His attitude makes me shudder."Your chivalry makes me sick.""What a complicated woman" she replies dramatically."Young master here i
"But if that happened why didn't she write to me?""She's grounded, so they took away her cell phone. Today she went to school to tell you the news, but you didn't come and when she found out that you were unwell she was very worried, so much so that she wanted to come with me to check on you.>> But as she is punished for her revelation, she also has constant surveillance, that's why, she couldn't escape with me, not to mention that this afternoon she will be very stressed because of the party.""Why of all people did you have to come along to 'take care of me'?" I say highlighting the quotation marks."Hey give me credit, I've been a good caretaker.""Go on, take what I bought you, as this is also my way of apologizing for everything I've done to you. Of course, if you don't like it, we can keep looking until...""... No, no, no. I'll take it" I say instantly as I remember how stressful it is to shop with Esteban.Esteban smiles victoriously and we head back to my place.(...)"I'll
We arrived at the party.To be honest, it's a beautiful party despite the few hours of preparation. I'd say it's perfect if it wasn't a party to get a husband for convenience."Sofia!" Aninka calls as soon as she reaches the doorway.Her face flushes at the sight of my escort."May I know who this young man is?" Aninka's mother asks."Mom, this is not the way I welcome my friends," comments Aninka.She rolls her eyes."Anyway, I hope his presence doesn't change our plans" she comments as she walks away."Wow, your mother-in-law sure loves you" I say under my breath as I chuckle."I hope my mother-in-law does love me" Esteban comments behind me."Wow, I didn't know you had a girlfriend though, I wish you luck" I comment.Esteban rolls his eyes, as Aninka and I look for a place to talk alone."Now if you'll inform me what happened?" I ask."I will. But first tell me what happened to your foot" says Aninka looking at my foot."That's not relevant now, tell me about yours" I say downplayin
"Mother" Esteban says with a strange tone, as he stands next to me while placing his hand on my waist "Don't disturb the guests."The woman swallows hard. Undoubtedly, something is bothering her.Maybe it's the Aninka thing, Esteban's approach with me or my simple existence."Except for her who is a guest on my sister's and my side" Esteban comments as he squeezes his hand on my waist and pulls me closer to his body."Mmm, okay" he says as he pulls away, but not before giving me a dirty look."Phew" I let out the air I was holding in "I almost had a heart attack.""Come on, what happened to the reckless girl?" Esteban asks with a sly grin."You can call me reckless and all you want, but I'm not on my turf. Before being rebellious you have to be smart. I don't get into fights that are out of my league."Esteban nods and replies flirtatiously:"Me neither."Causing in me, a chuckle due to said expression."Guys, sorry to interrupt you, but remember I'm here."I blush, for a moment forget
When Aninka said she had everything ready, I never imagined this.After we parked in a prudent place so I could change my dress for a white long sleeve blouse and skirt, veiled stockings and black booties, we walked on the road to an unknown destination for me.We arrived after a few hours to a small cabin far from the city, technically I didn't know the name of the place, but what I could recognize was that it was perfect. On the outside, it looked like an ordinary cabin, but inside it had all the latest furniture and appliances.The decoration was oak style, very modern. It featured multiple photographs of beautiful landscapes. The living room was surrounded by white L-shaped armchairs, in front of which there was a television attached to the wall and multiple sets of children's games.Between the furniture and the wall, there was a mini-library, in which there were multiple sleeves that caught my attention one hundred percent."Wow!" said Viktor as he ran to the table where the mult
After breakfast in an uncomfortable silence. Aninka, who I would say is the soul of this group, made us change and go around the place.You could feel the discomfort of the guys for miles, but they didn't say no to Aninka's ideas. Since it was either that or listen to her complaining all day and truth be told, I'd rather walk around and distract myself than be cooped up listening to Aninka's countless complaints. Even if I'm not very well on my feet, I'd rather walk.Aninka knew they hated each other, though she didn't know why, yet she was determined that those boys would at least get along. It must be hard to have the boy your brother hates as a boyfriend."Sofia" Aninka calls me "Don't you think he's cute?"I just nodded. To tell the truth, it was a very nice place, which was different from the places I've been to. In the big cities I've lived in, there was everything but silence. Something that could be enjoyed here, not to mention the great one hundred percent natural scenery on o
"How many times has this happened to you?" Esteban asks pointing to my foot."More than I'd like" I comment offhandedly."Should I be worried?" Esteban asks."You don't need to. I'll just need some ice for the swelling, pain pills and some rest" I comment."Wow, you're brave" Esteban comments and I snort "No, seriously. If you were Aninka, I'd be screaming my head off as she says her last words".I smile"It's normal to act like that, when you're not used to pain.""And you're used to it?" asks Esteban."More than I'd like to admit" I comment remembering all the times pain has come into my life, my friends, my boyfriend, my failure at what I loved the most."Mmm, something tells me we're not talking about your foot" Esteban comments."Esteban, don't start" I say defensively.I've never liked it when they probe more than they should and apparently this guy loves to do it."It's okay" He comments resigned "I promise I won't ask you any more. Since thanks to this little fall I've managed
"My God, Sofia! What happened to you?" asks Aninka worriedly as soon as the kids are inside the house.""I was with your brother, that's what happened.Esteban grunts in annoyance and leaves her on one of the pieces of furniture, to go to his room.Viktor quickly arrives where Aninka and Sofia are and offers her a glass of ice."Thank you, Viktor" says Sofia as she receives the compress."Do you need anything?" asks Aninka worriedly."Yes, for you to help me get to my room so I can wash up a bit" says Sofia."Okay" replies Aninka helping her up.(...)Sofia narrates.I carefully step out of the shower in my sky blue pajamas."Knock, knock" I hear from the other side of the door."Come in" I say as I walk to the bed."Sofia how are you doing" Aninka asks "Esteban told me what happened.""How well" I say not caring about the topic of conversation."He also told me what you needed" comments Aninka trying to keep the conversation from dying."What to be nicer and less stupid?" No, not tha
Our dresses were very different. Aninka's looked like a princess, so big and with so much fabric to the point of her skirt and veil, dragging the place down. Mine, on the other hand, was simple. A dress with long sleeves and bare shoulders. With a fabric that clung to my body and stretched to the end of my feet.We were two opposing brides, one overdressed and one simple, at the wedding Aninka wanted: big and with guests I've never seen, but I know they are businessmen. Something that helps her fulfill that wish of Aninka's about having a big wedding. Where I could barely keep up with her and as soon as we get married I will run away. So many people overwhelm me.The two of us, we walk towards the man who will be our husband. The walk, quiet and slow, helps me remember everything we went through to get here. From the scorn, kidnappings, deaths and estrangement we lived through, to the good times and how we supported each other when it was necessary.Our relationship w
I knew the news had come as a surprise to both of them. But, I didn't know how they would react to it. And there was no time to back out now. I had given the news in a nervous shock. Esteban, immediately hugged me, while David, put away his gun."I can't lose them. I couldn't go on knowing they were dead. I can't fire anyone anymore." he whispered."It's okay. Don't worry. It'll just be this moment and it'll all be over.""You don't need to expose yourselves anymore. We can...""Go take her somewhere safe. I'll handle this." says David and I deny."I want them both to be okay" I say and Stephen nods."Everything will be fine, just, go get the boys to take you home safely and we'll come after.""No, I'm not going to leave them."Esteban brings his hands to his neck and removes the chain from where he pulls the ring he gave me over two years ago."This is my promise that I will come back alive. We will come back alive. But, we can only do t
'Well, that's partly your fault, Sofia. Are you going to ignore your responsibility in this?' my mind chides me 'You want it too, make the most of it.'Knowing what I want and that nothing will change if I don't want it, I open the shower door and he turns his body showing me the source of his problem."Get out, Sofia. I have things to do" Esteban says frustrated and I walk over to him, backing him up until I reach the wall he had used to hit himself."I can help you with that. I'm partly to blame for that" I say taking his hand which I place on my chest."Sofia, you're playing with fire.""We're underwater, fire isn't going to burn us here. So what are you going to do?" I ask and the next second, it's me against the wall, my dress torn and him, lifting one of my legs."Are you sure about this?" asks Esteban in a hoarse voice."And you are?" I ask challenging him and he smiles at me making a single movement that makes me stifle a moan."I am"
Five months laterHow naive I was to believe that I could leave or that I could help them. I was foolish to think that leaving here was possible and so, I was once again locked in the room that looks like a huge cage.After all, trying to escape through the air ducts because I wanted to get my life back ended up in the foiled plan that Esteban easily destroyed.Nor, escaping through the back door or another exit, was impossible because I didn't have the access code. And even going to the garden didn't give me any chance of leaving, because the place is so heavily guarded that it is impossible to take a step without my brother and Esteban knowing.But, since I tried to use knives from the kitchen to threaten the others to be released, I am now locked in the room, while the guys have focused on capturing the damn man they still haven't killed."Please let me out. I promise I won't do anything crazy." I ask bored from already being locked up for two weeks. Wher
Sofia narratesI was nervous, there weren't as many people as when Mordashov was killed. But, still, I was afraid. The possibility of seeing them get hurt or killed while I'm a dumb spectator, it's not pleasant.Quickly, she walked to the closet where Esteban took out his weapons and taking a long-range one, she looked for a place where she could use it.One thing that certainly shows that I'm in a big cage is that the window doesn't open. It is only a kind of material that is not glass or other fragile material, but I doubt it is iron because of how transparent the window is, impossible to break.Annoyed, I look all over the place for a spot where I can take out a part of my gun to shoot, fortunately, in the bathroom, I find a small hole where I place the gun looking slightly outward.The guys had already gotten out of their cars and were shooting incessantly. So, I had to hurry. A girl who had gone three years without using a gun was now going to do it to
The kiss was deep, something they had both missed doing and that was why Sofia was upset.'Why did she have to desire someone who had decided to leave? Why on earth would she enjoy lips she had been so determined to forget and a single second all effort went down the drain?' mentally wondered Sofia.Sofia moved her face to interrupt the kiss and with tears running down her cheeks and a pain in her throat, she spoke to him.'Why do you play with me like this? You arrive, you get my hopes up and you leave. Yours, Esteban, is not love, it's a damned emotional tourism that always takes me to the edge of the abyss that I strive not to fall.""It's not like that, Sofia.""Yes it is, Esteban. You supported me to the point of confusing me so much and believing you had changed. But, look at you, Esteban. This was what you wanted," Sofia says painfully and Esteban walks away."I left because if I didn't, they would come for you. They would because this never ends
The car carrying Sofia, celebrated the triumph of having taken 'the package' easily. While Aninka was desperately looking for her friend. Everyone thought it was all over, until a car driving like crazy appeared from a corner and crashed into the car carrying Sofia.Esteban Bogdanov was getting out of the car, shooting at the men who had tried to take Sofia. Behind him, his men were shooting at the Englishmen who dared to kidnap Sofia.The car, which had been wrecked on the side opposite to where Sofia was, was so destroyed that the man who had carried her over her body. When Esteban ran to rescue Sofia, the bodyguards who came out on motorcycles and in cars, began shooting at him, causing him to back away."Protect Sofia!" he shouted in annoyance, while looking for protection, shooting at the falling motorcycles as they lost their driver. Thing that doesn't stop the cars and Esteban immediately, understands what they want to do."It's a trap! Shoot anyone who tr
Two years laterSofia smiled with pleasure at what she had achieved. In all this time, she was completely dedicated to the academy where she teaches and to her own training. Along the way, several of her girls left for professional teams and the few that remained were talking about which team to join.As a result, the academy, which was full of life, now, did not have many students. Those who were still attending were doing it for entertainment and not because they wanted to prepare themselves to be on a professional team.Therefore, the demands of the last few months had diminished. Sofia took a deep breath and skated for the last time in the rink where she had demanded and had demanded from her students many things that helped them all grow. Both she and her students.Making a full presentation, she said goodbye to the rink where in the middle of the rink, she left the box that Esteban had left her as a gift the first time she taught at the academy.
Omnipresent NarratorThe boys smiled when they saw Sofia's attitude. She didn't look so sad and down. Although she was not happy, she looked calm and less mortified by the decisions of others. So, that, already, was considered a win."Well, the food was amazing, what do you guys have in mind to do now?" asks Zayn smiling."Aninka" they all say knowing that she is the one who always makes plans for all kinds of things."Well I have the perfect plan." says Aninka smiling as she gets up from her chair and runs to the sound she turns on "Dancing.""This must be a joke." mutters Sofia and Aninka gives her a dirty look."You promised you'd try. Besides, the fun hasn't even started yet. So, don't be a spoilsport." chides Aninka and Sofia sighs deeply."Okay, dance." says Sofia crossing my arms."Let's dance." corrects Aninka and she slides her hand down to the prosthesis she removes."Sorry, I can't dance without a foot." mutters Sofia reluctant