"At the event… today" Welch looks disconcerted. He's never seen me so scattered.I nod and he starts talking about security procedures. I pretend to be interested and pay attention to every word, but the truth is that I can't."...and people who enter will have their credentials made upon entry using a biometric system, this avoids incidents""Good" is all I can say. "And Elena?" I ask, suddenly."She will be safe, sir. And undercover security will ensure her comfort as well" Welch assures. It's a shame the question wasn't related to that."She's in the Granger Holding convention hall, sir. Her and some organizers" Harley replies, as if guessing."Right. That was all" I conclude.My wife is away from home, minding her professional life and I am here... as useful as a sports car without an engine.The last hours are indifferent. I open the websites advertising the event to get some news or two about it, but they are all superficial. They do not talk about her, herself, about the determ
"And, to make the night even more pleasant, could we dance?" Hernandez asks."Sure, why not?" Elena responds without looking at me.What?"Only if it's okay, Mr. Granger"It takes me a few seconds to think about whether or not we have a problem. Elena dancing with this man who saw her twice, and now guarantees that the night would be better this way. Damn, of course I have a problem!"I believe the dance will be with me" she protests, making her position clear. And then I realize what's happening; she will test my limits."I really do not see a problem" I say. If she wants to tease me, she'll need more than a dance. I think.“Remember the safety that distance brings, Hernandez” I say."Always" he smiles.Carlos reaches out to Elena as hot music starts. The touch is not romantic, it is slower and more sensual. They walk to the center of the room, and the photographers do not miss a second of this moment.The lyrics of the song are suggestive, but nothing captures me more than the sight
“I would like you to obey, before I have to do something to make you obey” is all he says.What a damn house, why so far away from the lobby?"Do you want me to be afraid of you?" I ask. This isn't the first time I've heard something like a threat, so I am not sure I need a question.“I want you to respect me”"You took me away from a party that I had a hell of a time organizing. Then you want to keep me stuck at home, and as if that wasn't enough, you said that I'd better obey you. All this after not believing me when I said that had been violated. What do I want to feel about you, anyway?" I say everything softly and slowly, so he understands how it affects me.As soon as the gates open and Harley parks in front of the entrance, I get out of the car. I do not wait for someone's help, or rather, permission.I walk inside the house, passing through the demotivating cold of the early morning in Seattle. Aaron doesn't follow me, on the contrary, he stays in the car for a few more minute
Aaron reaches out to me, and I see the desperation and fear of rejection in his eyes. I accept his hand, more because I do not want to disappoint his expectations than because I feel safe doing so.“Let's get you cleaned up” he says as he looks at the bloodstains on my palms. I nod; The last thing I want is to have Damon's blood on me.He bends over to pick up the clothes from the floor, then we head to the bathroom together. I am still not sure how I feel about our approach, but I know I need more information than I have.In the bathroom, I head for the sink without preamble. I turn on the tap and let the warm water rinse my hands as I rub the soap over and over again. Meanwhile, Aaron takes off his shirt, which ended up being stained by the blood that was on my hands.I look at him through the large mirror behind the sink; his posture slumped, his face tired.I stop the cascade of water falling over my hands when I feel clean enough to do so.Aaron approaches slowly, as if he's stil
I see all the blood drain from your face. Aaron is pale, unresponsive. He just stands aloof, looking at me with nothing short of dread. Lucky for me, I didn't count on your approval. I already expected what was to come."Pregnant?" He repeats the word. I nod. Aaron approaches with slow, cautious steps as he tries to move away from the despair. I know how he feels, because I felt the same way a few weeks ago."I understand that this isn't your dream come true, but I am not asking…""I want this baby" he interrupts me.I do not know what I expected exactly, but it certainly wasn't close to that. Aaron reaches over and puts his hand on my stomach, and then I notice he's shaking. At the same moment I feel my body tense under his touch."I do not know how to do this, I do not know how to be different from what I remember. But I want to, Elena. I want to be a good father"I remain silent as I think about what I just heard. I prepared for a rejection, not an attempt."I do not need to be a c
The comfortable fabric makes me live in a utopia for a few seconds, until I hear the sound of the doorknob being turned. Flashbacks run through my mind and my first concern is the dot.I position myself sitting, crossing my legs. I turn on the bedside lamp and wait until Aaron enters."Hi” he murmurs. I do not answer, because what I want to say goes far beyond two letters. "It’s okay with you…you two” his tone is low and almost melodic. Aaron walks over to the bed and sits on the edge of the mattress, relatively far away from me."What happened?" Whisper."You fainted and had a bleed, you need to do some tests to get a certain result, but the obstetrician believes that this has to do with everything that has been happening in your life"Your low posture says a lot about your mood. Aaron is extremely tired; sold off."You mean… all the shit I’ve been through” I correct."Elena, please""No, Aaron. Don't ask me please, do not ask me to calm down, do not ask me for time, do not ask me fo
"You are lying!" I turn to him with all the conviction in the world to defend my friend. I walk a few steps towards him in a moment of shock. This bastard has to be lying. Anastasia would never do that to me… would she? "She’s not like you” I assure you."Ana, please come in" is all he says, sporting a horrifying smile.And then I watch the world fall at my feet as the door is unlocked and opened. Anastasia enters the office as if she were another person, someone completely unknown to me. His posture is low, his gaze is calm, his clothes are not very elaborate and his expression is dead."That look of yours is killing me, darling. No need to feel so bad, I am sure your pathetic marital problems were the height of Anastasia's days.""You son of a bitch! How could you do this to me?" I ask."He didn't do anything that you didn't allow, Elena. But I didn't come here to bring you another family problem, but a solution""Fuck you, Damon. Everything you've done has destabilized me enough. I
AARON’ POVIn my office."Sir" Welch greets, asking for the floor. With a gesture of my hand, I ask him to continue. I am in my alert mode, any information that gives me the slightest hope is valid. "We still do not have concrete information. All we can do is wait"I walk to the edge of the table and lean over it, spreading my hands across the wood. When Damon Donovan manages to get to Elena all they ask me is to calm down?"Everything that could be done was done, sir. She left her cell phone at EP and we traced her last call, it was to Anastasia" Welch murmurs."And what can be done from this?" I ask. They look at each other for a second and I get my answer in the silence; anything. "Where is the son of a bitch?" I ask, to no one in specific.Wait… wait… to hell with waiting! How the fuck can I sit around and wait for news?"Tracking Damon Donovan's cell phone turned up nothing" Welch mutters. He is sitting in a chair in front of my desk. "But…" he pauses for a second, as if he's get