The Driver

CHAPTER 4

It was the last day I was driving the red Peugeot. I got a call from the airport. I had to take a lady to Brasov. Quite far from Bucharest but considering that it was my last race I decided it was worth the effort.

        It was winter, it had snow a lot in the last few days and the weekend was almost there. I was going to take a few days off anyway, so I took advantage of the fact that I was going to go to the mountains.

        I had not had a vacation since I got divorced. I just focused on work. I booked a hotel room for the next three days and went to the airport to pick up the client. The plane had not landed yet, so I had to wait a few minutes.

        It was late because of turbulence. I decided to go get a strong coffee and a few energy drinks to have them on the way to the mountain.

        I was having a few hours to drive so I had to be prepared. I had become somehow addicted to energy drinks over the years in my job as a driver.

        A few years ago, it was December, I had made an exit from Rimini Nord and at 2-3 km there was a large AGIP. I stopped in the back, in the truck parking lot, I had to take a break. I got out of the car and went for coffee at the bar when a man with a mustache came to me.

        I still remember him. He looked like French actor Jean Reno. And he started telling me that he was a truck driver, and he had some merchandise left.

        That he has a laptop and a navigator Tom -Tom, all at a good price. I decided it would not hurt to look at the man's merchandise to see what it was all about.

        He took out the bag, the one for the laptop, and he gave it to me. I opened it, inside there was an HP laptop, white, new, beautiful, there was also the navigator around.

        I opened the laptop, I looked through it, its system, RAM, etc. I already had it in my head, "to see what gift I'm giving my wife!"

        Okay, we are up to the negotiations! Started at €480 for the whole package. I insisted that I was willing to give him €200 to get rid of them quickly!

        After about ten minutes, he accepted, and I was marveled at my qualities as a professional negotiator. I told him I had to look for an ATM because I did not have any money, and he offered to take me.

        He put the laptop in the bag, I put the bag on the bed of the car, and I locked the car. After fifteen minutes, we came back, gave him the money, greeted each other and each one went on his way.

        I was happy to the fullest. I quickly got in the car and left the parking lot because I had finished my break and I was in a hurry.

        In the meantime, I called my wife and showed her what a Christmas present I got her. I finished the conversation and as I was sitting at the traffic lights, I decided to see the laptop again.

        I tried to open the bag, but weirdly, the zipper was sewn. I pulled with my teeth, struggled, and opened the laptop bag.

        I was stuck for a few minutes because it had changed twice green at the traffic light. Inside sat two proud cans of Marina salt (couldn't they put salt from that pink Himalayan one?)

        In my mind, I said..."brother, you ate the dumpling, they made you look like a fool". And so, I gave 200€ with all my negotiating talent on two kilos of salt.

        After I got the coffee I went outside and lit a cigarette. I was shocked when I saw a gorgeous young woman next to my car.

        At first, I felt like I saw an angel. I thought that between the time I went to the coffee shop to get what I needed and the moment I let my cigarette, the angels from heaven began to fall.

        I had never seen such a beautiful woman, and I never thought there was such a thing. I did not even realize I had finished smoking the cigarette until I felt something burning on my fingers.

        I cannot remember if I managed to get any smoke out of it or just went out because of the wind, so much I was captivated by what I saw in front of my eyes.

        I turned it off and walked towards the car. I did not realize if I was walking or flying. I could not feel my legs moving.

        I could only hear my heart beating. It was beating so hard that I felt like she was trying to get out of my chest and get into the chest of the woman in front of me.

        When I got to her, I froze, and I could not even move my lips to say anything.

-       Hello. I asked for a taxi and they sent me a picture of this car. Are you the driver? Are you okay? Do you look a little pale? Do you need anything?

        I was still captivated by her ravishing beauty and could not find my words. I finally nodded so I would not look like a man who had never seen a woman or had never had a woman in his life.

        I do not know what I said to her when I was caught up in her spell, but I reached out to meet her.

-       Alex is my name. I had to get a lady out of here to take her to Brasov. It was announced that the plane would be delayed. I did not realize time was over so fast.

-       Izabela, delighted. You were supposed to take me. Can we go now, please? I have not been informed about the weather here and I am already very cold.

        She was already shivering with the cold, being dressed very briefly, considering that she was coming from the Maldives. It was warm there for that time of the year.

        It was already dark, and we were going to arrive after midnight at the hotel. It was quite difficult because of the snow and some roads were closed.

        After two hours of driving in silence, I asked Izabela if she wanted us to stop somewhere to eat. I was still charmed by her beauty so I kept quiet so I will not say anything stupid. I did not even know what words had to be used for such a woman.

        She had the hair of a porn star and the face of an angel. Her eyes were almost almond-shaped and unbelievably beautiful.

        And that is when I saw it: beyond beauty and false innocence she was hiding something, something cold and calculated.

        Even when she smiled, I saw in her a sin so deeply imprinted that no jersey could hide it.  Those eyes hovered above her small nose and fine features.

        To everyone else, she seemed clean and naive, but this girl was hiding something.

        I knew that because the exact same sin had dwelled in me all my life. The difference was that she kept it hidden in the depths, and I would often let it out of the cage. 

        I was starting to stutter, and I did not understand what the hell was going on with me.

        I quickly looked for a table to sit at and apologized by telling her I was going to the bathroom. If I were a woman, I would probably go to the bathroom to powder my nose, but I just needed to slap my face a few times to get over it.

        I was, however, a well-made man, with a face that inspired fear rather than tenderness. I used to go to the gym regularly after I opened the taxi company to control my anger. That is how I got a few extra muscles and an athletic body.

        Enviable for some men and devouring for most women. It was time for me to return to reality and continue to be the man who would not allow any woman into his life. As beautiful or sincere as any of them are, it has no place in my life.

        I had not healed yet, and there was no point in starting a relationship until I could tell if it was exactly what I needed. We had met two hours earlier and yet I felt so attracted to her.

        I had dozens of women in the last four years, and yet none of them piqued my interest the way she did.

        Lost in our own thoughts we decided to eat quietly. I did not have much to say and she did not seem willing to communicate. I was just a taxi driver and I had to keep my distance so as not to cause inconvenience.

        Dinner was faster than I expected. Izabela ordered a chicken salad and me just a sandwich. I had eaten with Andrei before I went to the airport, so I was not that hungry.

        Anyway, who else would have an appetite with such a goddess in front of him? What man would want to eat when a gorgeous woman stands in front of him?

        After almost two and a half hours we arrived in Brasov. I tried to communicate with her after we left the restaurant until I realized I was talking to myself. She fell asleep.

        Even when she was sleeping, she was so gorgeous! I could hardly concentrate on driving carefully. My eyes were more on her face.