Warning
1787 Words
BEATRICE
What can be so important that Cynthia couldn't tell me over the phone or wait until tomorrow at the office?
Mr. Sanders called me from reception to let me know she was already downstairs and that she needed access, so I granted it.
While I waited for her, I fixed my hair into a ponytail, brushed my teeth and washed my face so I didn't look like I was already sleeping. I had decent clothes so I didn't worry much about it.
Why am I trying to get pretty here? She's just coming to tell me something and then she’ll be out the door. My headache has subsided after resting, which made me glad. Didn't feel like dealing with it any longer.
The doorbell rang, letting me know she was there. I took a deep breath and put my hand on the doorknob as I paused for a moment before I opened the door.
“Hello, Cynthia. Why are you so eager to see me?” I asked as she walked in, turning around to face me after I closed the door gently.
She had no makeup on, her hair up in a messy bun and baggy clothes, but she still looked beautiful to me. It has been years since I last saw her this comfortable.
Back in college...
Cynthia fidgeted with the zipper of her sweater, her eyes showing me how afraid she was. I wondered, of what?
“Before I tell you anything, please tell me your parents are not Lorenzo and Aubrey Santiago,” she frowned, her eyes dilating.
“Why do you want to know?" I asked curiously, folding my arms on my chest as I narrowed my eyes at her.
Cynthia looked like she was about to hyperventilate. She put her hands on her chest and sat down on my leather couch, tears clouding her eyes. Sensing her turmoil, I kneeled in front of her, putting a stray hair from her bun behind her ear.
“We might have to take that vacation sooner than planned,” she suggested. If she didn't think I would notice how nervous she is, she's wrong.
“Why?” I asked, wanting to hear an explanation. There’s no way she would tell me this without having a reason to do so.
She rubbed her forehead, small droplets of sweat rolling down her temples as she looked everywhere but straight into my eyes.
“I can’t tell you right now, but wouldn’t it be nice to see your family sooner? I can take care of the office affairs before we leave, that way you don’t leave anything hanging.”
She sounded so nervous and desperate. I raised my hand, stroking her cheeks gently to calm her down. She took a deep breath, smiling down at me gratefully. What is going on with her?
“I won’t ask right now, but you will have to eventually tell me the reason for your request,” I mentioned, grabbing her chin to make her look at me. Her eyes were beautiful, she was breathtaking.
“I promise I will tell you as soon as I’m ready. When can we go?”
I bit my bottom lip, thinking long and hard about my next few days in the office.
“How about you go in early tomorrow and sort everything out? We can leave in the afternoon, I’ll call my parents and let them know our trip has been moved up.”
She nodded, standing up with a soft smile on her face. Looking relaxed, she kissed my cheek and hugged me. My heart was beating fast inside my chest. This woman was definitely driving me crazy and I had to make her mine.
No choice in the matter.
“I’ll see you tomorrow then,” she whispered, walking around me and out of my apartment. The click of the door pulled me out of my thoughts, letting me know she was gone, leaving me standing here, suddenly feeling cold.
Shaking my head, I rubbed my face in frustration and headed to my room to make that call. In Italy it was morning, so I was sure my family would be awake by now.
“Hello, my beautiful daughter,” Dad answered, all cheesy-like. Hearing his voice made me smile and sometimes, it would make me miss them. Other times, not so much. They always reminded me of the kind of life they led, and I was not made for it.
Or that’s what I think at least.
“Hi, Dad. I just wanted to tell you that the trip will be moved up to tomorrow afternoon, my time. If it’s okay and you can send someone to pick us up…”
“Us? Are you bringing someone with you? Do I have to kick his ass?”
It was funny how even being twenty five and living away from them, he was still acting like the protective father. I was not going to complain, he loved me and I loved him.
“Well, it’s not exactly a he, Dad. It’s my personal assistant, she’ll be going with me. She’ll be my plus one for the baptism.”
There was a sudden silence on the other side, when I heard Aubrey talk to him, asking him to help with something before she sent her greetings over the phone.
“Yeah, sure thing, baby girl. I’ll send someone. Just text me the gate and time you’ll arrive and he’ll be there to pick you and your assistant up.”
“Thank you, Dad. Have a good day, I’m heading to bed right now. Love you,” I said before hanging up the phone call. Tapping the phone in my hands, Cynthia’s words played in my mind over and over.
She’s hiding something, and I had the feeling it was not good.
I decided to forget it all for now, and keep sleeping. It will be a busy day tomorrow.
~~~~~~
“Good morning, Miss Santiago!” Coral greeted me with her usual smile, handing me my usual mail.
“Hello, Coral. Did you have fun yesterday?”
“I did. Thank you very much for letting me go. The kids were happy to have me there with them, enjoying the zoo. I have the pictures, do you want to see them?” she asked, excited.
“Of course. I was the one to ask you to show them to me,” I chuckled, checking the mail while she scrolled on her phone for the pictures.
There was an interesting envelope, my name in the front with glued letters instead of a handwriting. Coral cleared her throat, pulling me out of the trance so she could show me the pictures.
“Those are nice. I bet the kids had fun,” I said, looking at them. When I was a kid, I used to dream of having a spouse, a house with a white picket fence and kids running around. Typical dream for a woman, but that would never be me.
“Thank you very much. I love them,” she replied.
“I just wanted to let you know, I’ll be leaving this afternoon on a vacation. Cynthia and I won’t be here the whole week, but you can refer the clients to Mark and Hilma. They will manage the company while I’m gone, okay?”
“Yes, Miss Santiago. I’ll make sure to do that.”
I wished her a good work day and headed to the elevator, holding on tightly to my mail and wishing it would go up faster than it was so I could check the mysterious letter I got.
As soon as I reached my office, I dropped the rest of the mail on my desk, focusing on the one in my hand. Grabbing the mail opener, I took out the letter and read it…
YOU HAVE TO LEAVE NEW YORK NOW. GO BACK HOME, BEATRICE. YOU’RE IN DANGER.
I frowned, reading over and over again the words in newspaper letters. In all my seven years here, I haven’t had to worry about this. What kind of danger could I be in?
Who in the world knows I live here when I only spoke to my family about it? I have lived under the radar since I left Italy.
I heard a knock on the door and put the letter inside, hiding it under the rest of the mail before Cynthia walked in.
“Everything is ready, Bea. The plane leaves at five and all the meetings have been transferred to Hilma to set them up for Mark.”
“Good. I have to tend to a few calls, but in the meantime, why don’t you go home and get ready for the flight?”
“I am...ready. I just need to pick them up later,” she said as I sat on my chair, still thinking about the letter. Cynthia walked around my desk, leaning against it and looking at me with softness in her eyes.
“I’ve been meaning to ask you, Bea. Why did you invite me? It’s obvious this is a family affair and I am just…”
“My plus one, Cynthia. My cousin asked for a plus one, so I decided to invite you. Why, is that a problem?”
“No, I was just surprised, that’s all.”
I stood up in front of her, too close for comfort and I could see from up close the shade of pink her cheeks had.
She was blushing.
“After all, you’re my friend, right?”
Cynthia nodded as I pressed myself against her, our breasts touching each other’s, bringing heat between us. Her eyes were dilated, and her lips were slightly open as I passed my thumb over them, feeling how soft they were despite having lip gloss covering them.
“I just want to have a good time with my friend. That’s all,” I whispered, looking in between her eyes and her mouth. I gulped, deciding whether the next move would be the right one, but at that moment I didn’t care.
She was not moving back and neither was I, so I did what I didn’t expect to do.
I kissed her.
- Writer
