Chapter 8
Maria takes a final drag from her cigarette, her gaze fixed on the spot where vehicles enter the building. During her morning meeting with Ursula, she told her that she received a call from Trinidad first thing to arrange a meeting and that she would come in a couple of hours.
Two things bother Maria, the first being that she calls Ursula directly and not her, who is her personal assistant and Trinidad knows it.
"Bitch," she mutters, crushing the cigarette butt against the ashtray with force.
The second is that she hasn't seen her since what happened three nights ago at that club, and since then, she's very nervous, because now she doesn't just think about how the businesswoman is hiding something, she also thinks about how she'd like to sleep with her again, and this fact keeps her in constant conflict, because she shouldn't desire someone she can't stand.
Maria returns to her office and, fifteen minutes later, goes to Ursula's when she informs her by phone that Trinidad has arrived.
Her heart pounds as her fingers turn the doorknob.
She's nervous when she opens and enters, but doesn't show it, because Maria is Maria, and she eats the world for breakfast every day, or at least she did before going through this existential bump that doesn't let her act as she would under normal conditions.
"Good morning," she greets, and Trinidad turns toward her. The businesswoman's perfume subtly floods her senses, causing a shiver that takes her back to a certain moment they shared. She loses her breath.
"Hello, Maria," the businesswoman returns the greeting and turns back to Ursula.
Maria knows she must act normally so Ursula doesn't notice anything weird in her behavior, but the truth is it's hard because the fact that Trinidad acts as if she hadn't slept with her the other night really bothers her.
"Well, what's up?" says Ursula, leaning back in her chair after Maria sits next to Trinidad.
"My secretary has found a building in a London town that would be perfect for what we want to do.
It's an old inn, the owner is retiring and none of his children want to take over, so he's going to sell it," Trinidad explains.
"I took the liberty of contacting him to go see it and he said it has to be this week because afterward he has a scheduled trip to France that he can't postpone.
I can arrange the trip for tomorrow, something quick with the return the next day. "
Ursula nods thoughtfully, she doesn't need to check her schedule for the rest of the week because she discussed it with Maria a few hours ago.
"It's impossible for me this week," Ursula explains, "but if it's okay with you, Maria will accompany you on my behalf."
Maria's eyes almost pop out of their sockets hearing this; however, Trinidad nods calmly, as if nothing affects her.
"That's not a problem for me. We'll go in my private plane, I'll tell my secretary to arrange the visit and organize everything to leave first thing tomorrow. I'll send you the details later," she tells Maria, who looks at her stunned when she stands up, concluding the meeting.
"Why do I have to accompany her?" Maria asks as soon as Trinidad leaves. "She doesn't need us for this, she can go alone."
"I'm getting tired of all this nonsense, Maria," Ursula snaps.
"If we're going to set up a women's shelter there, I want to see it, and if I can't see it, you're going to see it and that's final.
I want you to stop this string of complaints about everything related to Trinidad.
Whether you like it or not, we're collaborating with her now, so accept it once and for all. "
"Fine," the lawyer huffs.
"Perfect."
"God, I think I need to get laid," Maria looks at the ceiling with a sigh. Ursula laughs.
"More?" she asks, raising an eyebrow, "because lately it seems you never stop."
"Maybe that's the problem, that no matter how much I sleep around, I don't feel satisfied," she evaluates out loud for the first time, again, looking at the ceiling.
Maria still misses Ursula, after so many years of sleeping together, her friend knew how to push the right buttons and give her what she needed at every moment, including especially, the conversations afterward.
Now it's impossible to find that in other women, much less if she only uses them for a quick lay and then runs away.
Then Trinidad appears in her head like a flash, taking her on that stool, causing her immense pleasure as if she knew her body as well as Ursula did.
Since it happened, Maria keeps wondering what it would be like to have a proper encounter with her, but then she remembers how coldly the engineer left and left her wanting more, exactly what she's been doing lately with all women, and again, rage takes over because the feeling of being on the other side doesn't please her at all.
"Maybe it's not casual hookups you should be looking for," Ursula concludes, "enough time has passed since you divorced Marcos, I think you can leave behind that phase of being a scorned and angry woman who behaves like a cold and ruthless player with all the women who cross her path and start opening up a bit. "
"Open up like this?" Maria spreads her legs as wide as she can and Ursula bursts out laughing.
"Don't be gross," she says and Maria also laughs when she closes them.
"Seriously now," the lawyer says, "maybe you're right, but deep down I like this being cold and ruthless thing," she admits, arching an eyebrow.
"You might like it, but it doesn't satisfy you, you said it yourself, Maria. I think it's time for you to turn the page and accept once and for all that you're a divorced and free woman with every right in the world to rebuild your life."
"Are you telling me to find myself a Mildred?" she asks mockingly, "because no offense, but I don't like kids enough to put up with them every day."
Ursula smiles when she thinks of Lili, she's delighted with the girl, she loves her so much she feels like her own.
"I'm not saying look for a serious relationship, just allow yourself to get to know those women you sleep with a little better, maybe one of them will surprise you."
Again, from her long list of conquests, the image that appears in her head is Trinidad's, the only one of them all who has given her the slip, and also the only one who causes tremors in her chest when she thinks about her.
"We'll see, for now, I'll have to cancel my date tonight so I won't be late for the private plane excursion with our friend Trinidad," she says sarcastically.
"You better not be late, and I hope you'll be cordial and not try to pump her for information or make her feel uncomfortable," Ursula warns her.
"Relax, I'll behave," Maria assures.
Ursula raises an eyebrow.
"Really, I promise," the lawyer smiles.
"Very well, and I hope that date of yours tonight isn't with any employee from here," Ursula reminds her.
Maria's whole body tenses while she shakes her head negatively, feeling cold sweat running down her back.
Her date isn't anyone from the company, but she's already had an encounter with Trinidad, which is much worse because she has direct dealings with Ursula.
She stands up and leaves the office while wondering why she's incapable of following such a simple order.