24 — Noah Foster
“Afraid of losing control
'Cause everything you thought I could be
It fell to the ground right in front of you.”
Numb — Linkin Park
Another discovery about the girl who stole not only my sanity but also my heart.
The fact of knowing that she had people who made a difference in her life, in her childhood, makes me feel calmer, as I still need to find out everything about her.
After taking a shower and getting dressed, I return to the living room and see the two of them excited. I can feel the affection between them, however, I know that they are already waiting for us in the office, and unfortunately I will be the one to interrupt this affectionate moment.
— Girls, I know you must have many years of conversation to catch up on, but we have a meeting now. Catarina, can you accompany me? — Deep breath.
She is so beautiful, I just want to protect her in my arms.
— Let's go — he responds. — Yolanda, I’ll see you before I go. — Hug each other.
— Don't worry, my girl. You can trust them, everyone here today is of great nature. These boys won my heart. — Yolanda turns to me. — Noah, remember, fate knows what it does.
— I know well — I have to agree.
We went to the office, where we met my father and Thomaz, as well as my friends: Erik, Gael, Dom and Beni. My family.
— Goodnight! — I greet them. — Beni, I found her outside. I hope you do not mind.
“Not at all,” he replies. — Come, Nina, I'll introduce you to everyone, even though I believe that besides Dominic, you already know the others.
Catarina approaches my friend, intertwining their arms and starts to greet each of them. I see that, as she is introduced, she relaxes her posture, which, until then, had been a little tense.
— Well, I think we can start — my father takes the lead. — However, before we go into the information we have, I would like to know, Nina, if it would be okay for you to tell us what happened while you were still in that house. — Noticing your discomfort, he continues. — If you feel more comfortable, I can ask Iolanda to join us.
— If my past can help you catch that man, I'll let you know. And really, I would feel more comfortable if she were here with me.
— I'll call her, okay? You don't need to be afraid of us. Here, we just want to help you. — I approach and speak quietly, so that only she hears: — I will protect you, trust me — she nods, sighing.
As soon as I open the door, I find Iolanda, about to knock with a tray in hand.
— I was going to call you. Keep Catarina company during the meeting, if you can, help us too.
— Clear. Let's resolve what should have been done many years ago.
We entered together and settled into the seats, all with some apprehension, however, determined to resolve whatever was necessary. I wanted to be the one to sit next to her and hug her, but I hold back. On one side is Benício and on the other, Iaiá. Better that way.
— Well, I believe we are ready to listen, and after she finishes her report, I would like to share something too — Thomaz informs us. — Ready, my girl?
— Yes. Perhaps some points may seem silly to you, but I will tell you everything.
I remain silent, watching closely, hoping that she hasn't experienced anything related to physical abuse because if that has happened, I will make sure to kill that bastard with my own hands.
— In your time. We’re here for you and your mother,” my father reassures her.
— You already know that my father died when I was little, and if I remember, at that time, Otávio was already taking care of the company's administration with him. I deduced this from small things that I heard my mother talking about work and that this was the reason why he came to our house. At least, I believe that's it, as I said, I was a child and heard some things. — He sighs deeply. — In my naivety, I thought he was a friend, but after Dad left, I started to close myself off a little — he pauses, taking a sip of the tea that Iaiá brought. The silence and apprehension that fills the room are almost palpable.
— Indeed, she was an agitated and talkative child and Ant?nio's departure closed her down a little, something normal for a child who suffers a loss from one day to the next, even more so because he was a father who was very present in her life. But everything got worse a few months after the wedding — Iolanda adds. — That man changed practically the entire staff, keeping only Thomaz and me. The visits stopped, and over time, Mrs. Vitória also began to withdraw. It was strange to see a woman as kind as her lose the sparkle in her eyes — pause for a moment. — Our attention focused on Nina, because it was strange the way the security guards seemed to always be glued to her. It wasn't just protection, you know? — we agreed, so Catarina continues:
— The issue that made me afraid of men and their touch was due to some dreams or nightmares that I believed I had while I slept, but I felt them, but when I opened my eyes I didn't see anything. This was leaving me confused. — Close your eyes for a moment.
— Do you feel good to continue? — I ask, because I no longer even want to imagine what’s coming.
— Yes. Continuing, this started when I was twelve. These dreams were very real, but until then, I thought they were things in my mind, I... — Sigh. — I felt like I was being touched, I felt a hand caressing my legs, my thighs, my chest, but then it stopped. Then I opened my eyes and there was no one in the room. I don't know if they can understand.
— I can ask a question? If you're comfortable, of course — Gael says, gently. She states and he continues. — From the moment you started to feel, let's say, strange and suspected that someone was entering the room, didn't you think about, for example, locking the door or looking for your mother? I don't want to be invasive or judge, it's just to understand better — he adds.
She is tense, however, determined to put an end to it. I can see it in your expression.
— There were no keys in my room and I was prohibited from entering the room that my mother and he occupied. Before you ask about Iaiá, I wasn't allowed to leave there after 10 pm. There was always a security guard at the door to my room. — Lower your head.
— I understand — my friend replies, pondering something. — Sorry for asking, if you want to continue…. — he encourages.
— Yes, continuing. This didn't happen every day, so I wondered if my disturbed mind was projecting these hallucinations. After all, I was entering adolescence, I had no friends, only a few classmates with whom I spoke at school and rarely. I always felt a bad feeling when he was around. — Take another sip of tea. — After turning fifteen, I hadn't had these weird “dreams” for some time, but there was one night when I was restless. I couldn't sleep until I heard the door open and I closed my eyes, pretending to sleep. It was then that I had confirmation that they weren't dreams, it was Otávio, there, next to my bed.
I stand up abruptly, catching everyone's attention. I run my hand through my hair, waiting for shit to break out, so I can finally go after that unfortunate man.
I'll kill him.
One way or another.
— Noah, calm down, please — Dom calls my attention. — You're going to scare her... — he whispers, holding my arm.
— Catarina, do you want to continue? If you're not feeling well, you don't need to, okay? — I hear Erik talking to her.
— Now that I've started, I'll go to the end. Believe me, I, more than anyone, want to have my mother back and for Otávio to lose everything.
— As for him, we’ll talk later — Thomaz comments.
— Jack definitely discovered new information about her company.
— Is it okay for you guys to listen to the rest? — she questions.
— They wanted to know, so they are here to listen — Iolanda, answers for everyone.
— I was sure it was him, because I heard him whispering close to my ear, while he caressed my legs. — Take a deep breath. — Before he could touch me intimately, I heard Thomaz calling for him at my bedroom door and that scared him. When he got up, lying on his side, I saw that he was zipping up his pants and mumbling something, but then I went back to pretending to be asleep. It was thanks to Mr. Thomaz that nothing else happened and from then on, small episodes like that happened, six, in fact, to be more specific. He would come in and lean against the wall, watching me, then I would get agitated and he would leave. I think he was afraid of me seeing him, I don't know. Well, that was it and over time, I learned to talk less than I used to, I practiced expressions in front of the mirror, as I suspect that my mother also suffers, being with him.
— Right. Is he well? — Iaiá hugs her.
And me? I want to rip his balls off, just for daring to lay that rotten finger on her, on my girl. I'm going after that bastard, not today, because I know my father already suspects how I'm doing, but soon I'll have my hands around that man's neck.
Fury completely dominates me, I am insane.
— That's my life while I was there, a happy place, where my father died and where I just survived. — I see some tears trying to escape your eyes. — If you ask me why I didn't report him to someone or ask for help, the answer is that I had no proof, and also, I heard him talking to a security guard and I was scared.
—And what did you hear? — Gael asks.
— That he would kill anyone who dared put his plans at risk. — He continues with his voice breaking. — That I would be his final card, he kept me away from everything and everyone, precisely to be naive enough and believe anything he said.
— FUCK! — I roar, like an animal. — I'm going to kill this bastard!
I don't see anyone else in front of me. It's as if anger took control of my senses. I know she's still saying something about her mother, but I don't pay attention, since at the moment, my mind keeps thinking about pulling out that man's dick and making him swallow it.
I spend a long time in a world of revenge, until compulsive crying brings me back. Iaiá is in tears, in a way that breaks my heart.
I calm down, look at my father, who doesn't understand what I'm feeling, and turn to the two women who are here. Catarina, after reporting her fears and everything that happened, is staying strong, consoling her beloved Iolanda, who continues apologizing amid tearful sobs for not having protected her more.
I observe the rest of the people and they all look at her as if she were a crystal, fragile, capable of breaking at any moment, however, what she has just done, meeting with men and telling them their biggest fears, only makes me admire her. further.
She is a strong and determined woman, I dare say she always has been, she just had it well kept, but now she is resurfacing to life, like a phoenix.
— Well, I would like to highlight what our girl said about denouncing Otávio. — Thomaz breaks the small silence that formed in the room. — Anyway, at that time, I already knew that her mother was in some danger, just like she was. However, as you know, my men were fired and that man hides everything very well. — Sigh. — I spent years investigating as best I could, and a few days ago, one of mine actually discovered that his father's car, Nina, was sabotaged, causing the accident.
— Proceed, please. Deep down, I always suspected that something wasn't right — she asks, with some pain.
— As I said, we already have proof, however, I need to get Victória out of that house before I catch him. I don't want her around if he suspects we're on his trail. Besides he has a guy, let's say, more fucked up than him, as his right—hand man. — Turn to me. — Yes, Noah. They're both in big shit. So, I really need you to take care of yourself. We will also ensure your safety.
I don't worry about my safety, I don't give a damn about that, what matters is that Catarina has just become part of my world.
No, she is my whole world.
No harm will come near her.
Now, all I have to do is figure out how to make her completely mine without losing my best friend.
After a completely restless night, I couldn't sleep and now I'm in my makeshift room at Foster Enterprise, looking at countless contracts, unable to concentrate on anything.
After all the revelations, we talked for a while longer and after Nina left with Iolanda to have tea in the living room, my father explained that the circumstances were even worse than I imagined, but in order not to scare her, they avoided informing her about your mother's situation.
In two weeks, if everything went as expected, they would rescue her, catch that scoundrel off guard, and then hand him over to the police.
I committed myself not to put my feet in my hands.
In other words, not going after him and playing vigilante.
However, this was about to happen, even if it was not planned or expected.
Taking everyone by surprise.