CHAPTER 15
“The heart has reasons that reason itself can’t understand…”
MARIA GAbrIELA
Today was calmer, and for the first time in days, I could finally breathe.
After all the chaos with Diego and his six-month proposal, I decided what I needed most was a break. So I headed to my mother’s house.
She lived only a few streets away. My mom and I had always had a special bond, and I knew spending time with her would soothe my mind like nothing else could.
She’d just come back from a short trip to Gramado, in Rio Grande do Sul—a trip I’d helped plan, and one she more than deserved.
She hadn’t traveled in nearly ten years, and it was something I’d put off for far too long because of the debts my father had left behind, a burden we’d carried together for years.
As I walked toward her house, my thoughts slipped back to those darker days—when the bills piled up and loan sharks pounded on our door, demanding repayment for what my father had borrowed.
He’d passed away a few years ago, a sudden heart attack, but the debts didn’t die with him.
I remembered the desperation of trying to pay everything off while pretending to be strong for my mom.
But finally, the storm had passed. The debts were nearly gone. I’d managed to get my finances in order and, with careful planning, had given my mother the chance to breathe easier. That trip was my small gift to her—a way of saying we were stepping into a new chapter.
When I rang the bell, the familiar sound instantly calmed me. Seconds later, the door swung open, and there she was.
My mother greeted me with a warm smile, the kind that could light up an entire room. Time had been kind to her, I always thought.
We looked so much alike. Her hair, now streaked with gray, fell in soft waves over her shoulders, just like mine did when I left it natural, before I dyed it darker.
Her eyes mirrored mine too—large, expressive, a shade of blue that seemed to shift with the light.
When I was younger, I used to joke she could pass for my older sister, and even now, with fine lines around her eyes, she carried that same serene beauty people never failed to admire.
“Sweetheart!” She pulled me into a tight hug, and I closed my eyes, sinking into the safety of it. My mom had always been my anchor, and in that embrace I felt a sense of security I’d been missing lately.
“How was the trip, Mom?” I asked as we stepped inside.
The smell of fresh coffee filled the air, wrapping me in the comfort only a mother’s home could offer.
“Oh, it was wonderful,” she said, her eyes sparkling with excitement I hadn’t seen in her for so long. “Gramado is everything they say and more. The food, the sights… I even met a few interesting people on the tour!”
I sat at the kitchen table while she poured the coffee. Watching her this animated was everything—like life had finally returned to her after years of being stuck at home, weighed down by the past.
“I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Mom. You’ve deserved this trip for such a long time.”
She sat down beside me, giving me that motherly look that always seemed to see right through me. But she knew today wasn’t the day for heavy topics. We both understood that work—especially after all the recent drama—wasn’t something I wanted to drag into this moment.
“You know, sweetheart…” she said, gently taking my hand, “I was talking to a woman in Gramado, and she told me how she started traveling alone after her kids left home. I was thinking maybe I could try that. What do you think?”
I smiled, charmed by the thought.
“I think it’s perfect, Mom. You should do more for yourself now. Live a little, without all the worries.”
She laughed, the sound light, but her eyes held gratitude—for the battles we’d survived together.
“I could only do this because you were by my side,” she said softly, her eyes misting with emotion. “I don’t know what I would’ve done without you. You know that, don’t you?”
A silence hung between us, and I felt my chest tighten. I didn’t know what I would’ve done without her either—especially after Dad died and the collectors started showing up. Losing him while carrying that financial weight had been one of the hardest chapters of my life.
But we’d survived it. Together. And that bond had only made us stronger.
“We helped each other,” I said, keeping my voice light. “Now it’s time to enjoy life. You deserve it more than anyone.”
She smiled at me again, but there was something else in the air—a mix of relief and pride. We both knew the scars from those years would always remain, but we also knew we were stronger because of them.
“And you, my daughter?” she asked gently, shifting the subject. “How’s your heart… really?”
I hesitated before answering. My mother always knew when something was wrong, but she also respected my boundaries. I wasn’t ready to talk about Diego or the mess my life had become because of him. Not yet.
“I’m fine, Mom,” I said, trying to sound convincing. “Taking care of things. Working. The usual.”
She nodded, as if to say she understood—that today wasn’t the day for details.
We spent the rest of the afternoon talking about her trip, about lighter things, about the good parts of life. And I let myself savor that peace for as long as I could. Moments like these were rare, and I knew I’d need every bit of strength to face whatever came next with Diego.
But for now, I was content just to be there.
The next day, real life came calling.
I woke with that heavy feeling of someone on the edge of a final decision. It was time to settle things with Diego once and for all. I couldn’t keep living in this limbo, but the thought of facing him made my stomach tighten.
I knew he was waiting for an answer, and I’d decided the best thing to do was accept the six-month proposal. At least it would buy me time to get my life in order before finally moving on.
But confronting Diego was never easy.
He always managed to throw me off—whether with his provocations or just by being there, those intense eyes seeming to see more than I ever wanted to show.
I spent the morning at my desk, avoiding any direct interaction with him. Diego hadn’t shown up yet, which only made my nerves worse. My mind wandered, replaying how the conversation might go, imagining his reaction when I finally told him I’d stay.
Part of me wanted to dodge the conversation forever. Another part knew there was no escaping it.
By the end of my shift, after reviewing reports and setting the day’s agenda, I knew I had to end the suspense. I couldn’t keep running. I gathered my documents, took a deep breath, and walked down the hallway toward my boss’s office.
My footsteps echoed louder than usual, like even the floor was warning me this wouldn’t be a routine chat.
I knocked firmly. His voice called for me to come in, and when I opened the door, Diego was at his leather chair, eyes on his computer.
When he finally looked up, something flickered there. It wasn’t the usual coldness. It was as if he’d been waiting for me.
“Maria Gabriela,” he said, his voice steady but focused. “I was starting to wonder when you’d come see me.”
I gave a faint smile, trying to hold myself together as I closed the door.
His office always felt bigger than it was, those massive windows framing the city beyond. The familiar scent of leather and fresh coffee hung in the air, oddly comforting.
“I’ve decided to stay,” I said plainly, wanting to cut through the tension. “I’m accepting the six-month proposal.”
Diego took in my words carefully. There was something in his eyes, like he was scanning for hesitation. But when he saw I was resolved, his shoulders eased.
“I’m glad to hear that,” he said, a subtle smile playing on his lips, though I could hear the relief in his voice. “I know this is best for everyone. And as I promised—no retaliation when you leave. If you leave.”
“Right.”
He rose from his chair and came around to the front of his desk, stopping just a few steps from me. His presence was overwhelming, as always. Even when he wasn’t trying to be intimidating, he owned the space just by standing there.
“And I promise I’ll keep being the same boss you know,” he added, arms crossed as he watched me. “Nothing between us changes. We move forward, like we always have.”
I tried to process his words. Part of me believed his sincerity. Another part… well, knowing Diego, I knew he always had cards hidden up his sleeve. Still, there was something in his tone that made me think he’d actually try to keep things in check.
He smiled again—this time lighter, almost playful.
It was the Diego who sometimes peeked out from under the cold, calculating layer. The Diego I secretly liked to see but who never showed himself fully.
“So, six months,” he said, with that peculiar humor only he could pull off. “Six months for you to regret even thinking about leaving the best company in the country.”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
For all his control and his ability to drive me crazy, he had this unique way of making everything feel like part of a game. And, somehow, I liked our exchanges because of it—those moments when he lowered his guard and was just… Diego.
“Six months for me to see if you can be a tolerable boss,” I shot back, matching his teasing tone.
For a moment, all the tension between us seemed to evaporate, and I caught myself thinking maybe, just maybe, these six months wouldn’t be so bad.
It was strange, but I liked my boss like this—when he wasn’t trying to control everything or play the relentless CEO, but simply someone I could talk to and even laugh with, if only for a few minutes.
He watched me for a few seconds longer, eyes fixed on mine as if trying to read more. But before the silence turned awkward, he tilted his head slightly and said, with that voice that always seemed to know exactly what to say:
“Welcome back, Maria Gabriela.”
He extended his hand, almost ceremonially, as if we were sealing a new agreement.
I clasped it, feeling the warmth of his skin against mine.
It was official.
I’d stay for the next six months.
As I walked out of his office, I felt a mix of relief and a sharp flicker of anticipation. Diego was a mystery I still hadn’t unraveled, but I knew, somehow, he would always have an impact on me.
And for now, I was willing to play his game—so long as I could keep hold of my own life.