Chapter 1 #7
"Why do you think I owe you any explanation about my relationship with Baco?" I responded, because I was annoyed by the bossy way he asked me, returning to being the distant and authoritarian man.
"Do you always answer with another question?"
"Maybe because I don’t like the way you ask them, they sound like orders that I have to obey immediately."
"Are you going to answer me?"
"No."
We challenged each other with our gazes, green versus blue, his an authoritative look, but this time also seemed somewhat lost, mine a look that tried to be worthy of its opponent, but was losing the battle.
Fortunately, the song came to an end and, this time, I was able to move away.
As I was leaving, he took me by the elbow again and lowered his face so that his mouth was at my ear.
"You owe me a shirt and I intend to collect," he whispered, looked at me and left, leaving me standing there completely bewildered.
Baco approached me looking at me strangely.
"Did my brother bother you?" he asked, with a furrowed brow.
"What?" I said again, totally confused by what I had experienced with that man.
"Did my brother bother you or was he inappropriate?" he repeated.
"No, not at all."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, really. Was your mother happy that you asked her to dance?" I asked, to change the subject.
"What do you think! It was her favorite song," Baco said. "Do you want to keep dancing or shall we get something to drink and eat?"
"Let’s get something to drink, my throat is dry," I stated, and in that I wasn’t lying.
As we were leaving, I could see Hermes dancing with the same woman he had been talking to earlier. She was hugging him around the neck and trying to press her body against his. That gave me a feeling in my stomach that I didn’t like and confused me even more.
What’s happening to me with that man? I’d better keep as far away from him as possible, I told myself.
We took some glasses of champagne and sat on some benches arranged around the gazebo.
At that moment, "To Live" also by Norah Jones was playing. From there we could see all the couples dancing, including Hermes and that woman. I felt the need to find out if she was his partner, but I didn’t dare ask Baco, I had the feeling that he had been puzzled by our dance.
"I’m glad to hear that your mother suggested talking about your paintings."
"It’s the first time she’s done that, so I have no idea what she’ll say."
"I’m sure it will be something good," I affirmed.
"Thanks to you."
"I have nothing to do with it, this is because of your talent. It’s a shame you didn’t show them to her before, I’m convinced she’ll support you."
Baco surprised me by caressing my cheek.
"Thank you, beautiful."
A throat clearing made us look up. Hermes was standing next to us and looking at us seriously, as always.
"Hermes, do you need something?" Baco asked.
"Mom is looking for you."
"Do you know what she wants?"
"No. You’ll have to go ask her yourself."
"Are you coming with me?" Baco asked, looking at me.
"I’d prefer to wait here, perhaps your mother needs to speak with you privately."
Baco looked at me and then at his brother who was still standing in the same place and seemed to have no intention of moving.
Then he turned and left. Having him there, I again felt that tingling in my stomach that was increasing.
Hermes followed his brother with his gaze and when he was far enough away that he couldn’t hear him, he opened his mouth to say something, but I got ahead of him and didn’t let him speak.
"I’m sorry about your shirt. I promise to buy you another one and have it delivered to you," I said, looking up at him, because I was still sitting on the bench.
"That’s not necessary, but as I told you before, I intend to collect," he stated, with his serious tone and stern look.
While I looked at him with surprise, he sat down next to me, in the place that minutes before Baco had occupied.
"You also owe me an answer," he expressed, looking into my eyes and very close to my face.
“I already told you that...”
He didn’t let me finish, placing one of his fingers on my lips while looking into my eyes with what seemed like confusion.
“I see I bring out your worst temper, but I need you to tell me.”
He left his finger pressed against my lips longer than he should have, and before withdrawing it, he caressed my lower lip with a subtle touch.
My entire body shuddered and I couldn’t help but let out a sigh.
Hermes parted his lips slightly as he seemed to debate whether to lower his mouth to mine and possess them or withdraw without tasting them.
We remained like this for a few seconds, during which I appeared to be in a trance while he, staring at my lips without blinking, seemed to be fighting an internal battle.
A nearby noise brought me back to reality and made me pull away.
“Why are you so interested? Are you one of those controlling people who need to know everything about their siblings’ lives and approve their relationships?
” I asked, trying to sound calm when I was anything but.
The butterflies that had taken residence in my stomach had now spread throughout my entire body.
“Are you in a relationship?”
“You’re insufferable!”
“I am, but in this case, not for the reasons you think,” he said, his gaze settling on my lips again.
“Tell me your reasons and maybe I’ll answer you,” I stated with conviction. If this man thought he could intimidate me with his commands, he was wrong. His presence intimidated me, his gaze, his lips, his... everything about him intimidated me, but not his bossy attitude.
“I can find out on my own,” he stated.
“Then go ahead and find out. I think your girlfriend is looking for you,” I said, looking toward the woman who had been dancing with him minutes before and who was now heading rapidly toward us with an unfriendly expression.
He turned his face and at that moment encountered her as she stopped in front of us, looking me up and down without any attempt to hide it.
“Samantha, is something wrong?” he asked, making no move to stand up and looking at her seriously.
This Samantha continued to look at me, or rather, was thoroughly scanning my body, while I observed her with curiosity. The moment Hermes asked her the question, her face completely changed, forming a sensual smile before turning to focus on him.
“I was just looking for you, Hermi. I don’t like being left alone,” she said, putting on a pouty face.
Hermi? How ridiculous! That diminutive doesn’t suit this man at all, I thought.
“Alone? There are more than 70 people in this house,” he stated bluntly.
“But you know I only have eyes for one person in particular,” she said in a syrupy voice with a silly smile.
My God! Do I really have to witness this? I wondered.
Good manners would have dictated that either she introduce herself or he introduce us, but neither seemed interested, or perhaps they were completely ignoring me. I didn’t find this woman likeable, but I would show that I, at least, was a polite and attentive person.
“My name is Delfina, pleased to meet you, Samantha,” I greeted her as I got up from the bench and extended my hand for the customary greeting. She looked at me again, this time with a forced smile.
“I’m Samantha,” she responded, returning my handshake.
Hermes also stood up from the bench and stared at me intently. At that moment, I felt completely out of place, and seeing that they continued to look at me without saying anything, I decided to make my exit and get away from those two.
“Excuse me, I’m going to look for Baco,” I said.
“Are you Baco’s girlfriend?” Samantha asked.
I could tell that Hermes was watching me attentively and even seemed to be suppressing a smile.
It was obvious he was enjoying the moment because his girlfriend, or whatever she was, was forcing me to answer the question I had refused to answer for him.
Just as I had resigned myself to giving them the information, my savior’s voice rang out loud and clear.
“I’m back, sorry for the delay,” Baco apologized, standing beside me as we all looked at him.
“Don’t worry, I was just coming to look for you.”
“I didn’t know you had a girlfriend, Baco,” Samantha commented, pressing herself even closer to Hermes, though he moved to create some distance.
Baco smiled and looked at me.
“Why should you know?” was his only comment, and then he added, “Let’s go dance.”
He took my hand and dragged me back to the dance floor. At that moment, I couldn’t suppress a smile; those two gossips would be left wondering.
The rest of the night was fun and relaxed.
When it was time for the cake, a table with a large birthday cake was set up in the center of the dance floor.
We all sang the birthday song, and Catalina blew out the candles, thanking everyone for their company, but especially her sons for everything they did for her.
After the toast, Baco suggested we leave because it was getting late and most of the guests were departing.
“Sweetheart, it was a pleasure to meet you, and I hope to see you again. You must come visit me at my house so we can chat more comfortably,” Catalina said as she said goodbye to me.
“The pleasure was mine. Thank you so much for all your kindness.”
“I’m the grateful one,” she affirmed, taking both my hands in hers. “Baco, I want you to visit me more often and bring Delfina with you.”
“Of course, as long as she’s willing to put up with this family.”
“Why would she have to be willing to put up with us?” his serious voice said.
“Hermes, don’t be indiscreet,” his mother scolded him.
“If, as it appears, the young lady is going to be a regular in this family, I don’t think my question will bother her.”
Baco and I turned to face him, while Catalina was already facing him and looking at him sternly.
“Hermes, please, don’t make the young people uncomfortable,” she reprimanded him again.
“It doesn’t make me uncomfortable,” Baco said, unconcerned.
Hermes looked at me without paying attention to the others.
“And you, what do you say?”
“I don’t have to put up with you at all because I enjoy the company of the members of this family… well, the vast majority of them.”
Baco burst out laughing because he immediately understood my clarification, and Catalina also hid a smile.
“And which member of this family would be excluded?” he insisted, and I noticed that he had returned to formal address.
“I prefer to keep that information to myself.”
“That’s enough, Hermes. Delfina, please excuse this interrogation,” Catalina said.
“It’s no problem, I’m used to it,” I stated, challenging him with my gaze.
“We’re leaving now,” Baco said. “See you soon, Mom. Hermes, I’ll see you at the office.”
“Goodbye,” I said as I turned, feeling Hermes’ penetrating eyes on me and seeing how Catalina looked at her eldest son with surprise.