Chapter 3 #2
I went back to the living room to verify that the door had been closed and passed through the kitchen to pick up the tea that I hadn't gotten to drink.
I sat on the bed leaning against the headboard.
When I brought the cup to my lips, I noticed they were sensitive due to the kisses I had shared with that demon named Hermes Darwich.
Just remembering them made me shiver. He was right; we would probably be incendiary in bed because as soon as he touched me, my body reacted.
I refused to feel bad—I had done the right thing—but the truth was that I felt something in my chest that distressed me.
I didn't know what it was due to, nor did I have any intention of finding out.
I left the empty cup on the nightstand and turned off the light, but Morpheus didn't want to embrace me for a long time, and I tossed and turned in bed for hours.
When I finally managed to fall asleep, those green eyes once again bewitched me throughout the night.
◆◆◆
The next morning I woke up in a deplorable state, my head was pounding, I was still tired, and I was in a foul mood.
I went to the shower hoping that the hot water would improve what was shaping up to be a mortifying morning.
In the shower, I couldn’t stop thinking about the kisses I’d shared with Hermes, and that made me even more furious.
I got out and prepared some coffee and toast with the intention of going to the gym afterward to burn off energy—energy I didn’t have because I was destroyed, but I still planned to use what little I had left with the hope of being able to sleep the rest of the day.
At the gym, I did my routine and also decided to swim a bit. As I was leaving, I received a message from Serafina:
“I’m heading to your place”
My response:
“I’ll be there in 15 because I’m just leaving the gym”
Her response:
“I’ll be there in about 20”
I figured my friend was coming to check how I was doing because she was worried since I’d told her I wasn’t feeling well the night before.
What a friend I’d become, lying and worrying people who mattered to me—and all because of that egotistical, overbearing, arrogant, controlling, and haughty man! Damn you, Darwich!
My friend arrived almost right after I did, and as soon as she entered, she began her assessment.
“Are you okay? Because you look terrible. Those dark circles aren’t from the gym,” she said with her inquisitive gaze.
“I’m just tired. I didn’t sleep much last night.”
“Why? As far as I know, you left early.”
I looked at her, defeated. I knew that sooner or later I would tell her everything that had happened with Hermes, so if I wanted to get rid of that look that made me feel like a suspect in some crime, it would be better to start as soon as possible.
“Well, actua—”
“Wait! First I have to show you something,” she exclaimed, and began searching for something in her purse. A few seconds later, she pulled out a magazine and showed me the cover.
“Is this Baco’s brother? The one you like?”
I looked at the magazine cover and nearly landed on my backside on the floor.
The image was a photo of Hermes in an office.
He was standing, leaning against the edge of a desk, wearing a dark suit, and as always, his expression was serious.
Didn’t that man ever smile, not even for photos?
Nevertheless, he looked spectacular. Obviously, if his image occupied the entire cover, he must be the main feature.
My friend was looking at me, waiting for confirmation, but I had gone mute and only had eyes to observe every detail of that perfection made man.
“Well?” she asked, waving the magazine.
I snatched it from her and looked at it closely, not to make sure, but to examine him carefully.
“It’s him,” I replied.
“My God! What a man! He’s truly gorgeous and imposing.”
“He is. Why is he in the magazine?”
“Because they’re featuring successful businessmen and he tops the list. In the interview, he says little about his personal life, only that he’s not in a relationship and that topic isn’t his priority. They call him the most eligible bachelor.”
“Imagine that,” I said, stretching out my arm to return the magazine. “Take it with you, I’m not going to read it.”
“Something happened with him,” she stated with certainty. My friend knew me better than I thought.
“Sit down already, I have quite a bit to tell you.”
She looked at me with eyes as wide as saucers but obeyed immediately and sat quietly waiting for me to begin my story.
I told her what had happened at the pub and his subsequent appearance at my apartment.
I held nothing back, telling her everything from the kisses to his proposal and my rejection.
Serafina took a while to process everything I told her because she was looking at me with narrowed eyes but saying nothing.
She must have been very surprised because she rarely found herself speechless.
“What do you think?” I asked, seeing that she was just staring at me without blinking.
“Did you really make out with that hunk?”
“That’s what I just told you,” I said, rolling my eyes.
“And you rejected him,” she stated.
“I didn’t reject the kisses. What I rejected was his proposal for sex without exclusivity.”
Silence again...
“You did the right thing!” she finally said. “Who does he think he is? He may be very attractive, but he’s an imbecile.”
“Not just that—he’s bossy, overbearing, so arrogant and haughty that he drives you crazy, and on top of that, he never smiles!”
“And he drives you wild,” she stated.
“I like him—who wouldn’t like a man like him?
But I’m not going to let his beauty cloud my judgment to the point of forgetting my principles.
No way am I going to sleep with him. If I accepted his proposal, I’d have to settle for the crumbs left by his other lovers.
Besides, with a guy like him, I’d be risking my heart, and I’m not willing to do that. ”
“I agree,” she said, then paused for a few seconds and added, “Still, let me tell you that I don’t think he’ll accept your refusal so calmly. He doesn’t seem like a man who’s used to being rejected. What will you do if he keeps insisting?”
“I'll stick to my position. You know me and you know I could never be with someone who leaves my bed and gets into another one. I could never handle that.”
“Yes, I know, but in this case I'm worried about what I see this man does to you.”
“What do you mean?”
“I've never seen you so, so, so... how should I put it... so confused and vulnerable,” she finally said.
“Confused maybe, but vulnerable I don't think so.”
“If you say so...”
“Don't worry, I'm a strong woman.”
“I know that, but promise me you'll be careful with him. He seems like a dangerous guy.”
“Dangerous?” I asked, confused.
“For your heart, Delfi, for your heart.”
“I promise to proceed with the utmost caution.”
She looked at me again, squinting her eyes.
“Are you sure you don't feel...”
“I'm sure,” I stated, interrupting her. I didn't need to hear that kind of outlandish assumption.
“Be careful. He's a man who's several years older than you, I assume with extensive experience with women and a lot of influence. Next to him, you're just a girl, and I don't mean just because of age. I'm worried you might develop strong feelings for that jerk and end up destroyed.”
“Even though I'm younger than him, I'm also a mature woman. I know I'm not going to risk my heart for one night of good sex.”
“And as your best friend, I feel obligated to tell you that I have my doubts about what you're saying. Delfi, I see you too disturbed by this man. If you decide to sleep with him, that's fine, but don't lose perspective on what it is—an adventure and nothing more.”
“Are you saying this because you're afraid I'll fall in love?” I asked, taking her hand because my friend was looking at me with great concern.
“To be honest, I think you're already more involved than you believe, and that's exactly why I think Hermes Darwich could end up being 'the heartbreak' of your life. Just listen to me and don't lose perspective on what he's offering you,” she repeated, squeezing my hand.
“I promise.”
Seri stayed until late afternoon, and after she left, I lay down for a while because I was exhausted.
Talking with her had left me with a bittersweet feeling.
On one hand, I felt more at ease having expressed my concerns and getting the opinion of someone who cared about me and always wanted what was best for me, but it was precisely her opinions that also troubled me.
◆◆◆
The first days of the week, as had been happening lately, were exhausting because we had so much work at the company.
On those days, I got home so late that I didn't even run into Baco.
In a way, it was good because I was so busy that I didn't have time to think about the person who lately occupied almost all my thoughts, Hermes Darwich.
It wasn't until Thursday that I met up with Baco, who stopped by my apartment and stayed for dinner with me.
“I don't have anything prepared. Should we order something?” I suggested.
“Should we order pizza?” he suggested.
“Chinese food?” I proposed.
“Perfect, I'll call,” he confirmed.
“I'm going to change because I'm still wearing my work clothes and they're not the most comfortable.”
“But they look very sexy on you. I've always liked those tight little suits you wear,” he said, with that mischievous smile I knew so well.
I grabbed a pillow and threw it at him while he dodged it and laughed.
During dinner, we talked a lot about his paintings and his upcoming conversation with Catalina, as they had arranged to meet and talk the next day.
“Do you have any idea what she's going to propose?” I asked.