Blake
-And I'm worried about you. Paul's voice makes me turn around disoriented. Not believing it, a few seconds pass before I hug him to slap him on the back.
-Please be content, I don't want you to make a scene of tongue kissing.
-It's good to see you. The smile of surprise fades as I begin to think about the reasons for your visit. What happened? I didn't see you in Madrid until next week.
-Simon. You know him. You must sign the stock transfer as soon as possible or Baltimore will not stand his pressure.
Paul is referring to my drone company where he is my right hand man.
-What has he done?
-He is trying to extort money from Dallas manufacturers. He has said we are insolvent to meet our commitments.
-That's nonsense," I take a calmer drink. We have never failed them with any payment.
-No, but in view of the rumors that your uncle has spread, they have decided to withhold more than half of the purchase. They are looking for new guarantees.
-That would slow us down too much with orders.
-Especially with Fastur y Asociados. Our best client.
-What can we do?
The drone market is very new, we are just getting a name for ourselves, if our confidence falls we will lose everything.
-I have managed to convince them that none of the rumors are true.
-Good.
-Y...
-?Y?
-I told them that you are one of the agency's senior partners.
-You've done what?
-I had to build trust. But they demand that you be there on Thursday with the amended bylaws. They want to see you in person. They haven't met with you for some time and fear you won't comply.
-I've already given them enough guarantees!
-They want more.
-I wanted to keep the agency away from my projects.
-And he's still out. They are just looking for the contracts. They need to know that you have the resources to pay them and deliver for a company as important as Fastur and Associates. We don't have much time. If you sign tonight first thing Monday morning Dana should have it all worked out.
-She got it approved by the board. It's the last test I had left. She will be a shareholder. She just needs to sign.
-It's perfect. With your acceptance Simon is out. You did it brother! That means we can deliver the documents and calm the people of Dallas. All in one shot.
All in one shot. The one I feel like throwing at my head. Rushing me to sign to save me was the last thing I would have thought would happen.
-Paul? Paul? -Paul!
Mariam's voice approaches as fast as her footsteps.
-Happy birthday tadpole.
-You remembered!
Poor Paul didn't finish speaking when my sister grabbed him by the neck to hold on like a koala bear.
-Hi, I'm Sofia.
-Sofi, this is Paul. 's best friend Paul. These two are the terror of Baltimore.
-Hi, my name is Paul, and I'm not a terror.
Sofia shakes her head with an overly broad smile. I plan to hang my sister.
-Paul, did you know that Sofia and are sweethearts? They're super in love. I shouldn't have let him drink. Are you visiting? They didn't tell me you were coming. His eyes are red from the vodka.
-Paul is here because of some work issues we need to resolve.
-One that if you could fix right now we could send Dana. She waits impatiently.
-That woman is always impatient for my brother.
-Mariam!
-What! Sofi doesn't mind. Dana's no match for me," she says, leaning her body closer to my girl. She's a hang-out kind of girl. She's been home a few times, but she never stays over.
Mariam's friends took her away while I was yelling at Paul something I don't care about. I'm too focused on trying to keep Sofia from dodging my gaze.
-Has he been drinking? -Paul can't get over his astonishment.
-Sofia... -I plan to hang my sister.
-I have to get some drinks. There are only a few. Paul, I'm so glad you're in Madrid.
I force her to turn around to face me. She still won't look at me.
-Dana is my lawyer.
-Among so many things. Yes.
-I think I'm thirsty," Paul trails off.
-She doesn't mean anything. We've talked about this before.
-How about Nicole?
-Who the hell is Nicole?
-The model who walks around the second floor saying how good you are at... you know.
I prefer not to clarify, mainly because I have no idea about the woman talking. I probably slept with her last year. Or the year before. I don't know because I don't remember her! Not her or any of them. Sex for me was a distraction, something unimportant and without remorse. She wouldn't understand. But how can she expect me to remember all the women I fucked! I hold her by the elbow to keep her from leaving.
-Am I like them too?
I let go of his arm. Fury blinds me.
-How can you! Haven't I shown you what I'm capable of for you?
-I asked if anyone was there and you said no!
-And there isn't!
-Right. You just roll around in their beds. Tell me? Will there be many more? Four, five, fifty?
-Sofia...
I press my forehead to contain the rage.
-Tell me! Twenty! Ten! Thirty!
-So many! So many that I can't count! And you knew it. Your little friend took it upon himself to warn you. Do you remember?
-Leave Anthony out of all this.
-No, of course. He is wonderful.
-Fuck you!
She doesn't even take two steps when I grab her around the waist to pull her onto my chest.
I am furious and painfully agitated. She won't leave me. I press her body against mine as I force her to look at me. She moves uncontrollably. She tries to pull away. I imprison her with my arms and seek her mouth. I kiss her furiously. I can't control my nerves. She refuses, trying to push me away. I hold her neck to take control.
-No.
His words deny me, but his body stops struggling.
-You are acting childish.
-Am I an idiot now?
-Why do you have to make everything so difficult! I was a bachelor and I was fucking everyone. Yes. So what!
At this point I wish I could walk out of here with her on my back and take her to a place where clarifications were not necessary. I need to hold her until her warmth melts the chilling fear of losing her.
-I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that.
-I'd better get some drinks.
-Fuck the drinks.
-It's your sister's birthday and she doesn't deserve to have her night spoiled by us.
-Do I deserve it?
-She didn't fuck everyone!
She squirms and wriggles. I let her go. I'm afraid to say another stupid thing that will muddy the situation even more.
-So it's true," Paul approaches, offering me a beer. Are you serious?
-Why don't you believe me! Fuck!
-Fuck means beatuful?
-Paul's mother is Mexican. She speaks Spanish better than I do. I drink several sips in a row with my eyes fixed in the distance. Being more explicit on his back. I squeeze the bottle even harder.
-You have fallen in love.
-She is the only thing that matters to me.
-She's jealous, she'll get over it. You've been no saint. You'd better get her ready here and not check it out for herself in Baltimore.
-I will not deceive her.
-That's not what I mean. Maybe your little friends are not happy to see you caught and want to bother her.
-I hadn't thought of that. I finish my beer in one gulp.
-Who is that? Paul points to the tall dark-haired man with all the girls around him and next to Mariam.
-His best and perfect friend. Anthony.
-The bastard's got them crazy.
The girls dance in front of the mixing table like cattle at the auction show. He smiles at them all, but his steady hand rests on my girl's back. Always such a good friend and always so willing to comfort her.
A girl walks by with two full beers. I take one from her. She looks at me angrily. I look at her worse.
-He'll get over it. All this being with you and also being a shareholder, the way your mother met her mother, it sure has been too many emotions all together. Give him time.
-I haven't told him yet.
-What!
-I will do it tomorrow morning. I wanted to prepare it. I can't make mistakes. New mistakes. Damn it... she doesn't trust anyone.
-And that's why you decided to cheat on her.
-It was all too fast. I needed to check that it was really her. In the past I chased too many false leads. I gave myself some time to investigate her and when I found out what she looked like... I wanted her to know me. Knowing would have changed everything between us.
-Are you saying that because you fell in love with her you decided to lie to her?
-Something similar.
-You'd better fix it fast or we'll both end up banging on the doors of the unemployment office.
I rush the end of the beer.
-The one we were missing.
Paul finishes his drink in one gulp. I turn to see who he means.
Fuck!