CHAPTER 15
Victoria Rivas wakes up feeling every inch of her body stiff and sore. The events of yesterday still linger like a bad taste in her mouth. When she had returned from town, she marched straight into the bathroom, vowing not to touch the bed she now dubbed the ”sinful mattress”. Even if Micaela had changed the sheets, it would take setting the mattress on fire to truly cleanse it of the remnants of yesterday afternoon”s escapades.
Freshly showered, Victoria grabs several sheets from the closet and heads downstairs to crash on the sofa, deliberately ignoring the tantalizing aroma wafting from the kitchen. Micaela, despite believing Victoria overreacted, was earnestly preparing a peace-offering dinner for the two of them. She knew she”d messed up by inviting Cecilia over—the girl with a talent for intimacy that was purely physical, just like Micaela’s own preferences.
Victoria breezes past her and collapses onto the couch, so the Italian-named writer places a plate inside the microwave, hoping Victoria might forgive her enough to eat later. Earlier, Javier had called, making it clear that looking at Victoria might be a mistake—she was that furious. It was better to leave her alone.
The sofa proves a poor bedfellow; Victoria”s back aches and her neck resists every turn. She”s in a foul mood, contemplating a scalding shower to ease her tensions, but she only rises when she hears her housemate bustling in the kitchen, making her usual morning coffee. The last thing Victoria wants is an awkward encounter in the bathroom or to walk in while Micaela is still around.
“Good morning,” Micaela calls out as soon as she notices Victoria is up.
Victoria doesn’t respond. She can barely stand to look at her, so she heads upstairs to grab some clothes and head for the shower—just as the doorbell rings. Javier wasn’t lying when he said he’d be here first thing. But for now, both the editor and her troublesome housemate will have to wait; Victoria is not in the mood to deal with anyone.
“Hi, Javi, how are you?” Micaela greets as she opens the door.
“Hello, troublemaker,” Javier smiles and gives her a double kiss. “You’ve really stirred the pot, haven’t you?”
“I swear, I didn’t realize it would blow up like this,” the young writer responds, her voice tinged with regret. “Coffee?”
“Make it a strong one, please. Where’s Vicky?” Javier asks, his tone a mix of curiosity and concern as he scans the living room and finds no sign of her.
“She’s taking a shower. Ended up sleeping on the couch, didn’t even have dinner. This morning, when I went down to the kitchen, I saw the plate I left in the microwave was gone. But it looks like she opted for some hot chocolate instead—my dinner was in the trash, and the hot chocolate packet was on the counter,” Micaela explains as she hands Javier his cup of coffee.
“This can’t happen again, Micaela,” Javier now grows serious, his voice low, almost fearful of being overheard by the Toledo writer upstairs. “I understand why you think Victoria might be blowing this out of proportion, but having sex on the bed you both share—it’s disrespectful. You both are making great progress with the novel; it won’t take much longer to finish, and you’re the one who benefits most, so you need to behave.”
”Javi, I know,” Micaela confesses, her voice tinged with genuine regret. ”I honestly didn”t think it through. I thought Victoria would be longer with her son, giving me enough time to tidy up and change the sheets. But she came back early, and it was just a disaster.”
At that moment, the sound of water shutting off and Victoria”s footsteps descending the staircase cuts through the tension in the room. Micaela and Javier fall silent, the air thick with unspoken words. Javier rises, his expression softening as he prepares to greet his friend.
”How are you, Vicky? Did you manage to get some rest?” he asks, enveloping her in a gentle hug.
”No, not really,” Victoria replies, her voice crisp and cool, slicing through the warmth of his concern.
”Well, let”s get this sorted so you can rest, and I can head to my meeting later without rushing,” Javier says, pulling out a chair for her.
”I”m fine standing, thanks,” Victoria states, crossing her arms defensively across her chest.
Javier’s tone assumes a mediator”s calm. ”I”ve spoken with Micaela. She understands the gravity of yesterday’s mistake. It won”t happen again. She”s taken full responsibility, and from here on, things will get better,” he assures her, casting a pointed look at Micaela for confirmation.
”I”m sorry, Victoria. I—” Micaela starts, but Victoria cuts her off.
”I don”t want to hear it,” she snaps, turning away.
”Enough, Victoria. This is childish,” Javier interjects, his voice growing stern. ”We agree the situation should never have occurred, but it did. We can”t turn back time. Now, I need both of you to act like adults and finish the story. Then you can both go home and we”ll all be happier.” His frustration is palpable, his tone sharper than she”s accustomed to hearing.
Victoria follows him out to the patio, her mind racing. They sit, Javier massaging his temples as if to ward off an impending headache. It”s rare to see him this upset. Victoria knows her reaction has been strong, maybe too strong, but she couldn”t help it. She sits in silence, bracing for his reprimand, feeling like she”s ten again, about to be scolded by her grandmother.
”Do you like Micaela?” Javier suddenly asks, his question striking her unexpectedly.
”Are you out of your mind?” Victoria shoots up from her chair, her reaction fierce.
”It”s a simple question, Victoria. We”ve known each other too long. I”ve only seen you this upset once before—when that young woman was after your ex-husband. And even then, you weren”t as explosive as this,” Javier explains, no longer doubting that what Victoria feels might be jealousy.
”No, that girl does not appeal to me, not one bit,” Victoria retorts, her voice trembling slightly, ”and don”t ever suggest that again, Javier.”
”Alright,” Javier raises his hands, signaling for peace. ”Now that we”ve cleared that up, I won”t ask you again why you acted that way. As a friend, I”m asking you to try and get along with her. I”m not saying you need to become best friends, just make your work environment livable.”
”It”s not easy, Javier. That girl is immature and unbearable, and—”
”Stop, Victoria.” Javier cuts her off, his voice firm but weary. ”I get it, really. But let me put it another way for you. If you two don”t finish that damned book, the publisher is going to sue you. It”ll cost you a fortune, not to mention they”ll hold onto all your novels since you”re still under contract with them. Is that what you want?”
”No, of course not,” Victoria replies, her voice subdued.
”Then we”re on the same page,” Javier says as he stands, checking the time on his wristwatch. ”I have to go now, but we”ll talk more this week.”
Victoria also rises and they exchange two cool, perfunctory kisses — a stark contrast to their usual warm greetings. Their relationship has strained a bit, but she isn”t worried; she knows things with Javier will return to normal soon. What really gnaws at her is the looming time she must now spend with Micaela, especially since she”s painfully aware that her recent outburst is due to a startling new attraction to this woman who is not only younger but barely tolerable on a good day.