CHAPTER 30
Victoria strides into the publishing house—venue for the impending interview—ten minutes early, a calm exterior masking her inner whirlwind of thoughts. All night, her mind has been a battlefield of rehearsals, conversations with Micaela scripted and rescripted until she”s convinced it will unfold just as she envisions.
She heads directly to Javier”s office. They exchange quick greetings, and he escorts her to the room where the interview will take place.
”I”m locking down dates with a slew of bookstores for the tour,” Javier shares as they walk, a note of excitement in his voice.
Victoria nods and offers a strained smile, unable to mirror his enthusiasm. If things go awry with Micaela, that tour could morph into a torturous ordeal.
”Here”s the room,” Javier announces, peering inside. The interviewer has just arrived, busily setting up. They pause outside, waiting for Micaela.
Unlike Victoria”s forced tranquility, Micaela is a storm of jitters. Since yesterday, as the hours ticked by, anxiety has gnawed at her. The mere thought of facing Victoria sends her heart into frenzied leaps, stirring a fury over Victoria”s recent aloofness. To shield herself from potential heartbreak, she”s asked two friends to accompany her, a lifeline to steady her nerves.
As they wait, Javier divulges to Victoria that he”s discussed divorce with his husband, who isn”t exactly on board. This revelation unsettles her further, fearing the repercussions might inadvertently affect their mutual friend, Daniel.
”Javier...”
”Don”t worry,” he soothes, reading her concern. ”Arturo knows nothing about Daniel. I”d never let my personal issues touch him.”
”Thank you,” she says, placing a hand on his arm, a fleeting smile crossing her lips.
However, her body tenses as Micaela rounds the corner, flanked by two women, one of whom is the very woman from yesterday”s Twitter photo.
”I can”t believe this,” Victoria mutters under her breath.
Javier notices the brewing storm and struggles to keep Victoria composed in front of the interviewer.
”Relax, love, they”re probably just friends,” he suggests, rising to greet Micaela.
He”s still attempting to defuse the tension when the interviewer emerges, providentially interrupting the standoff.
”Whenever you”re ready, we can begin.”
The two writers exchange a nod, a silent acknowledgment heavy with unspoken words, before entering the room. Javier and Micaela”s friends remain in the hallway, the air thick with anticipation and unresolved emotions.
Victoria struggles to focus during the interview, her responses delayed when directly questioned, often allowing Micaela to take the lead. Her mind is ensnared by the image of one of the women waiting in the hallway, jealousy coursing through her as vividly as that day in Vinuesa, when she had returned from lunch with her son only to find the writer entangled with a lover.
”Can we take a break?” Micaela suddenly asks, her voice a mix of urgency and discomfort. ”I need to use the restroom.”
”Of course, sure,” the interviewer responds, casting a puzzled glance at Victoria”s stunned expression.
It isn”t really about the need to use the restroom for Micaela; it”s the nerves. Being this close to Victoria, she feels sweat forming, sticking uncomfortably to her skin. She stands, leaving the room while puffing out her shirt, hoping to cool off and splash some water on her neck to alleviate the overwhelming feeling.
Victoria doesn”t think twice; as soon as Micaela exits, she springs from her chair and follows, passing the editor who watches them with a startled expression, realizing they are about to be alone.
”God help us,” he murmurs, crossing himself.
Ignacia and Valeria exchange looks, Ignacia as alarmed as the editor, Valeria regretting she can”t witness the impending scene.
”I thought we had a conversation pending,” Victoria says as she enters the bathroom, the door still swinging shut behind Micaela.
Micaela turns, her heart racing, caught off guard by Victoria”s sudden appearance. It takes her a moment to gather herself, but then her pride kicks in.
”You said you needed to sort things out with Javier first, and I gave you space,” Micaela states calmly, her voice steady. ”But it”s been a week, Victoria, and you haven”t even sent a message. So, I assume you”re not interested in anything more between us. If you”ll excuse me, I have nothing more to say to you.”
Micaela tries to leave, but Victoria, driven by days of pent-up emotion, blocks her way, grabs her by the shirt collars, and kisses her with all the intensity she”s been holding back.
Micaela doesn”t resist; she returns the kiss with equal fervor until they are both breathless.
”Well, I am very interested,” Victoria declares after breaking the kiss, her gaze locked on Micaela, whose heart thumps so rapidly she feels slightly dizzy. ”So you don”t need to bring your dates to interviews anymore,” she adds with a touch of arrogance.
”They”re not my dates, they”re my friends,” Micaela reveals with a half-smirk, amused. ”And Javier was right,” she adds, sparking immense curiosity in Victoria.
”Right about what?” Victoria frowns, puzzled by Micaela”s knowing smile.
”That posting that photo on Twitter would get you to react.”
Victoria”s eyes widen as much as her mouth, realizing that her friend and Micaela had conspired behind her back, crafting a plan where she was the unwitting target.
”That sneaky bastard,” she says, ending with a smile.
”He makes a lot off us; we might as well get our money”s worth,” Micaela winks.
Victoria nods and kisses her again.
”Shall we finish the interview and head to your place to talk?” the writer from Toledo suggests.
Micaela nods and takes a deep breath, slowly exhaling the anxiety that had filled her just moments before.