Chapter 16
Since he said he was coming, I’ve been trembling with anticipation. Now that he’s here, my heart is racing.
Okay, maybe I’m being foolish and seeing things that aren’t there, but why did he want to come today instead of waiting for me to give him the photographs during office hours?
When I entered his office earlier, after that unexpected phone call last night, I had to force myself to forget that we spoke right after I woke up from an erotic dream, in which Guillermo was the protagonist.
I inhale sharply, noticing that he’s watching me closely, which almost makes me squirm with anxiety, despite pretending to be super calm. I don’t think I’m convincing him, because I see a ghost of a smile appear.
I’m not crazy. There’s an energy flowing between us.
I wish I had enough sense to push away any impure thoughts about him, because there are more than enough reasons for me not to even consider desiring him, even if there’s a remote possibility that he might be interested in me.
The problem is, I’m dying to live a little.
I have to confess that I was taken aback when I found out he had a daughter, so much so that he noticed and then came with those words that toyed with my sanity all day: “I am free, Olívia.”
I don’t know where this attraction I feel can lead us, or rather, I think I do know: to an incredible night of sex. But then what about my job?
On the other hand, imagine: losing my virginity to a man like Guillermo? Jesus, he’s too sexy. If this tension between us doesn’t lead to anything, at least flirting a little wouldn’t hurt, and it would give a nice touch to my fantasies.
“You’re comfortable here?”
“You must be kidding, right? Sir, did you see where I used to live?”
“That doesn’t matter anymore. It’s in the past. I want to know from now on. Are you comfortable? Do you have everything you need?”
We’re standing in the middle of the room, and I lift my face to meet his gaze.
Suddenly, I feel brave. “Why is this important?”
“I said I would take care of your wellbeing.”
I try to see, even in my inexperience, if there’s something more behind his words, but unfortunately his face is unreadable. So, before I make a fool of myself, I take two steps back, keeping a safe distance between us.
“I’ll get the photos,” I say, trying to show professionalism and pretending that I’m not on the verge of a heart attack. My skin is all goosebumps.
I lean over to reach for my bag on the couch and hear a low sound, as if it came from deep in his throat. When I look back, he’s totally focused on me, his eyes like those of a hunter. A second later, however, he walks over to the window, as if he’s very interested in the night outside.
“Here you go, sir.” I mirror the change in his attitude, giving myself three slaps to wake up and snap out of it. I’m probably seeing things that aren’t there.
“Why the need to use ‘sir’ just now?”
“Things are what they are, Mr. Guillermo. Assistant.” I point to myself. “My boss.” I gesture with my hand to him. “What other name should I call you?”
“You almost convinced me you weren’t a naughty girl, Olívia.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, sir.”
“Guillermo.”
“No,” I respond without thinking.
“Say it.” He takes a step closer. There’s no threat in his posture, but the proximity makes my knees weak.
“I might be mistaken,” I try to argue.
“I want to hear you say my name. Speak.”
I moisten my dry lips because otherwise, I think no sound will come out. “Guillermo.”
He’s attentive to my mouth, and a shiver runs through my body.
“You won’t call me ‘sir’ anymore when it’s just the two of us.”
“I don’t think I should . . .”
“Am I that old, Olívia?”
“Of course not.”
That shadow of a smile reappears, as if he’s pleased with the response, but before I can analyze what’s happening, he changes the subject, leaving me lost again.
“You said you were going to eat. I’ll order dinner for us. There’s an adjoining room here, right?”
“Yes. Melissa was surprised that I was installed in this apartment. She said the staff wing is on the first floor.”
Instead of responding to me, he picks up the phone. “What would you like to eat?”
“I’ll eat anything,” I say and then feel my face blush. Surely, from the size of my hips, he must have noticed that I eat everything.
Suddenly, I become aware of the madness of even imagining something between us.
I spent most of the day yesterday with Melissa in an intensive class about the company, and now I know that he’s not just one of the powerful Caldwell-Oviedos. Guillermo is the CEO of the entire Caldwell-Oviedo hotel network around the world.
So only temporary insanity could explain why I’m even considering that he might have any interest in me.
I try to act natural and pretend that it’s nothing out of the ordinary to be having dinner with my boss, who also happens to be the same guy who, since I first saw him, has been responsible for incredible orgasms in my lonely nights.
“Aren’t you hungry?”
“Starving, but also terribly nervous.”
“Because of me?”
“Yes.” What’s the point in lying?
He sets down his utensil on the plate and looks at me. “I’ll always be around now. You need to get used to it.”
“I know, but you’re my boss, so . . . Guillermo.”
Again, that disguised smile.
God, he’s going to give me an arrhythmia, with how fast my heart is racing.
He changes the subject. “How are things going at the hotel, aside from making you shy?”
“It’s fine. People are kind to me and patient too.
I had no idea of the amount of details one has to pay attention to for the smooth running of a hotel network.
Guests are demanding and have such varied tastes.
Melissa told me that this hotel is a standout worldwide because of the positive reviews regarding luxury and the efficiency of the staff. ”
He smiles, and I can see the satisfaction of someone who loves what they do reflected on his face. “Are you enjoying it, then?”
“Very much, although I haven’t even served a single coffee yet,” I joke.
He stops eating again. “I wanted to get you out of there, and I thought the proposal about the coffee was perfect. But anyway, I would like you to take some courses to get to know the best beans—if you’re interested, of course.
Then maybe you could teach my employees how to make your coffee but with a quality product. ”
“I don’t know. It’s a family secret,” I tease.
“I’ve already said I want to uncover your secrets.”
“Yes, you have. And I’ve already explained that I won’t reveal them all.”
He doesn’t say anything, but his gaze is so intense it makes me dizzy.
“You asked how I’m doing. Melissa is one of the best things to happen to me this year.”
“I’m glad you’ve made a friend.”
“Yes, she’s amazing, and she even invited me to go out in a few days.”
“Go out?”
“Yeah. We’re going to a bar with . . . uh . . .”—I think of the guy with the impressive six-pack but who at the moment is completely overshadowed by my boss—”some of her friends.”
“What friends?”
“Her boyfriend and a cousin.”
“Why?”
“I haven’t been out in years. My mother got sick, and there was no time for fun. I just want to talk a bit.”
“You can talk to me.”
“I mean outside of work.”
“We’re outside of work now.”
I hold back the urge to roll my eyes. “No offense, this room is really amazing, but I mean actually going out. I don’t know anyone.”
His face, which seemed relaxed until now, closes off, and I wonder if there’s any possibility of jealousy. I decide to push to test it.
“Do you think I shouldn’t go out? I mean, I’m asking for real advice.” I pause, unsure how to continue. “Sorry for that. I don’t know what I was thinking bringing up this subject.”
“No, go ahead. You should ask me for help whenever you’re unsure about a decision.”
“Okay. Thank you, but it’s just that I feel awkward asking about something so intimate.”
“Intimate?”
“Yes. I really like Melissa, but I’ve only had a few high school crushes. I don’t know what to expect from a date. I told her that I wouldn’t want the guy to think that me agreeing to go out with them meant something more.”
“Are you telling me you arranged a date with a specific guy?”
“Sort of. What I really want is to have some fun for a night.”
“You could enroll in a university. We have programs for our employees. That way, you’d be around younger people.” Despite the suggestion, his expression is heavy.
“For now, I can’t. I have other . . . um . . . priorities, but thank you for thinking of that.”
“Why not?”
“I have issues to resolve first and plans to accomplish, but as soon as I can get organized, I do want to go back to studying, yes.” I adjust a strand of hair behind my ear, and he follows the movement. “Besides, when I said I want to go out again, I was thinking of fun, dancing. Things like that.”
“Do you like to dance?” Is it my imagination, or did his voice sound huskier?
“I used to love it. Now I’m not even sure if I can move my hips.” As soon as I finish speaking, I realize how the phrase could be interpreted and feel my face burning.
We’ve both finished dinner now, and the level of intimacy is so high that I can’t stop my crazy head from wandering.
To distract myself, I return to a neutral topic. “I hope you like the photos of your daughter. What’s her name?”
“Valentina. I’m sure I’ll like them. My girl is photogenic. There isn’t a single toothless smile she gives that isn’t breathtaking.”
All the constantly tense air on his face softens when he talks about his daughter, and the change stirs something within me. One doesn’t need to be a family expert to see how deeply Guillermo is in love with his baby.
“She’s beautiful indeed. Several times I found myself distracted while trying to choose from the photographs. She doesn’t look like you . . . I mean, she doesn’t resemble you.”
“Not at all. My family is a mix of American and Spaniard, although the Spanish blood prevailed. Valentina takes after her mother more in appearance.”
He sounds tense again, and I feel awkward. Maybe I shouldn’t have brought up the subject of his late wife.
“Do you want that?” he asks.
“What?”
“Children, family?”
“Oh, yes. I want lots of them. My adoptive mother couldn’t conceive, and although I received as much love as a child could wish for, I would have liked to have grown up with siblings.”
Again, he falls silent for a while.
Guillermo confuses me. At one moment, he wants to know everything about me—he asks, seems to want to delve deeper—and the next minute, he shuts off.
As if to confirm my doubts, he says, “I need to go. I have to relieve the nanny.”
I look at him, astonished, only now realizing that if there’s no wife, this powerful businessman eventually has to take care of a little girl.
He stands up, and I do too, but still reluctant to let the night end, I ask, “How old is she? I mean, the photos are from different periods, and I couldn’t figure out for sure.”
“Nine months. She started crawling a few days ago.” I feel like he is about to say something more, but instead, he bids me farewell. “See you tomorrow, Olívia.”
And then, he leaves without a second glance at me.
I lean against the door, totally lost, but decide to push the fantasies out of my head before I end up completely disappointed.
I’ll go out with Melissa’s friend.
I’ll have some fun and try to forget about the Spanish god who is light years beyond my reach. I have to keep my feet on the ground instead of creating illusions in my mind.