Chapter 57
I’M NOT GOING TO LET HER DO THAT
JOANA
Today I’ve decided to do something that’s both very simple and very complicated.
From what I can see out my bedroom window, Victoria is still in Madrid, and that means I still have a chance to stop her from ruining her whole life.
I haven’t stopped wondering what’s so special about Elena that she’s decided to go back to her and throw away years of work, but I’m not going to let that happen.
Apparently, Victoria has no idea about the conversation I had with her girlfriend, and that’s great for me, because otherwise the plan wouldn’t work.
My plan is to visit her and do what I’ve always done: seduce her.
I know she likes me, that she’s attracted to me, that we’ve had a blast together, and that she won’t be able to resist the outfit I’ve chosen to wear tonight.
I don’t know how I’ll do it, but I promised Alfredo this morning that Elena and I would break up tonight, and once that happens, I’ll get the promotion I’ve always deserved.
Ready to give it my all, I look at myself in the mirror hanging next to my front door and touch up my lipstick with one of my fingers.
The first time Victoria and I slept together, we did it after a party where champagne was the only thing being drunk, and tonight will be no different.
I figured there’s no better way to celebrate the future than with a toast, and as soon as I’m ready, I head out with two bottles that are dripping with cold.
With an innocent smile on my lips, I look both ways down the street and hurry through the parked cars.
Ringing the doorbell is a bit tricky, but when I do, the wait is very short because Victoria appears with that smile that has always driven me crazy.
“I wasn’t expecting you—what are you doing here?” she asks, surprised, and I hold up the two bottles of champagne.
“I thought it wouldn’t be a bad idea to toast to the future.” I smile at her and wink. “You’ll be leaving for Ibiza soon, and I don’t know when we’ll see each other again, so…”
“Come on in.” She opens the door for me. “Do you have plans for later?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Because of the outfit. I’ve always thought that purple looks great on you.”
“And I’ve always thought that this was the dress that led to us sleeping together the first time.
” Victoria looks me straight in the eye without blinking, and for a moment, I feel the urge to take a step toward her and break the silence with a kiss that leaves her lips trembling.
“Are you already packing? You’re so quick. ”
“Yeah, well, I’ve been busy organizing all the things I want to take to Ibiza,” she says, and I glance at the boxes scattered all over the living room.
“That’s a lot of stuff…” I note after handing her the bottles and peeking a little at the contents of some of them; there are only books, a few letters, photographs.
“But that’s normal, you’ve been here a long time,” I emphasize, clasping my hands behind my back.
“Don’t you feel a little sad leaving it all behind? ”
“It’s always hard to leave a place where you’ve been for so long,” she replies, pulling a couple of glasses out of one of the living room cabinets. “But the interesting part comes later, when you have to start over.”
“Well, I don’t like beginnings at all,” I confess, sitting down on the sofa and gently crossing one of my legs. “I hate the uncertainty, not knowing what will happen…” I shake my head. “Horrible.”
“The good thing is not doing it alone,” she explains. “I’m lucky to have Elena with me.”
“She must be an incredible woman for you to drop everything for her.”
“She certainly is, but I’m not doing this for her.” She sits down next to me to remove the seal from one of the bottles. “Elena is a wonderful woman. She has the magic of the sea in her eyes, and she’s a true beauty.”
“Hearing you describe her like that, she sounds like a mermaid.”
“One with golden hair,” she adds and laughs. “Look, I’ll show you a picture.”
Victoria hands me the bottle so I can pour the champagne and scrolls through her phone’s gallery. In a couple of seconds, she shows me a photo of her ex-wife.
“She’s pretty…” I comment as I fill the glasses. “She has an expressive smile.”
“It’s her trademark,” she says, passing the phone along. “These are Jorge and Carolina.”
“The ones who are getting married,” I recall.
“Exactly, and over here…” she whispers, swiping through the images on the screen.
“Here. This is from the hiking trail we did together not long ago, look.” I set the glasses on the table and, with her phone in my hands, lean back against the sofa to look at the photos.
“You’ve got more from those days over there. ”
“You had a great time, didn’t you?” I suggest as I pretend to look at them.
“That’s the thing about getting together with friends,” she replies without paying any attention to me.
“And with old flames,” I point out. Before putting down her phone, I quickly check the recent calls list, and upon seeing Elena’s name among them, I tap it to make a call and then flip the phone face down on the small table in front of us. “Now we have to make a toast.”
“Do you want to do it?” she asks. I nod. “Well, go ahead…”
“Let’s see…” I whisper, placing a finger on my lips. “To us, to everything we’ve been through, every moment we’ve enjoyed, and the kisses we’ve shared. To what we’ll experience in the future and don’t yet know,” I propose, biting my lip.
“We’ve been through a lot together, haven’t we?” she says, and I let out a little giggle. “We’ve had quite a good time…”
“Too much…” I whisper, clinking my glass against hers. “It’s a shame we can’t enjoy it more. You shouldn’t have left me; you’re going to regret it.”
“These things happen.”
“Although… what happens at home stays here, remember? You said so,” I ask, raising an eyebrow suggestively. “We still have time to enjoy your last night in Madrid.”
“Out of sight, out of mind, right?” she asks, oblivious to everything. “You’re completely crazy,” she adds, bringing the champagne to her lips.
“I didn’t tell you, but… I still love you, Vic, and I refuse to let you leave here without letting you know.
” As I set the glass down on the table, I pretend to drop the phone onto the carpet beneath the armchairs, and as soon as I pick it up, I hang up without Victoria noticing a thing.
“I’m such a klutz…” I say, placing it face up now. “What do you say?”
“You know I can’t.”
“I had to try.” I shrug and take a sip from my glass. “Elena is so lucky to have you.”
“And I’m lucky to have her. She has no idea how happy she makes me.”
“I’m sure she knows exactly how you feel,” I say with a fake smile, glancing around. “I think I’m going to let you get back to this. If I keep you company, you’ll never finish.”
“What should I do with the champagne?”
“Keep it and enjoy it before you go to Ibiza,” I reply, leaning in close enough to give her a long, intense kiss on the lips. “We’ll see each other again, Vic. Have a good night.”
“And you…” she stammers, surprised.
As I walk through her house, knowing I’ve done my job, I can’t stop thinking about how things will turn out in the next twenty-four hours.