Chapter 14 #2
“Whaaaat? Why are you making this trip so suddenly, in such a hurry?” Lolo asked, completely surprised.
“Because she had a fight with Woollardy,” Bastián stated, looking at me with certainty.
“How do you know?” Lolo asked again.
“I don’t know for certain, but I can guess.”
“And you’re right. Yesterday I experienced an unpleasant situation and I don’t want anything more to do with him.”
“What did he do to you?” Lolo asked with deadly seriousness.
“I discovered he was cheating on me, but don’t worry…”
“Son of a bitch! I’m going to break his face with my fist…”
“No!” I interrupted him. “This isn’t your business, it’s something I need to face alone and I hope you respect what I’m asking. I don’t want you getting involved. I’m an adult woman and it’s my relationship, it’s a matter between him and me.”
“Don’t ask that of us, little one,” Bastián said. “The guy promised us he wouldn’t hurt you. He played us like complete fools.”
“It’s my fault for not understanding what everyone was telling me, including you two, but I assure you I’ve learned my lesson. Besides, I want you to know that I’m okay. Every disappointment hurts, but I promise you I can handle it.”
“Then why are you leaving?”
“Because I need a change of scenery and I owe Sean a visit. I think this is the best time to do it.”
“The guy understands he shouldn’t show up here, right? Because if I see him, I swear I won’t be responsible for my actions.”
“That’s a problem. Henry is probably just finding out that I discovered his cheating.
I saw him leaving a bar with his arms around a woman, but he didn’t see me,” I explained, avoiding mentioning the photographs.
“He might come here wanting to explain what doesn’t need explaining, and if he does show up, I’m asking you to tell him I’m not here.
I’ve already asked Cameron to do the same. ”
“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to make it clear to him,” Bastián said.
“I’ll take care of it too,” Lolo said with a murderous look.
“What did I just ask you? I don’t want violence. We Dukarts are civilized and sensible people; we don’t solve things with violence. Please, I’m asking you not to do it. Our lives shouldn’t be defined by cruel people—that’s giving them too much importance.”
“Dali, you’re asking a lot. I’m dying to wipe that smug smile off his face with a good right hook.”
“Lolo, no. If you two get involved in this, I’ll stay in France permanently.”
Lolo snorted with frustration but didn’t say anything.
“Regarding hotel business, I promise to stay connected and continue working on what I’ve been doing from there.”
“That’s the least of our concerns,” Bastián said. “What matters is that you’re okay.”
“I’m not okay, but I will be.”
“Do you have everything you need for the trip? When are you coming back?” Lolo asked.
“I have everything prepared; I even packed my luggage last night. As for returning, I don’t know yet. I’ll probably stay a week or ten days, but it will depend on how I’m feeling.”
“Alright, we understand. We’ll take you to the airport today, but try not to stay away too long. I don’t like knowing you’re having a hard time and are far away,” Bastián affirmed.
“I know, but I won’t be alone. I’ll be with Sean.”
They looked at each other but didn’t say anything. At that moment, my phone rang. When I looked at the screen and saw his name, I wasn’t surprised—I simply felt anger invading my entire being again. How dare he call me! He was so shameless!
“It’s him, isn’t it?” Bastián asked.
“It is, but I’m not answering,” I stated, and turned off the phone.
“I have no doubt he’ll show up here. Do this—go to my apartment and take everything you need for the trip. We’ll leave for the airport from there today. If he comes here, it’ll be an ugly moment, and I’d prefer to spare you that,” Bastián affirmed as he got up from his chair.
“I’ll take her,” Lolo said. “Bring me the keys to your apartment.”
I looked at them and let them handle it.
They were right. I had no doubt Henry would come to my office trying to defend the indefensible and inventing any excuse about the image I had forwarded to him of him and the woman at the bar.
I no longer had the desire or strength to face him. I stood up and nodded.
“I appreciate both of you. I’ll get my things.”
“I’ll come with you,” Lolo said, while Bastián left my office.
While I was shutting down my computer and gathering my things, Bastián arrived with the keys and handed them to Lolo.
I said goodbye to him and left the office accompanied by Lolo.
When we reached the suite, I took everything I needed and gave the place one last look, sighed, and left knowing it would be difficult to forget what I had experienced with him.
Lolo received a call from Bastián when we were leaving the hotel in his car, but he didn’t use the speakerphone so I couldn’t hear what they were talking about, though my brother’s serious expression made me think it had something to do with me or Henry.
“Don't worry, we've already left the hotel,” was all he said before ending the call.
“What's going on?” I asked.
“Nothing you need to worry about.”
“Lolo, tell me what's happening.”
“Bastián wanted to make sure we weren't at the hotel anymore.”
“Why?”
“In case that guy showed up.”
I didn't say anything else. I wasn't sure that was all there was to it—I suspected Henry was at the hotel—but at this point, it wasn't something I cared about anymore. I just wanted my brothers to stay out of trouble for trying to defend me.
Lolo dropped me off at Bastián's apartment and didn't even get out of the car. He immediately headed back to the hotel, which reinforced my suspicion that Henry was or had been there.
When I entered the apartment, I felt exhausted. My body wouldn't respond anymore, and my head felt foggy. I lay down on the couch, closed my eyes, and fell asleep.
I woke up completely disoriented. My head was spinning.
It took me several seconds to realize I was in my brother's apartment.
I sat up on the couch where I'd been sleeping, and at that moment, the weight of the sad reality came crashing down on me.
I was here, running away from the traitor Henry Woollardy, and in a few hours I would board a plane to get as far away from him as possible.
I was a coward, I knew that clearly, but I still wasn't capable of facing him.
I checked the time on my watch—it was three in the afternoon.
I still had several hours here. I took my suitcase and went to the bedroom to change my clothes because I was still wearing what I'd put on for the office.
In comfortable clothes, I went to the kitchen determined to prepare something to eat with whatever I could find.
I hadn't eaten anything since morning. I made myself a sandwich and, while eating it, looked at my phone.
I had taken it out of my purse but hadn't turned it on yet.
The little device was the only thing on the table, and I stared at it as if it were my enemy.
I finished eating and after cleaning up, decided to turn it on.
I had about fifty missed calls and just as many messages.
I only checked who had sent them. Most were from Henry, which I didn't read; there were two more from the unknown number that I also didn't bother to look at; and I also had several from Niky and my brothers.
I started with my brothers who wanted to know how I was doing, so I responded to the “The Dukarts” group:
“Just woke up.
I'm fine.
Thank you.
Love you all”
With Niky's message, I had many doubts. I didn't know if she was aware of what happened, but she was his sister and I didn't want them to fight because of me, so for the moment, I preferred not to read them to avoid the temptation of saying something I might regret.
As I was putting the phone down on the table, it started ringing.
It was him. I let it ring until it stopped, but a minute later it was ringing again.
I didn't want to continue with this torture, so I had no choice but to turn it off again.
I knew Henry was stubborn and wouldn't stop calling until he gave his version, but I didn't need him to tell me more lies.
I had been very naive, or rather, stupid, but no more.
He knew perfectly well what he had done—what else was there to say?
My brothers arrived at five in the afternoon because I had to be at the airport by seven. When I saw Bastián, I nearly fainted—he had a wound on his lip, as if he had fallen or someone had hit him...
“No!” I exclaimed. “Please tell me you didn't fight with him. Please, Bastián. I can't believe he did this to you,” I sobbed, running to his side and hugging him tightly.
“Calm down, little one, I assure you he ended up worse,” he stated, wanting to smile but restraining himself and letting out a hiss of pain.
“Why? I don't understand. What does he gain by doing all this?” I said, shaking my head and hugging him tighter.
I looked at Lolo, who was watching us seriously.
“Please tell me you didn't fight,” I begged, and Lolo shook his head. “I'm so sorry for putting you through this. You don't deserve this worry I've caused you. You warned me, you told me what men like him were like, and I didn't listen. Please forgive me,” I pleaded, crying.
“I didn't fight, don't worry. Though I still want to,” said Lolo. “By the time I arrived, hotel security had already removed him. He's banned from entering. If he puts a finger in the hotel, I'll get my chance,” Lolo said, approaching me and tenderly wiping away my tears.
Bastián stroked my head and let me go.
“Let's sit down and talk,” said Bastián. “We want you to explain everything that happened because there are things that don't add up for us.”