Chapter 16 #2
“Don’t even think about going out dressed like that,” he stated as he entered the suite.
I closed the door and looked at him seriously. This man really wasn’t in his right mind.
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me.”
“You don’t actually think you can stop me, do you?”
“Dalina, it’s been a long time since we’ve seen each other...” he didn’t finish his sentence and sat down on the sofa, holding his head in both hands, looking defeated.
I moved forward and sat in the armchair across from his, watching him in silence. What was happening with this man? Why did he seem so dejected?
“Henry?” I called out, because he was still looking down, and I added: “Why did you come here?”
“When did you arrive?” he asked, without answering my question and raising his eyes to look at me.
“Friday.”
“Why didn’t you let me know?” he asked.
“We hadn’t agreed on that.”
“How did you meet Waylon?”
“Why this interrogation?”
“I need to know.”
“I met him last night when I accompanied Niky to the bar where you were.”
“Did he try to seduce you? Are you planning to go out with him?”
“What? You don’t know what you’re saying. Tell me once and for all what you need to talk about because I’m getting tired of all these questions.”
“I didn’t have a good night yesterday and my head is splitting with pain,” he admitted, and again grabbed his head with both hands.
“I’ll bring you a painkiller,” I said, as I got up to get it.
“Thank you,” he responded.
I returned with the painkiller and a glass of water, and found him in the same position, head down with his hands on his head.
It broke my heart to see him so distressed.
What was happening with him? He was an overwhelming man who commanded respect with his mere presence and even intimidated others, a man with a strong character who always wanted to get his way, but at that moment he was vulnerable, weak, seeming to have lost his way.
I stood in front of him and stretched out my arm for him to take the glass and the painkiller. When our fingers touched, I felt the usual electricity. Henry looked at me, but only limited himself to thanking me.
“Thank you, Dalina.” He took the painkiller and asked: “Did I say anything to you yesterday?”
“Something like what?” I asked, not knowing what he was referring to.
“I don’t know, something that might have surprised you.”
“Actually, I was surprised to see you in that state, but we didn’t talk,” I replied, because you couldn’t really call the few words we exchanged a conversation.
“That’s right, I had forgotten that you talked with Waylon instead,” he said ironically.
“Why did you drink so much? You shouldn’t expose yourself like that when nothing is known yet about the person who attacked you.”
“Dalina…I…I…” He stood up suddenly and looked at me in terror. “I have to go.”
He quickly headed to the door, opened it and left without giving me time to ask anything.
What was that?, I asked myself, staring at the door he had just exited through. I truly didn't understand anything, I only knew that watching him leave felt like a stab of pain in my chest.
I couldn't continue like this. Henry came into my life like a whirlwind and left the same way.
I had distanced myself from him and had done everything possible to avoid him, but once again destiny insisted on crossing our paths only to make us take different directions.
When I watched him looking at me, I thought his eyes did so with love, but evidently I was wrong.
Surely the love I felt for him made me delude myself and see things that didn't exist. Illusions were very powerful and could deceive you, but I needed to empty my pockets of these false hopes. I surrendered.
I got up and decided to do what I had planned—go to the gym. The difference was that a while ago I was doing it to burn energy; now my energy was at rock bottom. I was completely discouraged, but I couldn't allow that discouragement to win.
After the gym, I went back to the suite to shower and then down to the restaurant to have lunch. I had promised my brothers not to go out alone, and I was going to keep that promise.
While I was having lunch, I received a message from Lolo.
“Dali, don't forget that Friday
is our cousin Sara's wedding.
All 3 of us are going”
Me:
“Thanks for reminding me
because I had forgotten.
I like the idea of
the 3 of us going together”
Lolo:
“Me too”
We had received the invitation from our cousin while I was in Paris, and it was Lolo himself who had told me about it, but with all the craziness I'd experienced in the last few days, I didn't remember.
I was excited about the idea of going out with my brothers and meeting up with some of our relatives.
I still needed to buy a dress for the occasion, and it occurred to me that I could ask Niky to show me some of her designs.
Thinking about her, I realized she hadn't contacted me again, which I found strange, but I preferred not to ask more about Henry. I no longer had that right.
I sent Niky a message, but about the dress.
“I have a wedding on Friday.
What day can I come by the
atelier to try on a dress?
Kiss”
Her response didn't take long:
“Whenever you want.
It's an honor to have you wear
my creations.
Is my brother with you?”
Did Niky think I was with Henry? Was that why she hadn't communicated with me? I responded immediately.
“Henry was only with me
for a few minutes”
Niky:
“Whaaaat?? And where did he go???
I was convinced you two
were together.
Everything okay with him?”
Me:
“Nothing happened and he said nothing.
He left right away”
Niky:
“Was Waylon with him?”
Me:
“He arrived with him, but left
a few minutes earlier”
Niky:
“I have no idea where he could be.
Maybe he went home
Talk to you later”
With the headache he seemed to have, it was likely he had gone to rest, but I preferred not to say anything more.
I spent that day unpacking my luggage and resting, which wasn't sleeping, because I still had trouble falling asleep. I heard nothing more from the Woollardy siblings.
I entered Niky's atelier and was pleasantly surprised to find my cousin Sara there. By coincidence, she had bought her dress from my friend and had come that day to try it on for the final adjustments.
“Dalina, how wonderful to see you!” exclaimed Sara with a big smile.
“Hello, Sara! What a surprise to find you here!” I greeted her while giving her a hug.
“I came for my wedding dress, thankfully it's ready now. I love this designer.”
“She's my friend,” I said proudly, “and she's not only a great designer, she's a wonderful person.”
“Are you really her friend? If I had known, I would have asked you to come with me to the dress fittings.”
“Now you know for next time when you need any of her designs.”
“It’s perfect timing because I wanted to invite her to stay for the reception after the wedding, but since she wouldn’t know anyone, I wasn’t sure if she’d accept. Now I can seat her at your table and I’m sure she’ll come,” she said happily.
“Count on it, I’ll convince her.”
“Fantastic! It was great to see you and I’ll see you again on Friday. I have to go now because I have several more errands to run.”
“Of course we’ll see each other on Friday and I’m also glad to have seen you, especially to see you so happy. Let me know if you need anything.”
“Thanks, Dali.”
We said goodbye and I continued on my way to my friend’s office. I was really pleased to know that Niky would also be at the wedding. The door was open and my friend was looking very intently at her computer monitor.
“May I come in?” I asked, to let her know I had arrived.
“Daliiiiii, I’m so glad you’re here. I needed to take a break and what better way than chatting with you. I just finished with a wedding dress and I’m exhausted.”
“It’s for my cousin Sara.”
“She’s your cousin?” she asked, surprised.
“I just ran into her, I didn’t know her dress was one of your designs. The wedding is on Friday and she wants you to stay for the reception. You’ll be seated next to me.”
“Really?”
“Can you make it?”
“I wouldn’t miss a party where I can enjoy your company.”
“Then find me a beautiful dress I can try on.”
After trying on several designs, I decided on a long gold dress. It was a beautiful design, with a flowing skirt and thin straps. The neckline was plunging both in front and back, and it hugged my waist and hips making me look very sensual.
“You look beautiful!” exclaimed Niky.
“The dress is what’s beautiful, it’s spectacular.”
“You should model my designs, they would definitely sell more.”
“What are you going to wear?”
“Probably something red, that color suits me well with my dark hair.”
“We’re going to have so much fun,” I said happily.
Once changed, Niky ordered coffee and we sat down to chat.
“How have you been?” she asked.
“Good. Very busy with work, that’s why I haven’t gone out much.”
“Emotionally?” she insisted.
“I’m managing. I understand it’s a process and that it will take time, I won’t forget him overnight.”
“My brother isn’t doing well,” she said, with sadness in her voice.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with him, but he doesn’t seem well and I don’t know how to help him because he won’t let himself be helped.
His eyes reflect the sadness he feels and, besides, he continues living that crazy life that instead of helping him, sinks him deeper into a hole. ”
“Niky, I’m really sorry, but I don’t think it’s because of what happened between us,” I stated.
“I convinced him to take a few days off and go on a trip somewhere.”
“I suppose that will help him calm down.”
She looked at me and made no comment. She changed the subject by showing me a design she was working on and then we continued talking about my cousin’s wedding, mainly coordinating how to meet there since she had to go with the bride to take care of all the details of the dress.