Chapter 1 #4
Something inside me shuddered and, for a moment, I felt my heart stop.
I turned slowly to face the stranger who had invaded my home, and I froze.
Standing before me was the most attractive man I had ever seen in my life.
.. wait a minute! Had I seen him before?
This man was the one whose shirt I’d spilled the ‘Cosmopolitan’ on!
If before I had thought he was attractive, now that I could see him in better light, I had to admit he was a God.
He was obscenely handsome. Everything about him radiated elegance, sensuality, and his presence was imposing.
He was dressed in a dark blue suit of impeccable cut, white shirt, and blue tie with fine white lines.
He was slender and athletic, and the suit fit him like a glove—surely it had been tailored to measure, those measurements that were heart-stopping!
His hair was cut in a modern and impeccable style, not a single hair out of place, and his green eyes illuminated an incredibly masculine and attractive face. He was sexy as hell!
His serious and penetrating gaze made a complete scan of my body and then stopped at my eyes.
He seemed somewhat dazed, and I imagined it was because he had entered the wrong apartment and was surprised by my presence.
It didn’t even occur to me that he might remember me, and I was better off if he didn’t.
“Who are you?” I asked, placing my hands on my hips.
“That’s the same question I just asked you, so don’t answer me with another question and tell me who you are and what you’re doing in my brother’s apartment.”
“This is ‘my’ apartment and I have no idea who your brother is or who you are! So please do me a favor and leave immediately,” I ordered, pointing to the door with my outstretched arm.
“Are you raising your voice and giving me orders?” he asked, arching an eyebrow.
“Are you kidding me?!” I exclaimed, indignant.
He approached slowly until he was just inches away from me.
I didn’t step back an inch; if that man thought I was going to cower, he was very mistaken.
His face lowered slightly because, although I was a tall woman, he was several inches taller than me, and he looked at me seriously in the eyes.
I got lost in that emerald gaze, which at that moment looked at me with anger, though he also seemed surprised or disconcerted.
For a few seconds he looked into my eyes, then lowered his gaze to my lips and returned to my eyes.
.. and at that moment he had to open his mouth and break the spell, going from being Prince Charming to a frightening ogre.
“Do you know who you’re talking to? Don’t make me lose what little patience I have left or I’ll put you out on the street. For your information, this apartment...”
“Is hers,” said Baco.
We both turned toward the door where my friend had appeared. The ‘ogre’ looked at Baco and then at me. I returned a haughty and furious look.
“What do you mean it’s hers? You told me you had moved to apartment 1201,” he stated dryly, though I noticed he had lost some of his petulance upon realizing he was defeated.
“No. I told you 1202, but as always, you don’t pay much attention when I talk to you.”
He moved away from my side and began walking toward Baco, who I imagined was his brother, which meant this arrogant man was the famous Hermes that he had told me so much about that night.
This has to be a joke of destiny! I thought.
“You should apologize to Delfina.”
“Apologize? Why should I? The lady was the one who started shouting.”
“Hermes, don’t be an idiot and apologize to her. You barged into her apartment uninvited and started giving her orders as if she were one of your employees. Apologize to her,” Baco ordered, seriously.
“Don’t worry, I imagine the ‘gentleman’ was just leaving,” I said, emphasizing the word gentleman.
He looked at me with a furrowed brow and then turned back to his brother.
“Do you know each other?” he asked, ignoring what his brother had said.
“We’re friends, and Delfina doesn’t deserve to be the target of your bad mood.”
“Baco, forget it,” I said, trying to calm the atmosphere.
“Miss, there was obviously a misunderstanding. I apologize for barging into your home,” he said, looked at his brother and added: “Let’s go to your apartment. I need to talk to you. You made me come here because you don’t answer my calls.” Without another word, he turned and left.
“Beautiful, I’ll be right back. You can look at this that I brought,” he said, pointing to a package on the floor that I assumed was his painting.
When they left, I stood staring at the door, not believing what had just happened.
That man was arrogance personified. Now I understood everything Baco had told me about him.
It must be very difficult to contradict him.
Although he was incredibly attractive, all his charm collapsed when he looked down at you as if you were little more than an insect he could crush, and even worse when he opened his mouth and spoke as if he were the king of the world and the rest of us were his subjects.
I prepared the cups to serve coffee and went to look at Baco’s painting.
When I unwrapped it, I was amazed and fascinated.
It was a wonderful landscape inspired by a beach that transported your mind and masterfully captured a sunny sunset.
I stood looking at it captivated; I could almost feel the waves, the air, and the warmth of the sun.
It was a magnificent work. Baco was a great artist. Thinking about him reminded me of the comments about his brother and his unwillingness to support him, and I was filled with fury again.
That man needed to be put in his place! I took the painting and carefully placed it on the long couch.
I continued looking at it, dazzled, until I felt a presence beside me.
“What do you think?” Baco asked.
“I’m fascinated. It’s beautiful!” I exclaimed, still admiring the painting.
“It’s yours,” he stated.
I turned abruptly and stared at him with my mouth open.
“I can’t accept it. It’s too much.”
“Are you going to reject a gift? Take it as an early birthday present. By the way, when is your birthday?”
“January 19th.”
“Then it’s a gift that’s almost two months early. Do you like it?”
“How can you even ask that? You’re a great artist! This painting is a true work of art!”
“Thank you,” he said shyly. This man was the opposite of his brother.
“Your brother is a fool!”
“That’s not news. I apologize for the way he treated you,” he said, looking downcast.
“You don’t have to apologize. Besides, I’ve already completely forgotten about him and his ogre face,” I lied, because I didn’t think I would forget that gaze so easily.
Baco burst out laughing.
“You’re right, he does look like an ogre, although deep down he’s not so bad.”
“Well, it must be very, very deep down,” I joked.
“Speaking of the ogre, I have an invitation for you.”
“An invitation that has to do with your brother? I’m telling you right now that I don’t accept.”
Baco laughed heartily again.
“I see my brother didn’t make a good impression on you, which surprises me because women usually fall at his feet.
Anyway, the invitation does have to do with him because that’s what he came to tell me.
Next Friday is my mother’s birthday, and they’re celebrating it in grand style at her house.
I’d like you to come with me. What do you say? ”
I looked at him while thinking about what he had proposed. I couldn’t imagine myself at a family dinner. Although I liked Baco very much, his brother was irritating.
“I appreciate the invitation, but I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to go to a dinner with your family.”
“It’s not just a simple dinner, it’s a gala party, and besides, there’s nothing wrong with it. Didn’t you say you’re my friend? Friends accompany each other—friendship has to be good for something,” he said, winking at me.
“When your brother sees me, he’ll ‘throw me out on the street,’” I said, smiling and repeating the phrase that man had said to me.
“Let him try! Besides, he always invites one of his girlfriends. Please, do me this favor so the party isn’t so boring for me. I beg you,” he said, clasping his hands as if praying.
“Let me think about it.”
“Alright, but remember that I just gave you a gift,” he stated, with that conquering smile.
“This is emotional blackmail!”
“Is it working?”
“You might get lucky and I’ll accompany you.”
“I’m dying to see Hermes’ face when he sees us arrive.”
“Are you taking me just to annoy him?”
“Not at all, it’s an honor and a pleasure to have you accompany me. Besides, no matter how surprised he might be to see me arrive with a girl, I doubt he’ll pay us the slightest bit of attention afterward. He always dedicates himself to socializing with other businessmen.”
“Do you get along that badly?” I asked, surprised.
“We don’t get along badly, we just approach life differently.
Hermes hasn’t had an easy life; all the responsibility for the family, businesses included, fell on his shoulders.
I assure you that’s not something I’d wish on anyone.
I don’t know if it was because of that or because of the issue with.
.. I don’t know, but he became a person who’s too serious and not very sociable.
I’m different, which is why we don’t understand each other much, but I know clearly that my brother loves me, in his own way, but he loves me, and I also know that I can count on him. The same goes for me toward him.”
“That’s good,” I said, and for the second time it seemed like he was about to say something about his brother’s life, but he changed his mind and preferred not to mention it.
“What about the coffee you were preparing?” he asked, changing the subject.
“It’s ready. Let’s drink it, and... thank you for the painting. I’ll find a special place for it where everyone can admire it.”