Chapter 6 #4
I didn’t respond because I didn’t want to disturb him.
I began working while drinking my coffee, first answering emails and then focusing on the spreadsheets I needed to review.
When I checked the time, I was surprised to see it was already noon.
The restaurant was only ten minutes away, so I could continue working a bit longer.
The intercom buzzed and Julia informed me that one of our most important clients was calling.
I took the call and spoke for twenty minutes.
We discussed business, but he also extended an invitation to his company’s New Year’s Eve party that Friday.
Since I would be representing my company, these were events I couldn’t miss.
While I was talking with him, my cell phone rang a couple of times, but I couldn’t answer—both calls were from Hermes.
When I finished my conversation with the client, Julia informed me that Hermes Darwich had called and asked me to call him back as soon as possible.
“Oh my God! Doesn’t this man know how to handle anxiety?!” I asked myself out loud.
I checked the time and it was already twelve-thirty. I picked up the phone and called him.
“Hello,” he greeted.
“Hi, Hermes. My secretary told me you needed to talk to me.”
“Why are you going to lunch with Baco? He left the office because you invited him to lunch,” he complained.
“That’s true. I called him to invite him because I want to talk to him and tell him about us. Baco is my friend and I don’t want to hide anything from him. Besides, why couldn’t I?” I asked, both surprised and annoyed by his complaint.
“I was simply surprised that you invited him and not me,” he explained.
“I don’t see why. Baco and I are friends and we’re going to go out many times. That’s what friends do, they get together and enjoy spending time together, that’s the nice thing about friendship.”
“We’ll talk about that later. Today I’ll pick you up at seven and we’ll go to dinner. Leave your car at the office and we’ll go in mine,” he announced.
“Hermes, first you should ask me if I can do that. I don’t like you telling me things as if they were orders that I have to follow without objection.”
“Do you have something to do?” he asked, unable to hide the ironic tone in his voice.
“I don’t know yet because I often have meetings that run long and I end up leaving later.”
“But I imagine that if we set a dinner date, you’ll have to postpone the work meeting.”
“It depends. There are meetings that are very important and I can’t reject or reschedule them.”
“Okay, we’ll talk later,” he said, defeated.
“Thank you for the flowers, I really liked them,” I thanked him again.
“You’re welcome, I’m glad you like them,” he affirmed, and I thought his voice softened.
“We’ll talk later.”
“Very well, goodbye,” he said goodbye.
What a complicated man! I said to myself.
I put my phone in my purse and left the office heading to the restaurant. When I arrived, Baco was already waiting for me at a table at the back of the place. We greeted each other and immediately the waiter came to take our order. We both ordered pasta.
“Well, tell me what this invitation is about because, as much as I love meeting with you, you don’t usually invite me in the middle of your workday, so I imagine you have something important to tell me and I suspect it has to do with my brother,” he stated, looking at me with interest.
“You’re right, I have something to tell you and it’s related to your brother,” I said, looking at him cautiously. Baco continued looking at me with his elbows resting on the table. “Yesterday we talked and I decided to take a chance with him, we’ll see what happens.”
Baco stared at me and for a few minutes we remained silent. After those minutes, he smiled.
“You and Hermes, who would have thought. I hope everything goes well, but you’re aware that he’s a ‘complex’ person, to put it mildly.”
“Thank you. I understand he’s not easy, just as I understand that he’s distrustful, overbearing, and several other things, but I prefer to take a risk and see what happens rather than being left with the feeling of something that could have been but wasn’t because of my fears.”
“Did he tell you anything about his past?”
“He told me something. I know about the betrayal by his girlfriend with his friend and…”
“He told you that?” he asked, very surprised.
“Yes, he did it so I would understand the reasons why he doesn’t trust anyone and doesn’t believe in love.”
“Hermes doesn’t talk about that with anyone, he’s in denial about that subject and that makes it impossible for us to help him.
With that topic, he created invisible barriers that make it impossible to reach him, no matter how many times I try, I never succeed.
The fact that he told you says a lot about what he feels for you.
I imagine that if he decided to tell you so as not to lose you, it’s because you really are very important to him. ”
“I don’t know, Baco. I’d like to be important in his life, but I still have my doubts.”
“I know him better and I assure you that with you he has done things I never thought he would do. I think you’ve achieved what no one else has—making his life waver.
My brother’s life was a before and after that episode.
Unfortunately, his life was marked and from that moment on he became impenetrable, cold with women, and never had friends again.
It’s as if he’s resentful of life and distrusts even his own shadow.
You’ll need to arm yourself with a lot of patience,” he advised.
“I’ve noticed that, and not just with his distrust, but with his hellish temper.”
“You said it.”
Our plates arrived and for a few minutes we dedicated ourselves to savoring them.
“Without knowing that you had worked things out, but being clear that you’re not indifferent to him, I told him I was leaving because you had invited me to lunch, and I really enjoyed his undisguised fury.
He didn’t grab me by the neck to get details only because he was with his secretary,” he said, smiling.
“I confess that he called me to find out why I had invited you.”
“I didn’t think he was so possessive because I’ve never seen him in that position,” he said thoughtfully. “I think I’m going to have a lot of fun at his expense.”
“You are so diabolical!” I exclaimed.
“I just can’t miss this opportunity that life has given me to annoy him a little,” he said, laughing.
We continued talking for a while longer and, after approximately an hour and a half since we had arrived, we said goodbye to return to our respective workplaces.
I had been back in the office for a while when I received a call from Hermes.
“Hello,” I said as soon as I answered.
“Hello,” was all he said, and for a few seconds we remained silent.
“Did you call me for something?”
“I wanted to know if I can pick you up at seven,” he asked.
“I can leave at seven.”
“Then I’ll be at the building entrance at that time.”
“Do I need to change clothes?” I asked, because he hadn’t told me where we were going.
“It’s not necessary. Besides, you won’t be wearing those clothes for long,” he stated.
I laughed at his comment and realized that he was laughing too.
“How did it go with Baco? Did you tell him about us?”
“Yes, I did.”
“I told my mother,” he declared.
“Was she very surprised? Because I think she had the idea that I was dating Baco,” I commented.
“I thought the same thing, but the strange thing was that when I told her, not only was she not surprised, she told me she knew I would eventually give her that news, and let me tell you she was very happy.”
“I agree, it’s strange. I would have sworn she thought Baco and I were a couple.”
“She says mothers are very observant and intuitive.”
“Well, it seems they are, because the times she saw us together we were practically at each other’s throats,” I commented, and Hermes laughed.
“I don’t know about all mothers, but mine is extremely observant and often a bit nosy. Don’t be surprised if she calls to invite you to her house.”
“Should I accept?” I asked, fearful, and Hermes burst out laughing.
“You won’t have any other option because she’ll insist until you do,” he affirmed, still laughing.
“Am I still in time to change my mind about dating you?” I asked, trying to joke, but Hermes immediately stopped laughing when he heard my question.
“No, there’s no escape for you now.”
“Very well, Hermes Darwich, I’ll see you at seven.”
“I’ll come for you at seven, darling.”
When I hung up, I was smiling like a fool. I hoped things would go well because, with each passing second, that man was getting more under my skin.
◆◆◆
It was fifteen minutes before seven in the evening, so I turned off the computer and went to the bathroom to freshen up and touch up my makeup.
That day I was wearing a beige suit with a jacket and pencil skirt with a side slit, very feminine and elegant, and I paired it with a white blouse and black stilettos.
After applying perfume, I grabbed my purse and left the office.
At seven I was exiting the building where my office was located, and Hermes was already waiting for me, parked at the entrance.
As soon as he saw me, he got out of the car and approached. His eyes never left mine.
“Hello, darling,” he greeted, giving me a soft kiss on the lips.
“Hello,” I greeted, a bit shy. I was still getting used to the idea that I was dating him.
“Shall we go?” he asked, placing his hand on my waist and guiding me toward the car.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“We’re going to dinner and then to my place.”