Chapter 23: Chapter 23

thomas

Cecília has been strange since our lunch two days ago. Silent, not looking me in the eye, distant. It was everything I expected from her before I met her, but now I find it strange. Despite being sweet and shy at times, normally she makes a point of challenging me, of showing petulance when she gets angry with me, but now she is indifferent and uninterested. I talk to her and the girl just agrees and answers only what I ask, without extending. When he arrives, he sticks his face in his books and doesn't come out until bedtime. I'm curious to know what made her like this.

'Mr Thomas?' I hear the voice in the distance and lift my chin, looking toward the door. 'Mr Thomas?'

“I'm listening,” I say airily, finally focusing on the secretary who works for me here at the New York branch.

— You have two meetings today. The investors are already in the room,” he calls and I nod, looking at the clock.

I put Cecilia aside in my mind and join the serious men in the meeting room. I put the cell phone on the table while the secretary serves us with water. I discuss terms and renovations at one of the hotels and the men listen attentively until the light on my phone comes on, showing Cecilia's name on the screen. I refuse the call and keep talking, but the phone rings again.

- You can answer it. Sounds important,” says one of the men and I nod weakly, curious about the connection. She never called me before.

I get up from my chair and leave the room to answer the call.

— Tell me, Cecilia. I'm busy.

“ Thomas, I need your help. There's going to be work here in a bit and I forgot my research at the hotel. Can you bring it to me, please? ’ She sounds tense on the other end of the line.

— Cecília, why didn't you ask one of the security guards?

' They said they weren't allowed in your room, Thomas!' And I can't leave here. — The insolent tone is back, but soon the sweetness returns. “ Please, Thomas .

I pinch the bridge of my nose and take a deep breath.

— Cecília, I can't leave in the middle of an important meeting to go there and hand you papers. I'll ask one of the men to take it and...

“ Forget it, Thomas. I'll do it my way. It's not like I can count on your goodwill ,” he snarls and hangs up on me.

The spoiled brat hung up the fucking phone on me! I squeeze the phone in my hand and head back to the conference room. She finishes about an hour later and only has time to eat lunch before going on to the next one, which lasts much longer than planned. I had to sit there with my head thinking of a thousand ways to wring that girl's neck while I pretended to pay attention to the presentation of the construction development of some hotels.

— Just send this information to my e-mail, Ashley — I say and the woman waves, almost leaving the room, but I call her. “Ashley? Got something for today.

The woman looks at her tablet that she carries all the time and shakes her head.

"No, sir, that was the last one, but tomorrow...

“I just want to know about today, Ashley,” I interrupt. - I am going home. Anyway, ask him to call me on my cell. I will be attentive.

The girl waves and finally leaves the meeting room. I go to my office and get my things before I leave. As I exit the elevator, I dial Cecilia to see if she's managed to resolve her teenage drama. It hung up on me! Frankly… Who does that brat think he is? She doesn't answer and I call again, but nothing.

I go back to the hotel and I think I'll find her there. I call one of the men responsible for his security and he answers me immediately.

- Where is she?

' She came to the movies with some friends, sir.' Asked me to wait in the car - she speaks and I curse her.

Movie theater? Serious?

"Who is she with?" I ask, already predicting the answer because Cecília is the little princess of inconsequence. When she wants to piss me off, she does it masterfully.

— With that friend who's always with her and two boys, sir .

— Names, Gonzales . I need name.

" Er ... The miss is Kelly and the other is apparently her boyfriend, sir." His name is Taylor! ’ The man speaks slowly, as if recalling the names from his memory, and I grow impatient. “ And the other is Josh.

“Josh,” I repeat with a sneer. "Text me when they come out." I want to know everything, Gonzales .

I hang up and go take a shower. I will work until she arrives. And when it arrives, I need to reinforce to Cecília that she cannot treat me like this. The girl is not going to do what she wants and think she can leave it at that.

I get a message from security hours later, almost five o'clock in the afternoon. It doesn't take long for the girl to arrive. For a moment I had doubts that she saw me because she walked past me as if she were invisible. I will not say anything. I hope you get rid of your books and backpack and take a shower. When she returns from there, she is dressed. She puts her hair in a ponytail and heads towards the porch with the books. Again as if I didn't exist. I watch from where I am, at the table inside the room, and I see her spreading several leaves on the porch table.

I get up and go to her.

"Am I invisible, Cecília?" I ask rudely and she answers without looking up.

“Good afternoon, Thomas.

— Were you able to solve your college problem? I ask, but again she is silent, focused on the calculator. I bang the table irritably and she jumps. “I'm talking to you, girl. Can you look at me?

The brown eyes look up in alarm and her expression closes.

“You won't treat me like that, Thomas. You can lock me up, marry me without wanting to and make my life hell, but you won't treat me badly - speak low, with hurt in your eyes.

“What got into you?

“It didn't do anything. I'm just trying to graduate in peace,” he says and lets out a sigh. 'May I, sir?' Or do you not want me to study too?

I frown at the blatant irony in his voice. Today she is more petulant than other days.

— Has it solved your problem or not?

“I decided, no thanks to you. Thanks for that. Josh lent me his notes. She looks back at the papers, pencil in mouth.

“Josh… What did I say about you being mine, Cecilia? I approach her at the table and lift her face to mine.

"I…" Her eyes fill with tears and she blinks several times to stop them from falling. "I'll never be yours." Never. I can be yours on a piece of paper, but that's about it.

She breaks away from my touch and stands up, picking up the sheets from the table. I stare at her, not understanding what's going on with this crazy woman. I didn't do anything different, I just said something she already knew.

- Where are you going?

"Away from you!" — he snarls and dries his face. “I need my space. Wasn't that what you wanted? Peace, tranquillity, a mute and mute wife? That's what you're going to get from me. Signed contract.

She tries to walk past me, but I grab her by the waist. Cecilia gasps at the touch and her gaze goes longingly to my mouth. Your body begs for mine, I know it.

— No drama, Cecilia. We were getting along well, weren't we?

I caress her cheek and she sighs, closes her eyes and parting her lips when my thumb slides there. I bring my mouth closer and brush it against his. Suddenly, Cecilia seems to wake up, because she puts her hands on my chest to push me away.

“I don't want to,” he whispers. “Please let me go. I need to study.

I pull away, shocked, and let her off the porch. She hurries out of the hotel room and slams the door. I stand here thinking what the fuck got into this girl to look like this. When we fucked, he was aware that this was all I had to offer. We're getting married by a fucking contract! What she wanted? Flowers, flirting, romance? I'm not like that, and I don't think I could ever be.

I sit on one of the porch chairs and try to think of a solution to calm this freaked out redhead.

I get up and leave the hotel. When I find one of the employees, I ask for Cecília and they point out that she has gone towards the pool area. I go there and greet the hotel customers, who look at me strangely; I don't know if it was because I was wearing a suit and tie in a space like that or because they recognized me. But I do not care.

It takes me a while to find Cecília, because she has hidden herself in the most isolated corner, behind a pillar, with the parasol open right in front of her face to protect her from the sun.

As soon as I appear in her sights, she widens her eyes in surprise and lowers her head, as if she lost all her courage a few minutes ago.

Knowing how I am, I don't doubt that's it.

— Do you have a problem with me, Cecilia? Huh? Tell me - I say, I take one of the chairs from the table and put it next to you.

I put her body to mine and the girl gasps.

“No, Thomas. I'm not.

“You're not going to treat me like I'm one of your little friends, Cecilia. I'm not a kid for you to yell at me and leave like you own the reason. If you have a problem with me, we'll work it out and move on,” I say low and calm. "Understood?"

Cecília lowers her head, sighs and remains silent. I gently lift her face to mine and she nods.

- Let's go. I stand up and hold out my hand to her.

- Where? I need to do these exercises. I can't…” She looks at the scattered sheets and I pick it up.

“I'll help you with that upstairs and we'll go see a movie.

Her eyes widen and she frowns shortly thereafter, not understanding. She bites her lip and looks torn. I know you want to go, but the petulant side that likes to challenge me fights with the eager one.

“A silly romantic comedy? - he asks and opens a weak smile, teasing.

“Whatever, girl. Let's go.

Cecilia reaches out to take my hand and I lead her to the hotel room just like that. When we reach the door, the girl smiles and looks down at our clasped hands. I don't bother letting go until we're inside. She puts her things away, lies down on my bed in front of the television and puts on any movie.

What is getting into me to try so hard to please this girl?