Chapter 6: Chapter 6

thomas

I listen carefully as Cecilia talks to her dear father on the phone. I watch the second her face transforms from worry to pure despair. I sit and wait and look at the clock impatiently. I'm bored.

"How could you do that, Daddy?" - The girl whispers in a thin voice and tears run down her pale face.

I expect.

I follow all the anger expended in an even sweet way, until Cecília hangs up the phone.

“Oh honey, I'm so sorry. You know I've always thought of your father as a brother. I'm just as disappointed as you are. I smile cynically, because I know I'm going to use the sadness I see on your face right now against your father.

- How can you? she explodes as she wipes the angry tears from her face.

“How did I…” I look at her in surprise at the outburst. - How could I? How could your father be the right question, girl!

"You think you're much better than he is, don't you?" He thinks he can just go around buying people to pay for other people's mistakes.

I let out a snarky laugh and shake my head in disbelief. I approach her, and the girl completely loses her pose. She takes several steps back, but soon the door hits her back, with no way out. Her eyes are red from crying and her face is flushed, whether from anger or excitement I can't tell. I noticed the signals her body gave me as soon as she saw me. I noticed that the girl was moved by my presence, but I don't want anything to do with her. She's not my type. I don't like scared little mice. Even though I was surprised by the woman she's become, I don't care. Like I said to her: it's all business. A relationship that will bring me many benefits. The first one will be to get revenge on Caesar and the second one is to appease the media and investors, who are frequently demanding a marriage from me. Here it is. I kill two problems at once. Sorted out. Nothing I do in my life is in vain. My attitudes are very well thought out and always come down to the same question: what will I gain from this?

— Cecília… — I say and wipe the tear that runs down her face. “You don't want to piss me off, Cecilia. Collaborate with me that I will be the best of husbands for you. What do you think, crystal?

I smile at the mocking nickname her father uses and she seems to notice, because her expression tightens up again and turns fierce.

- And what will you do? Sell me to someone else if I don't cooperate? she asks coldly, and I arch an eyebrow. "I'm not a goddamn commodity!" I'm not a bargaining chip, I'm not an object that you use to achieve your goals. I am a human being.

“Oh, you'll be my penny, darling. Don't be so upset. Don't take it personally. It's not you, it's Me.

I let out a laugh at the shocked face the girl makes. This family entertains me like no other does. She continues to battle the tears that stain her face.

— Okay, I've already lost my patience with your whining. Is everything already resolved? Do you have any doubt? No? All good.

I pull away and look at the time on the clock. I realize I wasted too much time on this joke. And my time is expensive. I have some meetings here in New York, to try to solve part of the problem that my dear partner gave me.

— Pack your things, we're going back to Brazil in a few days. Once we arrive, we'll spread the word about our union to the press,” I say, looking back at her. — “Thomas de Albuquerque, the hottest and most eligible bachelor in Brazil, finally finds a lucky girl”. It'll make a good headline, don't you think?

- You are crazy! I can't just walk away from here. I…

- You…?

— I have six months to finish my studies. I fought hard for this here and no one is going to take this chance away from me - he says. She lifts her chin, but shrinks her body as soon as I approach again.

— What are you studying?

“Accounting,” she murmurs in a thin voice and lowers her face.

I let out a sarcastic laugh. But of course she was going to go Dad's way.

— Oh, really, you started to work at the company, didn't you? Her daddy told me. A feather. But tell me... Were you planning scams like Dad?

The girl raises her hand to hit my face, but I anticipate the action and hold her hand instead.

“I thought you were sweet and delicate, girl. But you're just pissing me off.

“We're talking about my future,” she says and shakes her head in disappointment. I couldn't care less about your revolt. It just makes me more motivated to carry out my plans, because if she suffers, Cesar suffers twice as much. “How dare you? From what my father tells you, you saw me being born and growing up. You were always at my house, with my family and…

Her voice cracks and she can't speak. I let go of her hand and the girl seems to collapse. Her hands go to her arms and slide over her skin frantically, as if she's cold.

“I don't want to hear your speech, girl. And this here”—I point to her hand—“will never happen again. Don't you dare raise your hand to me, understood?

she doesn't re

sponde and I lift his face to mine.

"Understood, crystal?"

Cecilia pulls her face away, pulls away from me as much as she can, and goes to bed. She sits down and pulls her legs up. She rests her chin on her knees and cries. I go to the door and open it, ready to get out of there.

“Okay, I'll leave you there with your youthful drama. The driver will take you back to pick up the rest of your things. Be quick. And be here when I get back. We have a contract to sign.

"What about my college?" - he asks and I go back through the already open door.

— There are colleges in Brazil, dear. You can attend one of them. And it's not like you're going to need her anymore, after all, you'll never be able to step foot in that company.

I wink at her, hurry out of there, and look at my watch. I was almost late. I hate delays. On the way to the meeting, I take my cell phone out of my jacket pocket and dial Cesar's number.

— My friend, how long! - I say and hear the sequence of curses coming from the other side. "What is it, Caesar?" I knew I wasn't homesick, but do you have to hurt my feelings like that? And our friendship, how is it?

"Fuck you, Thomas!" You are a miserable piece of shit.

— You forgot to tell me that Cecília has turned into a beautiful woman, César. Your little princess grew up fast. So much pride... It's a shame she can't practice her profession like you anymore, don't you think? She seems smart and hardworking,” I scoff, stepping on the protectiveness and care I know she's always had for her daughter. "I'll take good care of her, father-in-law." Don't worry.

I hang up on you and put it back in my jacket. The driver parks in front of the restaurant where I scheduled the meeting and I get out of the vehicle.

Today, part of the confusion will be resolved, because I can't accept losing any more of my empire. Just like I don't accept that anyone who messes with me goes unpunished.

**

When I'm free from all commitments, I head back to the hotel. I expect to find the nervous little redhead there, so I head straight for the presidential suite where she is. I knock on the door, but no one answers me. I knock again, impatient with the teenage attitude.

— Cecilia, open this door!

As I have no answer, I take my cell phone and call the driver who was in charge of taking the girl to the sorority where she lives. He answers on the first ring.

- Yes sir?

- Where is she? Where is Cecilia? I ask impatiently.

'I left her there, sir.' She said she would need time to organize everything, but that she would call me later.

"And how long does that take?"

“Al-A few hours, sir,” the idiot stammers and I curse. I hang up the phone on her face and walk with long strides to the hotel exit.

Annoying brat.

What was supposed to be a quiet thing is turning into a freaking headache. I need that girl to understand at once that her father's life is in my hands. Unfortunately, she was the one selected to resolve the damage he caused me. It's either that or the bastard is going to die in jail. Whatever it takes.

I ask the driver who is with me to take me back to where Cecília lives and I try to reach her on the number my investigators discovered, but the call does not ring.

“Fucking girl…” I curse and tell the driver, “Faster.

As soon as the vehicle stops in front of the place, I go up the stairs that show the big letters of the sorority's name. I ring the doorbell and it doesn't take long for one of the wild girls from earlier to appear at the door.

"Is Cecilia there?"

- Hum no. I think she left with Kelly. There was a party and they went.

- Party? I ask in disbelief and she nods. - Thanks.

I rush downstairs and try calling her one more time. When she doesn't answer, I leave a message on her voicemail.

“Cecília, if you're not at the hotel in twenty minutes, you'll regret it, girl. Don't think for one second that I'm going to feel sorry for your daddy, because I'm not.

I go back to the hotel and wait. I know that the scared little mouse with the pose of a hawk will come back sooner or later.