CHAPTER 103

**Lorenzo**

I look at the paperwork in front of me, but fatigue overtakes me.

I decided to throw myself with everything at work so I wouldn't have time to think about my life. With that, after being exhausted, I sleep and don't even have time to dream.

Thus avoiding ending up in the drink as in other times.

Today in particular I'm in my home office, since I've brought work home and it's past ten o'clock at night.

I close my eyes, press the corners of my eyes with my fingers, and lean back in my chair trying to find the strength to continue.

My phone rings and I answer when I see it's Lucca's number.

I confess that I thought that this connection would take a little longer.

"Good evening, Lucca, how are you?"

- Good evening, Lorenzo, I'm fine. Sorry for the time, but I'm calling to let you know that I just sent you the contract in your email. Now I just wait for your return so I can start working.

- Oh, how wonderful! I'll open it now and tomorrow we can make an appointment to discuss this. What do you think?

- Tomorrow unfortunately I will not be able to, we have an appointment with the obstetrician and I will take the day off to solve the details of the baby's room with Melissa.

- Oh, sure, no problem. See the best date and time that I fit you. This issue is very important to my company.

- Perfect, let's set up a lunch to discuss this. But if you want to call me to advance, I will be at your disposal.

- Okay, thank you very much and enjoy the day with your wife.

- I'll do that. Even more than tomorrow we will be able to know the sex, if the baby cooperates.

- Wow, that's cool. Hopefully the baby will cooperate. Do you have a preference?

- No, what comes with health for us is fine. Show up anytime at our house, Melissa was happy to meet you again.

- You can let me show up, yes. Good rest.

- For you too.

We hang up the call and I open my email.

I check the contract in the inbox and start to analyze it, after all I can not waste time since the company that is shutting down gave me a deadline of one month to continue providing me service. I confess that without the I.T. service many sectors simply do not work.

The door opens, taking my focus off what I'm doing. I look in his direction and see my father entering, beaming.

- Good evening, my son, I'm back. I never imagined that taking a few days away from everything would make us rejuvenate, I feel like a boy. The days on the island were amazing, too bad it's over. - Sit in the armchair in front of my desk.

I observe his countenance and come to the conclusion that my father has never been so happy, so different from me...

That I feel dead inside

- And Diana, how are you? - I ask analyzing my father.

- Ah, my son, every day that passes I am more delighted. She's wonderful. Too bad he spent those days with me in a mask. I confess that I agreed with this, but the curiosity to find out who is behind that mask overwhelms me. I was wondering how far she is from that characterization.

- Interesting... Didn't she take off her mask at any point? - I ask staring at him.

- No, but the rest...

"Dad, I don't need details," I say feeling my heart ache.

I'm bleeding from thinking that my father was with her who smiles at him, while at me, it only directs hatred and hurt.

I've come to the conclusion that my mere presence hurts her and I don't want that.

I love her so much that if she's going to be happy with him, I'll walk away and let them both live in peace, even if it ends with me.

"Dad, I just want you to be happy," I say taking it easy.

- Son, what made you change your mind? Until these days it didn't suit me.

- Nothing, Dad, just be happy.

"And Diana, the widow, still doesn't want to hear from you?" I've already told you that anything I'll say to her.

- It's not necessary, Dad. - Down with your head.

- Son, I want you to be happy. As I said, if you want to talk to her.

- I've already realized this isn't for me, but you being happy, I will be. I'm going to bed, I'm exhausted.

- But, son...

- Don't worry about me, I'll be fine.

He agrees, even grudgingly, as I head into my room with my head down, feeling that as much as it hurts I'm doing the right thing.

"I'm leaving you free to be happy, Fran. I don't want to hurt you anymore.

No more making you suffer, even though you're not to blame."

I go into my room, go to the bathroom, take a shower and my sleeping pill then erase wrapped in the towel.

***

I wake up to the clarity that invades my room as the alarm clock rings non-stop.

Let's go for another day of this miserable life...

I get up, take a shower, do my morning hygiene and get ready for work. When I'm finishing fixing my tie, the phone rings.

I look at the display and I don't recognize the number. I hit the third touch.

- Done.

- Lorenzo, good morning, it's Giovanna, okay?

- Hi, Giovanna, what can I help you with? - I ask curious since I never thought she'd call me one day.

- Is your schedule full today?

"I don't know, because I haven't arrived at the company yet," I say curious. - But why?

"I'd like to know if I could stop by the nightclub, I have something important to deal with you.

- Can't you get this straight?

- You can't talk on the phone, sorry. But know that it wouldn't bother you if it wasn't really important.

- No problem, I can find you in thirty minutes. OK? - I say looking at the wristwatch.

- I'm waiting for you then. See you in a bit.

- Until. - I hang up the call and stare at my phone, confused.

What does Giovanna want to deal with me with such urgency this time of the morning?

I call my secretary and ask her to uncheck my appointments in the morning, since now I intend to go only in the afternoon.

I do not know what awaits me in the club and I confess that I am afraid to know what it is.

I leave the room and find John in the hallway.

- Wow, Enzo, you suck. Was the night complicated?

- I can't tell, I deleted it. Are you going to the company?

"I am, won't you?"

- I was going, but Giovanna called me and asked me to go to the club to meet her.

He looks at me confused, by the way he doesn't know anything.

- My Giovanna?

- Own.

- I'll go with you. It's going to be a bad thing. As for my little blonde, I know she won't do anything to you, since her friend...

- No need, John, I don't even know what it's about.

- Without discussion, I'll go with you. I'll unmark my trip to the farm that can wait and I'll go with you.

- I'm not going to be able to get you to give this up, am I? - I note my friend who I know will not give in.

- Nope. We go for coffee and head to the nightclub. I confess that the blonde was yesterday all mysterious, can not find me at night and now this... I won't leave you alone.

I thank him and we head to the dining room where the plentiful table awaits us. As soon as we sat down, we began to serve each other and I decided to ask from my father to Nana, the housekeeper.

"Nana, hasn't my father come down yet?"

- Not yet, Lorenzo. I'm even finding it odd since he always got up early.

I thank him and go back to having my coffee.

"He must be tired of the screws he's made on the days he was away."

I feel my stomach churn at that thought.