136
Gérard
"My parents are coming today," Alice says as she tends to the baby.
It wasn't easy being a father, but I think I was adjusting well to it.
Vittoria is worth it.
"I don't mind them doing it, as long as it's only to see my daughter, and not fuck with me by saying whatever bullshit they can come up with."
"I told them to keep their comments, so you don't need to repeat that to me," she says reluctantly.
"I hope you stress it to them when they come over, especially your father, because I'm sick of hearing them talk shit in my house."
Alice in response rolls her eyes, however, I play it down by leaning back next to her to grab my cell phone.
"A few days ago you asked me a question," she says suddenly, regaining my attention.
"What question?" I say, confused, because I honestly don't remember.
"Why was she in the hospital?," she replies, making my body tense up.
"I don't care."
"But you wanted to know."
"I told you I don't care about the reason anymore, Alice. And you should be glad about that."
"If that's the way you prefer it," she murmurs.
We both opt to say nothing more, until the doorbell of the house is heard ringing, making me have no choice but to stand up to go open it for whoever is out there.
As I arrive and unlock the door, I see before me the person I imagined her to be. She always arrives earlier than she should and no matter how many times I tell her to keep her schedule because she has no fucking case.
"Good morning," she says as she enters the apartment, then closes the door and rushes towards me, bringing our lips together to kiss me unexpectedly.
I try to push her away, but find it hard to push her away as she wraps her arms around my neck with no intention of letting go, until finally I manage to do so, pulling away immediately.
"I told you not to do that shit," I spit out in annoyance at her outburst.
"What are you talking about?, you like me kissing you," she replies, trying to move closer again, so I restrain her from my arms.
"It's when I want it, not when you fucking feel like hanging all over me worse or just like a monkey," I say releasing her without any care.
"How long are you going to behave like this with me, Gerárd?"
"Until you fucking understand that this is not a relationship, nor pretend to play the role of girlfriend or lover, because you are neither."
"That's not what you show when you want to fuck me, nor when you asked me to be there for you when you had no one," she retorts, reminding me of what happened that day.
"Now my daughter is in the apartment," I say, trying to remain calm at her words. "So just save yourself from doing these stupid things here any less than anywhere else."
"I'll try," is all she replies, sounding sarcastic.
"Mr. Durand," I hear them say behind me, making me startle a little as I look at the cook. "I inform you that I will now go and prepare breakfast, would you like something specific to eat?"
"I'm not hungry," I reply.
"Nor am I," Rebecca follows me.
"What about Mrs. Alice?"
"You'd better ask her," I indicate to which she nods, heading for the bedroom.
"Is there anything I need to do today," I ask Rebecca, remembering that everything related to the new movie will resume.
"Yes, remember the movie publicity thing, that's the meeting they're having today," she replies.
"Right."
"One of your partners communicated that this one will be in a few hours. He, along with your creative director, will be there."
"Where will it be?" I ask.
"At the advertising agency..." she says, trying to remember the name. "I think it's something that ends with Marketing Agency."
"Anything else?"
"No."
As the hours pass, it's time to leave for the blissful ad agency where Sean and Paul are waiting for me.
As I'm about to leave the place with Rebecca, I have the fucking bad luck to run into Alice's parents, who have just entered the room.
"Gérard, darling!" expresses her fake mother when she sees me, coming up to me and pretending to hug me.
"Shit," I say internally.
"Ma'am," I say matter-of-factly.
"Future son-in-law," her husband and Alice's father now greets me, shaking my hand. "I'm still anxiously awaiting the announcement of your engagement."
"Keep waiting, sir," is my reply, then I turn away from him, getting a look of indignation from both of them.
"Dads, you're here," Alice suddenly appears with Vittoria in her arms, getting their attention.
"I have to go," I let her know. "I'll be back soon."
"So you're off to who knows where, while my daughter has to stay cooped up here taking care of her baby?" Her father complains.
"I'm off to who knows where to make the money your daughter eats with and lives here with nothing to spare, so save your fucking
comments," I finally spit out, walking away so I don't have to listen to another shit coming out of his mouth.
Fucking old asshole.
Leaving the building in my car with Rebecca, I ask him for the address of the place, limiting myself to mentioning a word or two.
My day had started off well, and that.... I'd better not say anything because now that insufferable old man is my daughter's grandfather.
Some time later, I find it strange when I have to enter a street that I recognize perfectly well after what happened there.
It is impossible for me not to remember what happened when passing by there, but I find it even stranger when just a meter ahead of that point, the GPS tells me that we have arrived at our destination.
"Are you sure you gave me the right address?" I ask Rebecca quizzically.
"Yes, we're supposed to be at Carter Marketing Agency," she replies leaning out the window. "Indeed this is it."
Sensing an odd sensation, I look for a place to park and then we both get out of the car in the direction of the agency.
As we enter the building, I walk with my eyes fixed straight ahead, ignoring the stares that fall on me.
"Where are Sean and Paul?" I ask her.
"I've just been told to go up to the third floor, and that someone will be waiting for us there," she tells me, so I enter the elevator followed by Rebecca, touching the button that will finally take us to the third floor of the building.