Chapter 57

Chapter 57

Gabriel Dantas

Golden light, lazy and languid, filters through the half-open curtains, warming my skin and casting an almost ethereal glow over the room. I stretch slowly, feeling the silk sheets slide down my bare legs.

I turn my face and find him still asleep. His hair is slightly tousled, his expression serene—a delightful contrast to the sharp gaze and biting words he usually carries. His chest rises and falls in a peaceful rhythm. He’s exhausted. Deservedly so.

I decide not to disturb him. Carefully, I slip out of bed, tiptoeing to the door. I grab a pair of underwear and one of the robes hanging on the back of the door. I wrap the fabric around my body and head towards the kitchen, feeling the cool floor contrast with the warmth of the morning.

As I cross the hallway, the faint scent of fresh coffee guides me to the heart of the house. As I enter, I come face to face with a middle-aged woman, short, with her hair pulled back in a loose bun, and a floral apron. She freezes, surprise etched on her face.

— Oh my God! I… I didn’t know Mr. Leonardo had someone.

I raise one hand in a gesture of peace, trying to soften the shock.

— Calm down. Leonardo and I… well, it’s complicated. I just came to get something to eat.

She lets out a nervous laugh and adjusts her apron.

— Oh, I understand. My name is Vânia. If you need anything, my dear, just let me know…

— A little something to snack on would be nice. I’m starving.

Her smile widens.

— I already made breakfast. I baked a cake, bought fresh bread. Sit down, I’ll get you some.

— Thank you so much.

I settle on one of the stools at the central island, taking a closer look at the kitchen.

Vânia places a steaming cup in front of me. I bring the coffee to my lips, savoring the aroma. The first sip warms me from the inside. I’m distracted, with a piece of cake on my plate, when I feel a familiar beard brush lightly against the curve of my neck. A sudden shiver runs through me.

— You woke up and didn’t even call me, little goat—he whispers, his voice raspy from sleep.

I roll my eyes with a sigh.

— I told you to stop with that ridiculous nickname. I hate it.

Leonardo laughs, ignoring my complaint completely. He gives me a quick kiss on the cheek and steals a piece of bread from the basket.

— But I love it. So I’m going to keep calling you that.

I take another sip of coffee, trying to pretend I don’t like the way he invades my space, as if his place is by my side all the time.

Even in a robe and with messy hair, he exudes that insolent charm that only complicates things for me.

Vânia returns with a platter and a kind smile.

— I made some pastries a while ago. Take one, Mr. Gabriel. They’re palm heart, Mr. Leonardo’s favorites.

— What a coincidence—I comment, animated—I love palm heart too.

Leonardo leans in even closer, with that sly smile that almost always means trouble.

— Another taste we share.

She observes everything with a certain curious gleam in her eyes. I notice the interest in the glances passing between us. Leonardo turns to her, then stares at me with intensity.

— This is Gabriel. My boyfriend.

The shock hits me hard. I choke on my sip of coffee, coughing lightly.

— Boyfriend? Since when did I get that title?

— Since last night—he replies, taking a bite of bread and butter, as if he had just announced the weather forecast.

Vânia stifles a laugh and turns her back, busy with more cups as she tries to hide her amusement. I continue to stare at Leonardo, between surprised and disarmed.

— You’re impossible—I comment, my voice low, laced with irony.

— And you like it. — He smiles and rests his elbows on the counter, as if he wants to devour me with his eyes.

I bite my lower lip, looking away for a second, trying not to give in completely to the game. But it’s hard to resist when he leans in like that, with his robe open revealing part of his chest and that gray-green gaze stripping me bare.

The kitchen suddenly seems too small for so much tension.

— Vânia… wouldn’t you… I don’t know… want to take a walk? — I joke.

— If I got a dollar every time this man wakes up in a good mood… — she replies, letting out a pleasant laugh. — But don’t worry. I’ll finish what I need to in the service room. Do whatever you want, just don’t break anything.

As soon as she disappears, Leonardo gets closer, resting his forehead against mine.

— Good morning, boyfriend.

— Don’t test my patience, Leonardo…

He smiles.

And it’s at that moment that I realize: it doesn’t matter what he calls me. I’m already his.

Leonardo finishes the last sip of his coffee, wipes his lips with a napkin, and stands up, heading towards the bedroom. As I walk right behind him, I hear the sound of the zipper, the hanger being removed, he’s wearing an impeccable white shirt and dark gray tailored pants.

The woody scent fills the air as he passes me, adjusting the cuffs of his shirt.

He casts a quick glance at the clothes I left on the armchair—the same ones from yesterday, all crumpled and clearly out of place in that luxurious setting—and frowns.

— Aren’t you going to get ready to go to the office with me? — he asks, keeping his tone neutral, but his eyes betray the expectation.

I chuckle, scratching the back of my neck.

— Later. I’ll stop by in the afternoon. But I need to get my blazer from my apartment. I can’t show up in waiter’s clothes at a company full of sharks in suits, can I?

He raises an eyebrow, circles the bed, and opens another part of the closet. A door I hadn’t noticed before slides to the side, revealing an entire wing dedicated to men’s clothing.

Dress shirts lined up by color, Italian blazers on velvet hangers, polished shoes, designer sneakers, watches organized in velvet boxes, discreet necklaces, sunglasses from brands I only see in magazines, and rings that seem to be worth the price of a car.

I’m paralyzed for a second.

— Wait… is this for me?

He nods, with that satisfied air of someone who has prepared a calculated surprise.

— I had some pieces made. Since our contract, I thought you’d need to be up to par with my world. And well… I confess I also wanted to see you in them.

Curiosity drags me to the closet. I run my fingers over a burgundy blazer, touch the lapel of another black one with a subtle sheen, open a drawer and find three pairs of Dior sunglasses, not to mention the rings and bracelets arranged as if they were works of art.

— Is all this part of the contract? — I ask, trying to hide the impact.

— Yes—he replies, adjusting his tie in front of the mirror. — Or did you forget what you signed?

I bite my own cheek and let out a short laugh.

— I thought I was just your boyfriend now. Not a… contractor.

Leonardo approaches from behind and rests his hands on my shoulders, speaking softly against my ear:

— You’re my boyfriend. But you’re also the man I made a deal with. And I fulfill every clause with excellence.

The warmth of his proximity distracts me. When I turn to face him, he’s already walking towards the dresser. He pulls out a drawer calmly and removes a sealed black envelope with a golden crest. He hands it to me as if he were offering me a jewel.

Curious, I open the envelope. Inside, a black diamond card. No visible name, just the discreet shine of the chip and the numbers engraved in low relief.

— This is a diamond card… the kind that has no limit? — I ask, looking up at him, incredulous.

— Exactly. It’s linked to my account. You have the autonomy to use it. — He shrugs as if it were something trivial. — You’ll need to buy some things, won’t you?

I take a step back, laughing nervously.

— Are you sure you want to put something like this in my hands? Are you really willing to take that risk?

Leonardo approaches, holds my chin firmly, and presses a quick kiss to my lips. Then, without breaking eye contact, he replies:

— I have enough money. And I don’t worry about that. — He slides his thumb across my cheek. — I just ask that you buy something really big for me. Or make it worth it. So spend wisely."