Chapter 20: An Unimagined Moment
Orely
"Do you know another Santiago, or you have other brothers?"
"How do you know him?" he asks tartly.
What do I care? He doesn't need to know everything about my life, especially since I'm having an affair with Santiago on the sly.
"It's a very long story that I don't want to go into after the blow of your unhealthy confession, I'd say."
"Okay. Well, I'll leave you to it, hoping you'll be less upset next time," he says in a soft voice.
Next time? What next time? From now on, I'll do my best to avoid him. It'll be better for everyone and there won't be any conflicts.
"Good trip." I replied with a very slight smile, just to be friendly.
He walks out with a countenance that expresses it all. As we start the car, he looks at me in the distance and waves to say goodbye. He started getting on my nerves with all his questions. Sounds like my mother! But suddenly, I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket. I pull it out to have a look. When I see Santiago's name on the screen, I immediately smile. He sent me a text message.
\[ Hi gorgeous ! Did you miss me? He sends me with a wink emoji \]
He is quite straightforward and courteous. But I'll stay neutral and see how he takes it.
\[ Hi Santi. Surrounded by flowers, I don't think so!," I reply with a sunglasses emoji \]
In no time, I received a new message.
\[ So you want to play that game, honey? There's nothing to lose by waiting until we see each other, he sends me with a mischievous emoji \]
He kind of wants to play tough. Do you? You think you've won over me. Just you wait my dear.
\[ Whoo, I'm so scared!" I send with a laughing emoji \]
At the same time as he's writing to me, I'm off to my room, heading for the big window, when suddenly I hear a "beep".
\[ Don't say I didn't warn you! he sends me a heart-kissing emoji \]
I let out a slight smile, sending her a laugh emoji, and slipped my phone into my pocket. I lie back, placing my hands behind my head and grin foolishly as I look up at the ceiling.
Walking through a dark area leading to an endless forest, I continue on my way in the fog that surrounds me. Despite the fact that I'm moving forward without really knowing where I'm going, I let myself be guided by my feminine instincts, like a warrior who never gives up. Without waiting, I hear a faint but precise voice inviting me to continue on my way. I use the trees with their gnarled shafts and twisted branches as landmarks so as not to get lost. I'm not going to lie to you that I'm a little freaked out, but a little voice inside me is telling me not to give up. Further on, I feel a slight chill down my spine, as if the movements of the leaves are whispering forgotten secrets that I'm struggling to understand.
Perhaps it's my overactive imagination playing tricks on me as the daylight slowly fades, giving way to a mysterious half-light. The sound of my footsteps echoes my thoughts in the ambient silence. As I move forward, that unfathomably masculine voice, both gentle and haunting, motivates me to keep moving forward and not back down, even though my heart is pounding in my chest at a hundred miles an hour.
"Come closer, Orely. You're closer to what you came for."
Intrigued, my hands trembling, I do as the voice tells me. I concentrate on the words, trying to understand what he's getting at.
"Is it an illusion?" I whispered, casting a frightened glance around me.
Fear grips me and I wonder how I got here? What awaits me at the end of this winding road? Promptly, the mysterious voice starts again.
"You're almost there, don't be afraid. You'll find out what you need to know."
What revelations await me at the end of this tortuous path? The leaves crackle beneath my feet, and the air becomes fresher, laden with the smell of damp earth and dense vegetation. As I went deeper into the woods, shadows seemed to dance around me, creating strange shapes that gave the impression of observing me. I feel a surge of adrenaline, a mixture of excitement and apprehension. Suddenly, I see a glimmer in the distance, a flickering light piercing the darkness. The voice intensifies, encouraging me to come closer.
"There you are at last," she murmurs. I pick up the pace, my heart racing.
Deep down, I knew that this light could be the key to unlocking the mysteries that surround me, to understanding the events that led her here. Reaching the source of the light, I discover a clearing bathed in a golden glow. In the center, a magnificent tree, its roots extending like protective arms. But to my surprise, as I squint, I see Diego, who seems to be the guardian of this sacred place.
"Diego?"
"Yes, that's me. Stay where you are." He orders in a clear voice that awakens fragments of buried memories in me.
I look around, observing the illusory scenery that overwhelms my mind. After a few seconds' response, he continues.
"You have a mission and it's to bring me justice. You'll have to face your sworn enemy, but be prepared for a bumpy road. In time, you'll uncover foul secrets about his sons. But be patient and careful, you're surrounded by dangers..."
Before he could finish his sentence, his voice faded, as did his appearance.
"Wait, don't go! Am I going to make it?" I asked, imploring him to answer.
But instantly, a radiant yet powerful glow veils my vision to the point of blindness, and I wake up with a start.
"Gee, it's just a dream!" I said, stunned, rubbing my eyes.
So he's giving me a kind of warning, a forewarning of the dangers that lie ahead. My God, I remember his eyes, deep blue, seeming to pierce the darkness of this vision, announcing to me a necessary vigilance in the face of the trials to come. There was a duality in his words: on the one hand, we'd been able to see each other again for a short while, and on the other, the need to be on my guard, not to let myself get carried away by carelessness. Between light and shadow, and that every choice I make must be imbued with this awareness.
As I roll out of bed and glance at my watch on my bedside table, I realize that it's almost five o'clock in the afternoon and that I've dozed off while reading the legal documents. Apart from being the new owner of the Estadio grounds, and as you can see, I'm a big fan of flowers and have been ever since I was a little girl. Thanks to my academic background, this has enabled me to acquire invaluable technical skills, particularly in fragrance formulation, raw material selection and understanding market trends.
Passionate about scents and the art of aromatic composition, I decided to use my knowledge and expertise to create unique fragrances that capture the essence of flowers. After completing my studies, I did several internships in renowned perfume houses, where I was able to hone my skills and develop my professional network. And that's when I met Diego, who was very supportive and having obtained a professional degree in the perfume industry, I was able to launch a floral perfumery business in France, called "Florely". As you can imagine, it's a combination of the word "floral" and my name. I find it a perfect match. Today, with growing success, my company has a range of floral fragrances that appeal to a varied clientele, from young adults to the elderly.
However, with all these unfortunate events, I haven't had much time to experiment in my workshop, which I love mixing different floral essences to create more innovative fragrances, evoking memories and emotions. But remaining true to my vision of ethical perfumery that respects nature, I continue to modernize by regularly launching new creations and exploring collaborations with other local artisans.
After this emotional dream, I decide not to worry too much and go downstairs to make myself a nice cup of hibiscus tea. I fill the electric kettle with water and plug it in to heat the liquid. Meanwhile, I head for the upstairs cupboard and take out some homemade chocolate chip cookies from the big glass jar. Glancing out the kitchen window, I see my mother pulling weeds from the garden, just to pass the time.
Suddenly, without expecting it, a hand came out of nowhere, fast and determined, hit me full force, leaving me disoriented. Trying to defend myself but the force of the impact threw me off balance.