Chapter 37: The Convo

Santiago

Well, we had to be interrupted just when things were getting intense! With a touch of bitterness, I leave his lips, my hands sliding lightly over his cheeks. I open the door and the delivery man hands me the large pizza box.

"Good evening, sir, here is your order. I wish you a very good meal." Say the guy wearing a red cap with the pizzeria's logo on it.

"Good evening, sorry for the slight delay, thank you very much."

"No worries, have a good evening."

"Enjoy your evening too."

By closing the door, I sniff the box, which gives off a pleasant little scent, and to my surprise, I see Orely, who catches me red-handed with an amused look.

"Heh what? I am hungry and it smells good," I declared awkwardly.

She lets out a muffled laugh and walks over to me, wearing a white bathrobe in the dressing room.

"I would like to point out that I am hungry too. So, shall we eat?" She expresses, leaning over the table.

"Of course!" I said excitedly, placing the box on the table.

I ask Orely to sit down at the table while I fetch the cutlery, and at last we begin to enjoy our long-awaited meal. I look at her on the sly and see that she seems to be enjoying it.

Suddenly she catches me off guard.

"Stop looking at me, eat!"

"What makes you say this?

"You think I can't see. And the best way to enjoy a good pizza is to eat it with your hands, not your cutlery."

"Crap! How did she know I was watching her? I will have to be more careful because now I am embarrassing myself in front of a chick." I mumbled, helping myself to another slice.

"I can't do anything about it, you are so beautiful when you eat." I retorted with a sneer to hide my embarrassment.

She says nothing but looks up as she takes a bite of her new slice of pizza.

"You like it?"

"Yes, thank you, it is delicious."

"I am glad you like it. And how is your mother?"

"She is doing well and she is reassured that I am with you. That is what she told me."

"She is right, so I can make sure you are safe."

"Don't talk too fast, you have got some explaining to do, remember?"

"Yeah, don't worry, I will give you your explanations," I replied in an annoyed tone.

She is smiling in the corner at having managed to bring this subject up, and I have a feeling that after I have said it all, it is going to be my party.

For the time being, I am enjoying this little quiet time at the table with her.

From time to time, between bites, I continue to watch her eat secretly, and I notice that she doesn't like green peppers. She puts them delicately with her fingers aside on her plate. Probably the effect of the indigestion she gets from eating them. I know now that next time I will avoid these vegetables in her meals.

Orely

After devouring a few slices of pizza, despite my dislike of green peppers, the moment of truth arrived for Mr. Hero. But first, we clear the table and I do the dishes. Then he is off to change into much more casual clothes. He is wearing a white t-shirt and blue horizontal-striped night pants with a sewn-on elastic waistband and tie inside, and the lower legs are in fine ribbing, which looks quite comfortable.

With just these simple clothes, he always manages to throw me completely off balance, to the point where I don't know what to do. He clears his throat and beckons me to join him in the living room while I wipe my hands with the tea towel on the table. We settle on the sofa and he speaks.

"Well, everything that has happened to you is because of my father. He has always got it in for you, always wanting to own your land. But before you say anything, if I were on his side, I would not be wasting my time protecting you."

"So you admit that you are wasting your time because of me?"

"Oh come on! It is just a figure of speech! It tells you that I am here for you."

"And are you going to deny that your father is in the mafia?"

Eh yes, when you feel in danger, you tend to want to know who the enemy is. I did my research and it turns out that his father is the head of the powerful Mexican Beltrán cartel.

"No, I won't deny it, you are right about what you have found out, but he does not know I am protecting you. And if you want to know, he hates me because he accuses me of murdering my mother in childbirth. I recently had her coffin exhumed and to my surprise, it was empty. I am following this case very closely with my lawyer at the moment.

I am saddened by what he's just told me, but I can't control my frustration and the fact that his own father wants to eliminate me. I can't pretend nothing happened after hearing what I found out from him, even though I knew it. The truth hurts

"I am still angry though," I announced before getting up to go straight to the bedroom, slamming the door as hard as I could. Maybe he jumped and I don't care! I have to change my clothes.

As I enter the bathroom, my suspicions are confirmed. A good shower would be beneficial, so I immediately forget the bathtub. My complexion is pale and I slip under the warm water. That's when the after-effects of all the events hit me. Shaking with tremors, despite the warmth of the water, I begin to cry.

My legs tremble and my tears flow, mingling with the warm water on my skin. After ten long minutes of releasing my bitterness, I step away from the water and wrap myself in a large towel. As I enter the room, Santiago is sitting on the bed.