Chapter 42 - Don't Take Attributions - mduno
Would he be upset about being here? Damn, he's going to hit the roof when he sees his house. Even if he gets mad, he needs it.
"Does it bother you?" I felt a pang in my chest.
"Not at all, don't think the wrong things, your car has been at my house since noon, for a moment I thought you were going to return it."
I imagine I was being watched more closely than the First Lady, although Onion was very cooperative and from the way my friend acted, I can swear Raúl flirted with him, even though Onion didn't seem to like men, I've seen him with women, he enjoyed himself in Santa Marta.
"Can I stay?" I heard his laugh.
"Promise me you'll sleep in my bed."
I felt a tickle in that intimate place. I remembered once again my graduation meeting, I confess I can't get that thought out of my mind.
"Granted. I lost track of time talking with Inés."
The mentioned one looked at me and my friends were already going up the stairs.
"I'll be home around six in the evening or a bit later, Veronica. Don't leave the house, do you promise?"
He spoke very softly, the prediction that being in love changes people was confirmed by his attitude. A mobster with such a reputation, an implacable man, and hearing him speak in whispers was absurd. Roland behaves differently with me, I didn't know this man that everyone fears. Everything he did showed how much he cared.
"Roland. How did you know?"
I asked as I entered his bedroom, tired.
"The car has a tracker, remember."
He confessed, I had thought one of his men had notified him.
"Onion didn't give you a report?" He smiled.
"No, but if he asks you to stay away from somewhere, promise me you'll listen to him. Veronica, if I weren't in this situation, I would have left you under Rat's watch."
"Is the problem that bad?"
"Besides Rat, I only trust Onion." He didn't respond.
"It's good to know. Thanks for the vote of confidence."
His comment annoyed me, apart from being intercepted, now I have to endure his distrust. I don't know what I have to do to be part of his life, what will be the requirement?
"You have to understand me, I trust you, but this is different." I sighed. "Veronica, don't act like a child, the situations I move in require pulling a damn trigger, and from what I know of you, you would never kill a human being." I didn't know what to say. "That's the kind of trust I mean. Do you understand?"
"Okay, sometimes the way you talk to me makes me feel stupid."
"Never! But you're right about something, I emphasize certain things to you, Veronica, because you never do what I want." I sighed, he was right. "You don't see the evil in people and I've seen it all. I also don't want you to lose that innocence..."
"Roland?" He changed the subject. "By the way, I'm still not used to having so much money." I heard a sigh of I'm caught. "Why do I have more money if it hasn't been a month?"
"I remember telling you I would give you a monthly amount."
I was going to argue, but I preferred to leave things as they were. That would be like fighting with a wall, he would never give in on the subject.
"I want to sleep, Roland, can I wear one of your pajamas?" I closed the door to his room.
"Love, I don't use pajamas, I have t-shirts, you can take whatever you want. I sleep as I came into the world. Only with you have I used boxers to sleep."
"Thanks."
I liked wearing his clothes, that time I got stuck on his farm.
"I have to go, I miss you and..."
"Tell me."
"I like knowing you're sleeping in my clothes."
My eyes got wet, Roland missing someone, it was more than progress.
"And before you say anything. Yes, I'm really screwed with you."
"I'd say in love."
"Screwed." I laughed out loud. "Good night, Veronica."
"Good night."
We had breakfast and I went out with my friends, I had to pay what I had promised them and I also wanted to buy something sexy, today I'm going to sleep with Roland. It was a bit uncomfortable buying lingerie with Onion by my side. But he kept his distance.
After a few minutes and seeing that he handled it professionally, I relaxed. I talked to Dad and Santi, this day was also very special for them. My mother had instilled in us the day of the candles, now it was fundamental, like a tribute to her.
It was getting dark, Roland was an hour late. He told me he would arrive around seven in the evening, the perfect time, when he arrived he would find the house lit up and ready to light the candles.
The tray of food to toast was ready, Inés banished me from the kitchen, she wouldn't let me help her for anything in the world. I was nervous, Inés felt the same, she knew him better than I did... And if, what if he doesn't like this?
The house looked very beautiful, he had no reason to be mad. I finished getting ready, before leaving the room, I left the gift bag with the lace and silk robe I had bought on the bed. God, I was so nervous! I went out, he would be here soon and I wanted to wait for him.
When I reached the terrace, I turned on the lights and he was halfway up the entrance, looking at the house with an expression... My heart stopped, I regretted not asking him first. Inés went down the stairs to the gravel, helping him with his luggage.
Simón exchanged a few words with her while telling Cebolla to open the car trunk, and they took out the luggage. Raúl and Lorena looked at each other. I don't know when they had arrived on the terrace, whether it was their team or just a coincidence, but everyone felt very, very uncomfortable.
The tension among us was palpable. It was clear that Roland didn't like the surprise. "Don't cry, Verónica," I said as I went down the stairs. He didn't take another step. By some magic, everyone present suddenly had something to do inside the house.
"Hello."
I could barely speak. Roland exuded a crushing energy that made people connect with his mood; he transmitted what he was feeling. That seemed to be his gift.
"What the hell is this, Verónica?!"
I couldn't say anything. My heart started pounding. I should have listened to Inés.
"I wanted to decorate your house for Christmas."
I looked away and noticed that Simón was watching us. Roland, on the other hand, hadn't moved an inch.
"Let me make one thing clear, Verónica."
He spoke in that way I had only heard once before, during our trip to Santa Marta, when he turned into the Boss. I clenched my hands to avoid crying, don't cry, I told myself.
"I don't give a damn... I don't care who your God is! I don't like any of this Christmas crap, and I'm asking you to respect that."
He spoke through gritted teeth, his tone hard enough to tell me he would never back down.
"I'm sorry."
"Second. Don't take liberties with my house that I haven't given you!" The fear evaporated from me and turned into anger, but I remained silent. "I don't care if you turn your house into a Christmas store, that's your problem, I respected that. Do the same!" His tone was rising.
"Forgive me, I just..."
"Third!"
I shrugged, my eyes filled with tears. I wanted to disappear at that moment. He was right, but the way he said it was not appropriate.
"You just ruined a night I wanted to..."
"I said I'm sorry," I muttered through gritted teeth.
"I don't give a damn that you're sorry, and I'm not done!" That was as much of his temper as I could take.
"Well, I'm sorry! Don't scold Inés, this was a gift from me."
I started walking towards the car, trying to run, but he managed to catch up to me. He grabbed my hand, making me turn to face him. The tears were already streaming down.
"Look at me! I never let..."
My lips trembled with what I wanted to say, but if I faced him head-on, I wouldn't be able to make him think differently.
"Please let me go."
I whispered, it was all I could manage to say. He furrowed his brow and let go of me.
"Thank you."
My heart sank as I reached the car. I didn't have the keys; I had left my bag in the house. I just wanted to run away. Raúl arrived, which made it worse. Everyone must have heard his shouts. My friend had the keys.
Lorena also came to my side. We got into the car, and I felt the stares of my two friends, who didn't say a word. D’Artagnan stayed behind, playing with his little siblings. I'd come back for him later.
During the drive to the apartment, silence reigned. I cried silently the whole way. I understood that not everyone loved Christmas the same way my parents had taught me. For many, it was different.
This wasn't how I had planned the night of candles; it was very different. I had decided to stay with him. For some reason, God didn't allow it to be that way. I needed to know more about the man I had as a boyfriend. I wiped away my tears and thought it over; I would talk to him tomorrow, apologize for overstepping, and make it clear that wasn't the way to tell me. I sat up as we reached the neighborhood.
"Raúl, stop at the supermarket, please." He nodded, and Lorena put a hand on my shoulder. "I know, for us, the night of the candles is a tradition."
"Yes. The important thing is to be together," replied Raúl.
"Thanks, can you lend me some money? I left my bag at Roland's house."
Raúl got out of the car with me. We bought three packs of candles, returned, and in no time, we were back at the apartment. I tried to smile. When the car stopped, Lorena ran, opened the door, and came out with matches. I smiled.
"Well, let's light the candles!"
Each of us took a side as was our custom for the past five years. The entrance to our apartment was illuminated. Lorena finished her part quickly and disappeared inside the apartment. Ten minutes later, she came out with soda and a bowl of snacks.
"Sorry, I didn't have time to make the fritters."
Despite the sadness, I smiled. Raúl hugged me, and then my friend joined in. This was Christmas.
"That idiot will regret it," said Lorena.
"I shouldn't have been intrusive; it's his private life, his customs. I had no right to..."
"Verónica..."