Chapter 40 Laura Is In Love With Cohen 2
Every morning it's the same thing; the toilet and I have become best friends.
Morning sickness is the death of me; almost nothing stays down, and I feel very weak.
I try to hide it as much as possible so that no one in the house suspects the real reason I'm always visiting the bathroom.
Laura always helps me distract the girls when this happens, but sometimes it doesn't work very well.
They ask me why I'm so down, and I always say the same thing: "I think it was something I ate," and then they leave me alone for a while.
I'm not telling Laura anything about my conversation with Ma'am Rose and that I got the proof Cohen needed.
I'm still ecstatic and want everything to go well, so I'm leaving her out of it for now.
Besides, I feel my friend is acting strangely; I often see her lost in thought.
Laura has been very quiet lately, which worries me.
She's never been like this, and when I try to start a conversation, she changes the subject, saying it's nothing serious.
I even thought once that there might be a man involved, but if that were the case, she would tell me, the way she is so euphoric when the topic is men.
Laura?
She doesn't listen to me; she's oblivious to everything that's happening around her.
Laura? —I call her again.
"Oh, hi Madi," she said when she noticed my presence.
What's happening to you? You're acting very strange.
It's nothing, Madi, nothing much is happening, I'm just thinking.
In what or in whom?
"What do you mean, 'who'?" She looks at me, startled, her eyes wide.
Now I'm sure there's a man involved.
I caught you, you're hiding something from me, who is he?
And why don't you want to tell me?
"I don't know what you're talking about, Madi," she said, trying to mislead me.
Don't play dumb, you're in love, is that it? My God, how did I not realize it before, Laura, you're in love.
"Of course not!" she shouts nervously.
"I'm not in love, where did you get that nonsense from?"
"Your reaction just now confirmed it for me," I said, biting my lip and holding back a laugh.
Laura paces back and forth, visibly nervous and uncomfortable.
I just don't understand why this is happening to me, of all people.
I don't want to talk about it, Madi, please leave me alone.
For God's sake, why are you acting this way towards me, Laura? I'm your friend, aren't I?
What's wrong with you telling me who you're in love with?
Because that's none of your business — She yells, startling me.
She realizes that what she said hurt me, so she runs over to me and hugs me.
I'm sorry Madi, I'm sorry, it's just so difficult to deal with this feeling, it's so complicated.
Why is it so complicated? Please open up to me, I want to help you.
No, Madi, you can't.
I can't tell you what's happening, and besides, this is more of a fantasy in my head than reality.
Okay, I won't push it, but if you want to talk, I'll be ready to listen.
She hugs me again and I leave, leaving her alone.
Ma'am Rose tells me that in two days I'm traveling to Paris to pick up the girls.
I'm not worried about that because the trip isn't happening; I'll give the recorder to Cohen tonight.
I told Ma'am Rose I'm going to the club under the pretence of being bored, but I'll only be dancing.
I'm never going to do that again in my life; this nightmare is almost over.
The club is packed tonight, it's not even midnight and most of the men are already drunk and desperate to have sex with one of us.
I put on a blood-red corset with stockings and a garter belt; I look quite sexy, but I'm not too happy about it because everywhere I go men try to touch me, saying dirty and insane things to me.
The smell of sweat and alcohol makes my stomach churn; I try to breathe deeply to control the urge to vomit.
Before coming here I ate saltine crackers with water, the only thing that stays in my stomach and relieves the nausea.
I head to the stage to entertain those disgusting drunks with a sensual dance alongside the other girls, swaying my body to the rhythm of the music, trying not to pay attention to the men who are watching me with eyes full of insane desires and perverted thoughts.
Hours later, I see Dimitri enter the nightclub, and I'm relieved to see him; right behind him, I see my wonderful Cohen in a black suit, which makes me want to rip it off him and savor him in every way possible.
"You have no idea how crazy I was about not seeing you, Dimitri." Dimitri kisses me passionately, deliciously attacking my tongue, teasing me, and making my panties wet, and I melt in his arms like jelly.
Cohen clears his throat behind us, causing Dimitri to curse him for interrupting our kiss.
Hi Cohen, how are you?
Yes, and you?
And the baby?
Dimitri pulls me possessively by the waist, and I smile at that.
We're fine despite the nausea.
That's great, any news? If you called me here, it's because you have something important to say.
Oh yes, I have great news.
I disentangle myself from Dimitre's arms and move closer to Cohen, whispering in his ear, making him shiver with my approach.
I achieved what I wanted so much.
"What I want is beyond my reach, Madi." He looks at me intensely.
This makes me uncomfortable, especially since Dimitri is near us and could hear his indirect comment.
I'm referring to Rose's confession.
"Did you succeed?" he asks.
Yes, it's here— I take out the recorder and hand it to him.
Cohen puts the object in his pocket and hugs me, taking me by surprise.
"Can you let go of my woman or do you want me to break your face?" Dimitri said angrily.
Cohen lets go of me and gives Dimitri a challenging look, which he returns, but then quickly turns his attention back to me.
You are great, Madi.
We'll raid the nightclub tomorrow, and you'll be free, just like I promised.
"I can't wait to be free of all this," I said.
"Have you thought about where you're going next?" Cohen asks.
I hadn't thought about this before, what am I going to do?
I'll never go back home, and I don't have the money to buy a house.
God, what will I do?
"She's going to live with me," Dimitri said, leaving me completely surprised.
"Are you serious?" I ask.
"I've never been more serious in my entire life.
You're mine Madi, and I want you close to me.
I've been away from you for too long; I can't stand it anymore," he said sincerely.
My heart overflows with joy knowing that Dimitri wants us around.
My desire right now is to jump into his arms and shower him with kisses and all the love I have in my heart, but Dimitre is faster and pulls me close, making my breath quicken just from smelling his perfume.
I can hear the thump-thump-thump of his heart, or is it mine? It doesn't matter; I can only focus on his mouth.
Mine is watering with the desire to kiss him, I forget everything and everyone, and allow myself to feel the softness of those lips.
When we parted ways, I looked for Cohen and saw him in an extremely sensual dance with Laura.
My eyes widened at the image of Laura teasing Cohen in a sexy way, slowly swaying her hips and looking directly into his eyes, and that's when it hit me.
Laura is in love with Cohen.