17

Opening the door to my apartment, I put my things aside and head to the kitchen. Carol has already settled here this weekend, so I will inevitably meet her. His gaze immediately falls on mine and it's obvious he understands something is wrong when he sees me.

“My God, what happened to you? your cheek...

“Jonas is back.

He sets the glass of water he was drinking earlier on the counter and looks at me again, incredulous.

"That?

“He attacked me.

I take a seat on one of the chairs and run my hands through my hair. Carol sits next to me.

“Do you think she's here for you?

“He made it clear to me.

A feeling of revulsion invades me when I remember her words to me.

“Louis is of interest to her?

“Louis has never been of interest to him, but I have. He's back again and I'm afraid of what he might do.

“Don't be afraid, maybe he's just…taking a walk, isn't he?

“Jonas doesn't walk, he shows up when he has a goal. I already told you about the type of person he is, he will never stop. He caught me off guard, he is a very powerful person. He could do whatever he wanted with me and no one would know.

The last time I had any contact with Jonas after the incident was many years ago. He called me and told me it was still his, but the call didn't last long because I hung up instantly. After that, I had no contact with him. I don't know why I thought he wouldn't show up, after so many years... I saw it as impossible. He could have been at his mercy a hundred times and in all those times he could have shown up, but he does now and it gives me a very bad feeling.

That man has a serious problem. He is a psychopath.

He has an insane obsession with me and I am terrified of what he can do to me because he has all the means to do anything. The police are of no use to me because he is not on my side, he buys everyone with money and this is no exception. I highly doubt he didn't give the police money in exchange for silence.

“I don't know what to tell you,” Carol admits. "You told me what that man is capable of and...

“Just…forget it, I don't want to talk about it anymore.

“Don't you want to go to the police? At least try...

"It's no use, everyone has their silence bought" she let out a sigh. I am going to rest.

"Aren't you going to have dinner? She “intercepts me before he gets me to my feet”. The food is ready.

Even though I don't have much of an appetite, I help Carol set the table and we have dinner.

"What did you decide? "I ask her after a few seconds," about the pregnancy.

"I'm not sure yet.

“Will you talk to Josh?

"No.

Seat. The truth is, I'm not going to get in the way or intervene. I will continue to support Carol. After dinner, she helps her with the dishes and I go to my room to sleep. I get rid of my clothes and flopped on the bed. My exhaustion is so much that she wouldn't even let me stand up to put on something. At this point, I don't know if my exhaustion is physical, mental or both.

I have many in mind.

I'm tired. The encounter with Jonas left me stunned and I'm afraid I'm having a nightmare reliving that moment. I don't have them very often, but I'm afraid that so much stress will cause them to resurface. Maybe I should have an appointment with my psychologist to vent. I feel a bit lost.

I cover myself with the huge duvet on the bed and try to close my eyes, however, a memory of Jonas isn't exactly what's going through my head, but a memory of Nicholas Hills and that night.

Everything is torment. My life is a stormy mess.

I have always believed that my torment began when Jonas came into my life, that afternoon when I met him. He had my sister attached to his arm, she didn't stop smiling. I remember talking every day about it; of her happiness. I longed to see myself like this with Erick, but back then I didn't know that Jonas was a monster, a beast that only became obsessed with me in a sick way.

I want to believe that Jonas will leave, but...

I rub my hands over my arms and settle on the side of the bed.

Everything seemed to be going so well...

It was too good to be true for a person like me.

***

It's already Wednesday and I haven't slept very well. I'm anxious. Today is the day of Louis's operation and I feel full knowing that this hell is going to have its calm after all that martyrdom. Today, I attended work and had to accompany Mr. Hills to a couple of meetings. The atmosphere was tense and uncomfortable. I did not know what to say.

Now, I am leaving my office because my workday has just ended. I look at the time on the watch that adorns my wrist. I still have time to get to the hospital, I'll just have to speed up a bit and I don't think that's a problem. I approach the elevator intending to press the button, but the doors open and I am surprised when I find myself again with the blonde woman I met the day before yesterday. I think her name was Camille.

“Eva “notice my presence”, what a surprise to see you again.

Her tone of voice is a little weird, I don't know if she's just going to be with me or if it's her way of being. Even so, I reserve her comments, I don't want to make her angry. I don't know what kind of things I could say to Mr. Hills if I offended her.

"Miss..." I mumbled, "I say the same thing.

I move to get inside the cubicle, but he grabs my arm in a not-very-friendly way. She seems to notice the confusion in my expression, so she lets go.

“You and I need to talk, secretary.

It seems that now I am not Eva.

"Yeah?

I'm in a hurry and Camille is taking my time, I remember millions of times.

“I don't want you near him. "Oh, he means Nicholas Hills." I've seen how he looks at you and I don't want you to meddle with us.

How does he look at me? This woman is completely mixing things up.

If she knew that he...

“I don't plan on 'meddling' in anything and I'm also not interested in having a non-work relationship with my boss.

"That's what everyone who comes here says," she says, examining me with her eyes.

“I don't know who will say it, but I'm not all, I'm Eva. Good night Miss.

I go inside the cubicle and press the button that leads to the first floor. When the doors close, I let out the air I was holding in my lungs. I don't know where I got the courage to answer him like that.

Once I get to my vehicle and get into it, I start my trip to the hospital. When I arrive, I find Carol and Harmony in the waiting room, both greeting me.