Chapter 263 - I Lost, He's Marrying Another One - mtres
Guadalupe
These women, though older than me, had acted like true friends. My heart was racing. They called for boarding, and when the plane took off, I knew there was no turning back. Now it was time to face the cowardly "I don't know what we have" situation and clarify our status.
Shirly had sent me the address of the office, and I arrived by taxi. I had let my hair down as he liked it. My hands were sweating, and my nerves were on edge. The building labeled R&V Consortium was an impressive eight-story structure. I asked for the lawyer Shirly and was given access to the eighth floor. As soon as I stepped out of the elevator, Shirly and Gladis were waiting for me and dragged me to an office.
"You need to change." I couldn't help but laugh. I had friends, but never like this. "Did you bring a dress?"
"Yes."
"Perfect. Go into the bathroom and change. Use my makeup. You need to look stunning today. He's the craziest of all. Who knows what he has planned for you? You'll come out on top. The suite we reserved is dreamy."
"I can't repay you for everything you've done. In fact, I borrowed some money Arnold keeps at home."
"You're his woman; he won't be mad."
"I hope so. I don't have money to get back."
"We'll lend it to you. Don't worry, Lupe, go on. It's already four. Get ready. Good thing you came with your hair done. I've always heard him say he loves your hair."
Gladis commented, already showing a slight baby bump. I went into the bathroom and got ready quickly, brushed my teeth, put on makeup, and the dress fit perfectly. I hadn't worn it before. When I came out, they smiled at me, and Shirly shook her head when she saw my feet.
"Didn't you bring high heels?" I shook my head. "What size do you wear?"
"Seven."
"Perfect, we wear the same size." She went to a drawer, and I saw three pairs of shoes. She pulled out a beautiful black pair. "These match the blush pink dress you brought. The dress is divine." Gladis agreed.
"Let's go, surprise him in his office."
The three of us left, and on the way, we ran into their husbands. They were surprised to see me.
"Did he call you?"
Gustavo smiled and hugged his wife from behind. They looked so lovely, not the most handsome men in the world except for Mr. Roland, Miguel, and my blondie. Those three could be cover models, while the others were extremely masculine.
"That's his office."
With my nerves on edge, I headed to the wooden door, and to my surprise, my Blondie was coming out of that place. He was surprised to see me. I smiled like a lovesick fool. His eyes traveled over my body. I was about to run into his arms, but the voice of the woman who came out behind him stopped me.
"Love, will you tell your friends you asked me to marry you?"
It was the airhead Marcela, looking at a ring on her hand. There are moments in life when you ask yourself, was it necessary to live such humiliation? Arnold stood in the same spot, staring at me. I wished for a magical earthquake to open the ground and swallow me. I looked at his friends; they were equally shocked.
"Guadalupe," he said. "God, if you exist, please help me not to cry."
"Isn't she the maid who lived with you? What are you doing here?" If I spoke, I would cry.
"I sent for her at Kevin's request." Who the hell was Kevin? "Lobo begged me to talk to you," Mr. Gustavo said, looking at me. I half-smiled at him for saving me.
"Marcela, wait for me in my car. I need to talk to my friends about something."
"But..."
Arnold looked at her, and she smiled, grabbed him by the neck, and kissed him on the lips. Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry, Lupe. Smile, and that's what I did when they finished kissing. No one moved; we were glued to the floor. As soon as we heard the elevator doors close, Shirly came like lightning and slapped Arnold. My heart was pounding.
"I don't have to explain anything to you," he said. "Guadalupe needs to talk to you."
He opened his office door. The girls looked at me with pity, and as my defense, I shrugged and smiled. I followed Arnold, who leaned against his desk while I stood two steps from the door.
"You don't have to explain anything to me."
"I don't plan to. What are you doing here?"
We stared at each other. My head was a whirlwind. I wanted to scream, hit him, insult him, while my facade remained understanding, smiling, as if his vile act didn't affect me. Unlike him, I couldn't lie. If I did, the resentment would stay with me. That's why I always say what I think and move on lightly in life.
"Unlike you, I acted to feel good about myself, and I hope you don't take it as if I'm resentful."
"I'm slapping you in my mind, you idiot!" I smiled. "Your friends thought the marriage proposal was for me." I smiled, my lip trembled, don't cry, don't do it, I breathed. "I doubted it. Two weeks ago, you gave the impression that you were tired of me when you didn't go to San Antonio. Then your absence of calls, and you made it clear when you took your clothes out of your apartment."
"That apartment is for you, I..."
"Don't even think about saying you'll keep paying for it. I understand, we were friends with benefits, and I accepted your proposal. I foolishly tried to make you fall in love with me. It was a possibility that it wouldn't work, and that's exactly what happened. Don't make me feel like a mistress, because I never will be, and so far you haven't disrespected me since we had nothing. Even if your friends think otherwise."
He looked at me, his hands forming fists. I laughed again, it was an ironic laugh.
"My presence here is mere confusion, don't be mad at your friends, I wanted to surprise you, and I was the one surprised. I guess... these things happen."
"I'm glad you understand, Guadalupe." That response pierced my heart.
"Just so you know, be clearer in your future relationships. I'll leave the keys to your apartment at the reception in San Antonio. You don't have to leave; it's yours."
"Give me three months to pay back the money I took from the jar. My budget wasn't enough for the tickets." I need to get out of here or I'm going to cry. "Can I use the bathroom for a moment, please?"
He pointed to the door on his right. Once I locked myself in, I couldn't help but cry. I took a lot of water with my hands. I needed to calm down. I took a deep breath and grabbed a few paper towels to dry my hands. I pressed the foot pedal to open the trash can and saw a condom filled with his semen. My hands trembled. He did it with his fiancée. He was with another. I left the bathroom; he was looking out the window.
"Guadalupe." I stopped before opening the door. "Don't say anything to Inés, I'll tell her."
"Don't worry." My lip trembled. "Can I ask you a question?" Arnold closed his eyes and breathed. "I'm not going to ask if you love me; I'm not that masochistic. You've already made your life, chosen the woman you think is right. I guess I'll do the same in time."
"What do you want to know?"
"Did you sleep with her and me at the same time?"
"No." He looked at the bathroom, and I saw him clench his jaw tighter. "I slept with her today."
"Thank you. Goodbye, Arnold."
I turned around; I couldn't hold back my tears any longer. As I left, Gladis and Shirly looked at me with pity. My lip trembled, and tears ran down my chest. At that moment, Lobo came out of the elevator. I looked at them and ran into the arms of the man who had just arrived as if by magic.
"Lupe!" I surprised him. He looked behind me, and seeing me cry, he tensed up. "He hurt you."
"I know you're happy with your girlfriend, but get me out of here."
"I will, just give me a few seconds. I need to talk to Gustavo and Aníbal first. I'm actually here because Simón asked me to be." I nodded. Shirly's hands dragged me to an office.
"What the hell did Arnold do?!"
Gladis shouted, sitting next to me. I had no idea how I was still standing. What a shame! I sat down.
"I'm going to ask you not to judge him. He never lied to me; he never asked me to be his girlfriend. It was just a deal, and I wanted to be his. Everything was without any obligation or promise. I just bet on winning him over, but I wasn't enough."
I covered my face. It hurts to be just another name on his list. My heart was too crushed.
"You guys looked like how I see Veronica and Roland, like Diana and Miguel, like Gladis and Gustavo, Clarisa and Daniel, Luisa and Simón," Shirly said.
"I've never been his type of woman, you know that." I looked at them. "I don't have money to go back. Can you lend it to me?" I felt so ashamed asking for money.
"Of course, you're going back tomorrow. Tonight, you're staying at my place," Shirly said.
"Thank you." There was a knock on the door. It was Aníbal, with an angry look on his face.
"Negro, Lupe is staying at my place tonight. She's going back to San Antonio tomorrow."
"Perfect, Lobo is also staying at the house. He's also traveling tomorrow to meet Simón in Blanco." Gladis handed me the third glass of water. "Lupe, I'm sorry."
"You don't have to be. He didn't break his word. He was just special. He made me feel important. I misinterpreted everything. He never committed."
"Let's go. We're inviting you to dinner."
When we reached the reception, Kevin was talking to Arnold and Gustavo. Marcela was there too. I didn't look at them.
"We need to celebrate our engagement. We're getting married in two months."