Chapter 30 - Your Terms for Being His Girlfriend - mduno
I glared at the opportunist, my eyes nearly closed with rage, feeling my face flush red.
"Mr. Fausto. I gave it to him as a birthday present and he returned it," at least he left out that I threw the keys in his face. "I hope he doesn't get the same refusal for his graduation since he agreed to be my boyfriend."
He looked like he was about to burst out laughing while I was fuming, and my father was the judge, witnessing a different side of me.
"Vero..."
"Better not say anything, Dad!" I pointed at him.
"Are you going to give it back to me?"
I hated being cornered, and Mr. Fausto was waiting for my answer. Roland extended the keys for me to take. It took a moment, but I finally took them, more for the fact that I needed a way to get to his house or even his estate.
"Satisfied?" He kissed my forehead.
"You have no idea how much."
Roland shook hands with my father, I gave him another kiss on the cheek, and we watched him enter the apartment.
"Where are we going?" He opened the passenger door. "I thought the car was mine."
"And it is, but I always drive when we're together."
"I know how to drive very well," I said.
"I don't doubt it."
He cornered me between the car and the door, his body pressing against mine, my heart leaped at feeling him so close. His cologne smelled delicious; he radiated masculinity, his lips touched mine so gently it hurt with its delicacy. The sensation concentrated in my stomach was even more intense.
"I like seeing you so docile."
"I don't want to fight with you on our first day as a couple. Why is it so important that I have a car?"
He closed his eyes for a moment and spoke with the sincerity that always characterized him.
"You are my Achilles' heel, Veronica. My enemies could get to me through you. You know who I am." His Achilles' heel?
"And what's so special about the car? Is it bomb-proof or something?!"
He stepped back a bit, about to tell me something I probably wouldn't like. We were starting to understand each other's physical reactions.
"Yes." I opened my eyes wide, he put some distance between us. "It's bulletproof, it has a satellite tracker, and if you find yourself in trouble, I can help you drive it."
"What?"
"Veronica..." He paused before speaking, "In some way, you broke through thousands of barriers because you're the only good thing in the mess of a life I have. I'm not going to risk something happening to you, and since you always get into trouble, I want to at least protect you a little." A lump formed in my throat.
"Thank you for those words."
He smiled, realizing I wouldn't argue about it anymore, and walked around the car to take the driver's seat. I got in and put on my seatbelt.
"Have I smoothed out the day?" I frowned.
"Where are we going? What are you planning?"
"Running a few errands."
He winked at me. I smiled, having no idea how he managed to manipulate me.
"Your bodyguards?"
"They're somewhere, keeping watch."
I watched him drive, he was so in control of himself it was enviable. I still couldn't believe it, dating the boss and still not having sex.
"Stop staring at me, you're going to wear me out."
"I don't think so, you're vain, and I admit beauty."
"I'd crash if I did that, Veronica." He said my name like a prayer.
After half an hour, we arrived at the main branch of one of the most well-known banks in the country.
"Are you running a bank errand?"
He didn't say anything, got out of the car, opened my door, and I smiled nervously at his gentlemanly act.
"I know why you're laughing, you've brought out the gentleman in me."
We held hands and entered the office of manager Hernán Salamanca; that's what the plaque on his office said. They shook hands.
"Engineer Sandoval, how are you?" Engineer? I liked that they called him that instead of "Boss."
"Hernán, sorry for calling you so early."
"No problem, you know I'm the first to arrive before the staff. Give me five minutes. Suly won't take long to bring the papers." I had no idea what they were talking about, probably one of his businesses. "Did you bring your IDs?" He spoke in plural, why was I involved? Roland thought for a moment, from his look I knew it wasn't anything good.
"Veronica, can you lend me your ID?" I frowned.
"For what?"
Mr. Hernán pretended to look for something in his drawers while Roland and I stared at each other.
"Just give it to me, Beautiful."
The manager's secretary arrived, handed him some papers and three plastic cards.
"Miss, can you confirm if this is your number?" He handed me a paper, and indeed it was my ID number.
"How do you know my...?" I looked at Roland. "It's an important detail."
I had to control myself, I didn't even know why I was angry when he had always shown me who he was.
"Vida..."
"Can you leave us alone for a moment, Mr. Hernán? I need to clear something up with my boyfriend."
He didn't even pay attention to me. He looked at his client, and with a slight nod, he gave the order to leave us alone. He closed the door once he left. My blood was boiling.
"Verónica..."
"Verónica nothing! Is this your indirect way of buying me? I already accepted the car. Now you're going to give me money?"
"No! I'm not buying you!" he said very seriously.
"Well, that's how it looks to me."
"Well, it's not!"
He extended his hands impatiently. He moved the chair to sit in front of me.
"I'm doing what you asked me to do."
"I didn't ask you for money! When did that ever come up?"
"I know that. I mean, you said that to be part of your life, I must always be yours, and you must be the only one. You talked about waking up together every morning, among other things, and that's complicated for me to understand, but I'm doing it." I didn't understand anything or where he was going with this. "Vida, a relationship is about give and take."
"What does that have to do with giving me money?"
"I like being this way! I feel secure knowing you have money for any emergency." He sighed, and the way he looked at me turned me to mush. "You're my girlfriend, the only one with that title and right. You're Roland Sandoval's girlfriend, and people here don't know half of who I am."
"The money deposited in the account comes from the income of my other career. I want you to know me, not as the boss, but as the architect and engineer. That world inspires me, maybe a passion. The car is bulletproof, beautiful, because I don't want you to get hurt."
"Understand that you might be in danger at some point, and you can use it to escape or spend it at a mall, I don't care. I don't want to see you struggling like you did the day you bought D'Artagnan's things." I didn't know what to say.
"You have a clear idea of what you want from a man. For you, money doesn't matter much; feelings are important. I have a different point of view; for me, money is everything. So I hope our mix works out. If money means nothing, accept it."
"Don't compare feelings with money," I said.
"It's the same as saying matter isn't more important than essence," we looked at each other. "I'm matter, Verónica, and you know what you are." My eyes filled with tears. "You're my essence."
"How do you manage to convince me?" I whispered. He smiled and kissed the back of my hand.
"There's a reason I'm where I am, Vida." I rolled my eyes. He always comes off as arrogant. "I convince with arguments."
He stood up and opened the door. The manager came in. I handed over my ID, signed the papers, and realized the new savings account had a balance of a hundred million pesos! I looked at Roland, and his expression was a firm "don't say anything." I received two cards, each with a limit of twenty million.
"I've set up the same amount to be deducted from my personal account to yours every month."
Just like that. I had a lump in my throat. I signed the other papers without saying a word. We said our goodbyes, and as we left, Roland took my hand. I was about to explode. When we got to the car.
"I won't take anything. If you want, I'll keep the money. I don't want drug money." He slammed the door, his eyes blazing.
"I would never dirty you with that money! I told you where that sum comes from. I know I'm a complete jerk, but if you've noticed, I've never been that way with you. That money comes from my legal businesses. It's the result of my profession."
I said nothing. The rest of the way, we drove in silence. I had lost my appetite. I didn't realize where we were going until we arrived at his house. I was still very upset, but that didn't stop Roland from being attentive and special.
We held hands. Inés smiled when she saw me. I hugged and kissed her on the cheek. She was surprised by the act of kindness. She had been very special to me after the attack. Simón lowered his head and squeezed his boss's hand. Seconds later, I heard two cars pull in. His bodyguards.
"Sir, will you have breakfast in the dining room or the garden?" Inés asked.
"In the garden, Inés."
As we headed to the garden, I had to admit, he had a great taste for decorating every piece of art he built. His house was perfect; I wouldn't change a thing. We passed by his office, and I noticed many shampoo brands on the table. I looked at him, and he smiled.
"You said to find out the brand." He took it literally.
"You did your homework."
"You have no idea how obsessive I can get." He made a gesture with his lip. I couldn't resist; I leaned in to kiss him. I don't know when my anger disappeared. "Am I forgiven?"