29

Carla

As soon as the exchange of glances finally comes to an end, I invite Juan and his security guard in.

They both enter and I close the door.

Juan sits on the sofa and his security guard stands next to him.

I stare at them both not knowing what to do, but what a thing, this is very strange and weird.

" Well, Daniel, this is my boss, I'm going to start working for him at Emporio Glamour, a fashion company, he's Juan. Juan, this is the father of my daughter."

The two look at each other and Daniel says in a firm voice:

" Pleasure, Juan."

He gives a forced smile and Juan does the same.

" Pleased to meet you. Carla, your daughter is beautiful."

I thank him with a smile and Juan comments.

" I brought the contract papers for you to sign, sorry I didn't tell you I was coming."

These two did the same thing today, and there was this crazy mess, it is very strange to be present with two men; if my neighbours were gossips they would talk a lot, but are they? Well, I don't know, I'm not one to be friends with neighbours.

" All right, I'll sign in a minute."

I answer so as not to think any more crazy thoughts.

I go for a pen and hear Daniel say.

" I'm going for a walk with our daughter to give you guys some space to work things out."

He leaves the flat and I sit down next to Juan.

" Well, let's go. Want some coffee? "

He says no and I return my attention to the contract, read everything, especially about the payment issue, which is a good money, working hours and everything else.

At the end I sign and hand him the contract.

" Thank you very much, and sorry again for arriving this way. You were busy, after all the weekend is for relaxing with the family, I'm really sorry."

" It's OK, don't worry, everything is fine now."

I smile at him and walk him to the door.

" Have a great day, Miss Carla, see you Monday. "

He winks at me and starts walking beside his security guard.

I feel like working with him is going to be a little more complicated than I thought. Because Juan seems like he's not just going to be an overbearing boss and the like, I feel like there's something more to it....

Later...

Daniel comes back with my daughter, he brought a packed lunch for us. Whenever he comes to visit we have lunch together and talk, it's so nice, but I feel he's not as happy as before. What happened? I can tell by looking into his eyes, his blue eyes are shooting to the floor. I pick up our daughter, put her to eat on her little table in her room, put some noodles that she always loves and go back to the kitchen, I serve food for me and Daniel and ask looking at his face, that looks a bit strange.

" What's up?"

Daniel looks at me and takes the plate I'm holding out to him.

He gives a short smile, fixes his hair and says.

" Let's have lunch. Then I want to talk to you."

This talk about wanting to talk to you... I've never liked it, because I'm the one who told him "We have to talk. And it was about us! I don't think it was ever gonna work out between us. Our love was strong, beautiful and perfect, but we are very different, he is going crazy because of the money, the work is consuming him, what future would we have? I don't think so. I did the right thing in breaking up, and he accepted it, although he was sad and didn't talk to me for a few days, but he went back to the way he was before with me, and now I see that he is different. His blue eyes are fixed on food, his body is thinner than before, is it overwork? People who overwork and become obsessed with work get sick, he may indeed be starting to get sick... I hope not.

I stop looking at him and start eating my pasta, there's dessert, but I don't even want to think about it, I'm very interested in what he has to tell me?

As soon as I'm done and he is too, I pick up the plates and take them to the sink, pour two glasses of cold water for us and sit down next to him again, drink the water and wait for him to speak.

He takes a deep breath and begins.

" Look, I feel bad about what I'm going to do now, but I have to do it, it's my job, but I know you'll manage, or I'll help you too, you can count on me. I'm sorry, Carla, but I've put this flat up for sale, I'm really sorry, you have until Tuesday to get your things out; in fact, I've already sold the flat. I'm really sorry."

He what? Sold this flat? He had given it to me, it was mine, but he never gave it to me. What a son of a... what a shit! This flat was the least he could give me, if he really gave it to me I wouldn't want anything more from him, not a cent, but now, taking the flat from me... where will I go? Until Tuesday? What am I going to do? Oh my God! What the hell.

I feel like I'm really red, I'm hating him, how can I not be? Look what he did to me. My ex-boyfriend is crazy about money, he is not thinking about us at all, but I am sure that I will get over it and I won't need anything from him, nothing.

I'll manage on my own, even if I kill myself working, all to see my daughter with a bright future.

I answer deep before slapping this son of a bitch.

" All right, by Tuesday then I will be out of here with my daughter. You can go then, you have already eaten."

I want him out of here now, if not it could all end here, I don't even want to look at his hateful face I feel.

" Our daughter. I'm really sorry, but I want to stay here more with our fi..."

I don't let him finish, I stand up and say angrily.

" I don't want to shout so as not to scare my daughter, I want you to leave now, I still have the right. Everything ends when I leave here, so until Tuesday this flat is mine, so get out. I'm not going to talk again."

Daniel looks at me with sad eyes and leaves the flat.

What the fuck was that all about?

If Daniel wants me to hate him he just got it.