Chapter 17 My Father
By Alejandro
I forgot I was talking to my father, I was lost in my own world, one where I held Valeria's naked body in my arms.
"Alejandro, I'm talking to you, Valeria is answering for you."
"Sorry, I was thinking about..."
I looked at her and she blushed. I think it was very obvious to Valeria that my mind had drifted to that morning when we were in the car.
I got distracted again.
Unintentionally, I spilled a drop of coffee on my tie.
"Val, bring me a tie."
"Excuse me."
She said as she went to get it.
"What's up with your secretary?" my father asked, with a smile I didn't quite understand.
"Nothing."
"She's cultured, handles herself well, is prepared, and responds without hesitation. I know I make everyone nervous, don't screw it up."
I was surprised by his compliments.
"I know her worth."
She knocked on the door before entering. I stood up, took off my tie, and handed it to her. She put the new tie on me, tying it as always.
I took her by the shoulders and was about to kiss her, as I often do when she ties my tie. She stepped back. I think my father didn't realize what I was about to do; I had forgotten where we were.
"Sorry, if you need anything... I have to review some reports."
"Go ahead, sweetheart," my father said to her.
When Valeria left, he asked why she was putting on my tie.
I told him she does it every day.
"My driver picks her up from her house and brings her to my apartment. She sorts out my clothes, prepares my breakfast, and even gets rid of any girl in my bed. Some don't understand I only want them for a while."
"She's your secretary, not your servant."
"I know, but on a trip to the United States, a woman didn't want to leave, so I asked Valeria to come into my room, and it became a habit. Besides, if she doesn't arrange my clothes, I can't find anything. She takes care of a lot of things. I need to talk to Susana, though she knows Valeria comes to my place early every day. I don't know how she pays her for the extra hours."
"Alejandro, you're grown up enough to handle getting a woman out of your bed yourself. I don't think what you're doing is right."
"It's convenient. In the car, on the way here, we sort out the schedule. I tell her about each company we have. She's always proper, and even if she doesn't like some orders, she always follows them."
"Have you slept with her?"
His question surprised me.
"No..."
"She's very beautiful, hard to pass up."
"Who do you take me for? She's my secretary."
"You're a rascal. You've always gone out with your secretaries, and don't tell me you've matured, even though you're old enough to have done so."
"You must already know, she has rejected me many times, no matter what I offer her."
My father laughed. I think he just wanted to hear me admit that she had rejected me, because I'm sure my aunt keeps him updated on everything, as does Susana, and of course, his faithful secretary, who thankfully, isn't on my floor.
"She's a model employee and has all your trust. Don't lose her."
He said it seriously.
I didn't know what he meant by losing her.
I don't think Valeria will quit.
I'm very used to her, despite not being able to have sex.
I don't plan to lose her. Since she has classes on Saturdays, I don't call her, and on the day she has classes during the week, I don't bother her either. I haven't done that with anyone else because I need a full-time secretary.
"I treat her well, better than others. I know how responsible she is. She even enters my place with her fingerprint. None of my other secretaries have done that."
"None of your secretaries were really your secretaries. You turned them into your lovers for a few days and then fired them."
"I wouldn't fire her even if I got tired of her in bed. I know her worth."
"If you take her to bed, it would be complicated for her to continue being your secretary afterward."
"They're two separate things."
"For you, who have no feelings."
"I care about Valeria."
I realized that I truly cared about her, besides wanting her more each day.
Of course, despite the affection I had for her, I also hoped to find her vulnerable, to convince her to have sex. One thing doesn't cancel out the other, and I know she's smart, so she would also separate personal from professional. So far, she does.
If something bothers her, she puts on that smile of hers that annoys me, and we move on.
With Valeria, everything is simpler. She makes my life easier.
She knows exactly what I like, how I want things, both in the office and at home.
When she's at my house, it's still part of her job, so it counts as work, right?
On the way to the company, we review the day's agenda.
And at home... at home, I love watching her manage everything perfectly, like she's the lady of the house, fully pleasing her husband.
That thought scared me.
I calmed myself by thinking it wasn't true, because I had up to 4 or 5 different women each week.
"Alejandro, you're distracted," says my father.
"Sorry, I didn't sleep much."
I gave my father any excuse, though it's true, I'm more active than ever, sexually, that's why I must be distracted, because of the fatigue.
"I'm telling you, you're not a kid anymore. Ease up on the casual sex and think about settling down. You're at the age, and you're my only son. I want to be a grandfather."
"Don't start with that. I'm not made for one woman. I don't want to see the same face every day, have her take over my apartment, my room, the kitchen. No, I prefer things as they are. I don't even see the housekeeper. I have who I want in my bed, and that's it."
My father looks at me almost with a smile and, for the first time, doesn't continue with the topic.
He must be understanding that I can't stand seeing the same face every day. I like my freedom, I love my freedom, and I'm not tied to anyone.
By Valeria
How could they?
I felt awful when Diego called me. I don't feel anything for him, but it bothers me that I believed in him and loved him as I did. How didn't I realize I was even afraid of him?
The last year and a half we were together was terrible. I secluded myself in my room all the time. I never analyzed the situation so coldly.
Did I forgive everything because I was afraid of him?
It was easier to think I was in love and couldn't live without him. Emi said it was habit; there was some truth to that too.
I thought I was asexual because I never really enjoyed it with him, and if that was sex, I could live without it forever... until I felt real kisses and caresses.
It was clear I really wanted to be with Alejandro, to feel like a woman, to feel like his woman.
However, I know that's not possible. Yes, we have some close moments, but nothing more than that.
In the car today, he touched and kissed me in a way that was beyond human, more than I could resist.
I felt terrible, finding out that my cousin Karina was the girl who had been with Diego at the same time as me... and even carried his child. The worst part is she said she got rid of it for me, so I wouldn't find out.
She's my cousin, and we were quite close.
I felt her betrayal, and it hurt.
Is that why she acted offended when we talked about splitting the apartment expenses? Was she pregnant then?
It made sense to share the costs among the three of us if we lived together.
Was he with her while I was studying?
I got off easy. In a few months, I'll graduate with a degree in business administration. I practically speak four languages, and now I'm studying Chinese. I know that when I graduate, I can get any job I want...
Except now, I don't want to leave this job.
I was devastated by Karina's betrayal, my cousin.
Diego threatened me, thinking that would make me go back to him, and when it didn't work, he dropped the bomb about Karina.
How could they?
I wasn't surprised by Diego, but Karina...
I talked to Emi. I had to tell her, also because her birthday was coming up, and Karina was on the guest list we made a few days ago, forgetting how offended my cousin was.
I was shaking with indignation.