64

64
The weeks passed quickly for the young woman with blue eyes, especially since she started having sex with her husband.

As the night of the annual Schmidt Multinational Corporation party approached, she felt like she was going to die. She was dizzy and felt that if she moved, she would fall to the ground.

It was the first Friday of the month, September 4th, and if she didn't hurry, she would be late for the company where the party was taking place.

Madeleine had gone up to Katia's room to get dressed together.

She got up from the bed, sighed, and walked to the bathroom. Once there, she tied her hair into a ponytail, which she secured at the nape of her neck, parted it on the side, and had a middle part.

There were a few loose strands around her hair, giving her look a touch of casualness.

"Are you okay?" Madeleine asked, entering the bathroom and expressing concern when she saw Katia's pale face.

"Yes, I'm fine," Katia smiled at her friend. "We need to hurry or we'll be late."

Madeleine looked at her with suspicion.

Stefan and Joshua were downstairs. Both had chosen black suits. When they saw each other, they looked at each other and started laughing. It seemed like they did it on purpose.

Their gaze turned to the top of the stairs, and both men opened their eyes in surprise when they saw the two women. Stefan couldn't take his eyes off Katia as she descended the stairs, with one hand resting on the railing.

The brunette wore a green emerald dress with knit and rhinestone embellishments. The bodice was draped with a V-neck and rhinestone applications, and the back had a deep neckline with crossed straps. The skirt had a side slit.

The dress was in emerald green, which enhanced her silhouette.

Madeleine wore a red chiffon A-line style dress. Sweetheart neckline, slightly draped bodice with thin straps, and a chiffon skirt with coverage in the front.

The two walked down together and chatted animatedly, not realizing how they were being watched. It was the second time Stefan had been captivated by looking at Katia. The first was when she wore that blue dress.

He shook his head so that no one would notice and smiled slyly. Once they were next to them, each man approached the woman he would accompany.

Katia looked at Stefan with suspicion. He approached and whispered, "Can I take off that dress when we return from the party?"

"No," she told him before moving away and walking alongside her friends.

...

At one in the morning, there was no one on the street, and the cold made her skin tingle upon contact.

She still couldn't understand her irritation at knowing that Stefan had slept with one of the employees at the Schmidt Multinational Corporation Headquarters minutes after she had rejected him in the women's restroom.

She knew that walking through the city at night was dangerous, but she didn't want to be at a party where she didn't feel comfortable.

Tired of walking in search of a taxi, but it seemed that all the taxis had conspired not to pass by, she sat at the city bus stop. She rubbed her arms, trying to warm herself, while sighing and looking around.

How would she get home if there were no taxis or buses passing by?

Her feet hurt, and all she wanted was to take off those killer heels.

"Can I help you with something, Mrs. Schmidt?" She suddenly heard, making her jump. Looking, she saw that it was Robert, or Adriel, as she knew him, the police inspector. "Did I startle you? I'm sorry, but what are you doing here alone and dressed like that?"

"I came from a party... and I'm waiting for a taxi or a bus to go home," she replied, taking her hand off her chest and looking at the asphalt.

"Well, I think you're going to have to wait a long time. Taxis are very rare at night, and buses don't run until seven," he said, leaning against the bus stop glass.

"Well, they should run..." she muttered a bit annoyed.

"Do you want me to take you? A taxi wouldn't know how to get to your house. For some strange reason, no one, except a few people, knows how to get there," Robert told her.

"I suppose by 'a few people,' you mean the police and the people close to Stefan, right?"

"Exactly. You said it, Mrs. Schmidt," he crossed his arms. "Allow me to take you, please."

"I don't think it's a good idea. Stefan and you don't get along, and I don't think..." She fell silent for a few seconds. "Okay, take me. Anyway, he won't care." She stood up decisively, although she wasn't sure if it was the right decision.

"Relationship problems?" He gestured to the left for her to walk ahead.

"That's none of your business," she replied, closing her eyes.

"It's a shame that you're married to someone like him. Someone like you should be with a different kind of man, someone better than Mr. Schmidt," he commented, walking toward the car.

"What do you mean?" she asked, not understanding what the man was getting at.

"Your husband, Mrs. Schmidt, is not who he claims to be. With time, you'll realize that he's hiding something, and what he's hiding can bring you a lot of trouble, even the death of people close to you. That's why I'm asking you to help us catch him." He opened the car door.

"I have no intention of doing something like that," she said, looking serious. "He..."

"He's not the kind person he presents to others," he told her, staring into her eyes. "And with time, you'll realize it, but... it will be too late. And you know why? Because what your husband is hiding, besides being... is too dangerous."

Katia entered her room and threw her small bag on the bed. She ran her hands over her face, sighed, and sat on the edge of the bed.

Ever since the police inspector had told her that, she couldn't stop thinking about it. What did he mean? What secret was Stefan hiding that the police wanted to catch him for?

She put her fingers to her temples and began to circle them to get those silly ideas out of her head. She ruffled her hair, not understanding herself.

On one hand, she was worried that the police were after Stefan, but on the other hand, she was upset with him without knowing why. Trying not to dwell on the matter, she got up from the bed and went to the bathroom to remove her makeup and take off her dress, but most importantly, she wanted to get rid of the heels that were killing her.

Sitting on the bed with her pajama top on, she had to put her hand over her mouth, as she had felt a gag and was afraid of soiling the sheets.

When she went to stand up to put on her shorts, the door to her room swung open, revealing an angry and stern German named Stefan.

He entered the room and slammed the door, startling Katia and the little puppies that were sleeping.

"What are you doing in my room?" Katia asked, as she saw Panda and Booby scuttle behind her.

"I remind you that this is my house, and every room belongs to me. Just because you're sleeping in one of them doesn't mean it's yours," he said brusquely. "Why did you leave the party without telling me?" She crossed her arms and gave him a serious look. "I'm not in the mood for games, Katia."

"And I'm not in the mood for your interrogations," she said with the same demeanor.