Guillermo

Guillermo
About five minutes ago, Melissa announced Levi’s arrival.
Everyone is now gathered around the table in the adjoining room, which I use for meetings. Joaquín tried to come, but a trial he was involved in ran longer than expected. So it’s just me, Olivia, and our lawyer, along with Kathleen and Charlotte with their respective legal representatives.

"Can we start?" Levi asks, but without waiting for an answer, he continues. "Well, I’ll take the silence as a yes. Miss Charlotte, please tell us what happened on the day of the incident involving Miss Freitas."

Olivia’s hand, trapped in mine, is ice cold.

"Well, actually, it all started a few days earlier. Miss Taylor approached me, saying she had a task for me."

Five seconds into her speech, and I’m already boiling.
I look at Kathleen, and she’s holding her head high, proud as if none of this concerns her.
Sensing my mood, perhaps, Olivia squeezes my hand, intertwining our fingers more tightly under the table.

"And what did this task involve?"

"She asked me to put my wallet into Miss Freitas’ bag."

"This young lady sitting in front of you?"

She glances briefly at Olivia.

"Herself."

At least the woman has the decency to look embarrassed.
Actually, her testimony is just a repetition of what she already said at the police station, but Levi needs Kathleen’s dismissal to leave no room for doubt.

Her former secretary’s lawyer interrupts.

"There is no proof of what she’s saying."

Like his client, he seems almost bored.

"We’ll get there," Levi warns. "The colleague should be aware that we convened here before the proper procedures with the police were taken, purely as a courtesy. Only out of consideration for the many years of service your client provided did we not bring detectives to our little meeting."
While he speaks, his face shows no emotion. The man is unnervingly cold.

"Continuing, miss, what was Miss Taylor’s intent in asking you to do this?"

"I’m not sure. Probably… um… to get Miss Freitas fired."

"Not arrested?"

"Maybe."

"And why did you agree to such a vile plan?"

Unlike the other questions, she doesn’t hesitate.

"Because until then, we all thought Kathleen would be the next Mrs. Oviedo."

What? Why on earth would anyone think that? I’m hard to shock, but this time I’m completely stunned. Olivia turns her face toward me, and I can see the doubt in her eyes.

"And what made you think such nonsense, since there was never any indication of a relationship between me and Miss Taylor?" I ask, having held my temper for far too long.

"She threatened us. She said that you and she were secretly in a relationship because of your recent widowhood, and that Olivia—I mean, Miss Freitas—came trying to steal him from her. That she needed to get her out of the way."

From my peripheral vision, I see Olivia cover her mouth with her hand.

"You are excused," Levi says, addressing Charlotte.

She no longer works for me anyway, and her presence was only necessary to confront Kathleen.
When she leaves, I turn my attention to the blonde woman I thought I knew—even if only in a purely professional context.
She remains impassive but suddenly turns to look at me.

We lock eyes for a few seconds, and what I see there brings back my brother’s words. I need to protect Olivia. She is dangerous.

"That’s a very nice story, but as you should know, justice works based on evidence, not gossip. Thus, nothing said here will prevent Miss Taylor from getting her job back or, if she is no longer welcome in the Caldwell-Oviedo group, receiving compensation of…" He pretends to think. "I think a seven-figure sum would be a good starting point for negotiations, since my client has been the target of insinuations that damage her professional reputation. Otherwise, we’ll have to take the appropriate legal measures."

"Actually, we do have proof that the order to set up Olívia Freitas came from your client. Miss Taylor was nearly perfect in her schemes, but she just forgot the instructions she gave to Charlotte about what to do and when via WhatsApp."

Levi pulls a few printed sheets from his folder and hands them to Kathleen’s lawyer.

"Now let’s talk about your alleged relationship with Guillermo Oviedo, Miss Taylor."

"We kept it a secret," she has the audacity to say.

I look at Olivia, and she shakes her head slightly, as if to say we’re fine.
I’m dying to respond, but Levi looks at me, asking for patience.

"And when did this supposed relationship begin?"

"Right after Mrs. Oviedo’s death. When Guillermo finally felt free to love again."

Jesus Christ!
I try to remember the months after Layla’s passing. That was really when Kathleen became more explicit. Until then, I had noticed some glances, but without false modesty, it had never been unusual in my life—but suddenly, she seemed bold.

"Coincidentally, your fictional relationship with my client began just when your neighbor, who requested a restraining order against you, moved in."

"What?" Now it’s her lawyer’s turn to gape. Clearly, Kathleen didn’t tell him everything. Big mistake. A lawyer is like a priest—once confessions begin, you shouldn’t keep secrets.

"Here, the esteemed colleague can see the restraining order in detail," Levi continues, offering more papers to her lawyer. "In it, Mr. Mason Abbot requests that your client keep distance not only from him but also from his fiancée, whose car had all four tires slashed by Miss Taylor, which was captured by the condominium cameras where they both lived."

"I’m not going to keep listening to these lies." Despite what she says, she remains seated.
God, Joaquín’s intuition about her was right. The woman is insane.

"So, can we agree on a voluntary resignation? Of course, she will receive everything owed, but nothing beyond what the employment contract provides."

"And what about the criminal charges?" Her lawyer’s posture completely changes after examining the material provided by Levi.

"We can’t do anything about that. As you should know, everything is now in the hands of the police."

"One last thing, Levi," I interrupt. "Make it part of the agreement that this woman can no longer approach Olivia."

"You can’t be serious, Guillermo."

Kathleen speaks to me for the first time, using my first name—a thing she had never done before. I wonder if she’s lost between fantasy and reality.

"I am, Kathleen, your companion of many years."

God, she is definitely insane.

"I’m sorry for raising expectations in your head. You were never my companion, only an employee."

"What about her? She’s also your employee."

"No, she’s my girlfriend."

Despite sensing her madness, I wasn’t expecting her reaction.
A hysterical laugh fills the air, and she stands up, pointing her finger at Olivia.

"You’re not even fit to be a substitute, Olivia. You’ll never have him. I promise."

"You know, when I started working here, they said your nickname was rabid bitch, and I even felt sorry for you when I first heard that, but looking at you now, I can’t find a better description."

Olivia’s aggression is unusual, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say I felt ridiculously proud of my little rocket.