Page 10 of Until You Came Along
“Alright, I'll follow your advice. I'll send it to her tomorrow with a card,” he affirmed, though without abandoning his serious demeanor, seeming not entirely convinced.
“High five!” I exclaimed, raising my hand for him to slap in agreement. Baco did so with a big smile.
Shortly after, he left my apartment with his dinner ready, and he looked so surprised and delighted that I thought he wasn't used to people having these kinds of gestures toward him.
???
During the rest of the week, Baco and I saw each other a couple more times. We even crossed paths in the elevator when he was arriving with a girl, and he made so many funny faces that I had to contain myself from bursting into laughter. As we were leaving the elevator, I remembered what I had told him about the shared wall between our bedrooms and smiled.
“Remember what I mentioned about my bedroom wall. Keep in mind I have to get up at seven in the morning tomorrow,” I commented.
Baco looked at me and his smile widened.
“If I were you, I'd sleep on the living room couch.”
“I figured as much!” I exclaimed, entering my apartment while hearing his laughter and the girl's voice asking him what he was laughing about.
And Friday arrived. That day I was distracted. I had an important meeting scheduled at the office and had to make quite an effort to pay attention because my mind kept thinking about seeing Hermes Darwich again that night. It disconcerted me that this man made me so nervous.
At noon, I sent Baco a message to ask if he had delivered the gift to his mother, and he called to confirm and tell me that his mother had called him very emotional to thank him for such a beautiful gift. For the first time, he had noticed his voice breaking with emotion, and I was very happy for him.
I left the office after six in the evening and went straight to the hair salon to get my hair done. They lightened it a bit more and left it loose with neat beach waves that looked beautiful and very elegant. I also took the opportunity to have my makeup done, and they gave me a natural look that highlighted my eyes and lips.
When I got to the apartment, I took a shower, keeping my hair up so as not to ruin the styling, and prepared everything I planned to wear and take to the evening's event. The chosen dress was black with a strapless design, long but with a high slit in the skirt, princess cut and with a plunging neckline.
A while before the set time, I got dressed, put on elegant high-heeled sandals, and applied perfume.
At quarter past nine, Baco was knocking at my door. I grabbed the clutch in which I had already stored makeup for touch-ups at the party and put in my phone. As soon as I opened the door, we both stood admiring each other. Baco truly looked very attractive and elegant in his black tuxedo and white shirt.
“Whew whew!” he whistled, long and admiringly, after looking me up and down. “You look gorgeous! I'm going to be the envy of every man there.”
“Don't exaggerate. Besides, you look very elegant and handsome too.”
“I always look handsome!” he exclaimed.
“You know? A little modesty wouldn't hurt you. Shall we go?” I suggested, closing the door.
“Let's go, beautiful. Let's enjoy tonight and eclipse everyone at that party with our beauty and elegance.”
“I'll be satisfied if they just let me in. I still feel some uncertainty after your brother's behavior. I don't think he liked me very much, and the party is precisely at his house.”
“I assure you that you'll enter that house like a queen. In fact, I don't doubt that even my ogre brother will fall at your feet.”
“Don't talk nonsense. That man looked at me as if I were an annoying insect he wanted to squash.”
“That's his friendly face,” he said, laughing, and added: “Besides, I'm not so sure about that. But it doesn't matter, let's forget about him and focus on enjoying ourselves.”
He took my hand and we got into the elevator to go down to the building's garage to get his car.
The house where the party was being held was an enormous mansion. That day it was brightly lit and decorated for the event. When we reached the iron gate that was the entrance to the gardens, a man dressed in a dark suit asked for our names,checked a list, and allowed us to pass. I walked the long path to the main door of the house with my nerves on edge. I was holding Baco's arm, but my legs were trembling so much that I feared they might give way at any moment. I didn't understand the reasons for my nervousness, but it had been a long time since I'd felt so anxious. We climbed a small staircase and entered through the large wooden door that was currently open to allow all the arriving guests to enter. As soon as we entered, we found ourselves in a hall where about 60 people were gathered in different groups, chatting animatedly. Waiters moved among the people offering different types of drinks and appetizers.
“There’s my mother, let’s go say hello,” he said, pulling me through the crowd.
We stopped in front of a group of four ladies. I immediately knew which one was his mother; she had the same eye color as her sons. She was a very beautiful and elegant woman. That day she wore a beautiful long beige dress and had her hair in an elegant bun.
“Baco, darling, how wonderful to have you with me on this day,” his mother said, giving him a warm hug.
“Happy birthday, Mom.”
