Page 107 of Until You Came Along
I got up to get my cell phone. Julia took my hands and transmitted strength to me. When I picked up the phone, I saw that I had many messages from Hermes and missed calls, surely he had called me to coordinate lunch, but engrossed in the argument with my father, I had completely forgotten about our meeting. Knowing him, I imagined he would be worried due to my silence, but first I had to talk to Tom and then I would call him.
When my brother answered, I began to tell him everything that had happened with our father. Tom couldn’t believe it, he was so furious that he was shouting curses at our father, and I had started crying again and couldn’t stop. I hated having to put my brother through this situation, but Julia was right, he was the only one who could understand and help me, if there was a solution at all. Before we said goodbye, he asked me to go to the meeting to hear what our father had to say because Naik was capable of coming back to my company and making a scene in front of all my employees. He also advised me not to tell Hermes anything for now, since it was better not to confront someone like our father, and he finished by telling me to stay calm because he would talk to Naik and make him see reason, that I should trust him because he wouldn’t let our father impose his will.
I felt exhausted, my head felt like it was about to explode. I grabbed my purse and decided to go to my apartment. I needed to think, I needed to come up with something that would helpme face Malek Naik. As I was leaving the office, my cell phone rang again. It was Hermes.
“Hello,” I answered, my voice weary.
“Can you explain what the hell is going on?!” he shouted.
“What?”
“Delfina, what is happening?! I haven’t been able to reach you, and I just received a call from someone named Malek Naik who threatened me and demanded that I stay away from you. Who is this guy and what does he have to do with you? Explain it to me, now!”
“He called you?” I asked, surprised. I couldn’t believe he had gone that far.
“So you do know him,” he stated, and I could hear the disappointment in his voice.
“I know him, but it’s not what you think.”
“If you don’t want me to think what isn’t true, explain to me right now who this guy is and what relationship he has with you. I’m heading to your office.”
“I’m leaving for my apartment.”
“Why are you going to your apartment? You don’t live there anymore. I don’t understand anything,” he said, exasperated.
“Hermes, I know this must be difficult to understand, but I promise I’ll explain everything. I’m going to my apartment and I’ll wait for you there so we can talk calmly.”
I was going to follow my brother’s advice and not tell him about my father’s absurd plans, but I had to tell him who this man was and the power he had to prevent Hermes from confronting him. But it was better to talk in person and make sure he wouldn’t intervene.
“Why are you going to your apartment during work hours? What’s happening?” he asked desperately. “Tell me something because I’m going crazy!”
“Let’s talk in person, please,” I begged.
“Of course we’re going to talk. I’m heading there now,” he declared, and hung up.
I couldn’t risk him confronting my father because I knew he would lose, and probably lose a lot. I also wasn’t sure what my father had said to him, but it was obvious he hadn’t mentioned that I was his daughter, because Hermes had asked about the relationship between us. I didn’t have my car because we had been using Hermes’ car these days, so I hailed a passing taxi and got in. On the way to my apartment, I noticed I was being followed by a black car. I wasn’t surprised; it was probably one of my father’s men keeping tabs on me. Nothing surprised me anymore.
As soon as I got out of the taxi, the car parked across the street. They didn’t even bother hiding; evidently, my father wanted me to know I was being watched. It was also his way of intimidating me.
When I entered the apartment, I collapsed. I sat on the living room sofa and began to shake uncontrollably. When I couldn’t hold it in any longer, I started crying and screaming, screams that released all the anger and frustration I was feeling.
Hours passed, but Hermes didn’t arrive, and my worry grew exponentially. I called him several times, but he didn’t answer. When we had spoken, I was left with the impression that he was on his way to my apartment, but he should have been there hours ago. It was four in the afternoon, and I had to leave to meet my father. I tried to reach Hermes again, but without success. I sent him a message:
“Are we going to meet? I’m heading out now, but we’ll talk tonight. I love you”
I knew this situation was a test of Hermes’ trust, and I was also sure it wouldn’t be easy for him to pass it. If I was honest with myself, I would have been furious too if a woman had called me demanding that I leave him, and with threats on top of that—threats that until now I didn’t know the nature of. Most likely Hermes was furious, and that’s why he hadn’t contacted me. But I knew that I would have always listened to his version, and deep in my heart, I hoped he would trust me enough to give me the chance to explain what was happening, that he wouldn’t condemn me without hearing me out. I hoped Hermes would be able to withhold judgment until we could talk, that he wouldn’t shut down and would let me explain everything that had happened, that his unyielding and implacable personality that wouldn’t listen to reason wouldn’t surface. It was the moment of truth.
When I left my building, I was approached by a man dressed in a black suit. He was very tall and muscular, and quite intimidating.
“Miss Naik, I work for your father and I’m in charge of taking you to the hotel where he’s staying. If you’ll come with me, the car is parked over there,” he indicated, pointing to the black car that had followed me hours earlier.
“I don’t need you to take me anywhere,” I declared, and began walking toward the corner to hail a taxi.
I heard the man’s footsteps behind me, but I didn’t bother to look at him.
“Miss Naik...”
“My name is Darner, not that other name! Don’t repeat that surname because I never want to hear it again in my life!” I shouted, interrupting him.
