Page 53 of Until You Came Along
“What happened?” he asked.
“He came in while I was looking for what you asked for because I didn’t close the door, I was planning to leave right away. He just insists that he wants to be with me.”
“And what did you tell him?”
“And what can I say when he’s accompanied by another woman? I told him it wasn’t right to have that conversation when she was waiting for him.”
“Did anything else happen?”
“He kissed me and I kissed him back.”
Baco stared at me for a few seconds without saying anything.
“Are you aware that Hermes is going to keep trying to seduce you?”
“At this point, clarity is the last thing I have, Baco. Now let’s go back because it’s your birthday and your guests are waiting for you. Here,” I said, picking up the extension cord from the floor, “I found one.”
“Let’s go back, beautiful. I suppose if my brother has any common sense left, they must have left.”
“I hope so.”
As we were entering Baco’s apartment, we crossed paths with Hermes and the girl who were leaving the party at that moment. She was hanging on his arm and also resting her head on that part of his body. I looked at him and shook my head; if that was how he wanted to convince me there was nothing between him and his friend, he was going about it all wrong. He also looked at me and I could see the discomfort reflected on his face.
“Baco, enjoy your party,” Hermes said. I kept walking and didn’t hear anything more of their conversation.
The gathering continued very lively, we sang the traditional happy birthday song, toasted to the birthday boy, and close to four in the morning I returned to my apartment. In Baco’s place there were still people eating, drinking, and having fun.
On Sunday I decided to rest and distract myself a bit. The heavy rain continued, so I went walking around a shopping mall, had lunch there, bought some things, and then went into one of the movie theaters to watch an action film. When I came out it was already dark, so I went straight home. I wasn’t hungry because I had eaten popcorn at the movies, so I made myself an herbal tea and went to bed early. When I was turning off the bedside lamp, I remembered that I hadn’t checked my phone for hours. I got up again and went to get it. I had messages from Serafina, from Baco, from my brother, and from some other friends. Baco’s was asking me to come get a piece of his birthday cake because it was so big that there was quite a lot left, but since it was already very late I told him I’d stop by the next day. The rest of the messages were to see how I was doing and to invite me to various things.
???
On Monday I arrived at the office early, I had rested well and felt calmer. I was in a meeting until mid-morning and then shut myself in my office to review some reports that had been left for me to check. The sound of the intercom pulled me from my concentration.
“Yes, Julia.”
“Mr. Hermes Darwich wishes to see you,” my secretary informed me.
Hermes? Here?
I didn’t understand what he was doing at my office. We hadn’t arranged to meet, in fact we hadn’t arranged anything, especially not after he had left Baco’s birthday party on Saturday with his friend clinging to him. Remembering that moment made me furious.
“Julia, please tell Mr. Darwich that we didn’t have a scheduled meeting and that at this moment I can’t see him because I’m busy. Thank you.”
“Very well, Miss Darner.”
I stared at the intercom as if it would give me some idea of the reasons that had brought Hermes to my office. The little device rang again and I heard Julia’s voice once more.
“Miss Darner, Mr. Darwich insists that he needs to meet with you.”
“Julia, I’m sorry to put you in this situation, but please tell him that my schedule is completely full today. If necessary, check which days this week I could meet and coordinate with him.”
“Miss, he said he’s going to stay here until you see him and that, if you don’t, he’ll speak to your superior.”
“Don’t worry, Julia. I’ll go out there, but don’t tell him that. Keep insisting that I can’t see him and don’t say anything about my superior.”
I got up from my desk chair, straightened my dress, and walked firmly toward the door separating my office from Julia’s. When I opened it, I was met with his imposing presence, which momentarily made me forget what I wanted to say to him. Thatday he was wearing a dark blue suit that looked spectacular on him. He was leaning over Julia’s desk, presumably trying to intimidate her.
“I need to see Miss Darner’s boss,” he demanded seriously, while Julia looked at him, caught between terror and being dazzled by his beauty.
