CHAPTER 3.
By Isabella.
My night was awful. I don't know when I fell asleep, but I woke up in the morning still dressed in last night's clothes, clutching Ezequiel's photo. I let out a sigh and put the picture back on the nightstand. Another day was beginning, and I lacked the will to get out of bed. The clock showed 5 a.m. It was very early, yet I knew I wouldn’t sleep again. I heard the door across from me open, but I didn't give it much thought. I figured it was my friends. Ever since Ezequiel’s incident, they made a copy of the key, just in case it’s necessary. I love my friends. But I think they worry about me too much.
"Girlfriend, I knew I shouldn't have let you come back alone" Mariana exclaimed.
"Don’t worry, and Julia?"
"She went with Matias. Felipe brought me. He's a friend of his. May I?" she asked, referring to join me on the bed.
"Of course. Come here."
"Did you have nightmares? I see you’ve been crying."
"The usual." I said.
"Issi, that's not normal. Are you taking your medication?"
"Yes, I am. But I think I need to go back on sleeping pills."
"The doctor said you should learn to sleep without them. It’s been too long, Issi. We will schedule an appointment with the psychiatrist to see what to do, but you need to want this, friend. It cannot go on like this. You have to get through this. Let him go. Let him rest in peace."
"I can’t, Mariana. I will never forget him. His absence still wreaks havoc on me and burns. At night I feel like dying. I should have died instead of him."
"For heaven's sake, Issi, don't say that" Mariana said, hugging me.
"What about his family? I never got to meet them and… I haven’t thought about looking for them. Do you know who they are?"
"N-no, girlfriend... How could you think such a thing? Why don’t we try to get some sleep?" she suggested.
I pondered it for a moment until we both fell asleep. Saturday afternoon, Mariana went to her apartment to fetch some clothes. She had decided to stay with me until Monday to give me support and not leave me alone. Weekends are terrible for me. Those are the days I think about him the most. With Mariana's company, the rest of the weekend went by quickly, and I was a bit distracted. On Monday morning, I woke my friend up. We were late. We only had one hour to get ready and head to work.
"Mariana, God, wake up, we're late."
"What? No. It can't be. The boss is going to kill us."
We hurried up. While Mariana showered, I decided to change and apply some light makeup. I wasn’t in the mood for work, but I couldn’t afford to miss it. I needed the money. Once ready, I grabbed my car keys, and we headed to the company. We didn’t even have breakfast; we’d grab some coffee during a break. Upon arrival, we quickly went to our desks, hoping not to catch our bosses' eyes. However, as soon as I sat down at my desk, as if he had a radar, Valentino’s voice made my skin crawl.
"Miss Moretti. I expect you in my office in 5 minutes, and I hope you’re not late this time."
"Yes, Mr." I said.
I glanced at my friend, knowing this was bad news. I was in for a punishment for my tardiness. I walked to my boss’s office, wary of what he would say. It's incredible to have problems on his first day. I knocked on his office door and entered at his acknowledgment.
"Mr. Marshall. Did you need to see me?"
"Come in and close the door." He said seriously, focused on his computer.
I obeyed his command and approached his desk. He raised that penetrating gaze and looked at me with his striking blue eyes.
"Take a seat." He said coldly.
I sat in the chair opposite his desk while he watched me, waiting for me to get settled.
"Miss Moretti. Seems like you had a busy weekend. To be late on my first day here, I expected you to make an impression, after all, being my new boss."
"I’m sorry, Mr. Marshall. I didn’t mean to be late."
"I want to make it clear, Miss, how I operate. You may think I'm just like my father. You are mistaken. There are rules I expect to be followed."
1)Punctuality.
2)Professionalism.
3)Availability and
4)No one enters my office without permission.
I trust this is clear. If not, I also give my subordinates three chances to adhere to these rules. You only have two left. I hope you can make good use of them. I wouldn't want to explain to my father why I fired his best employee. Is that clear?
"Yes, Mr. Marshall." I said dejectedly.
"Good. Now inform me about my schedule today."
"Today, you need to prepare a written report on the new normal for the company. Starting tomorrow, you'll have business lunches, and you must coordinate with the design department on the next label to be developed for the upcoming wine line left pending by Mr. Lorenzo."
"Alright. Anything else?"
"That's all, Sir."
"Fine. Have my report delivered to Felipe in Human Resources so he can advise the employees, and order me a black coffee. You may leave."
"Certainly, excuse me." I said, heading out to fulfill my tasks.
Things with the new boss had started on the wrong foot. Still, it didn't matter to me. He was an arrogant and conceited man—you could tell just by the way he breathed. Still, he had a gaze that could mesmerize anyone. His fragrance and tall stature were impressive. Indeed, that man was a sin. But what in the world am I thinking? Who does he think he is to treat me like this? Damnable fool. I handled my affairs and brought him his coffee. My day was so hectic that the hours flew by. Once again, it was time to go home. I stopped by my boss's office to ask if he needed anything else. He was deeply focused on some documents and didn’t notice my presence.
"Mr. Marshall, I'm leaving for the day. Is there anything else you need?"
"Rule number 4, Miss."
"Well, I knocked, but you were so engrossed, I wanted to make sure you heard me."
"I don’t need anything more. You can leave."
Without another word, I left. On the way home, I took a detour. Minutes later, I found myself in front of that massive iron gate. I just stared. I’ve been coming here often. Always the same routine, standing at the gate, looking inside. I never had the courage to enter. I knew this was where they buried Ezequiel, since Matias told me. All this time, I held out hope that he wasn't in this terrible place—that it all had been a dream, and he was alive somewhere, without any memory. I wasn’t present for his farewell, as I was sedated for a long time. It was only later, when I came to my senses, that Matias brought me here, to the threshold of this large gate of rusty, squeaking iron. I never had the courage. I never could go beyond the gate. And this time wouldn’t be the exception.
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