That same afternoon, Renato was immersed in his workout when Helen arrived at his apartment. The secretary needed her boss to sign some urgent documents for dispatch to the United States. She entered, as she always did, and Hercules greeted her warmly, licking her face affectionately.
"Hello, baby," she said as she stroked the animal's head. "Where's your owner?"
"In the kitchen, Helen," he called out, pouring himself a glass of water, his chest bare, sweat droplets trailing down his forehead. Helen was momentarily spellbound by the sight of the impressive figure before her. "And tell me, do you really think a dog is going to answer you?"
"No, sir, it’s just that he’s so sweet, and I enjoy talking to him," she replied, her gaze locked on Renato as she adjusted her glasses.
"Well, give me what I need to sign so you can get back to the office. You just interrupted my routine and that puts me in a foul mood."
"Like everything does," she murmured under her breath as she rummaged through her purse. "Excuse me," she said, placing her planner and cell phone on the table to search for a pen, then handed both items to him.
"Is that everything?"
"Yes."
Just then, Hercules brought over the duck toy and she noticed that both had enjoyed a good bath.
"Oh, look how cute your duck is, you take such good care of it," she said as she stroked its head and kissed its nose before handing the toy back. "I'll bring you a duck foot as a gift so the three of you can play."
"That's disgusting! Stop spoiling my dog. He hasn't let go of that damn duck all day since you gave it to him."
"I'm sorry, sir."
Helen started to collect her things, and in her bad luck, her bag knocked her planner off the table, which she inadvertently left behind. She then left and Renato returned to the kitchen to find Hercules with the notebook.
"No, we don't destroy that," he chided, rescuing the planner from the jaws of the dog. "Bad dog, you drooled all over it."
Renato stored the planner on a shelf and went back to the gym to resume his routine. After working out, he took a shower, prepared some coffee, and settled on his sofa. He was about to switch on the TV when he spotted the young woman's planner. Curiosity piqued, he picked it up and started to read. Everything seemed normal until he saw a date and a drawing: six months ago his secretary had gotten a tattoo of a dragonfly perched on a crescent moon, a design he recognized as his own creation. He fetched the original sketch from his bedside table and compared them. They were exactly the same.
"No way, it can't be— I couldn't have been with her!" he exclaimed, clutching his head.
Little by little, the images began to make sense: how she knew the password to his house, why she was familiar with Hercules, why the waiter insisted she was his secretary, why she was making breakfast the next morning, why she wanted to resign. It all fell into place now.
Renato grabbed the planner, his phone, his jacket, and headed for the young woman's apartment only to realize he didn't know the address. He called her, and now he found himself wildly pounding on her door, to no response.
Inside, Helen heard her boss almost breaking down the door. Taking a deep breath, she braced herself to face the confrontation. She wasn't at the office; he couldn't harm her here. She opened the door slowly and he charged in, possessed by some inner demon.
"What does all of this mean?" he demanded, pointing at the drawing in the planner and then scanning her from head to toe. "Why are you dressed like this?"
"What's wrong with it?" she asked, glancing at herself in the mirror in the hallway.
"You look different."
"I'm not at the office. I can dress as I please."
"Why didn’t you tell me it was you? The only thing I remember about that Friday is this tattoo."
"I tried to—"
"What are you trying to do with all of this? What are you after?"
"Do what? I have no idea what you're talking about."
"You pretend to be a prude, dressed in baggy clothes, and then you show up at the restaurant and seduce me. What do you want?"
"I don't want anything; I wasn't looking for anything," Helen sobbed, then looked him squarely in the eyes. "It just happened."
"And why were you wearing that dress?"
"This is ridiculous; this is how I always dress. I was at a family party. My family has always seen me dressed this way, except when I go to the office. My previous employer harassed me and tried to abuse me, which is why I quit. You yourself told me a million times that you only hired me because I was 'unattractive,' not being a threat. Well, now you can't complain," she yelled, her tears a release from years of pent-up anger. "I've endured numerous humiliations at your hands, but no more. I won't work for you any longer."
"You can't just quit, especially now that you know you've taken advantage of the situation."
"Yes, I can, and I will. From tomorrow, you won't see a single hair of mine. I owe you nothing. I’ve checked the contract and there is no clause binding me to you or your company."
"But you took advantage when I was almost unconscious."
"I took advantage of nothing," Helen was exhausted, her mind telling her to shut up, but her heart betraying her. "I fell in love with you and all I got were rebuffs and mistreatment. But I didn't care. I stayed by your side just for a gentle smile or a tender glance. That night, it just happened. I didn't think; I just let myself be carried by my feelings."
"Helen… I can't do this. I accept your resignation. I can't stand to see you."
“You're a coward. I felt there was something more between us than just sex. I saw it in your eyes."
“I was nearly unconscious, what you saw was a drugged man,” he tried to justify the indefensible, since he felt differently, too. "I didn’t even recognize you."
"I know, but I don’t care, because at least for once, your feelings were real."
"I need to get out of here."
"Just answer me, why won't you give yourself a chance to be happy?" she implored. "I deserve an explanation."
"Helen, I can't love anyone. I can't start a family like everyone else. It’s hard to explain. I'm sorry."
"I’ve heard about your stigma and I don’t believe it's true," he was surprised to hear her say. "I think you're a great man, but you're very scared, and that’s why you keep everyone at a distance."
"You don't understand, you don't know what it's like living fearing you might repeat the same madness as your parent, scared of hurting the woman you love or a child. It’s my cross to bear and I won't let anyone else carry it."
Renato left her apartment feeling vulnerable, as he had unwittingly bared his soul to this woman, and now he had to fix his mistake. Helen was a good person who had supported him through his crises, regardless of the hurt he caused her. She didn’t deserve to be with him, and distance was the best course of action.
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