IT TOOK Carlota a while to recover after that unexpected revelation from Clara. For the first time ever since she took her in, Clara defied her. Her innocent-looking submissive niece got pregnant by a man she just met. How ridiculous was that?
Carlota found herself busting into the corridor, furious and clenching her fist. Clara must be out of her mind. She had never done this before. She should slap her hard if that would make her obedient again. She could not just let Clara ruin her plans. That was the very reason she took that pathetic woman in.
Baron appeared from the elevator. He gave her a blank stare as he grabbed her arm.
“Get out of my way!”
“Let her go. Your niece is not a robot.”
“Oh, yeah?” she uttered in a mocking tone. “Get out of my way.”
“You are a selfish bitch, but she loved you.”
Carlota was taken aback.
“H-how dare you!” She tried to pull her arm, but Baron won’t let her go. “Let go of me! We were not done yet!”
“Clara was already done with you.”
Carlota screamed as Baron pulled her up and carried him on his shoulders like she was a sack of rice. He walked back to her office.
“Put me down, bastard!” Carlota screamed.
Her employees were all looking in her direction without saying anything. They were too scared, of course. But Baron was stubborn and unbothered. He shut the door close and dropped her on the sofa bed.
He pulled her hands up and mounted her to stop her from escaping. Carlota was panting as blood pounded in her ears.
“Get away from me!”
She tried to kick him, but she did not succeed because he was too strong, and she was trapped beneath him.
“We’re not moving from this position until you calm down,” he said.
“In your dreams—”
Baron silenced her by claiming her mouth in a hot, ravishing kiss. Carlota moaned in protest, but she could barely do anything.
“I’M SORRY.”
Carlota pretended she did not hear anything and finished buttoning her blouse. She knew he was not sorry for what they just did. He did not rape her. They practically had sex inside her office even though she was mad at him. The orgasm was something else.
Baron was sorry for meddling with Clara and her. But she doubted it if he really meant it.
She could not attend the meeting in that state. She needed a break. She stood up silently and grabbed her stuff. She had to go somewhere to unwind, or she would go crazy.
“I’M SO proud of you.” Rosa cupped her cheeks, teary-eyed.
Clara went home to pack her stuff, and it did not take her long.
“Thank you, Rosa. And I’m going to miss you.”
“Will you be all right?”
“Josef is there. He’ll take care of his cousin and me.”
“That’s good to hear. Good luck on your journey. I will always pray for you. See you soon.”
“See you soon.” She hugged Rosa tight. “Thank you for being there for me, Rosa.”
When she pulled away, Clara roamed her eyes around the place that had been her home for the past decade. She could only hope to return with a light heart and peace of mind someday.
“JOSEF, this is not the way to the airport,” Clara said as she looked behind the car.
Josef was about to turn to the next road, but he drove straight instead.
The day was not over yet, but Clara already felt exhausted. She knew Josef was tired, too. He was not just expressing it.
“Before you go home, you have to settle your issues with Uncle Fuego first,” he said.
“I’m not ready yet.”
“There’s this famous movie line that goes like, ‘Sometimes you have to take the first step even before you are ready.’ I know you wanted to see him so bad. Now’s the right time for that.”
“Josef…” Clara sighed as she leaned back on her seat.
“Besides, I need to confirm that he cheated on his girlfriend with you so I could punch him in the face.”
“He’s your uncle.”
“And he’s an asshole.” Josef grinned from the rearview mirror.
Clara frowned.
“Your grandmother’s not going to forgive me for this.”
“Don’t worry. I got you.”
CARLOTA was driving without any particular destination in mind. She did not know how to release her frustration anymore. And she found herself crying. She did not know what were her tears for. She could not remember the last time she cried.
She pulled over beside the road and wiped her tears. How could Clara do that to her? She gave her everything!
She glanced at the dashboard when her phone rang. Julian’s name was on the screen. She straightened her back. Carlota was surprised. She could not remember the first time Julian called her. It was always the other way around. Carlota would think of excuses so that she could talk to him over the phone, even for a minute.
She cleared her throat and glanced at her reflection in the rearview mirror before taking the call. She looked miserable.
“J-Julian.”
“Carlota, hey. Um, did I disturb you?”
“N-no, not at all. My meeting got postponed this afternoon. It’s all right.”
“Oh, I’m glad to hear that. I just want to ask if you’re free tonight. Would you mind going to dinner and a jazz concert with me?”
“A-a dinner and jazz concert?” Carlota was surprised. It sounded like a date. But she did not want to keep her hopes up. “I think that sounds great.”
“All right. Should I pick you up or…”
“Just give me the address. I’ll go there myself.”
“Are you sure? Well, then, see you later at six?”
“See you.”