Novel-novel oleh Dayami

I walk into the elevator while looking at Sam; he still has those bruises on his neck and those marks on his face-he looks like a retired boxer.The white, perfect tiles on the floor look like pieces of mirror placed with great care, and the walls are so spotless that you feel guilty just breathing, afraid of dirtying them.When Sam opens the door to the room assigned to us, everything is even better: a huge, beautiful bed right in the center and impeccable, tasteful décor.Sam fixes his gaze on me while I unpack. He's positioned comfortably on the floor, giving me that flirtatious look."I'll sleep in the bed! You on the floor," I order firmly."We'll see about that," he challenges, devouring me with his eyes."The meeting is at three... we have plenty of time to relax.""What do you mean, relax?""There's a pool... in the back... very small... but very private... want to go?""No! I don't know how to swim and I don't have a swimsuit.""You don't need one... it's just a dip... come o

Five minutes pass, which feel like an eternity to me. There's the taxi.The journey back is depressing: a severe headache overwhelms me and an inexplicable shame consumes me.As soon as I arrive, I lie down on the bed. Every unanswered question sticks to my mind like glue. As the minutes pass, my sleepy, stressed eyes slowly close. A faint smile graces my face as I remember his last words.Morning arrives quickly, right on time. I try to blur the memories of the night as I get dressed.This time I don't want to wear my usual skirts and shirts. I choose a very high-waisted skirt under a green dress and a thin blouse with black flowers. The skirt is a bit short, quite daring, but I don't care. My hair is still straight, so I'll wear it down. A little daring make-up and blood-red lips: I don't want to impress anyone, but I don't want Sam to take me for a fool.I arrive quickly. Luckily, when I walk in, his desk is deserted. I've never seen such an unreliable boss.A few minutes later, t

The lamps give off a dim, dull light; only the glow of the laptop on our faces is visible, creating a calm and comforting atmosphere.I move a little closer to Sam. My dress shrinks so much that it almost reaches my underwear, but I don't notice.I explain computer concepts that I learned on my own and prepare an Excel spreadsheet so that he can understand. My throat feels dry from talking so much.He seems to understand everything, but there is a contained nervousness that is noticeable in his gaze. His pupils dilate slightly, and every so often his fingers tense on the desk, as if measuring his own strength.His eyes scan the huge window, covered by curtains. The full moon shines outside, and I notice that something in him seems to react to that light: his skin looks smoother, his breathing more controlled... and the tension in his muscles is impossible to ignore."Sam... Sam.""Yes... yes... I understood everything perfectly!""Sam... is something wrong?" You look like you want to

“—If you want, you can close the window and turn on the AC,” Sam mumbles, typing non-stop on his computer.“No, I’m fine like this.”I get ready to go through the documents. Just a quick glance: hands to work. In half an hour, everything is ready, all that’s left is to print.“What are you printing, Estela?” Sam teases, his hazel eyes fixed on me, as if trying to read something deeper than my appearance.“Didn’t he say the report was due by noon? Well… it’s done.”“What?… impossible,” he whispers, so surprised it looks like his tense body might explode.I take the stack of papers, organize them neatly in a file, and hand it to him personally.“Wow!… I can’t type that fast.”“I didn’t type, sir… I used Excel. It was very easy,” I murmur almost humbly.“Mmm… I see… I don’t know much about Excel. How about you teach me, Estela?” he murmurs, staring enchanted at each sheet. Something in his expression makes my heart race for no reason.“Teach you what?” I ask, my eyes shining, as I sit do

I feel my breath slipping away. Every gasp of air rips through my lungs, as if something invisible slices it apart before it can reach me.I open my eyes. Sweat clings to my skin like a second layer, and no matter how hard I try, I can’t slow my racing heartbeat.Ever since I turned twenty-two, those recurring nightmares have tormented me—every single full moon.My father, far too reserved since my mother vanished from our lives, gives me a crooked smile every time I try to explain the strange coincidence between my night terrors and the lunar calendar.He says I’m exaggerating.That it’s just stress.I look away from the fractured sky, where a blackened moon is embedded like an unblinking eye in the middle of the night. From the shadows, a jagged, toothy grin emerges on a blurred face—a face that seems to root itself into pointed ears that stretch and elongate, melting into a savage snout… until it becomes a beast that should not exist. A presence that makes me shiver before I can ev