Visible Disappointment

“Where is your son? And your sister? Why are you alone in a hotel with your luggage instead of them?” the man demanded, raising his voice.

Elena ignored him and started heading toward the hotel exit.

Immediately the man’s instincts told him he’d been tricked by this woman, so he ran after her.

“Not so fast, miss! You lied, didn’t you? How dare you fool me like this? Because of you, I lost a business deal worth millions!” He grabbed her hand firmly and stared her down.

“I’m sorry, sir, but I did not lie.

 I can even take you to the hospital now to prove I’m really pregnant,” Elena said, trying to defend herself. While her stomach growled loudly from hunger, she had to rub her hand on it as if it would stop the noise.

But the man wasn’t ready to let go. He held her hand tightly and looked at her like he might hit her.

But a voice interrupted them.

“Bryan! So this is it? You left me all alone just to be with her…How dare you disrespect me in such a manner!” A beautiful, fair-skinned woman in elegant clothes approached them angrily.

“So his name is Bryan,” Elena whispered to herself.

Bryan quickly let go of Elena’s hand and rushed to the woman, who was standing confidently in glass heels, flipping her long curled hair, while her red lips shined.

“Honey, it’s not what you think. I was actually bringing drinks when this lady bumped into me…” Bryan started to explain, but the woman threw a white piece of paper in his face.

“Save your excuses! I’m done with this! And this time it's final!” She stormed off, without looking back.

“Doris! Please wait! You can’t just leave now! The meeting is tonight!” Bryan pleaded.

But Doris didn’t stop. She pushed Elena aside and climbed into a black SUV that was waiting for her.

“Please, Doris! Don’t do this! I need you now more than ever!” Bryan begged, his voice breaking like he might cry.

Elena, standing nearby, couldn’t believe that the same man who yelled at her just minutes ago was now begging like a child because a woman left him.

“Life is funny, they must really be in love” she chuckled quietly, while watching the whole drama from an angle.

“Hey, you! What are you still doing here? Get out of here! I never want to see you again! Everything about you brings me bad luck! You’re cursed!” 

Bryan spat at her, using the exact words Carlos had once said to her.

Elena stood still for a while, she felt tears welling up, but she refused to waste them on a stranger. She grabbed her luggage, wiped off her face and left.

Not knowing where to go, Elena walked out of the hotel. She didn’t want to spend the little money she had on a taxi, she needed to at least buy some food.

After what felt like forever, she found a small local restaurant. Hoping the food would be cheap, so she went inside.

“Hello, can I get something affordable to eat? I’m really hungry and thirsty,” Elena told the elderly woman working there.

“Have a seat. I’ll bring something soon,” the woman said warmly, wiping her hands on her apron.

While Elena waited, a young boy rushed in, heading straight to the woman who was preparing Elena’s meal.

“Where’s Chloe?” the boy asked, breathing hard.

The woman came out with a tray holding a plate of steaming hot spaghetti.

“I don’t know. I haven’t seen her for days,” she replied, placing the food in front of Elena, who was the only customer she had.

“Enjoy your meal!” she said.

“How much is this? It looks expensive,” Elena asked hesitantly.

“It’s affordable. Enjoy,” the woman replied, gently pushing the plate closer.

Without hesitation, Elena grabbed her fork and started eating quickly. Her hunger left no room for bargaining.

The boy whispered to the woman, “Who is she? I’ve never seen her before,I literally know all your customers.”

“Looks like she’s new here. And the way she’s eating shows she’s tired and starving,” the woman answered.

They both glanced at Elena quietly for a moment before the boy spoke again.

“I actually brought a job offer for Chloe. My boss says she’ll be paid well. I wonder where she went.”

“I haven’t seen her or her sister for days. What kind of job is it? Can’t you give it to someone else?” the woman asked.

“I’m not sure who else could do it perfectly around here, It involves reading and speaking in front of people. Chloe is smart and confident,” the boy explained.

Almost as if on cue, both looked toward Elena. Even though she was eating fast, she handled the fork skillfully and looked like she came from a rich home.

“I wish we knew who she was. I’d give her the job,” the boy said, louder this time.

“You don’t have to know someone to offer them work. Just ask if they’re interested and tell them how much they’ll be paid, and how much will be returned to you.” the woman said, eyes still on Elena.

“No, I don’t know her. I can’t trust her with an important client, she might even not return my own part of the deal.” the boy said, then left the restaurant.

Back at the hotel, Bryan was pacing nervously. The gala was starting in ten minutes and he still hadn’t found a woman to act as his fiancée and present the deal to the Choi group.

The Chinese group has insisted that the speech must be presented by his fiancée or wife, that was more reason he was begging Doris to stay back.

“Hello, sir. We found a lady who’ll be at the venue in twenty minutes!” a voice said over the phone.

“Twenty minutes? How am I supposed to see her? The gala starts in nine minutes! Ahhh!” Bryan shouted in frustration.