Chapter 1

Leo punches a wooden canvas painting on the wall and its pieces gravitate on the floor.

There goes the sleepless nights. He paces around the office knocking down piles of papers with designs depicted on them. Smacking down fashion portraits from their places like the rage will disappear. I lost everything. Blood leaks from the diagonal cut he sustained on his right palm.

I, Leonardo Sal, lost? There is no way. His blood at a boil and the fire in his eyes creates temporary blindness.Has he completely lost his mind?

After all the effort I put in this stupid competition? He crumples pages from his design sketchbook and hurls them across the room.

Moments later he throws himself on a chair at a corner desk. And reclines his head on the headrest of the modern office chair.

So close to reaching the stars! Now this happens. He shuts his eyes and swallows hard. Rocks the chair back and forth with only one wish.

Knocking sounds develop, he glares at the door and remains still, in a detached state.

A soft creak emerges and he blows air with his mouth when the door opens.

“I didn’t allow anyone to enter my office. Get out!” His husky voice is firm.

“I wanted to see how you were doing…” A broad resonant voice speaks in a modest manner.

“Alonso, am I supposed to be ecstatic?”Leo stares at the ceiling like all the answers to his problems lie there.

“No, of course not..” Alonso’s speech inflection changes. He saunters and seats on the opposite site of the desk.

Leo narrows his eyes, and bows his head to one side to face him.

Alonso sighs. “If there is anything you want me to do, I am here.”

“Oh wow! Isn’t that great?” His gaze is fierce and his voice comes out sardonic. “I only want that piece of trash to die. So, don’t even talk to me. You are literally aggravating me even more.”

“Por favor, you can’t give up.”— Alonso twists the ring on his middle finger. While his eyes trace the pattern of blood drops on the floor.

“What else do you expect me to do? Tonight signifies who makes it to the final show. Mira me, I automatically lost.”

The telephone rings five times in a row but Leo ignores it.

“Talk to me….” Alonso answers.

“Mr Gomez? Would you be so kind as to put Mr Sal on, please?” A cheery feminine voice speaks from the other end of the line.

“Well, he will get back to you, okay.” Alonso says keeping eye contact with Leo.

“No, you don’t understand. I wouldn’t insist if it was not important.”

Alonso holds out his hand with the phone in it. “Es importante.”

“Damn it! What could be more important at this moment?” Leo’s sharp tone echoes across the glass walled office.

“You know Kendra wouldn’t insist if it was not— ”

“I don’t think you get it. No me importa, por dios, déjame en paz.”

“Alright. I will leave you alone if you take the call.” Alonso says.

Leo grabs the phone. “What is so important that can’t wait?”

“Excuse me, sir. Mr Santos is on the line.” Kendra says.

“Please tell him to call off the deal, I can’t participate in the final show. I forfeited the preliminary show.” And the call ends.

Leo drops the phone on the black marble tale and browses through his computer. Clenching his teeth as he watches a video of his competitor that qualified for the biggest fashion competition. With the same distinct design he created.

“Son of a” He bounces his leg. “How did all this even happen?” Dark thoughts cloud his mind. He is at the verge of becoming what he is running away from.

“I can’t believe that disgraceful Marcus could stoop to this level?” Alonso says.

Leo stands up and poses at the wide window that reveals Bogota’s dead town center.

“What are you going to do?” Alonso says.

“Shut up and let me think .” The stabbing pain in his hand becomes intense.

He stares blankly through the window.

“I want him ruined. I want him ruined. Ruined.” Leo says in a whisper, moving his fingers in the air like he is playing a piano. “I don’t care what law I must break to get to him.”

Alonso nods. “Exactly, that’s the spirit.”

“Start by tracing the girl you fired.” Leo triceps into the tiny restroom adjoined to the office, holding his right wrist.

“Wait! Why? Do you think she has anything to do with all this?” Alonso shouts while playing with his ring.

“Yeah, Kendra did complain about her but I was too preoccupied to analyze her.” Hissing at the sting caused by the methylated spirit he roughly throws on the cut over a sink.

“Alright, I will move heaven and earth to find her.” His voice is full of guild. “You can travel back without me then. I will stay to look into things as soon as possible.”

“I want results. I am not going to rest until I see Marcus destroyed.” Leo says grimacing as he rolls a bandage over his hand all the way to his wrist, standing in the door frame.

“I will do my best…” Alonso’s voice is low and full of doubt.

“Look, I get this is too much, but if you don’t want to get involved, tell me so I do it myself”—Leo dials his secretary.

“No, no, no. I am with you.” Alonso stammers.

“It doesn’t look like”— Leo raises his hand. “ I need someone to clean my office.”

“Yes sir—”

“And this time it better be a real cleaner.”

“Of course sir. I will make sure of that.” Kendra says.

“I want background information on all the staff. Both the ones here and in Cartagena.”

“I am on it sir.”

“Kendra, one more thing. I want the information on the cleaner you were referring to.”

“Consider it done, sir.”

“Thank you, and please be ready by 7 am.” The call ends.

“Come on, I already told you I will take care of things.” Alonso says.

“Yeah I know but—”

“No, leave everything to me. Go home and take a day off, after all we have a lot to do. So you need to regain your strength”

“This is no time for day offs.”

“Por favor, the workload in this month was enough to kill someone”—Alonso stares out the window. “Look around you, we are in Bogota for goodness sake.”

“Okay? Is that supposed to mean anything?”

“Yeah of course it is, go and explore the city. You have the whole night to do so.”

“There is nothing thrilling about this damn place, in fact I can’t wait to get out of here.”