Chapter Five

Attending that dinner, I never expected her to be late, I hate unpunctual people, and looking at Ana for the first time left me speechless, she was so sweet in person, she seemed a little nervous, and me being an idiot all I did was ignore her and make her more uncomfortable, as the night went on I understood one thing, I understood that Ana did not know nor had any idea what her father was doing with my company and why she was here, this night so beautifully arranged. 

Apparently, Mr. Maldonado was not only cheating his partners, but also his children.

I understood that this was just another negotiation where dad was putting my ass and Maldonado's ass on fire to see who would burn first, but dad failed, this guy was a man who made a living out of betraying and cheating people. For a little money, Maldonado would sell his own wife. Those bastards wanted to marry their daughter to me for money. 

Our fathers were finally similar, and I accepted this for my own benefit.

I remained serious and tried not to look at her face, because just seeing the surprise and pain that everyone at this table was causing her with this news, I wanted to hit her father, but I also felt guilty for being part of all this and using the situation to save my ass. 

But me, what could I do? Nothing.

It hurt to see her on the verge of crying, being strong and holding back from bursting in front of everyone when she found out, I don't know why the fuck it hurt to see her like that, it was a strange pain in my chest, with a feeling I had never experienced with a stranger, no one deserves this, but in any case we both had no choice.

I couldn't back out anymore.

I could only see her running out of the restaurant, I got up without saying anything to anyone and went after her, at least I had to comfort her, I didn't want her to know that I was following her, I just followed her for a long time until I saw her stop in a park.

I talked to her, I managed to calm her down a bit, I promised to be her friend and to clarify things little by little, I didn't offer her love, because this was an arranged marriage, it wasn't a fairy tale where I met her.

In the evening, my father asked me to take some documents to Maldonado, and I decided it was a good time to tell him that I did not want him or his wife to go near Ana after the wedding, so I made him sign a contract. Something in me wanted to see her, to know how she was and if she had stopped crying. 

But I knew I had to be patient, because my parents never considered the possibility that Ana might have someone in her life. Arriving at her house and knowing she wasn't there bothered me a lot, I wanted to go get her myself and bring her back, I thought I knew where she was at that moment, I was sure she was with that idiot who called her earlier.

When the hours passed and I gave up waiting for her, she arrived with red swollen eyes, when she saw me her lips trembled and the anger reflected in her eyes, I knew that everything with the guy from the call had come to an end, I was glad, damn it, that I was glad and I didn't understand why, I could only hide my joy. 

Joy that died when the guy arrived hours later, drunk, and said that she was his, I offered myself as a chauffeur so that her father would not be upset, all the while I was annoyed by his behavior with her, I wanted to get him out of the car and leave him alone to his fate. Listening to all the shit that guy said made me jealous, but I was glad to remember that she was mine and from now on she would be mine until I got tired of marriage. 

Because once married, she would be my wife.

Although deep inside I was happy to have her in my arms, I also knew that I had to put an end to my relationship with Sonia Gonzalez.

Because I also had someone who loved me. 

Someone who gave me everything for 4 years and was not accepted by my parents. 

Ana's POV

The wedding day had come so fast, Mom was so happy that she almost didn't sleep because of all the details she had arranged with the wedding planner, maybe Mom was spending too much, after all it was Mr. Smith's money that paid for all the wedding expenses. 

The centerpieces, the souvenirs for the guests, the drinks, the wedding dress that bothered me so much because Mom didn't let me choose one that I liked, it was always her opinion that was taken into account, when she asked me if I wanted white or red, she chose tulips and other silver ones that I have no idea what their names are.

Everything was chosen by Mom, Gabriel's father could only pay for her stupid whims on the pretext that I would be their daughter-in-law and they wanted the best for me.

In truth, Gabriel's mother, Mrs. Karina, was a very kind woman, she had told me a little of her love story, she had met Mr. Smith 27 years ago on a trip to the United States, he had been so fascinated by her beauty that he had followed her to Venezuela, shortly after they had married, started a family and had only one child. Gabriel was a miracle for them, as Karina was unable to conceive. 

"He was so tiny, he was the sweetest, sweetest little thing, everyone in the hospital wanted to hold him, that's why I was scared." Her eyes showed love and admiration for her son. "I was afraid that they would steal him, that's why I told his father that I wanted him to be discharged, do you know why? He was from a different country than mine and I didn't want anyone to hurt Gabriel because of racism. 

I spent that afternoon listening to his mother talk so much about Gabriel that I already knew a lot about his childhood, but Mrs. Karina treated me with such affection that I wanted to spend time with her. 

On the morning of the wedding day, unfortunately for my mother, it had rained very heavily, and they had ordered some tents to be placed in the garden of the house where the banquet would take place, and they had set up some tables, a small dance floor, and an orchestra that Gabriel himself had hired. 

Gabriel, he had been a little lost, I only saw him in the small meetings where they asked the opinion of both of us for something regarding the wedding, he had been serious and on many occasions he had refused to take me home or drive me anywhere, I felt him tense and a little worried. 

The sound of the door brought me out of my thoughts and I saw my mother come in, carrying a small velvet bag in her hands.

"Ana, you look very beautiful today." She stopped in front of me and took my hands in hers. "It seems like only yesterday that I held you in my arms as a baby crying for food." A tear ran down her cheek and her voice cracked.

"Mother, I..." 

"When you are married to Gabriel, you will understand why we parents do some things that are wrong in the eyes of our children." Her hands were shaking. "Ana, one day you will have to forgive me for all this, I just didn't want someone else to take my daughter."

"Mom, we are in time to change things with dad, we are in time to stop this wedding," my voice was cut off by a small sob. 

"No, listen to me Ana, you are getting married today and you will be happy with your husband," Mom's hands grabbed my shoulders very tightly. She pulled a blue necklace out of a small bag. "On our wedding day you have to wear something blue and something used, this belonged to your grandmother, she gave it to me when I married your father and now I am giving it to you." 

It was a very pretty necklace, a gold triangle with a diamond set in the center, giving off a pinkish hue in the light. 

"Thank you." Those were my words to Mom. 

I put on the necklace, but first I took off the one I was wearing and when I looked at myself in the mirror I didn't recognize myself, this was the new Ana who was going to go to the church and get married. 

But I had promised to do it, it would only take 2 years, Gabriel had promised me and I wanted to believe him. 

"Ana..."

I turned around at the sound of Mom's voice. 

"If it's not Gabriel, it will be someone else... your father has already decided." 

Then she walked out of the room, leaving this shock of surprise for me, Dad had decided to marry me a long time ago, he wants this, meaning it was always in his mind to sell me to save the company. 

It took me about 20 minutes to calm down and become serene again when there was a knock on the door, it was Liz the wedding planner, it was time for the ceremony. 

When I went to the aisle, it was full of girls I didn't know, with very nice bridesmaid dresses and all, but someone caught my attention when I saw so many girls, it was Natalia who was trying not to cry when she saw me. 

"Nati, don't cry," I approached her to give her a hug.

"Oh my Ana, you look so beautiful, you are such a princess." When the hug broke, Natalia gave me her best smile. "Your boyfriend is very handsome, if you don't want him give him to me okay." 

A throat clearing from Liz made us laugh, she was as stubborn as my father. 

"It's time to go back to your places."