Chapter 6

I get out of the way of the cars just in time to catch a glimpse of him passing me in his latest year of gray Mercedes. Even though the car is moving, he stares at me through the open window ardently, then leaves the parking lot and reaches the street, speeding away in that beauty of a machine.  

I can't help but sigh. And it was only then that I remembered to look around and make sure no one had caught us. Luckily, apart from the gloom that already dominates the place, there are no people close enough to recognize us. 

I resume my walk, realizing that I've certainly missed the bus. However, I'm smiling, folding my hands behind my back and noticing that I don't really care. It was for a good cause. An excellent case, in fact. I have two options: wait for the next one, which will come in an hour, or walk home. It'll be about a 40-minute walk. But I feel refreshed and decide not to wait for the bus. 

I know it must seem like I'm not in the best of moods, with that silly smile on my face, but… I can't get it off my lips. I think that in a few hours' time, I'll be back in bed with Brandon Reeves… I have to hold back the urge to do the victory dance again and again. 

Some stores are still open, and I suddenly stop in front of a window, wondering what I'm going to wear for him that night? I haven't bought a new dress in months! Likewise, I wore my newest dress last time…

In front of me, a cobalt blue dress with flowing fabric and asymmetrical cuts catches my eye. It's too perfect! I keep imagining myself in it. It would look great on me. Biting my lip, I bent down to look at the label… and almost fell backwards! It costs almost half my salary! Maybe if I pay for it in a few installments… Hell, I want to look good for that man tonight and I deserve it! I haven't done anything crazy in a long time. This time, I'm going to let myself!

Brandon

When I reach the parking lot of my building, as soon as I turn the corner to get into one of my parking spaces, I catch a glimpse of Lee Ann. I brake sharply. I curse. Furthermore, I've managed to avoid that woman for days! She's banned from there too! How she got in is a mystery!  

With no other way out, I finish putting the car in its place and jump out to face the storm: 

" What do you think you're doing, blocking Nixon's promotion? " She attacks without preamble. She doesn't surprise me anymore. 

" Are you talking about the promotion he tried to give himself? " I don't stop myself, I take the elevator in stride, with her in my wake, having trouble keeping up with me because of her very high heels. " Did he really think I'd let that happen?

" You know Nixon needs that money! He has a family to look after! 

Of course the woman would use that letter! I stop immediately and stare at her.

" You know very well that his little girl is the only reason your son still has a job in one of my offices! It's not her fault that he has the father and mother he has! If it hadn't been for the little girl, he'd have been out on the street a long time ago! 

" Well done! She requires that money! 

Lee Ann is trying to appeal, but she's wrong if she thinks she'll get more from me! I know everything that happens to little Hannah; I make sure she's always well, even from a distance. I already pay an above-average salary to my half-brother's garbage so that she doesn't lack anything, and I make sure that the man and his crazy wife don't use it all up. That way, I know you don't really need that promotion. You just want more money and status. But you won't get it at my expense! 

" I know that everything is fine with Hannah, as far as it goes, considering the parents she has! So don't try to use that letter on me! And I would never, in my right mind, allow someone like Nixon, with no training whatsoever, to hold such a high position in my company! " I head for the elevators again. 

" Then raise his fucking salary! And raise my allowance too! Don't be stingy! 

I stop again and really face her that night. Lee Ann is an exaggerated woman. Uneducated. She dresses vulgarly. She always has a cigarette tied to one of her fingers and always looks down on me, even though she's short. Her hair is so blonde it's almost white. Sporadically, I think he actually looks at me with disgust. I confess. I'm ashamed to be that woman's son. 

" I'm not getting any bigger! " I say between breaths. " I already do a lot to support you two! 

" I want to travel with Leanna! What you give me doesn't cover the costs…

" What I give you is enough to travel the world!

She laughs out loud: 

" Only in your world! 

" You should be grateful that I still support you!

" You owe me your life! " Of course I'd use that too! 

" Lee Ann, you're becoming repetitive! " My tone is calm, and I know it annoys you. " Is it age? " I have to attack because I know she hates me mentioning it too. 

" Listen here, you son of a bitch! 

I close my eyes for a moment. I also knew that she would lower her standards quickly. As I said, Lee Ann Vargas no longer surprises me. 

" You think you're the top dog just because you're sitting on a mountain of money! And you think you're doing charity for me! 

I start walking again, and she follows in my wake, shouting her nonsense.

" You forget that I could have put an end to your miserable life if I'd wanted to! So don't act like you don't owe me anything, you asshole!  

I stop abruptly, surprising her and looking down at her, since I'm taller than her, even with my six-inch heels:

" And I really don't owe anything! " she manages to get me all worked up. " If I owe anything, it's only to my grandfather, who got me out of your clutches before the worst happened! So keep your bullshit speech to yourself! And I swear! If you keep harassing me, I'll take away your allowance and I want to see how you live! 

The woman explodes, cursing me at the top of her lungs. Nevertheless, I continue on my way until I reach the elevator. A few curious heads turn to look at her, but she insults them too. Shocked, they turn away. 

I snort out a laugh, already in the device. I used to be shocked too, a few years ago, when she came to me. Lee Ann can still hit me sometimes, but shock me? Not anymore. 

I feel sorry for my half-sister, Leanna, who still lives with that woman! I've tried to convince her to leave that house, I told her I'd take care of her… But she still has some crazy feelings I can't understand for our parents and refuses to leave her side. She once told me that she feared her wife would fall into addiction again if she moved away… I swear it's incomprehensible that she wasn't affected by Nixon and Lee Ann. She's a sweet girl who dreams of becoming a doctor. And I'm going to help her realize that dream. 

I was no more than a baby when my grandfather discovered my existence. Lee Ann, a fucking junkie who left me alone to do shows for drugs. I didn't even have a name! 

By the time Aaron found out about me and how I lived, he was already a widower and his only son had disappeared into the world. It wasn't difficult to get custody of me, even though he was a man of humble means. He saved my life in so many ways! Thanks to him, I am the man I am today. If I'd gone on living with that woman… I probably wouldn't have survived for long. 

Not that she tried to fight my grandfather's request for custody. She first tried to sell me to him, but when she saw that she wouldn't get any money out of him, she let him take me without any resistance. And he didn't look for me while I was growing up. Just as my father never showed up either. I'm still looking for him, not least to put an end to this whole story and to fulfill one last request from my grandfather. 

Then, when I became a well-known tech entrepreneur and began to stand out in the media, Lee Ann reappeared and made no bones about asking me for money. 

I knew she'd be trouble if I refused, so I just gave her a fat allowance, so she'd leave me alone… but even that wasn't enough.    

God! It's a good thing that in a few hours' time, I'll have sweet, tempting Sofia in my arms, to get rid of all the tension that woman has brought me.