CHAPTER 5

Slowly she began to study her enemy and all that she was going to do so that she could get close to him. She had never seen his face before but it was already said that he was a very handsome and intelligent man. It was only by photos that she learned about him, his family, his every move, she even learned by heart his routine, the same one he had given in his interviews.

Days, months, years that went that way, the lawyer for his part doing everything so that she could change everything she was, starting with her name.

Eight years that were soon reduced to five.

FIVE YEARS LATER

“Inmate Isela Velar, having served her sentence reduced to five years for good behavior, is now free.”

And just like that, the prison doors were opened only for her, who carried a suitcase in hand, ready to take on a new life as she had promised her lawyer and her best friend Adamaris, who in less than four months would also be released from prison.

A smile came to her face the moment she saw the sunlight. The wind hitting her face, for the first time after five years. Even the wind had a sound that she had been deprived of in those five years that she had unjustly paid for.

And just when she was ready to go on her way, a surprise.

“Isela!” shouted behind her.

Isela turned around. A smile came to her face. She couldn't believe that this person was in front of her.

“Antonio?” she asked in disbelief.

And without further ado, as If it were a person who had missed her all that time, he ran up to her and was able to hug her for the first time in his life.

Isela responded to his embrace in the same way. She felt a connection of friendship with him, nothing more.

In the comfort of his office, unable to take his eyes off the picture of the woman who was never his wife, Stefan couldn't believe the day had come. What he called injustice was justice for someone else.

“They reduced her sentence," Stefan said to his friend.

“You should let her live. She's already paid her punishment.”

“Not enough.”

“If they let her out, it's for a reason. Leave her alone.”

Stefan smiled. “Yeah, you're damn right. She went out for one reason only. For me to make her life miserable outside.”

“I'll never agree with what you did, you know there was no evidence against her.”

“Will you shut up?”

“The best thing would be for me to go back to work instead of looking for a way to make life miserable for someone who doesn't deserve it anymore.”

“Look for her, Ricardo!”

“ What?”

“Find her and bring her to me because I'm going to make her life impossible, I swear, I swear on Elisa's life. That's an order, Ricardo.”

Shaking his head, Ricardo closed the door leaving Stefan with a thousand thoughts on how he was going to destroy that woman.

He had never seen her face but he hoped that the first and last time he would see it would be only to see her on her knees as she begged him to let her die.

“I am going to do you justice, Elisa. If the damn police didn't know how to do anything, I do, I do, Elisa. I swear," he said, running his fingers over the photo of his fiancée.

Isela Velar. He was never going to forget that damn name.

Eating like she had never eaten before, having missed everything the world meant outside.

“Mmm, it's delicious!” Isela said over and over again.

In front of her all Antonio could feel was a little bit of grace for her. Five years to finally have her in front of him, where he could invite her anything she wanted, where he could feel her close.

“Do you want something else?” Antonio asked.

“No, no, I'm fine now. I'm going to leave you penniless if I keep eating like this.”

Antonio laughed. “It doesn't matter. I like you enjoying this moment.”

“The thing is that the prison food was a little tasteless and later, when I started making the food, I got bored with the same flavors. No matter how many combinations I made, the taste of each one was boring me.”

“Well, now that you're out there, there's a lot to do. You'll be the best chef from now on, I swear. You'll be the best and so…”

“So I can get closer to Stefan de la Barrera. He's going to pay for all the damage he's done to me and to people.”

“People?”

“The poor people, Antonio. I studied his life so much that I realized that he is one of those rich people who take what little the poor people have.”

“In three months Adamaris will be out of jail too. I want her to make her life the same way I do.”

“I have everything ready for both of you, Isela.”

 “Isela?” She smiled. "Didn't you tell me that my name had already changed?”

Antonio couldn't help smiling. “I see you're not forgetting anything.”

“Not if it's about my revenge.”

Antonio opened his briefcase, ready to hand her the documents that were going to change her life completely. “Here is what I promised you.”

Isela opened the documents in a flash. Indeed, there was everything that her new life would be. Her name had definitely changed.

“My name... my name is Maria Fernanda Villegas?”

“Indeed, Isela. Today was the last time I called you Isela. You will present yourself as the best chef to that man.”

“And then my revenge will begin. I already got the chef Stefan trusted the most fired, that's where you come in.”

“How did you get him to resign? Where did you get the money?”

Antonio just looked down. “Let none of that matter to you. I'll only be here, being your shadow, being your conscience but never your heart. And when Adamaris is here, everything will be better, I swear.”

“I just can't believe that jerk quit like this," Stefan said, clearly annoyed.

“Why do you always have to insult people, don't you realize that you've become worse since Elisa died?”

“Stop talking about Elisa like that!”

“Over time you get harder to handle, but don’t worry, I have everything ready before the celebration! You won't need to worry any more, that chef will be here.” And without further ado, Ricardo left the office of the man who had become so unbearable since the death of his great love.

In less than a week the biggest celebration was going to take place. A presentation that would inaugurate the chain of Chinese food restaurants and suddenly, their star chef had resigned.