CHAPTER 2

Current days…

Nelly

In a single day I argued with my mother, faced my biggest fear of public speaking and presentedmy workof completion dandcourseO,getting top marks.uhHul!!! Finally journalist. Nothing could sour my happiness, except, of course,give in to my mother's game of persuasion and go to a slimming clinic,known asspa.

Pathetic, I know. How can a twenty-four-year-old woman give in to her mother's whims and throw away years of self-love?

But what self love? That's it.

RI constantly repeat how wonderful I am to my reflection in the mirror, but every minute I spendyoufeeding my self-esteem fall to the ground when I meet Kaciana, the woman who brought me into the worldand makes a face whenever I call her mom🇧🇷 She manages with one look to tear down every wall of trust I've taken years to build, every damn time I feelwell, she comes and ruins all my fantasies.

“We want everything we're entitled to, Ro.” Kaciana winks at the masseuse, in such an exaggerated intimacy that it makes me suspicious.

"Okay, beautiful. The man winks back, turning to grab a flavoring oil from the small table by the gurney.” I study him curiously now, not missing the carefree way he moves.

He looks me up and down when he turns back around, as if he's only just noticed me and I have to pull the robe to my body under his unprofessional scrutiny. He smirks, a smile I don't like at all.

My cell phone vibratesthe bagand pick it up, pushing aside my mother and the masseur. I smile as I read the message from my best friend, the only one actually.

Alice has been out of the country for two months, she went to compete in a fencing competition, filling me with pride for chasing her dreams and not caring about all the difficulties that the sport, still little talked about, faces on a daily basis. She didn't care when she was the only woman in class, breasted every guy and beat them one by one, even though she comes from a rich family, her parents are old fashioned and would rather see her married with kids.

NO WAY!"

She answers me and a smile sprouts on my lips, I told her that I'm at a SPA with Mom to lose a few pounds. Alice has always hated the way Kaciana treats me, many times they got into heated arguments over me, my friend always stepping in when mum made some mean comment about my weight, for Alice my body is beautiful, and as long as I'm eating well and healthy the rest doesn't matter. I always intervene, though. After all, Kaciana is my mother.

" It's not so bad, there's a sauna and massage here. "

I send it to her.

“Put your cell phone away, Nelly. I bet you're talking to that insufferable girl.” Kaciana complains, wrinkling her nose in disdain and lies down on the stretcher.

Another masseuse enters the room and indicates for me to lie down on the unoccupied stretcher, my eyes shine at the woman and I smile genuinely, grateful that the fake don Juan is not responsible for my massage and I lie down. Unlike Mom, who wears nothing more than a bikini bottom under her robe, I wear a black bathing suit, with a plunging neckline at the front, but which hugs and protects my body from prying and judgmental eyes, not leaving nothing too uncovered.

“I need to be really relaxed, Ro. I have a date tonight and I need to be at my best.” My progenitor comments, using a honeyed and pedantic tone of voice.

I frown at her words, even though she's used to her lightning boyfriends, I thought she'd stay with me at the spa for the whole week, since it was her idea.

"Aren't you staying all week?" I blurt out, bringing the woman's attention to me.

“Oh no, dear. This week will be about you, I've already programmed your whole routine and you'll be so busy that you won't even notice my absence. Besides, I have my own plans.”

Even after so many years of the same treatment, my heart still aches to hear your indifferent words. Knowing that the woman who gave birth to me much prefers the company of any man to mine hurts. However, I take the blame. I'm foolish to believe that suddenly my mother will become a sentimental woman and prioritize me.

I huff to myself.

Idiot.

Silly.

Stupid.

I turn my head to the other side, staring at the white wall instead of kaciana's face, staying in the same position until the end of the massage, ignoring the small and intimate conversation that my mother had with that guyRhofor the long minutes that I lay on the apple, at least, the massage was good and managed to distract me at times.

“Thanks, Angela.” I say, as I read the name of the masseuse on her uniform and she nods, smiling back at me.

I leave the room without waiting for Mom, heading straight for my room instead of the sauna as we'd planned. I might be acting like a spoiled brat right now, but I'm pissed that I agreed to stay here, locked away like a prisoner for a week while most people are doing what they like, going to places they enjoy.

“Oookay, I'm an adult and I can leave if I want.” I tell myself, reminding myself that I am no longer obliged to give in to Kaciana's whims.

But...

Damn it!

Knowing the mother I have, she's going to give me hell until I get back, but not for a week, but a whole month.

"Nelly, can't you hear me calling?" Kaciana snarls as she reaches me, shooting me an irritated look.

I sigh, putting on my best face and stop, looking straight into her eyes as pale as mine.

“No, Mom. I didn't hear you, you should have screamed.”

She looks at me in disbelief, looking around to check if anyone heard me.

"Ladies don't scream, Nelly," she says, putting on her best rich-girl expression, walking around if none of her socialite friends are around.

I don't question it, even though I think it's a complete nonsense nonsense.

It turns out that my father left us very well off and with my mother he always liked to spend, he leads a luxurious life without many limitations, this, along with the conservative upbringing he had is full of rules to maintain good appearance in society. prejudiced rules. And always:

Can that.

Can't do that.

Of course, my weight and appearance are a problem for her and the image she tries so hard to preserve. Having an overweight daughter is an indication of her failure as a mother.

"Aren't you going to the sauna?" she spoke again, changing the subject.

“No, I need to e-mail the office.” I say and she rolls her eyes, making me walk again with the gesture.

“Hang on." she says, grabbing my arm after I've taken a step away from her.

“I really need to go, Mommy.” I lie, forming a serious expression on my face.

In fact, I don't have any email to send. My supervisor has given me a few days off, due to the backlog of academic work I need to organize in this final stretch of the course, but she doesn't need to know that.

“You know that for me you would give up this little job, even this college.” Says with a voice of disdain.

I breathe, taking long breaths of air.

“It's not a little job, I got the internship at Dalton for my effort, it's the biggest magazine in the country and covers serious subjects, I'm lucky to work in one of its branches.” Kaciana snorts, demonstrating that she doesn't agree with me.

“Whatever.” she says crossly, pressing her thin lips together. "Don't you want to know who I'm meeting today?" she asks, letting a smile tug her lips up into an almost…happy expression.

I frown, not understanding his question. She never tells me who she's going out with or asks for any opinion.

“With whom?” I ask intrigued.

It must be someone important considering your excitement.

“David Bragança.” she says, licking his lips as he mentions the man's name. Smiling maliciously.

My heart misses a beat, my legs wobble at the mention of my former history teacher, the man I secretly loved for three years.

“He returned?” I force a calm voice, disguising the disturbance that his revelation brought me.

She looks at me, studying my expression minutely and smiles, taking one of my hands in a forced display of affection, stroking the back of it.

“I know you had silly feelings for him, darling. She couldn't disguise when she spoke or heard something about the man. I hope she put that crush aside.

I clear my throat, pulling my hand away from his and looking away at the small group of women doing pilates by the pool.

“David Bragança was my teacher, I owe him a lot as an educator, but that's all.” I say dryly, looking deep into the familiar irises again.

She smiles, pushing one of my hair back.

“That's good, dear. David is a sophisticated man, despite the simple-minded profession he has chosen. He comes from a refined family and resentfully decided to take his place as the sole heir of Bragança perfumery, he will need help.”

"And will you help?" I ask wryly, unable to hide my feelings.

"Yes and you will help me." she says, ignoring the acid in my words. "I have to go, I'll meet you in a week. Please don't let me down." Speaks and leaves, without any other more intimate or affectionate gesture.

Do not let me down.

Is she talking about David or my extra pounds? Snort, not wanting to find the answer to that. I resume walking, heading straight for the small cottages that some clients take as their rooms and I enter 501. I sweep my eyes like an eagle around the room, looking for my laptop or cell phone, anything that can offer me a quick lookup on my ex. teacher.

He's back.

He returned to the city after four years away, after the terrible accident that took the lives of his son and wife.