Page 105 of Until You Came Along
“Dance with me, my love,” he asked.
“It’s my pleasure,” I said, wrapping my arms around his neck and gazing into those beautiful green eyes in which I completely lost myself.
We danced in the garden by moonlight, looking into each other’s eyes without blinking. It was the most romantic moment of my life. Hermes began to sing along with the song without taking his eyes off me. Although his voice was normally strong, high-pitched and deep, at that moment it sounded sweet and soft.
“I love you, Hermes.”
“I love you, Delfina. Always remember that you are my reason.”
He lowered his lips to mine and kissed me as only he could, those kisses that weakened my knees and made my heart beat on the verge of a heart attack. Those kisses in which we gave everything and connected all the way to our souls.
Chapter 10
“Do not yield to adversity; rather, oppose it boldly as much as your fortune allows”
—Virgil
On December 26th, we resumed our work with the idea of organizing everything and getting everything ready so we could take several days off. We planned to travel on December 29th to arrive the following day and spend a few days with my brother. Then we would travel to New York to spend a few days in that city. I was very excited about the idea of taking this trip together, knowing it would be an experience that would help us strengthen our relationship as a couple. That day I had arranged to have lunch with him; Hermes would pick me up at my office at 1 PM and we would go to a restaurant a block away where the food was very good. We had agreed to call each other if any meetings or work issues came up, which was quite common. Close to noon, Julia entered my office extremely agitated.
“Delfina, excuse me, but Mr. Malek Naik is outside and insists on seeing you,” she stated, and the fact that she stood in front of me wringing her hands was an indication of Julia’s nervous state.
“Who?” I asked, completely astonished to hear that name.
Julia couldn’t respond, nor could I react, because the imposing figure of my father appeared behind Julia and stood in front of my desk with authority.
“Your father. You may leave,” he said to Julia in his despotic tone. “As you heard, the young lady is my daughter.”
I looked at Julia and nodded. The poor woman fled the office in terror. My father could be intimidating, but I wasn’t fazed at all, though his presence in my office had me completely bewildered and I was sure it didn’t bode well. I didn’t carry his surname because both my brother and I had decided to use my mother’s. This man had never cared about me and had never shown up at my office before. Malek Naik was a 65-year-old man, but he looked much younger. He was tall, with enormous blue eyes that I had inherited and jet-black hair now showing some gray. He was an elegant man who wore custom-made suits by the most sought-after tailors; he knew his presence was imposing and his voice made people tremble, but I also knew clearly that he had no effect on me—neither fear nor much less respect or love. If I felt anything for this man, it was disappointment and resentment.
“Next time you’ll have to schedule an appointment in advance because my calendar is full, though knowing you, I doubt there will be a next time. Tell me quickly what brings you here because I have an important lunch to get to,” I said, without getting up from my chair, resting my elbows on the desk and crossing my hands to rest my chin on them.
“I see you’ve become a beautiful woman with a strong temperament. I like that,” he said, sitting down in the visitor’s chair in front of my desk.
“I don’t have time for this small talk. Tell me at once what you want.”
“You haven’t used any of the money I deposit for you every month. There’s more than ten million dollars in your account.”
“I don’t need or want your money. I never asked you for anything and I never will. Although now that I remember, at one point I did ask you for something—I asked for affection, I begged for your love because I needed a father. I was left alone and needed the love of my parent, but you made it clear that you wouldn’t give it to me. You made it clear that your business was more important than your children. Lesson learned, Mr. Naik, so I had to fend for myself, and I no longer need anything from you. If you came here to say something, I advise you to say it quickly because your time is running out.”
As I spoke, he observed me, but no emotion was reflected on his face.
“I’ve come to propose something to you, and I’m afraid you’ll have to do as I say,” he stated seriously.
“Excuse me? You came all the way here just to give me orders?” I stood up from my chair, walked to the door, and opened it. “Leave my office immediately. I have nothing more to discuss with you.”
“Close the door, Delfina,” he ordered, “and come listen to what I have to tell you because I assure you it’s important.”
I had no other option because the man wasn’t going to leave until I heard him out, so I closed the door, but I didn’t sit down. I leaned against the desk with my arms crossed, looking at him with fury reflected on my face.
“I come in peace. You can put away your weapons because what I’m going to propose benefits us both.”
“I don’t recall having any shared interests with you.”
“Listen to me and stop interrupting me.”
“And you stop giving me orders. In this office, I’m the one who gives the orders.”
“Not to me, little one, not to me. Sit down,” he dictated again.
