Page 88 of Until You Came Along
“You must have a secret admirer. Don't think I didn't notice how they were looking at you the other day; you accelerated quite a few heartbeats. Perhaps someone who was watching you noticed you crying while looking at the painting and decided to send it to you.”
“That sounds like a stalker.”
“Actually, it sounds like love at first sight,” he said, laughing.
“Don't make fun of me and please find out that information so I can return it. The painting is wonderful, but I'm not keeping it.”
“Why not?”
“For starters, I have no idea who sent it, and furthermore, it could be someone who wants something in return. We don't know anything about this person. It's disturbing enough that they know where I live.”
“You're right about that. I'll try to find out, but I'm afraid they might not give me that information.”
“Please try,” I pleaded.
“Are you going to the dinner tonight?” he asked.
“I don't have much choice, but I'm not enthusiastic about it at all.”
“Call me if you need anything.”
“Thank you, Baco.”
“Behave yourself and watch out for the stalker,” he said, bursting into laughter.
I just ended the call, but I smiled just hearing him laugh; his laughter was contagious.
Why couldn't his brother have some of his good humor?I wondered, but shook my head, I couldn't connect everything to him, or I'd never forget him.
???
That night I wore a long, flowing gold dress with thin straps. The neckline was plunging both in front and back, and it hugged my waist and hips, making me look very sensual.
I arrived at the dinner punctually. I was very nervous, knowing I would run into him because he himself had mentioned he couldn't miss it, but I had no idea how he wouldtreat me. He would probably ignore me completely, which was very like him, and I preferred that to having to talk to him pretending we didn't know each other.
They indicated which was my table and I headed there without looking much around me because I didn't want to meet his eyes. The table was for ten people, and several colleagues I knew from business with the company were already there, including one of the guys who had been my classmate at the University, named Mino. We were four women and six men. Seeing that they weren't strangers made me feel more at ease, so I greeted everyone, sat down, and joined their conversation. I estimated there were close to two hundred people in the hall; if I stayed at the table, I probably wouldn't run into him. The dinner began with the customary speeches and acknowledgments, followed by a toast that included Christmas greetings and wishes for a prosperous new year filled with good business. While the waiters began circulating among the tables serving the menu items, I must have greeted more than twenty acquaintances who approached the table to chat. I was well aware that these events were opportunities to talk with colleagues, make connections with other businesspeople, and socialize a bit. When the main course was served, everyone returned to their seats, and we continued our conversation among those sharing the table. My group was fun, and beyond discussing topics like economics, politics, taxes, and several other business-related subjects, we also talked about travel and good places to visit, music concerts, and even our families. After dinner, the music began playing louder, and we were invited to go to the dance floor. I was clear that I had no intention of moving from my chair. Many of the guests invaded the dance floor, and at my table, they began to deliberate whether we should all go dance together or stay and chat. Of course, I was the only one who voted to stay, and justas Mino was tugging at me to join them on the dance floor, his harsh tone of voice paralyzed me.
“Good evening, everyone,” he greeted.
“Good evening, Darwich,” replied one of the men seated at my table, whom I knew owned an automotive company.
It was obvious they knew each other quite well because he approached to shake his hand. The rest of us simply responded with “good evening,” and I did so without turning around to avoid looking at him.
“Come on, Delfina, join me,” Mino insisted, and at that moment it didn’t seem like such a bad idea because I wanted to get out of there as soon as possible, so I stood up with a smile.
“You win, I’ll join you,” I said.
As I turned and met his penetrating gaze, my stomach flipped. We stood challenging each other with our eyes for a few seconds, but when I noticed Samantha, the woman who had accompanied him to his mother’s birthday, hanging on his arm, I felt a stab in my chest and a sharp pain that cut off my breath. I had to make a great effort to hide the disappointment and anguish that seeing him with that woman caused me.
“Hermi, look who’s here, your little brother’s girlfriend,” Samantha said, looking at me with surprise.
I looked at her and smiled.
“She’s mistaken, ma’am,” I said, and looked at Mino to tell him, “shall we go have some fun?”
Mino took my hand and dragged me to the dance floor where we began to dance among all the people moving to the rhythm of the music. I didn’t look back at them because I turned myback to them, mainly because I had to make a great effort not to burst into tears. I couldn’t believe he had done that. If he wanted to date other women, fine, but bringing her to this place where he knew I would be and approaching my table to rub her in my face was really low. He had disappointed me. If at some point I had thought that Hermes Darwich was misunderstood and that, contrary to what everyone thought, I believed he had a big heart, that night he had shattered any good image I had of him. Hermes Darwich was cold and ruthless. He knew I loved him and he had shown no compassion.
“Delfina, are you alright?” Mino asked, leaning close to my ear to speak because otherwise it would have been impossible to hear him.
