Chapter 66

"That's a pretty nasty abrasion; it’s best not to wear uncomfortable shoes that might aggravate it. I'll prescribe an anesthetic ointment for the pain, and that should do it," he said, writing in his notebook. Then he tore out the sheet, and as I was about to take it, Mr. Cesar snatched it from the doctor’s hands, leaving me with my hand outstretched. I looked at him, annoyed, and he looked at the sheet.



"Thank you very much; we'll take your recommendations into account," he said. The doctor looked at me and said, "I hope you recover, Belle, and be careful not to overwork yourself."



"Yes, sir."



"You have a very pretty girlfriend, Mr. Cesar," he said, causing my eyes to widen in disbelief, and I jumped off the exam table like a spring.



"You think so? Clumsy and reckless women aren’t to my taste."



"Oh, sorry. You aren't..."



"Of course, we’re not a couple! Mr. Cesar is my boss," I snapped, sounding almost rude in my frustration.



"Apologies. As I mentioned, she's a reckless woman. How else do you think her foot would end up like this?" Embarrassed, I watched Joffre walk in with an irritated expression. Oh no, once again, I'd look unprofessional in front of him. Damn it.



"Here's the clothing set you requested, Mr. Cesar."



"Thank you, Joffre," he said, taking the garments. "Could you finish confirming the reservation I made a few hours ago?" With a solemn nod, he glanced at me with a cold expression that sent a chill down my spine; once again, I was an annoyance. Without warning, Mr. Cesar offered me the clothes.



"Get dressed quickly; I’ll wait to help you with the shoes." I looked at the clothes and, naively, asked, "Is this for me?"



"I don't think I’d choose to wear women's clothing; I prefer to take it off if possible," he said with a smile that sent a shiver through me like never before. Nervously, I snatched the clothes, lacking the courage to retort. I walked clumsily to the bathroom, looked at myself in the mirror, and exhaled.



"What’s wrong with you, Belle… focus!" I told myself, giving my cheeks a few light slaps.



۩



When I came out of the bathroom, a beautiful dress with small lace details and straps hung from my shoulders. It was comfortable and simple, almost as if it were designed for my taste. Why had he given me this? Suddenly, Mr. Cesar entered the room wearing an elegant white shirt and cream-colored pants.



"Wh-where are we going, dressed like this? Don’t you think you went through too much trouble?"



"To dinner, as I’ve told you a thousand times. Now, sit."



"What? Why would I do that? Besides… I'm not hungry, and you have a trip scheduled for tomorrow; it’s better if we go back home," I said, moving toward the door when I heard him.



"It seems you enjoy defying me, Belle," he said, walking toward me with a stern look, cornering me against the wall.



"Do you really want to see what happens when I get upset?" I looked up and shook my head.



"Then sit down and have dinner with me."



"But why...? I’m not exactly great company; surely a famous model or a doctor would suit you better. I’ll call someone from your contact list; just give me a moment," I tried to escape, but he pressed a hand against the wall, cornering me further.



"Why don’t you tell me why you’re running from me? Afraid I might get under your skirt again?" My heart raced, leaving me speechless.



"Let me assure you, just to ease your mind. I won’t touch you… unless you ask me to." Embarrassment colored my face as I looked at him.



"Why would I ask you for something like that? Forget that idea."



"Why? Because you love my brother…" I fell silent, and he stepped back from me.



"Because I work for you; haven't you thought about how this could affect your job?"



"The only thing I’m thinking about right now is having dinner with you in front of a beautiful view; does that sound better?" He took my hand without asking, swiftly guiding me to the chair. He pulled out a pair of sandals from a box and carefully slipped them on my feet. Nervous, I looked at him, puzzled, and he looked up, gently holding my face.



"Let me warn you, even if I’m not going to touch you… don’t trust that just because I’m respectful with my promises, I'm still a man and can sometimes falter." He leaned closer to my lips, inhaling my warm breath with his eyes closed. In that moment, I wished to feel his lips, but suddenly, he pulled back, leaving me confused.



"Ready? I hope I won’t hear any more complaints." He extended his hand toward me, and without hesitation, I took it. As I stood, I realized I was drawn to this man who had once made me feel worthless, yet now I couldn’t stop thinking about wanting to understand him, to figure him out until I found what I was searching for. But I knew that with this man, I might only find disappointment. Still, I was willing to find out.