On the Defensive

Finally, we managed to get to the headquarters where the surprises don't seem to stop happening: I find X sitting in my office chair calmly. Annoyed, I approach and throw my bag on the table, being observed by him, who doesn't seem to be the least bit concerned about invading my space. I stood in front of him with my arms crossed.



"Could you get out of my seat?" I asked, trying not to unleash all the anger I feel at the moment.



"Sorry, I didn't know you sat here," X responds, getting up and standing in front of me. His heavy breath intoxicates me, his hands rise and hold my arms. He moistens his lips and then smiles. "Could you...?"



"Sure," I said, stepping away and trying to show indifference to his scent. I sit in my place and tidy up my messy desk while I watch X kiss Filomena's hand, causing her to blush. "What are you doing here? Don't you have other things to do? Richard told me you're a VERY busy man."



"Dália," Filomena reproaches. She smiles at X. "Don't worry, today Dália started on the wrong foot. She's not like this every day."



"It's fine, I just came to see what a morning at the foundation is like," X says, adjusting his suit. "To see if you need anything, as you know, I also have other business to take care of that requires my attention. But if you need me, just call me," he finishes, handing me a card, as if I didn't already know his number by heart.



"Thank you," I said, putting the card in the drawer and pretending to be engrossed in something very important on the computer. I look up and see X staring at me, curious. "If you want to wanted a morning at MAMA, I'm sure Filomena would love to do that for you."



I focus back on the foundation and completely ignore the two who eventually disappear from the office. With accumulated work, the morning flies by, and when I notice, X sits in front of me with a smile on his lips, irritating me even more. I raise my head and notice that we were alone. What does he want now?



"So, what did you think?" I asked without looking at him.



"Pleasurable," he responds with a mischievous smile. He bites his lips and continues, "It was a very pleasurable morning."



"What do you think you're doing?" I asked, stopping fiddling with the computer and turning towards him, angry. "Do you think coming here and acting like an altruist affects me? Do you think going out with Filomena affects me? Does roaming around the headquarters that has 14 available rooms for you to have sex like two rabbits affect me? The answer is..."



"Yes," X interrupts, smiling. He approaches and touches my chin, making my head turn in his direction, our lips are very close. "I affect you, and you know that, Dália. I don't know what you're trying to accomplish by being rude to me, but I know that I love it when you're in a bad mood. I love your indirectness. And I love it when you're upset and know that I'm the one responsible for it. If you want to push me away, I suggest you change your strategy, because this one, fortunately, has had the opposite effect."



He lets go of my chin and then gets up from the chair, moving away, while I remain paralyzed by the power X has over me. When he's at the door, he turns towards me and tilts his head slightly in farewell. One thing he's right about: I need to change my strategy, or else I'll end up having sex with him in all 14 rooms of MAMA AFRICA, and I feel like that's very close to happening.



***

"Working from home?" Filomena asks, surprised after I tell her that I've decided to work from home. "You're going to work from home? Why? You were so excited about coming to work at the foundation. What happened?"



"I already explained," I replied, finishing arranging my things. "Soon, Carlos will be traveling, and I want to spend as much time as possible with my family. Who knows when I'll see my husband again? I have to start spending time with Juan again."



"Okay, but didn't you say that Barcelona to Lisbon is pretty close, that you can see each other on weekends?" Filomena questions, suspiciously. "And didn't you decide to look for a babysitter or put your son in a daycare?"



"Yes, but that was a long-term plan, and now my husband will be working double-time, and so will we. Remember that we're running against time until the inauguration, and we can't have any more distractions until then."



"As if working from home isn't distraction enough," Filomena retorts. Then she smiles mischievously. "Unless the distraction is the..."



"No, this decision has nothing to do with that... man," I replied sharply. "I just want to spend time with my family. Can you understand that and stop thinking that my world revolves around men?"



"Well, actually, your world does revolve around men," Filomena comments. "Unless your husband and your son are of an undefined gender..."



"You know what I meant," I interrupted, arranging my bag.



"Fine, since we're being serious... I support you taking a few days to be with your family, especially now during the festivities, but as soon as Carlos leaves, I want you back here with me, because you know that I know nothing about the foundation, and it'll become chaotic without your presence. So, agreed?"



"Agreed," I replied with a smile.



At least I would be away from all the tension between me and X for some time. It could help me come up with a better strategy and, when I come back, find a way to make this man understand once and for all that his place is far away from here.



***

I leave the foundation feeling relieved that I won't have to meet X for some time. I arrive home and find Juan happily playing with his toys in the living room while Carlos runs around, packing things for our son and putting them in his suitcase.



"What's going on here?" I asked, curious.



"Welcome back, love," Carlos says, stealing a kiss. "I'm getting things ready for us to go to your parents' house for Noche Buena and NocheVieja."



"But it's not even the 20th yet..." I retorted. Usually, we always go to my parent's house on December 20th and only return to our home on January 7th, after all the celebrations are over.



"Love, it's already the 21st," Carlos corrected, closing Juan's suitcase. "But don't worry, I told your parents that you had a lot of work at MAMA and that's why we were going there today."



"Thank you," I replied.



"So, go get ready because we have very busy days ahead," Carlos warns.



And he's right.