Challenging Destiny

After the conversation I had with my mother, I return home, where I leave Juan with the nanny, take a shower, and get dressed to go to work. I need to vent and forget the words of my mother that keep echoing in my head. It's impossible that she really thinks that way. Half an hour later, I'm parking my car in the spot next to Filomena's, who came with her own vehicle today. I enter the institution, saying good morning to all the employees I meet along the way until I reach the office. As soon as I open the door, I come across the following scene: on one side of the room, Filomena is biting her pen while watching X, who is in the corner of my desk, analyzing some papers.

"Good morning," I say loudly, catching the attention of both.

Mr. X quickly gets up from his seat and walks towards me, helping me take off my coat, under the curious gaze of Filomena. X's fingers discreetly slide over my shoulders, making me shiver. I smile at him and whisper, "Thank you."

"You're welcome," X replies with a slight smile. "I hope you enjoyed your weekend."

"Yes, I did," I reply, stepping away from X and sitting at my desk. "And you?"

"Not as much as I would have liked," Filomena quips. Perhaps if I hadn't witnessed her scene at the hotel, I wouldn't have noticed her indirect comment to X, who doesn't seem to care about her jabs. "But who knows what destiny has in store for us today."

"The only thing destiny has in store for us today is a lot of work," I say, looking at all my accumulated tasks. "We have a lot of work, little time, and I'm not willing to postpone the inauguration."

"Okay, boss," Filomena responds, twisting her mouth.

"Well, I have some people I scheduled meetings with regarding MAMA, so I'll be staying late in the office today... I'm going to the kitchen, would you like something?" X comments, standing in front of my desk.

"If it's not too much trouble, a coffee, please," I reply calmly.

"Sure," X says, adjusting his suit. He smiles at me, and as he passes by Filomena, he gives her a nod.

"He's gay," Filomena blurts out as soon as X closes the door.

"Sorry, but who's gay?" I ask, pretending not to understand.

"Him," Filomena replies with the look of someone who has just solved a great mystery. "Wow, the signs were very clear, how didn't I realize it before?"

"Maybe because he's not gay," I comment, analyzing the contributions and associations made so far. We need to speed things up as soon as possible.

"Girl, he's gay!" Filomena reiterates, leaning over her desk.

"How can you be so sure of that?" I ask, curious. Will she have the courage to tell me that she went naked to the hotel, and he turned her down?

"Simple, he didn't ask me out after that day, and he's always avoiding me... He must be gay."

"Or maybe he's just not interested in you," I jab, trying not to smile.

"Impossible! No man on Earth would refuse to go to bed with me!" Filomena claims. "I'm like a universal remote control: I serve all types and sizes."

"Perhaps he prefers... exclusivity."

"Dália, what's gotten into you to defend him?" Filomena questions.

"Nothing... I just don't want you to delude yourself, trying to find a reason for his rejection," I reply. "Have you considered the possibility that he's a man who respects his family and therefore doesn't want to cheat on his wife with someone else?"

"Friend, if he's not gay, he'll cheat on his wife. That's how it usually goes," Filomena concludes, coming over to my desk and placing her hands on it, looking at me. "And you'll accept the role of the mistress because he'll say he's going to divorce his wife and all that blah blah blah."

"Not all men are like that," I say. "X, for example, despite cheating on his wife, he's always made it very clear about our situation."

"X is the kind of man who seduces you with his kindness, charisma, and charm. He traps you in his web, like a spider... he says things you want to hear, makes a point of showing that he's married but going through a very complicated moment, and over time, you start to believe that getting involved with him is no problem at all since he made it very clear that he's married... but when you see, you're enchanted. He doesn't make promises, but always leads you to believe that you're different and that you'll end up together in the end... Look where you are... And where is X? With his wife and children, playing the happy family. So, there's no comparing him to our friend."

"Also, because he's gay," I say, embarrassed.

"Exactly!" Filomena says, sitting back in her place. "Men like X come into our lives just to make a fuss, break the routine, and shatter our hearts. You were lucky to get out of this without a scratch."

I force a smile towards Filomena and then look back at my computer, while my mind is distracted by the words spoken by my friend: Could he be here to break my heart? But how can I believe what she said if X and our financier are the same person? Maybe he has changed, and that's why he ended up seeming like a different person... which is good. Or maybe he's still the same. Maybe I should tell Filomena, and she'll help me figure out what X wants with me.

"Filo..."

"Yes, Girl," Filomena responds, looking at me.

"I'll go to the kitchen to see what he's up to."

No, it's better not to. I will find out on my own; let's see where this thing with X will lead us.

"Okay, go help him with the coffee... Maybe you'll find his heterosexuality in the coffee grounds."

***
I enter the kitchen, and Mr. X is finishing pouring my mug. I approach him and steal a passionate kiss from his lips. He gazes at me for a moment and then lifts me onto the kitchen counter, pressing his hips between my legs. He lifts my skirt and then pulls down my panties, sliding them down my legs until they reach my feet. His head positions itself between my thighs, and he starts exploring my sex, making me moan intensely. As his tongue explores me, my desire to scream grows, but then I remember that not far away is Filomena grumbling and convincing herself that Mr. X is gay.

"Definitely... you... are... not... gay," I whisper between my moans.

"What?" X asks, rising. He penetrates me and continues, "What did you say?"

"You... are... not... gay..." I repeat.

"Do you have any doubts?" he asks, staring at me.

"And what if I do?" I speak in a challenging tone.

"Then I'll be forced to show you otherwise."