Unveiling Secrets and Broken Trust
Filomena stares at me, frozen. Maybe I rushed in throwing all that information at her, but it doesn't matter now. I was at my breaking point with everything I had been holding in, all those feelings. I needed to let it out, even if my friend wasn't the best option. She opens her lips a few times but can't formulate anything to say to me.
"Ladies, it's time for the speech," the emcee announces.
"We're coming," I respond, still staring at Filomena, who is still in shock. I grab her arm and shake it gently. "Filo, we need to go."
Filomena pulls her arm away and walks towards the improvised stage for the speech, where X stands, smiling at us and then changing his expression: he knows. I quicken my pace and stop in front of him, but she refuses to look at me.
"Filomena, please, don't say anything," I plead.
She walks past me and continues to the stage, where she stops in front of the microphone, glancing in my direction. I feel lost.
***
As Filomena's words flow from her mouth, my heart slows down. She talks about the project, our dreams, and the entire process until we arrived there.
"... Of course, none of this would have been possible without this man, the visionary behind it all. Without him, none of us would be here today," Filomena says, looking at me with a certain disdain, making my heart stop, "Richard Wright."
Richard walks to the stage, receiving a warm hug from Filomena, who passes the microphone to him. She steps back, leaving Richard to begin his emotional speech. But I don't pay attention to anything he says; I keep staring at Filomena, who avoids looking at me. X approaches her and tries to whisper something in her ear, which makes her leave the stage, in the middle of Richard's speech, who doesn't understand what's happening. I smile at him, trying to reassure him; I desire to go after her, but what good would it do? It's already all lost.
"I also want to thank Dalia Penedo & Salazar, the investors present, and those who didn't have the opportunity to attend this unique moment. Enjoy the party," Richard concludes, receiving applause. He walks towards me, hugs me, and whispers in my ear, "Where did she go?"
"I have no idea," I reply.
"I'll go look for her," Richard informs, stepping away.
"I'll come with you," I say, following him off the stage.
While he heads towards the pool, I decide to go towards the house, which I believe is the most likely place to find her. I enter each room on the ground floor first, with no success. Then I go up the stairs, entering the bedrooms; she must be somewhere. I open the door to the last room, already convinced she didn't come to the headquarters. Still, I enter the room and am startled by X entering and closing the door behind him.
"Did you find her?" X asks.
"No, not yet," I say, heading towards X and trying to pass him, but he holds my arm. "Let me go."
"Why did you tell her about us?" X asks, serious.
"Why didn't you tell me that you were bringing your wife?" I retort, serious, freeing my arm.
"Because I didn't know she would come," X replies, standing in front of the door. "She showed up at the hotel with our son; what did you expect me to do?"
"Nothing, as you always do," I say. "Step aside; I need to find Filomena."
"We need to talk, Dalia," X says.
"About what? About your 'complicated' marriage? About trying to have a second child with your 'viper' of a wife?" I question, sarcastic.
"I never said she was a viper... On the contrary, she's an incredible woman," X rebuts. "And our marriage is complicated..."
"It sure looked like it, especially since you're trying to have a second child, and she only speaks well of you, and you of her," I retort. "You're really in crisis!!! Give me a break."
"Dalia, do you think she would confess our problems to you?" X asks. "You're a stranger to her."
"And apparently to you too," I conclude, irritated, running my hand through my hair. "Were you serious when you invited me to Switzerland, or was it just another one of your lies?"
"I was serious," X replies, annoyed. "Very serious, and you said no."
"Yes, I said no. And you know what? Today I am more convinced that I made the right choice."
"Dalia, don't do this," X says, seriously. He approaches, holding my face in his hands and bringing it closer to his.
In the background, I hear Pandora's voice calling for X, so I pull away, looking to the side as X opens the door.
"The invitation still stands," he says, leaving right after.
"Not only did you hide the truth about X from me, but you were also going to run away with him?" Filomena asks, coming out of the bathroom. "Is that what I understood, Dalia?"
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