Rekindling Hearts: A New Beginning
The real estate girls were so focused that they didn't even notice when I opened the door and walked in with determined steps. They watched as I walked towards the bell and rang it with all my anger: yes, I sold the 2-million-euro apartment! Mr. Suarez rushed out of his office to see who was ringing the bell, and then he saw me. He leaned against the door and clapped, saying:
"Congratulations, and may this contract be the first of many."
"Yes, this is just the beginning," I say with a smile.
***
And it truly was. Bernard and his wife loved the apartment so much that they referred me to other acquaintances who referred me to more acquaintances, and in two months, I built a portfolio with new clients, earning more space in the real estate agency. I impressed not only my boss but also the other agents. Now, the properties I represented were worth in the tens of millions of euros, mansions that were exclusively sold by Suarez. It was this new portfolio I was analyzing when my phone rang:
"Hello, Dália Penedo," my husband speaks from the other side of the line.
"Hello, Mr. Salazar. What do you want?" I ask, biting the tip of my pen.
"You..." Carlos responds seductively, "And me... at dinner."
"Hmmm, are you inviting me on a date?" I ask playfully.
"A celebration."
"Okay... What time will you arrive?" I ask, looking at my nails.
"How about we meet there?" Carlos suggests. "I'll send you the address by message."
"Alright," I reply with a slight pout on my lips. I'm already completely used to going everywhere with my husband, so it feels strange when I have to drive or take a taxi.
"I love you," Carlos says.
I stay silent on the line until I hear the phone go silent. No, I haven't said those three words to my husband yet, and I have no idea why. However, he doesn't pressure me, or at least I think he doesn't. Within seconds, I receive the restaurant's address. I enter the search address in the browser, but there's nothing about that restaurant, which I find quite strange. I check the message three times. I decide to call Carlos, but he doesn't answer.
***
I spent the rest of the day trying to reach Carlos to confirm the address, but since he didn't answer, I had no choice but to go to the location and hope my husband would show up. I drive to the place mentioned in the message and come across a huge and elegant house. At the entrance, there's a small counter with a receptionist. I approach curiously and ask:
"Is this a restaurant?"
"Yes. What's your name?"
"Dália. Dália Penedo," I reply. "Or, I'm here on behalf of Carlos Salazar."
"Oh, you're Carlos's guest?" asks the woman, whom I now analyze. Slightly shorter than me, with curly black hair, dark skin, and making a terrible choice by speaking so familiarly about my husband. She smiles at me and continues, "Please, come with me. We reserved a special place for you."
I enter the house and am directed to a cozy and intimate corner. She hands me the menu and says, "Enjoy."
"I'd rather wait for Carlos," I say, putting the menu on the table.
"He asked you to choose your dish in advance," the receptionist informs me. "And if I may recommend something, my suggestion is the paella."
"Okay, that'll do," I say reluctantly. "And a wine, if I can choose too."
"Of course," says the young woman, moving away.
I take a deep breath, analyzing the sophisticated and timeless setting with a cosmopolitan atmosphere. This is definitely not a place where Carlos and I would typically go, which surprises me. Then, my dish and wine arrive. I call Carlos again, who, to my surprise, doesn't answer. I'm starving, so I can't resist and start savoring my paella, and you know what? It's divine! I've never had a paella that made my taste buds so delighted. I'd definitely eat many more plates of that. I call the receptionist and tell her:
"Please, give my compliments to the chef. This dish is incredibly delicious."
"Would you like to speak to him?" the girl asks with a smile. "I'm sure he'd love to hear that from your lips."
"Can I?" I ask, surprised.
"Of course. I'll be right back."
I nod excitedly, then go back to sipping my wine. Carlos always surprises me, and this is probably another one of those dinners that I'll enjoy alone, just like the first time.
"So, you're the woman who loved my dish?" asks the man standing at my table.
"Yes, and you're the chef?" I ask, looking at Carlos, surprised. "How did this happen?"
He sits in the chair in front of me, wearing his white chef's uniform with his name on it. Carlos crosses his arms and says, "Therapy. I decided to pursue what I truly desire in my life. I started taking classes, and then this internship at this café came up, which, as you can see, is totally different from anything I imagined. He's a very trendy architect and decorated his own house with great charm."
"So, you quit your job?" I ask, surprised.
"Not yet," Carlos replies, holding my hand. "But I intend to. My work has brought a lot of good things, but it has also hurt me deeply. I want to completely change my future."
"And in this future, am I somehow included?" I ask, curious.
"That depends on you," my husband says, bringing my hand to his lips. "Only on you."
"I'd like to be included in your plans. Me and Juan," I say to my husband.
"And I want to include my son and my wife. But I don't know if I've achieved my goal..."
"Carlos..." I begin very slowly, tears in my eyes. "You need to know something..."
"What?" Carlos asks, serious.
"I can't love you again," I reply, watching as sadness overcomes my husband's face. I hold his face in my hands. "I can't love you again because I never stopped loving you."
"Oh, Dália, I love you," Carlos says, kissing my hands. "I love you very much."
"I love you too," I say, leaning in to kiss my husband passionately. I pull away from his lips and look at him because I have an important question to ask:
"And now? What happens now?"
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