Chapter 12

James was walking quickly into the office. And that familiar woman was standing in front of the door.

He turned around and a smile came across his face.

-You're a little late. Did the babysitter make you late? -she said mockingly. James gave her a poison look.

-I don't think it's in your best interest.

-Come on, Drew, it's not. Do you really think you'll ever get over her?

- I beg your pardon?

-Well, let's stop talking about her. We need to talk and you know it.

James walked into his office and made sure the door was locked. He couldn't handle the situation.

-You're making my life miserable. You can't come near my house, don't send letters, don't come near me.

- That's what happens when things get out of hand. It's a painful lesson.

-I've been getting nervous all these days. What do you expect me to do? I can't hide this.

She laughed,

-But you don't have a choice. You know that.

- It's in the past! - he shouted. The woman became elated. - What the fuck do I have to do to make you let him go?

- It's your past, but my present. I'm not going to let you ruin my life.

He stared at her. His eyes were watery and his mouth was trembling.

-Don't ruin your life, Angelica. We were young, forget it. What are you chasing me for? What do you want to accomplish, huh?

-I want... I need you to pay me back for every single day I spent on you. Everything I lost because I was supporting you in that fucking crime.

-I'm not like that anymore, and I don't plan on getting involved in any shit just because you happened to redeem yourself for your mistakes. You're pretty clear on what that would entail, don't you remember?

She smiled cynically.

-Perfectly, Drew.

She silently stared at the wall as endless thoughts crossed her mind. He sighed deeply and turned to her.

-You're only here because I decided to be, don't make me take you out.

His hands were tied, even if he didn't like to admit it. That woman in front of him carried all the ghosts of his past and had managed to get into his life.

Now, years later, she was in his office, hired under some threat.

When she showed up for interviews, he thought she was delusional. He thought her dead, or at least far from the United States. It had been unfair, maybe, but that James from the past was not the same now and there were no days that went by without thinking about all his mistakes and all the people he left behind.

They had committed several crimes in the past, three too serious. She was twenty-one, and he was twenty-two. They had known each other for years, since their teenage years. Angelica was the daughter of her father's lawyer, and they had dated for a couple of months before losing touch. He had messed with something of her own, just like that, he had betrayed her.

Now she was back, and she was ready for anything.

That week had been difficult, starting with Luna's difficulty in stopping asking questions. The unprofessionalism with which they treated each other sometimes seemed insolent, but there was no other way. Portia loved her, and their differences were on the back burner. Of course, all the questions were related to the girl, but James couldn't help but feel judged thanks to some actions. Looks, innuendo. Worst of all, most of the time, he was right.

On the other hand, his mother had visited them the previous Wednesday and didn't hold back any opinions; she believed her son was handling the situation insecurely.

"What will you do with the child when you decide to fire Luna?" she had asked him. He insisted that his choices only generated instability in Portia, something that may have been true in the past. He ignored most of her comments and tried to reassure her by telling her how well things were going; they were getting along, Luna was kind, and she was taking good care of her daughter. Besides, he didn't have to worry because he wasn't planning to fire her.

He hadn't been sleeping well either, and his behavior was becoming erratic. He avoided sharing a room with Rose because Rose had the ability to figure him out and he hadn't spent much time with Portia either. He was pulling away, he knew, but nothing good was born in him when the pressure was so close, much less when it came to someone from his past.

Angelica was making his life miserable.