"Do you know her?" I raise an eyebrow.
"Everybody knows her," Anna grimaces. "She's the daughter of the local deputy slash corrupt politician. Like father, like daughter.”
Anna opens her bag and pulls out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter.
With a gesture, she offers me one, but I shake my head.
"That bastard stole so much money, but they couldn't prove anything."
"So you don't like her because of her father?" I query.
"No, of course not." Anna shakes her head, taking a deep puff. "I would never judge someone because of who their parents are. Laura is simply a bitch."
She laughs, and I smile.
"We studied together, everything about fashion," Anna continues, smoking so intensely it’s as if she can't breathe without it. "She's as stupid as a cow, but she has money, and that's why they tolerated her. She stole my work once."
"Seriously? How?!"
"I left the folder in the class, and she changed our names. I got my first ever C that day."
We order drinks from the waiter: a Diet Coke for me and a double whiskey for Anna, and I already regret not drinking, because just the thought of Ricardo with that bitch makes me go crazy.
"Vi and Fran would never invite her," Anna continues as the waiter walks away, "but that slippery snake can get anywhere."
That means that now she's probably trying to get into Ricardo's pants.
No, I shouldn't be thinking about it.
"So, you're a designer?" I try to change the subject, remembering the reason the girls introduced Anna to me.
"Yeah, and I finally decided to launch my clothing line this year," she says with a smile, and her face softens to the one I saw the second we first met.
"Tell me more."
* * *
Anna was glad to change the subject of our conversation as much as I was. She's charming and feminine, despite her masculine look. She's very passionate about what she does, and I like that about her. It will be easier to work with a person who knows what they want.
We discussed everything, from production to marketing, and decided to meet next week to deliberate details of how we'll start working together.
I told her I needed to go to the bathroom. The truth, though, was that I'm so curious about where Ricardo is and if he’s still talking with that bitch, that while I'm walking to the restroom, my eyes are searching for him.
I breathe a sigh of relief when I see that he's sitting at one of the tables and talking with some guy. Blondie is not there. I don't really know what I was afraid of. Did I think that he'd be flirting with her after everything that happened between us?
The second I enter the restroom, I see Laura is also in here, painting her huge fake lips. She smiles when she sees me. What a bitch.
I don't want to pee. I just wanted to splash my face with cold water because my cheeks are burning, so I go to the washbasin next to her.
"To be honest, I'm really surprised Ricardo has a girlfriend," Laura says with a fake smile.
Does she really wanna talk about it? What am I supposed to say to that?
I stay silent.
"No offense, but he always seemed like a confirmed bachelor to me," she continues.
"People change," I say, and right away, I want to take the words back: I shouldn't talk to her. I feel like she's going to say something offensive.
"Well, yeah, but not that much!" she exclaims, looking at me from top to bottom with a smirk on her face.
Is she hinting that I'm not his type?
"What do you really want to tell me, Laura?" I ask sternly. I'm sick of playing games.
"I just want to tell you that no matter how many girlfriends he has, he always comes back to me," She smiles slyly, placing her lipstick back in her bag before turning to face me. "And this time you don't even seem interested in him, so why don't you back off right now?"
Laura says every single word with a sweet voice and a smile.
I'm really close to slapping her.
"He turns to you every time?" I raise my voice.
Did he sleep with her more than once?
"Yes, honey, and each time it was wonderful." She closes her eyes, trying to show me that she still remembers every detail.
I try to get out of the restroom to go straight to Ricardo and talk to him about it when she adds, "And he sleeps so deeply next to me."
I stop. What did she just say?
I turn to face her again. She probably notices the shock on my face because she smiles wider. "I know Ricardo told you he can't sleep in the same bed as you after you have sex. He says that to every woman. But when he's with me, we always sleep hugging each other."
I stand still, looking at her.
He couldn't lie to me about this. He wouldn't do this to me.
No, I'm not so stupid as to believe this bitch over him.
"You're lying," I claim, but my voice is trembling.
She opens her bag quickly and pulls out her phone, showing me her screensaver.
I come a little closer because I don't believe my eyes. It's Laura. She's naked under the sheets with Ricardo lying next to her. She smiles happily at the camera while he's sleeping.
I walk away, trying to rush, but my feet don’t listen to me, and it seems like the room is spinning.
How could he do this to me?
I feel my eyes are getting wet, but I'm not gonna cry, not this time.
I want to leave immediately, but I'm sure Ricardo will notice if I pass through the doorway. He's facing the entrance.
That's why I go to the bar and take a seat. Luckily it's dark in here, so no one can see my wet eyes and red cheeks.
I ask the bartender to give me a glass of water, and as I take a sip, I see my hands are shaking.
My throat is so dry that I drink it to the bottom, but it doesn't help.
"Women like you shouldn't be drinking alone," someone says, and I realize that he's talking to me.
A tall guy with long brown hair styled with gel takes a seat next to me.
"Two signature cocktails, please," he says to the bartender and winks at me. His cologne is strong.
"I don't drink," I say seriously, trying to make him understand that nothing can happen between us. Despite how badly I really want to get drunk right now, it won't help me in this situation. It's only gonna make it worse.
I need to stay sober and figure out how to run away unnoticed.
"Babe, I work here, so I'm confident in what I suggest. I'm sure you'll like it," he insists and leans closer to me. "This cocktail is as sweet as you are."
He smiles. He's not ugly. I could even say he’s handsome, but I feel nauseous and like I'm going to burp. That's because he’s a typical type of man who never listens to a woman, pushes too hard, and thinks it's attractive. Is he trying to prove something to himself?
"I'm Luigi, by the way." He leans closer, smiling slyly.
The moment he goes to touch my hair, someone stops him, pushing his hand away from me.
Chapter Eight
Angie
"She said she doesn't drink," Ricardo says menacingly, pushing Luigi's hand away.