4

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Myrena Fenty

Realizing that I had just implicitly told her yes, she gives me a kiss.

-I didn't hear anything Mylé. What's the emergency?

-You know, since our marriage, Reynaldo never wanted me to work. At first I thought it was cool. But I was quickly disillusioned when his family began to look down on me. So, since he still didn't want to, unbeknownst to him, I started a small beauty product business. Just that over time, it requires me to travel quite often. Something he noticed. We even had a big argument about it that nearly cost me my marriage. So I found someone to run everything for me. But right now the business is having a hard time my sister. And now, just when it wasn't necessary, I have to go meet him in Paris, that's why I made you come, my sister. I need to straighten out my business if I ever plan to be financially independent enough to divorce.

-Wouldn't it be better to let him know and assert yourself? You've always been strong for this kind of thing. You can file for divorce now. I could help you.

-Nope. I don't want to lose my marriage like this. My way is the best. I will be able to leave the country without it being registered somewhere. Reynaldo has contacts everywhere. If you want you to have a reason to accept, tell yourself that you are helping me save my marriage while waiting for other solutions to be offered to me.

-Hmmmm!

-You don't know this Myré family. They'll make my life hell if they find me.

-Oh that ! It's... Don't you think it would be better if I replaced you for this date preferably? That would be much easier, right?

-Nope ! But stop your shit advice, damn it! She screams.

I jump at the noise and stare at her, not understanding her need to react like that. She pulls herself together.

-You know my family better than my business Myré. It would be much easier if you... Look, you haven't met Reynaldo yet, of course. But you have seen it more than once in photos. You also know Alice, Noah and Logan who are his children. You even know my in-laws Amelia and Felix.

-Well seen. But, I don't know the configuration of your house. And that is the most important.

- But that, we can fix it quickly, she begins a detailed description of her house.

-Myleeee! I moan.

-Help me please Myré, she begs me.

She takes my hands in hers.

-Like when we were kids and we did everything and anything for the happiness of the other, she stares at me with her brown eyes of fried whiting.

-OK. OK. You convinced me. But just a week. And no more. You can understand that I couldn't quit my job for long. You made me come without really explaining the reason. Nobody knows about my unavailability. Nothing is in order at the office.

-One week and I'll be back my best. The earth won't stop turning if you stop working a little.

-You and I, we don't have the same vision of things.

-Yeah ! You save me the day, she gives me a euphoric kiss. I can leave without having to look over my shoulders now.

******************

I arrive at my sister's house after an hour's drive. She and I exchanged IDs at the hotel. I park, take a deep breath and readjust the ring on my finger before leaving the car. With no velvet, I enter the house as if I was afraid of hurting the ground if I hit it harder. I can't believe what I'm about to do. This is madness. Myléna has a knack for getting me into her nonsense.

-What am I even getting myself into? Myléna, you owe me a flower. It will be expensive to pay. I swear.

I was immediately captivated by one thing. The house is magnificent. The interior is splendid. I recognize there the touches of my sister in the decoration. Everything is meticulously done with extravagance in terms of furniture and paint. Myléna has always loved anything flashy. Whatever she touches, she leaves her mark. It's very cozy. But above all, the gray combined with the chick yellow used for the living room gives a very harmonious whole that catches your eye at first sight. The kind of place you come to and you don't want to move from there after. Frankly, I am captivated by so much beauty. It's not like the little two-room apartment I use in New York that I call 'home'. With a husband who is the CEO of a jewelry store, Myléna has the means to match her policy. Who can compete with her? Not me anyway.

My gaze wanders everywhere in admiration of the place. Absorbed by the majesty, the sumptuousness of the cabin, I barely looked where I was stepping as I walked. I almost fell to the ground. Luckily I was held back by a pair of arms that held me prevented from ridiculing me.

-What were you looking at like that, my love?

-Uh... Good evening! I smiled shyly because I was taken by surprise.

It was the first thing that came to my mind. So, I didn't try to block the words before they came out. I didn't expect to meet Reynaldo anytime soon. Myléna assured me that he was on a trip and that he wouldn't be back until tomorrow.

-You will pay me Mylé, I curse my sister inside to put me in such an embarrassment.

- Are you okay, Mylena?

-Yes yes ! I shake my head stupidly.

He comes back to me, touches my face and brings his closer. Knowing in advance what he is about to do, I hurriedly bypass him and head for the stairs. He's my sister's husband. And there's no way I'm kissing her. Provided that this week passes super quickly and that we do not need to be intimate.

"She's not in her room, Dad," Logan says, rushing down the stairs like there's a race as I come up.

My gaze catches his, I swallow. I think I recognized him because he's in the house. Otherwise, if it was somewhere else, his face wouldn't have told me anything. Our eyes lock for long enough... or at least, it's my eye that catches his. I do not know. It's bigger in real life. Her skin is less tanned than in the family photos. His eyes are natural... He has this little thing that simply attracts attention. It is... short! He is simply different. Better, I am silent.

-Avoid focusing on his kinds of things, I berate myself.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath to collect myself.

- Good evening Mylena! He simply greets me before refocusing his attention on his father.

My heart races before remembering that it thinks it's greeting my sister at this moment. What does it matter! This week I am Myléna and she is me. I have to integrate it. Not knowing what relationship there is between her beautiful sons and her, I just content myself with a frozen smile. She simply told me about Alice who is a little pest and about Reynaldo's parents who are snobbish and smug. I guess since the boys have their own apartment, they rarely come here. So there's really no problem with them. Still, I bet Logan was staring at me right now.

-Alice is not in his room, he informs his father who seems not to have heard the first time.

-She's probably with her friends, Reynaldo sighs. You know how your sister is. It would have surprised me to meet her at this time at home. This girl has a problem with her house.

-Shame. I had reserved my day for her. She knew more, Logan said sadly.

-Well, you can stay for dinner with us then, Reynaldo offers him without even consulting me. Alice won't be home anytime soon. You can wait for it later if you like.

-But no. I finish dinner and go home.

While addressing his father, he scrutinizes me. It's as if he was trying to see me through. So, leaving father and son to talk to each other, I go up there saying a little prayer in my head, hoping not to get the wrong room.

With 8 bedrooms that almost all look alike, it happened quickly. There are only 3 people still living here according to my sister. Including a common room for my sister and her husband. So I misunderstand the idea behind these 8 rooms. The things of people who are too rich.

- Pffffffff! I fall into bed after I manage to find the room. It's going to be a lot harder than my sister expected. She should have warned me of the walking danger that is her son-in-law.

Eyes closed, I perform breathing movements to compensate for the fact that I am under stress at the moment. Tired, sleep got the better of me very easily. I was dozing when I heard a knock on my door. I jump up between sleep and awakening to open the door.

-What is it ? I ask Logan who finds himself standing outside my door.

- My father sent me to get you for dinner. You were taking too long to come down.

-OK. I'm coming.

I'm done talking. Yet he stays glued in place and stares at me. His gaze on me is intense. For a brief moment, I felt like he was watching my lips and I thought the worst. Logan and my sister? They have frico... No! Myléna may have loved playing with fire, but she wouldn't lend herself to this twisted thing. He's still her husband's son... Added to that, he's 3 years younger than her. Why would she start dating a 27-year-old? I push his sordid stuff out of my thoughts and turn to go inside.

- Mylena! I heard him call me.

-What now ? I scream.

-I find you... changed. You have something unusual in your eyes. Or maybe it's me?

I cross my arms against my chest. Which raises this one.

-Seriously... You... You look... What did you do to your hair? Usually you like to skip the tips, he squints at me. But there... your hair is split ends. Borderline neglected.

Serious ! Does he look at my sister that much? What's his point in all of this? Frankly, it's a dodgy situation. It had the gift of cooling me down

- What is the problem? I can't change for once? I respond irritated by his comment.

-I did not say that. Just that... leave it. We're waiting for you downstairs.

-Good ! I'm out. I take a shower first. Can you wait for me in the meantime?

-Of course. Above all, take your time.

-Of course yes, I get annoyed.

A quick jump to the shower, I wanted to get dressed quickly so as not to make them wait too long. With Léna we share the same taste in fashion. So it shouldn't be hard to find what to wear, I tell myself at first. But to see his clothes... I correct what I said. When it comes to clothes, Myléna and I are not the same class. I realize the level of stupidity that I am about to commit.

-What did I believe? Lena is a married woman. She will have no problem dressing like this for her husband. But, is it normal that there are only these types of... Like, seriously! Léna receives people at home in these outfits? Pffff! And then she is surprised that her husband is so jealous when she exposes herself in this way.

I spent more than 30 minutes in order to find myself a garment worthy of the name. And there again, it was very daring of me to wear this kind of dress with two strangers in the room, one of whom is supposed to be my husband in his head and the other who since I arrived does not than put me down. I feel that this week promises.