Chapter 3

Marília

Suddenly everything became clear to me, a headache made my vision blurred, God, I’m in the house of the handsome and this is real. He’s a criminal, I remember what they said and how they called him Hades, will he kill me for what I heard?

Stop being crazy, I can’t get into this robbery and I have to get out of this house before he kills me and gets rid of my body. This movie I’ve seen, and I don’t want my body found in the trash can… I got up from bed, went to the bathroom of the room and what a beautiful and well decorated place.

I took a long shower, even in a hurry to leave I had to take the pure smell of ethanol, I do not know how much I will have such a shower at my disposal. I washed my hair to be more awake, dressed and went down the stairs to get out of the house.

“Stop!”

I froze before I went down the first step and raised my hands like a bandit, was his pest daughter.

“Hi!” I turned silly face certainly and she smiled.

“What are you doing here?” She asked with that curious face.

I thought about what excuse I could give, none of them would convince, this girl is nothing silly. I hope her father’s not home, I want to get out of here before I find him again… I’m supposed to be looking for a way out, but I’m sitting here having a little head chat with a little girl.

“I… I… your father invited me to have breakfast with you. Let’s go?”

She just held my hand, and we went downstairs, it was an awkward situation and I hope she doesn’t ask any more questions. I didn’t want to join them, I just wanted to get out of here.

We arrived at a beautiful dining room, a huge table that could land a plane, I was nervous to see that he was waiting for us, opened a beautiful smile to see us together. Pulled the chair politely, and I even surprised by all that warmth. It didn’t even look like the same ferocious animal that took out those guys last night, so I hope the menu isn’t human flesh.

That table had so many tasty things that would feed two families, I was very afraid to mess with the cutlery and be the target of jokes for both. Yasmin seemed to love my presence, she looked at her father as if she wanted to ask something… this suspense did not last long and soon she dared.

“Dad, why didn’t you tell me you were dating?”

“What?” He asked and we both looked surprised.

“You are misunderstanding things, Yasmin.” I would never forget the name of that little toy.

“If you slept here and woke up with wet hair, it’s because you and my father are boyfriends. My friend at school said her sister always comes back from dating a boy like that…”

“Stop talking so much nonsense, Yasmin, and let’s eat in peace!” For the first time I saw him scold her, I think much more for being ashamed of me than for what she had said.

We ate, without much conversation, and I had to go home. I wanted more than anything to leave this place, although beautiful, this is not my home and I have a lot to do far from here. I still don’t trust any of them, and I’ve seen a lot of horror movies before.

I was afraid of the invitation, but I hoped she will lead me to the door.

“Can you come with me for a moment?” Yasmin wanted to move me to stay a little longer and not knowing that all I wanted was to leave here, we went to her room, all pink and tasteful.

I remembered the simple childhood I had by my grandmother’s side, she never let me miss anything, but a room like the one that this kitten has would make anyone dream! This made me really think of myself as a child, full of questions about the past, some of them still have no answer to this day. Yasmin is very lucky to have a millionaire father and such beautiful things to enjoy.

“Your room is very beautiful, you chose the decoration?” I asked, looking at some shelves with huge and beautiful teddy bears.

“He has many beautiful things, but I miss having a mother or stepmother, as my friends have to talk and talk about girls' things.”

“You have your father, and he seems to be very nice, and you can see that he takes good care of you.”

“Is he, yes, can you braid my hair? Dad doesn’t know how to do that!”

“Of course, of course I do!”

I made a braid, and she was very happy and beautiful looking in the mirror. Yasmin is super vain, I think I was the same way in the past.

“I liked you, I think you’d be a good wife to my father.”

“Again talking nonsense.” I kissed her face and went down the stairs to leave, and this time I had to go.

Vinicius was in the room and as soon as he saw me, he smiled at us.

“Daddy, I made up my mind!”

“Decided?” He asked, interested and getting up from the couch.

“I want her to be my mother.”

“Mother?” I was perplexed, God forbid I get the whole package out of the blue.

“Yasmin, then we’ll talk about your mania of wanting things your way. Now I’ll ask the driver to take Marília home!”

“Only if she promises to come see me sometime!”

“Daughter!” Vinicius rebuked her.

I had no choice, I wanted to go home so badly that I once again gave in to the whim of the girl. I think I would promise that she just wanted to go home to rest a little, I confess that I was a little sorry to lie to her.

“Yes, I promise I’ll see you again.”

I left and Vinicius accompanied me, before I was, he touched my arm and looked into my eyes. I felt a little intimidated and when I looked at him, I was sure that was the real intention

“Tell me, what do you remember from last night?”

I got tense, and I started fumbling my speech.

“No, damn! I heard what those men said about you.”

He came closer still and with the menacing look…

“Now who will demand a promise is me, swear that you will not say anything of what you heard to anyone! Come, swear!”

I tried to get away from him, but he hasn’t let me go yet.

“I swear and now enough, I need to go home!”

“I want your personal contact.” I passed my WhatsApp number, he wrote it down, and I got in the car.

I finally got home after that terrible night and morning, I was still tired of everything that had happened. I wanted to forget that man, that house and even that little girl…

The harm is, I saw a message notification, and it was his…

“Don’t forget the promise Marília made to me.”

I did not answer and did not care, I do not want to see these people ever again and not think about what happened or could have happened. No more trouble and I need peace… that’s all that matters to me.

[…]

Vinicius was thinking and afraid that she would tell someone about her real identity, thought about the consequences that could bring this revelation to the life of his daughter.

It also mixed the immense desire to see that girl again, she looked so frail and frightened in her arms. He went to the room where she slept, smelled the sheet looking for her sweet perfume, and remembered Yasmin’s unusual request.

“Marília could not be her new mother, but she is a very beautiful girl!”

As he could deny himself that he was already involved and with much desire to find out more about her, there was that promise made to his daughter, she will have to fulfill and see them again. At the same time, when she felt in her hands due to her secret…

“I’ll be in trouble if she decides to tell someone, I need to keep her under surveillance, and that means close by.”

Rafaela spent the night with that unknown man and slept almost all day after sending him away from there. Woke up with a strong hangover of sleep and alcohol, thought about what he had done with Marília to leave her with two strangers at that table. An immense guilt took her heart and she fell into reality…

“She must have been furious with me, and quite rightly.”

He prepared something to eat even with the bitterness of the drink still on his palate, looked at his messages and there was nothing of it. Not even a message cursing or condemning her for what she had done, and that was what worried her most.

Knew how Marilia was always puritanical and straight, would never drink with strangers by her own will…