40

Tomas.
I went to sleep, trying hard to forget everything that had just happened. I was convincing myself that maybe she was just faking her memory loss because she had seen me betray her, kissing another woman right in front of her. The thought gnawed at my insides like a ravenous animal, refusing to let go. I decided I needed to take a rest, to clear my mind of all the bad thoughts swirling in my head, and I would face Jennifer the next day, ready to talk things through, to make sense of it all.
But when I woke up the next morning, feeling groggy and disoriented, I knocked on her door, expecting her to answer as she always did. Instead, there was nothing but silence. It was an eerie quiet that set my nerves on edge. Growing increasingly anxious, I called the maids, and they informed me that Jennifer had left the house an hour ago, leaving me with a sinking feeling in my stomach. My heart raced, and I felt a surge of panic, like a crazy man without any direction or purpose. I didn’t know what to do. I immediately called my men and ordered them to search for her everywhere in the vicinity, each second stretching out like an eternity.
After what felt like hours of waiting, Jennifer finally returned, but not in the way I had imagined. She sprinted past me, ignoring me completely as she rushed into her room, her expression a mask of determination. I couldn’t let that slide; I had to confront her. I stopped her in her tracks, blocking her way. “Why? Where were you?! How could you leave like this without taking my permission?!” I yelled at her, my voice filled with frustration and hurt.
She just stood there, staring blankly, rolling her eyes, and looking at the floor while remaining silent. “Hey! I’m talking to you! I need an answer now!” I shouted, my patience wearing thin. If she had been anyone else, I would have lost my temper entirely, but this was Jennifer, and I was at my breaking point. Her silence was infuriating.
Then, she took off again, running to her room, locking the door behind her. I stood there, my mind racing with thoughts and emotions that felt like a whirlwind inside me. It was clear to me now that she hadn’t lost her memory; everything she had done made it evident. How could she leave and come back again if she didn’t remember the way home? There was no way she had really forgotten me.
I was overwhelmed with confusion and anger. I felt like I was losing my mind, throwing objects around the room, kicking tables, and even hitting my head against the wall in frustration. Was I jealous because Jennifer had forgotten me only to remember Jack? Or was it that I felt she was just pretending not to remember me? Or was it simply that I loved her? I couldn’t figure it out, and the uncertainty was maddening.
Desperate for an escape from my chaotic thoughts, I grabbed a bottle of Black Label whiskey from my private stash and started drinking heavily. I gulped down the contents until the bottle was empty, feeling the warmth of the alcohol wash over me, numbing my pain but also clouding my judgment. I was heavily intoxicated, losing control of my thoughts and my legs. In a drunken haze, I stumbled to Jennifer’s room, kicking and banging on her door, my mind a chaotic mess. I knew I must have scared her.
“Open the fucking door, Jennifer! I know that you are not sleeping!” I yelled, my voice loud and raw, echoing in the quiet hallway.
“No! Please stay away from me! You are so drunk!” Jennifer begged from the other side of the door, her voice trembling.
“I know that you remember me! I know it! Open this door, or I will smash it down!” I shouted angrily, desperation creeping into my tone.
When she didn’t respond, I kicked the door with my shoulder, smashing it open with a loud crash. She stood frozen in place, staring at me in shock, her eyes wide as saucers.
“What do you want from me, Tomas?! This is enough! Why do you keep doing this to me and hurting me like this?! Our deal is coming to an end. I’m not your fiancee anymore! I’m not working for you! I quit! Leave me alone!” Jennifer screamed, tears streaming down her cheeks, her voice breaking.
I cleared my throat, my heart racing as I narrowed my eyes at her, feeling the weight of her words. I walked toward her slowly, and she stepped back until her back hit the wall, trapped and vulnerable. Fear was evident in her wide eyes, and I could see it. But my heart was bleeding for her, torn apart by her words that cut deeper than any knife.
“I need to know what you mean, Jennifer! Are you saying that you didn’t love me?! You want to break up with me?!” I asked, my voice filled with anger and desperation, the stakes of our relationship hanging in the balance.
“I mean that you didn’t love me! You are so confused! You’re doing this because no woman has ever broken up with you before! Yes, Tomas, you used to take what you wanted from every woman, then broke their hearts! But the idea of leaving you didn’t come to my mind until I saw you with…” she started, but I couldn’t let her finish.
“Shut the fuck up!” I shouted, my voice echoing off the walls.
Jennifer blinked, clearly taken aback by my outburst.
“You are nothing, Jennifer! Do you really think that I have no heart?! Do you think that Jack could take you from me?! How much do you miss him, Jennifer?! How was he in bed? Did he satisfy you?! But you haven’t even tried me in bed, Jennifer. You need to try this now!” I said, pulling her tightly against my chest, feeling her heart race beneath my grip.
She struggled to push me away, but I lifted her effortlessly into my arms and threw her onto the bed, jumping on top of her. I kissed her like a man starved for affection, licking her neck, touching her waist, my hands exploring her body, trying to push my way into her pants. I pinned her hands above her head, but she was kicking me away and crying heavily, her protests falling on deaf ears.
Tears streamed down her face, and I continued to kiss her fiercely, ignoring her cries for help. Then suddenly, Carl shouted my name from outside the door. I didn’t answer him, nor did I stop what I was doing, lost in my own desperation. I tore off my shirt and continued to undress Jennifer, pulling off her shirt as well, consumed by a primal need.
In an instant, Carl was there, pulling me away and punching me hard in the face, sending me crashing to the floor, the world spinning around me.
“What do you think you are doing, Tomas?! Are you crazy?! You can’t force her like this! Wake up! Maybe you are the mafia king, but I’m the one who raised you! I spoiled you because I thought you still had a heart inside that chest! But I didn’t see that I was raising a monster!” Carl shouted at me, his tone filled with disappointment that cut deeper than any physical blow.
For the first time, tears streamed down my face as I realized the truth of his words. “I don’t understand why she loves him! I thought she was innocent! I thought I finally found a woman who could help me forget about the girl who sent me the letter and then vanished! Why did she deceive me?!” I yelled at Carl, my voice cracking under the weight of my emotions.
“She didn’t, Tomas! She’s not a liar!” Carl shouted back at me, his eyes fierce.
“How do you know that?!” I gasped, feeling desperate and lost.
“Because I have all the information about her now! I can tell you everything you need to know. Do you know what Jennifer was hiding from you?” Carl asked, his eyebrows raised, challenging me to listen.
“What?! Another man, Carl?!” I rolled my eyes, feeling frustration boiling inside me.
“No, Tomas. After her parents died, she was taken to an orphanage and grew up there. That’s why she didn’t pursue a career as a pianist or singer. The message that bothered you so much was from the children at the orphanage. She used to visit them weekly, but after working with you, she didn’t have much time to go back and look after them. After struggling alone in this awful world, she found a job with a famous singer named Jack. Because she was homeless, she lived with him. The scandal was a mistake, but that man, Jack, is gay, so nothing ever happened between Jennifer and him. Jack is in a relationship with his agent, a handsome, sexy guy. I don’t know if Jennifer loved him or not, but I’m sure he never touched her,” Carl informed me, his voice steady and clear.
“Is this true, Jennifer?” I asked, my eyes wide as I looked at her, searching for any sign of deception.
“If you want the truth, Tomas, then you have to read the letter on my desk. But while reading it, please promise me that you will leave me alone after. I want to leave your life and get out of this house forever. This has been too painful for me,” Jennifer said, her voice trembling, desperation lacing her words.
I stood up and moved closer to her, but she turned her head away from me, refusing to meet my gaze. I sat next to her, wiping the tears from her cheeks gently. “Give me another chance, Jennifer,” I pleaded softly, my voice breaking under the weight of my emotions.
“Read the letter, Tomas. I may still be a virgin, but that doesn’t mean I’m innocent. You are right, Tomas. I did everything I could to make you love me, but you still have that woman in your heart. Maya was right when she said that I, along with her and Selena, would do our best to win your heart, but in the end, your mind and heart belong to that unknown woman,” Jennifer informed me, her honesty cutting through the tension.
I walked to the desk, picked up the letter, and began to read. But even as I read her words, I found my mind drifting back to the old letter from the unknown woman, the one I had been searching for all these years. I was lost in thought, the words blurring together as memories flooded my mind.
“Tomas?!” Jennifer shouted my name, bringing me back to reality, snapping me out of my reverie.
I turned to look deeply into her eyes, searching for answers. “Are you sure that you haven’t ever met that woman, Tomas? Think about it,” she asked, her expression serious, urging me to reflect.
I widened my eyes in realization, the pieces of the puzzle shifting in my mind. “Who are you, Jennifer?!” I asked her, my voice filled with confusion, the truth feeling elusive.
“What do you mean?! You know everything about me now, I guess. I’m not hiding anything anymore,” Jennifer replied, looking at me defiantly, her strength shining through despite her tears.
I nodded, having finished reading her letter. I took my lighter and burned the letter, watching the flames consume the paper, the smoke curling up into the air like my fading hopes. With a heavy heart, I left the room, feeling a mix of anger and sadness wash over me, unsure of what the future held for either of us.