C2 Chapitre 2

- I was going to call you.

"You'll never guess what's in front of me right now," her friend exclaimed on the other end of the phone.

- A red Mercedes-Benz that your fiancé promised to give you. It was easy to guess.

Blair had nothing to envy of the wealthy in the region. at least she had a friend who was loving enough and wealthy enough to provide her with what ninety-nine hundred women spent a lifetime wishing for. though happy for her friend, Calypso couldn't help but think of the precious time he was wasting in the prison that his home had become.

- Even better. Anathema proposed to me last night around a romantic dinner.

- No ! Did he really do it? so the ring, how is it?

- You will have to come to see her, Lord! she is divinely beautiful, she exclaimed.

- You can't imagine how happy I am for you. Congratulations. It deserves to be watered.

- Of course, tomorrow, I'm not on call. I will therefore have my free evening. If you don't have anything planned, come to the Plazza.

- I will be there. See you tomorrow night then. I still can't believe he finally asked for your hand.

- If that surprised you, and me? It must be said that I did not expect it at all ... Finally! I have to leave you.

- Yes of course.

Finally her best friend was engaged. She had waited a long time for this moment and must surely be excited to get married. she remembered the nights Blair came to her house to cry and lament that marriage was by no means part of Anathema's plans. Blair kept telling himself that his relationship was doomed. and now this minus had finally resigned himself to offering what Blair had wanted for four years, "a home". She was really happy for herself and hoped her home didn't turn into a hell like hers.

Along the way, she stopped in front of an Italian restaurant. she saw on a sign hanging from the doorway that they were in need of a waitress. A smile spread across her lips as she walked into the restaurant hoping to be hired. once inside, she pointed out his presence to a curvaceous man, with an alert facial expression. A headdress covered all of her hair. A white kitchen jacket covered her plump body as well as an apron that encircled her waist. his tall stature and his face, which wore a tight expression, gave him an authoritarian air.

He walked briskly towards the young woman and stopped a yard from her, staring at her hard. Calypso painfully swallowed under the stern gaze of this man.

- Hello ! she said to her dismay.

- è chiuso per ora. Torna Nel pomeriggio, he said hoarsely.

Not understanding anything he was saying, she scratched the back of her neck, looking at him worriedly. this man did not understand English and it would be difficult for her to make conversation with him. Since she urgently needed this work, she bitterly regretted having neglected this language during her university studies. She was going to a translation site. after having tapped on the keys of her cell phone, she scowled at the writings that could give her * _skin of the buttocks_ * to be understood. You don't even master the tones. How are you going to do it? her inner voice screamed at him.

arms folded, the man was waiting for her to leave his restaurant since he had told her they opened at five o'clock. Calypso was desperately reading the sentences inside, not noticing that he was getting impatient. Two minutes, three minutes, fifteen minutes. he sighed loudly and turned on his heels to go about his business.

- Wait!

He turned around, his hands on his hips, his brow furrowed.

She took a deep breath.

- Ho bi .. Bisogno che tu mi assu .. Assuma Come ca .. cameriera, she mumbled.

the man was silent for a moment after Calypso's gibberish. She had guessed that he had understood nothing of what she was saying. She walked out of the restaurant and tore off the sign and then went back inside. she just realized that what was written on it was in English so how come he doesn't understand the language.

- Waitress! Me wanting to work. Including? she said, pointing to the writing on the sign.

He hadn't said a word until then. calypso repeated the same sentence several times but he didn't flinch. Tired of having made all these attempts to make herself understood, she sank into a chair.

- So you were done? He whispered in a lazy voice.

Calypso couldn't believe her ears. this man had just spoken to him in English. What an imbecile ! So he had done it on purpose not to understand anything and she had made a fool of herself trying to articulate the words in Italian. She wanted to strangle him.

- Without disrespecting you, Mr, your attitude is intolerable, she said impassively. Why did you make me believe you don't understand English.

- If I remember correctly I never told you that I did not understand English, he retorted.

- But, you let me believe that you do not understand.

- It was you who wanted to believe it. If you want to work here as a waitress, go see my nephew. He is in charge of recruiting. If you will excuse me, I have some things to do, he said, withdrawing.

calypso followed him to the kitchen. He was telling her to go see her nephew as if she had some idea where he might be.

- And where can I find this nephew? she questioned.

"There he is," he remarked to the young woman.

***

from the balcony, Deborah admired the expanse of her garden for the last time. He would miss this place terribly. It was her favorite corner where she would spend hours and hours tending her roses that she would finally abandon to return to her native country. diogo approached her with two glasses of Champagne in hand.

- Here ! he said, handing the half-filled glass to the young woman.

- Thank you.

"Let's drink to the divorce we finally got," he said, knocking his glass against hers.

deborah took a gulp of her glass and returned her attention to the garden.

- You will take care of it, eh,

she let go without taking her eyes off the garden.

Diogo raised an eyebrow in incomprehension. The young woman turned around, asking for another glass which he served her.

- My roses, she added briefly.

- Oh yes, don't worry. I will hire a gardener after you leave while I find a buyer.

- That's it. I bet you won't even bother. I am sure that after I leave you will get rid of this garden because you complain every time it attracts mosquitoes.

- Anyway, I was planning to sell it.

- I still can't believe you want to sell it. it's so hard for me to get used to the idea that this garden that I had to take care of will belong to another person.

"If she likes the company of mosquitoes of course," he replied, pouring himself another drink.

- And why do you want to get rid of it? It's still your heritage.

- She's no use to me now since we're divorced. I don't plan to stay in Athens. In addition, every corner of this house is full of so many unpleasant memories that living there has become unbearable for me.

- The money I get for the sale will be used to open bars and hotels. I must earn my living. I don't want to spend my whole life chasing my brother. I hate to do this.

- And where are you going to settle once you remarry?

- It's not likely to happen again my dear. I already had my dose with you. I'm not going to remarry to relive this same ordeal.

"It's your fault our marriage only lasted three months," she proclaimed.

- Pardon? He said dumbfounded.

- You heard that right. You still haven't forgotten this woman. By the way, you wanted to run away from her by marrying me.

"But what woman are you talking about?" He asked, his face contorted.

- Does your brother know that you are in love with his wife?

- No, but what are you telling me? He snapped, dropping his glass which shattered to the ground.

the young woman jumped and recoiled under the murderous gaze of her ex-husband.

- Do you realize what you're talking about? He asked raising his tone.

- He doesn't know anything, she concluded.

- Anastasia is my brother's wife and I feel nothing but friendship for her, he justified himself, clenching his fists in anger.

- You can make others believe this lie but not me Diogo Antonio Callen. I am not stupid. It is obvious that you feel more than friendship for her and that for eighteen years. You couldn't stand her falling in love with your brother and you thought the best way to stop having to suffer seeing them both was to kill yourself! unfortunately you did not stay. Tell me I tell stories, go ahead. Your silence already says a lot, she thundered, glaring at him.

Diogo turned his back too lost to face the truth. He was overwhelmed by his ex-wife's words. She knew about it.

the maid of the house entered the living room with Deborah's suitcases.

"Your things are ready Mrs. Callen," she said.

- Thanks Isabella. Call me now by my maiden name. I am no longer Mr Callen's wife.

"As you wish, Madame," she said, withdrawing.

- Well, my driver will be coming soon. I wish you a good continuation. Goodbye Diogo.

Without looking back, she picked up her things and walked out the door, her heart hurt by the separation. She would never stop loving him and even if her sister thought she would get over it, it was going to take time. She left the room with her head held high. She had done well to ask for a divorce because she could never bear that her husband loved another and not her. this relationship was becoming toxic for her. After the driver put her things in the trunk, she said goodbye to this place that was her home.

"Madam, your flight is in less than thirty minutes," the driver informed her.

She nodded. as she was about to enter the car she heard Diogo shout his name. She turned and saw him walk towards her with his hands in his pants pockets.

"You will ... miss me," he stammered.

- I doubt that. you're so happy you finally got rid of me, she said sobbing.

Diogo took her in his arms and stroked her hair after placing a kiss on the crook of her head.

- You're wrong Deby. we may have had difficult times but know that separating me from you was not in my plans. This separation will cost me a lot! I hope that you will find a man who will know how to appreciate you at your true value and who will be able to fill you. take good care of yourself my beautiful and call me from time to time to give me your news.

"Okay," she whispered, pulling herself out of his arms. Also take care of yourself and don't worry, your secret will be well kept with me, she adds, joining her car.

"No, don't cry stupid, don't cry," she said to herself in vain as a tear slid down her cheek.

When the car passed through the gate she felt like she had a void in her. It was over, her love story did not have a happy ending like in fairy tales.