Chapter 3 3

Valentina

- Good morning Tina, did you have a good night? - Ella asked as soon as she saw me.

I tried not to shiver.

My night was a living hell, I barely had a chance to sleep and when I did, I didn't want to get up. Axel broke into my house. He said that he was going to make peace and that I needed to understand that I belonged to him.

I asked and even begged him to leave, he left, but not before hurting me. Physically and psychologically. When he realized my resistance, he destroyed the patched walls that I had built around myself with enormous difficulty.

It started with a slap in the face, but progressed to punches in the stomach and kicks in the back. He twisted my right arm so hard that my shoulder hurt again, perhaps dislocated, because the pain was unbearable.

When I surrendered, he raped my body as if he had the right, on the floor of my living room. Then he carried me to bed, with a regretful look on his face as he promised that he would never do that again and that it was my fault, for trying to push him away.

For not wanting him.

For pissing him off.

Axel devastated me.

- Are you all right? - Ella asked worriedly. - You look pale and your lip looks swollen.

- I accidentally bit it," I lied.

- I'll order some coffee, you look like you need some.

- Please. - I nodded.

I walked past the water purifier and back to get a cup. I forgot about my sore shoulder and pushed it forward. The cool liquid ended up falling to the floor when I couldn't support its weight.

- Oh God! - I groaned in pain.

- Valentina?

I turned to my boss.

He was a few steps away from me with a young man at his side, as handsome as he was.

- I'll clean up this mess, Mr. Daslow. - I hurried to say.

- Only Benjamin," he corrected me. - The shoulder has not improved?

His gaze was intently analyzing every inch of my face. I looked away in embarrassment, and picked up another glass, this time with my left hand.

- It's almost fine. - I lied.

- If you need to, you can stay home until the pain subsides.

- Is she hurt? - asked the young man next to her.

- I just bumped into her," I answered.

- I'm Italo," he offered his hand.

I held back a sigh when I saw that I would have to raise my right arm, but I did it without hesitation. It hurt to move, but I swallowed and ignored the pain burning in my body.

- Valentina.

- Do you need anything? - Italo asked in a very gentle tone.

He released my hand slowly as if he knew.

- I'm fine, thank you. - I nodded to them. - If you'll excuse me, I'm going to work.

- Of course. - Italo said calmly and led the way.

I passed them knowing they were staring at my back, but hurried to hide in my office.

...

Benjamin

- You have to help her," said Italo.

- How? - I asked confused as we walked towards my office.

- Your new employee," he said softly. - She needs help.

- How so? Be more specific.

- I'm calling it domestic violence.

I widened my eyes.

- You're wrong, Italo. - I frowned.

We walked into my office and he closed the door with an irritated snort.

- Don't offend my IQ of 160. - He stood still in the same place. - That woman has clear signs of someone who is suffering.

- How did you come to this conclusion? - I crossed my arms.

- Start with the blazer in the infernal heat it is here.

- We wear suits," I pointed out.

- For lack of choice, but women have the freedom to wear light clothing. - She made a face. - Dresses, skirts, not blazers when it is forty degrees outside. - She pointed with one finger and held up another. - The way she dropped the glass showed intense pain in her forearm or shoulder. - He held up a third finger. - She lied when she said she bumped into him and when she claimed she was fine.

- She lifted another one. - Her face was pale, her lip seemed swollen and sensitive. - She crossed her arms. - Not to mention the weariness in her eyes and the way she swallowed when she squeezed my hand lightly.

- It's not possible that you watched all this in a few seconds. - I protested, trying to deny the fact.

Italo snorted.

- I can tell you how many times you dropped the ball in the game yesterday, don't underestimate my memory or my analysis.

- I'll go to it.

I took a step, but he didn't move out of the way. This explained why he didn't move out of the way of the door.

- No, you won't.

- Italo, if that woman is being mistreated, I want to know," I say seriously.

- And do what? - raised his annoying smart eyebrows.

- I don't know.

- That's why she's not leaving here. - He leans against the wood. - She looks strong on the outside, but she is fragile. You have to act delicately, find out what's going on. - He advised. - Women who suffer violence from their partners usually don't have the courage to end the relationship. They live imprisoned by fear and threats.

- What should I do?

- Let her work. - He suggested.

- If she is hurt, she needs a doctor," I protested.

- I am a doctor.

- Psychiatrist," I corrected.

- Physician. - He rebutted. - I'll go to her room, talk about anything trivial. - He shrugged. - Try to understand what you really need.

- She's my employee," I said.

- I know! - She stepped away from the door and opened it. - And you're an idiot with no patience, you're going to stress the girl out.

I kept quiet and still watching my friend leave the office, he was right, but I didn't want to give in. I was surprised at everything Italo assumed about Valentina. I never saw anything he said, no indication that she suffered domestic violence.

I only saw a closed, intelligent and strong woman. She faced meetings naturally and did not allow any client to doubt her work.

She was confident, I thought as I closed my eyes.

I remembered the yellowish bruise I saw on her shoulder. Yesterday I had walked into her office unannounced and was surprised to see her in the bathroom with her shirt down over her right arm nursing an ugly bruise.

My blood began to boil, bubbling with rage at the terrible thoughts of what Valentina was going through. If Italo was right, since he was never wrong, I would kill the idiot who was hurting her.

She was part of my company, and I would help her.