Chapter 4 PAMELA

Heidi's apartment is located on the fourth floor. As I arrive, I hurry my steps there, ringing the doorbell, fidgeting nonstop, desperate to get the shoes off my feet so I can be completely free, even if it's only for a moment.

A Heidi wearing only tiny shorts and a babydoll blouse, drinking a glass of juice, opens the door, smiling at me as I stare her down, scandalized by her clothing, no matter how much she was sleeping. I am already being pulled into her arms when I snap out of my reverie and hug her back, smiling that I finally had time to visit her.

'' It's so good to see you, you cow! '' Heidi is so affectionate, I had forgotten this "small" detail.

'' Is this how you receive a friend? '' I play with her, separating myself from her body and making a beak, tearing my shoes off my feet. I hear her closing the door accompanying me.

'' Stop making a sweet ass out of me, my cheese roll. You know that Heidianha here loves you! I end up hugging her back and start jumping up and down like a couple of mouths. The juice spilled all over me! '' We both burst into laughter as we parted.

'' Sorry! I'm sorry, this is all just happy to see you. '' I threw myself upside down on her comfortable sofa.

Heidi lived alone, gained financial independence as soon as she finished college, and started working for a large video game company.

She walks to the side of the kitchen and then comes back and sits down next to me.

My eyes immediately go to a magazine on her desk, where a handsome man is on the cover. His striking beauty caught my attention.

I read the name.

Damon Espinosa.

I glaze over at his domineering gaze, his serious face behind his beard gives me the impression that he sports a look of scorn for whoever is staring back at him. His lithe light brown eyes cause me to flinch fervently inside, his hair is a dark brown, tossed to one side. The man was imposing.

I look away, running a hand along the back of my neck, bothered by the reaction my body had when I looked at the image of a stranger, one that I had never laid eyes on before.

'' He's a hottie, isn't he? He's the new owner of the company where I work. '' I'm awakened by Heidi's voice.

I look away from her momentarily, confused by her words.

'' I've never seen him before...'' I look again at his image, struck by his intimidating grandeur.

''He lived abroad, I forget the name of the country now. ''She explains, lifting her legs onto the sofa and propping her elbows on top of her thighs. '' Here, read below.

Avoiding facing her picture again I read what Heidi pointed to with her index finger.

Famous video game developer Damon Espinosa buys former Jogger game company from Steve Laurence. Expanding Box Corporation, the empire he built when he was just 22 years old and today at 30 is one of the most successful game developers in the world.

'' My goodness ...'' I say impressed.

Heidi next to me laughs '' Yes, I also had the same reaction as you. He is quite famous and known by gamers. Damon Espinosa is a great Game Developer.

I look at her confused '' What's that?''

'' He's a game developer. An area where I also work, so he agreed to let me work there, since half of the old team was kicked out, and I don't even understand why I wasn't fired too. The game developer does all the programming for a game. Which makes you responsible for the programming and brings the game to life from the Designer's script.''

I had no idea what Heidi was talking about but it sounded really interesting as her eyes sparkled in telling me about how her work was developed.

''She said, "You could get away from this perfect housewife life, who only lives in devotion to her husband, and apply for one of the apprentice positions. This, by the way, is one of Mr. Espinosa's projects, he opens the doors to a new generation.''

'' I'm not like you, Heidi, we like different things," I try to defend myself.''

She crosses her arms and arches her eyebrows at me

'' Do we like it? Or do you just satisfy the desires of others and forget about yourself? I looked at her not knowing what else to say. I had no arguments and that was that.''

We spent more time talking about random things and at some point it was time to go home.

The words that Heidi told me kept spinning through my head, like a megaphone. But I decided to let it go, she was all forward and I all my life was more accommodating and liked to be so.

The night was very cold, I thanked the heavens that I had brought my scarf '' I settled in around myself and followed the words Heidi.

Olavo will arrive tired from work and hungry, and once again my mother-in-law will break up with me. Even though I've left everything ready; maybe coming to visit my friend today wasn't such a good idea.

I hurry my steps in agony to reach the bus stop.

People bump into me as they pass by while I wobble in my heels, holding on so that I don't fall off them and have an accident.

My eyes are drawn to the closed sign, I run to it before it opens and I lose my moment, but the insistent horns do not stop making noise rushing the pedestrians because it has already been opened.

I run along with the people to reach the sidewalk, however, I stop right in front of a high beacon that covers my vision when I let out a scream taking my hands to protect myself in front of my face.

'' Are you by any chance crazy? '' I hear the altered voice of a man. My whole body shakes like a green stick. '' How do you get in front of a car with the traffic lights open?''

'' Excuse me, sir...'' When I remove my hands from my face and look at the imposing figure, I am perplexed to recognize the beautiful image before my eyes.

It was the same man I saw on the cover of the magazine in Heidi's house.

Damon Espinosa.