Chapter 5 FUCKED! I

FUCKED!

Our house was built on top of a hill. With modern engineering and architecture, it was based on the structure of the place where Marvel character Iron Man lived. It had two floors, with the main access being from the top, by car. The descent towards the garage was in a spiral, around the house and the car practically stopped inside our living room.

Practically 70% of our house was surrounded by the infinity pool, which gave us a privileged view of the entire city. Practically free of concrete, except for the structures that connected the house to the mountain, all external walls were made of armored glass.

Our residence attracted attention not only for its futuristic construction, but also for being completely self-sustainable. The external walls where the glass was not visible were occupied by natural green vines, which hid the sun's rays at its strongest.

On the lower floor, in addition to the swimming pool in the outdoor area, with its extremely tasteful and sophisticated decoration, with comfortable poufs in area 1 and sun loungers with tables and umbrellas in area 2, the internal part consisted of two kitchens, one industrial where the cooks and the chef worked and another gourmet, where my father took the risk of preparing some dishes.

We had three living rooms, all large and with similar decorations, in cream, beige and ice tones, matching all the furniture in the house. Three dining rooms in different sizes were part of that floor as well. Two toilets, two bathrooms and two pantries completed the floor, which also had a servants' quarters, which housed more than seven bedrooms with bathrooms.

The upper floor had five suites, including the master, which belonged to my father. Mine, a little smaller than his, had a hot tub, a gigantic closet and a hot tub in an elevated part, part of the bedroom area. There were also two rooms and three offices in addition to an area for watching films, with a gigantic screen and cinema-style seats .

The connecting stairs between one floor and another had glass steps and there was also an elevator with panoramic views of the mountain.

My mother has always been an admirer of art and that's why we had several works spread around the house, mainly paintings by famous painters, as well as some sculptures that might seem strange to anyone who didn't know what each one of them meant. I knew exactly the history of each piece, as my mother explained it to me every time she acquired something for her collection.

I was in my room, checking my social media and emails when my dad arrived. He knocked on the door and entered without asking for permission:

- I want you to get dressed and come down because Nadine will have dinner with us today.

I wasn't sure if I thought that was good or bad, since the fact that she was there meant that my father had dinner at home.

When I opened my mouth to object, he left and closed the door.

I went to the closet and chose a tight skirt and white shirt, complete with rounded toe, half-calf pumps. I combed my hair easily, due to the shorter strands and sprayed on my most expensive perfume, one of the ones I had ordered to be imported in its first edition for sale, by Paco Rabane.

As soon as I arrived in the dining room, Nadine was at the table, sitting next to my father, who was at the head.

- Danna... – She stood up to greet me, but I insisted on walking straight past, taking my place at the table.

- Greet Nadine, Danna. Show her that you are a woman and not the spoiled and vain girl the media portrays. – My father asked in a soft voice.

- But I'm the spoiled and vain girl that the media portrays. – I looked at her and smiled, ironically.

Júlio took a deep breath and opened his lips to mention something when Nadine placed her hand on his:

- It's okay, Julio! Don't force her.

- It's been a year... - he said between teeth - A year since we had a relationship. It's about time she learns to respect you as my girlfriend.

- Don't talk to me if I weren't here. – I asked, not being able to take my eyes off her hand on his, giving me a bit of dread.

I tried to contain my breathing, which started to become labored. Yes, from time to time Nadine came to have a few meals with us. But no matter how many years passed, I would never accept her presence in my house or even in our lives. Everything there belonged to my mother: the house, her daughter, her husband... Celli Dave had chosen each painting, each color of the external walls, each sculpture that decorated the minimalist environment that she so admired. I still remembered when she had chosen that set of crockery on a trip we took to Portugal, explaining to me that the brand of that porcelain was Vista Alegre and that although sold there, it had Chinese origins.

- Stop acting like a girl! I'm fed up!

- Stop acting like a worried parent! It doesn't work out well for you. – I fought back.

Júlio Dave sighed and ran his hand through his hair:

- What happened at college? Mr. Jackson asked me to go there tomorrow. – He took a deep breath, trying to change the subject.

- And what makes you think it's about me?

- If it wasn't something important he wouldn't call me in person.

I sighed and looked away from him, lowering my head:

- I... I was sexually harassed. – My voice barely came out, unsure of how he would react.

- What did you say?

I didn't have the courage to repeat it, unsure if I was willing to go through with what I had invented. But I noticed that it caught his attention a lot.

- Oh my God! – I heard Nadine's voice, who tried to grab my hand on the table, making me immediately take it down, resting it on my legs – That's horrible, Júlio! – He looked at my father, his eyes watering.

- Explain to me what happened immediately! – He was worried and his face slightly reddened.

- It was... A teacher.

- A teacher?

- Yes... Mr. Gatti... Who teaches Fine Arts.

Júlio Dave got up and immediately picked up his cell phone, leaving the dining room. Disturbed, I got up too and went after him, realizing he was already on a call.

- Yes, yes... I want both lawyers here, immediately. – His voice showed seriousness and concern at the same time.

- Dad... What are you doing?

- I called two of my lawyers to come here immediately. We will put this man in jail.

Chain? What do you mean chain?

I felt my heart speed up and I tensed up. My intention was to make Jax lose his job and need me to get him back. But going to prison was not part of my plan.

- Dad, no... I don't want this.

- Don't you want that? – He narrowed his eyes and ran his fingers through his hair, nervously – I won't rest until this bastard goes behind bars and pays for this. No one will do this to my daughter without being punished... In fact he deserved death.

- He didn't rape me or anything like that... - I tried to defend the teacher.

I felt Nadine's hand on my shoulder:

- Don't talk as if what this man did wasn't something terrible, Danna. Harassment, harassment, rape... Everything is very similar and hurts a woman's honor. I know it's hard and you must be very scared right now. But you need to report it. We will be by your side... Your father and I.

She tried to hug me, making me violently flinch away from her touch.

I noticed that Nadine took a step back and bit her lip, saying to my father:

- She needs... Support, Júlio!

- I... I'm supporting.

- And affection. – Nadine continued.

- Kindness? – He asked, confused.

- Kindness? – I looked at her, without understanding anything.

- Give your daughter a hug, Júlio... – Her eyes filled with tears.

My father approached and awkwardly put his arms on my shoulders, no longer knowing how to "hug" himself. I couldn't remember the last time he touched me like that, with his eyes fixed on mine, looking worried. Or rather, I did remember... As if it were at that exact moment. It was 11 years ago, the day my mother died.