Chapter 3 I need time

The sun had already set when Elena decided she needed a break. The restoration studio was closed for the day, but her mind kept working, unable to find peace. The portrait of Alejandro's mother remained in her head, but it wasn't the painting that trapped her, but everything that hadn't been said. Everything that lingered between them, like a shadow that couldn't be dispelled.

Elena had always shied away from confrontations, but now, seeing the mansion that surrounded her, she realized she could no longer get away from Alejandro. There was something unshakeable about his presence, something that kept her trapped, not knowing if she wanted to continue or if, somehow, she needed to stay.

The studio door opened with a subtle creak. Elena turned slowly, feeling her body react to that presence so familiar, yet so dangerous at the same time. Alejandro was there, and she couldn't deny that there was something in his gaze that unsettled her. It was that look that had always been able to disarm, to invade her space without permission.

"Are you okay?" he asked, almost in a whisper. His eyes moved cautiously around the room, as if afraid something would break the bubble of silence between them.

Elena didn't answer immediately. The silence between them was heavy, charged with palpable tension. They didn't dare talk about what really mattered, what had happened six years ago. The fact that they didn't mention it only made what remained unsaid even greater.

"I've been thinking," she finally began, raising her gaze to his. But she couldn't hold his gaze for long. The impact of his presence overwhelmed her. "I think what I need is to take a break. It's not that I don't want to... just that I'm not ready."

He watched her, but made no move to come closer. There was something on his face that Elena couldn't place. It was more than doubt. It was something she couldn't fathom. Something that had to do with what had happened, but that neither he nor she dared to name.

"Why don't you try to stay here a little longer?" he said, as if he couldn't let her go so easily.

Elena looked at him suspiciously. Try to stay? What did that mean? To stay and work? To continue being part of this world around him? But Alejandro wasn't offering her a clear answer. There was only a floating sense of anticipation, as if he were waiting for her to accept.

"Why do you insist I stay here?" she asked, controlling the tension in her voice. She didn't want it to sound defiant, but she couldn't help it either. The anxiety growing inside her wasn't letting her think clearly.

He didn't respond immediately, and the silence between them deepened. There was something in his gaze that Elena didn't understand, as if he were being evaluated, expecting something from her that she couldn't give. Doubt filled the space, and that only intensified the feeling of unease Elena felt.

Finally, Alejandro took a step toward her, breaking the distance that seemed insurmountable. But he didn't touch her. He didn't make a single movement that made her feel closer to him. He was just there, in front of her, like a memory that couldn't be forgotten.

"I just want you to work here." His voice was soft, almost too calm for what she sensed in the air. The tone was so cautious, so full of reservations, that Elena felt even more disconcerted. "I want you to continue what you started. This is your job, after all."

Elena felt her breathing quicken, as if his words had hit her full force. Was he looking for more than just a job? Or was she the one inventing expectations that didn't exist? The silences between them only made her feel more vulnerable, more exposed.

"I know," she finally answered, trying to sound firmer than she felt. Anxiety swirled in her chest, as if everything around her was pressing down. Memories of the past churned, and the feeling that something was going to change soon kept her tense. It was like being trapped in a maze with no way out.

But Alejandro wouldn't let her go. He stayed there, in the same place, without moving. The weight of his words, of his presence, filled the room, leaving her breathless. She wanted to leave, to flee, but something inside her kept her rooted to the spot.

"It's not that easy," she said, clenching her fists. She knew she couldn't just play along, that she couldn't continue responding as if nothing had happened. The history between them was more complex than any job offer.

"I know," he said, without looking away. There was something regretful in his voice, as if he were struggling with himself, with what he had to say. But he wasn't. He just stared, and the weight of his gaze made her feel more cornered than ever. A memory of their past conversations filled the space, those conversations that never had a conclusion.

The feeling that there was something unfinished, something neither of them could resolve, tightened her throat.

"Why don't you tell me what you really think?" she asked, resentment and frustration seeping into her voice. She wanted to know the truth. She needed to know it. But she wasn't getting clear answers. Only more silences that consumed her.

He took a step closer, almost as if he wanted to respond, but his mouth closed. He said nothing. The tension between them was so thick that Elena thought if she said anything else, she would lose control.

"I don't have time to play this game," he said, almost in a whisper, as he turned to leave. But she couldn't help it. She knew something was about to happen.

Six Years Ago

That night, during their last conversation, the words failed to leave their mouths. It was the last time they would see each other, or at least, that's what Elena thought. The feeling of something breaking inside her had hit her so hard that she couldn't even look back.

"I can't go on..." he had told her, his voice breaking, but she couldn't listen any longer. It was too late.

Now, in the mansion, the weight of those memories hung between them, unnamed. The past remained a shadow that couldn't be shaken off, and although they didn't mention it, it hung in the air, like an omen.