Chapter 1
I got up super early, prepared something for breakfast and then went to call my brother who still hadn't gotten up to go to school.
- Victor, get up! -
I hit him with the pillow, he complained and got up immediately, I smiled at him, and he gave me the middle finger.
- Why do you wake me up so early! -
He grumbled as he got out of bed, I went back to the kitchen and made myself a huge cup of coffee, today had to be a very good day.
- Did you win the lottery? -
My brother asked me as he entered the kitchen, I looked him up and down and rolled my eyes, he was already dressed in his uniform.
- You didn't even take a bath! You are a pig.
I scolded him while he put his breakfast on the table, he just smiled at me and started eating, I sat in front of him to drink my coffee.
- Today I will present a job to one of the most important businessmen in the country, if everything goes well, I will be able to buy the house -
Victor just raised his thumbs, I don't know why I was taking the time to tell him these kinds of things, he still didn't know the meaning of having something of his own, so I wasn't going to bother him, it would be a waste of time, I got up off the table and put the cup in the sink.
- It's your turn to wash the dishes, behave yourself! -
Víctor nodded and said goodbye to me, I left the small apartment where we lived and went straight to work, today... nothing could go wrong!
*
My name is Victoria Scott, I'm a publicist, I work for a small company that is gradually making its way among the bigger ones, today I had a meeting with some clients, I was super stressed, I had no mind at all, today I had to Everything was perfect, I couldn't go wrong with anything, today I was finally going to get that promotion that I've been waiting for months! With the money I earn from this campaign I will finally be able to buy a house, that is the dream of my whole life, to be able to give my brother a good future, to have something from us, that is something I have always dreamed of and today at the end will come true.
- Victoria, they call you on the phone -
One of the girls who worked with me told me, I ran and answered the company phone.
- Hello? -
In answer, a strange man spoke immediately.
- Are you related to Victor Scott? -
I immediately said yes, what trouble had my brother gotten himself into? Why did she have to fuck him up precisely today? I was going to give that boy a bad hit! Why did he have to misbehave precisely today?
- If he did something to you, please hit him, I'll call you back later, I'm very busy right now -
He was going to hang up on him, but the man insisted that he needed to talk to me, damn it!
- Madam, his brother suffered an accident, he is very serious in the hospital -
That news hit me like a bucket of cold water, my hand was shaking.
- Which hospital? -
I asked him, the man gave me the address, I ran for my bag and left the company without warning, this was the last thing I needed! Please, my God, let that idiot be alive when he arrives, so I can kill him later.
*
I arrived at the hospital in record time, I went in and gave my brother's information, a doctor approached me and explained my brother's condition, he... was very bad, possibly he was going to be left in a wheelchair.
- But can't something be done? He's just a kid -
The doctor only told me that we had to wait, I wanted to die right now, Víctor was like my son, I had raised him when mom abandoned us, and now this was happening! What disgusting luck I have.
*
After a couple of hours, a doctor approached me and gave me news about my brother, from what I knew, he had been hit by a car that was going at high speed, it was a miracle that he arrived alive, but his body He was seriously injured, and the worst thing of all is that the bastard who ran over him fled.
- We are going to wait for his brother to wake up from the anesthesia, so we can give him a more detailed diagnosis of the situation -
I nodded my head and sat down again in one of those uncomfortable chairs, I took my cell phone out of my bag, which for me was turned off, bad luck, now I understood why they called me directly to the company, when the cell phone turned on, a lot of messages They began to arrive, one was worse than the other, but today I was not in the mood to answer any, tomorrow I will go to the company and give an explanation for my sudden departure, I don't think anything serious is happening, is it?
*
The doctor gave me a report on my brother's health the next morning, according to which he had reacted quite well to the surgery, now I had to focus on his recovery, which from what he was telling me, nothing was going to come cheap Goodbye dream of my own house for the moment.
The doctor gave me permission to see my brother, I went to the room where he was, he looked at me and smiled, I suppressed my tears, Victor looked horrible! His face was a mess of bruises and not to mention the rest of his body.
- this was intense -
He told me laughing, I was about to hit him, how could he joke in a situation like this? Was he crazy? Stupid boy.
- you should go to your work, I'm fine... good! Have well -
It made me angry to hear him laugh, but at least he was in a good mood, and he was right, I had to go to work and explain the situation.
- Are you sure you'll be fine alone? -
He looked at me and made a bad face at me, I laughed a little, I approached him and gave him a kiss on the forehead.
- Behave well, and when I return, we'll talk well about what happened, now rest, and don't die if I'm not present, ok? -
He nodded, I kissed him on the forehead again, and I left the hospital, he was going to get a good scolding, I just ask that you can understand my situation.
The taxi where I was going was so damn slow! And to my bad luck the battery of my cell phone had run out, these things only happened to Victoria Scott.
- can you go a little faster? -
I asked desperately, the guy looked at me in the rearview mirror and then ignored me, and I could swear that the car was going much slower now, I leaned back in the back seat and waited, what else could I do.
- Miss -
My name is the driver, I looked at him and I didn't like the expression he had on his face.
- one of the tires has been punctured, do you want to wait while I fix it? -
I rolled my eyes, gave him a couple of bills and got out of that cab. Damn!! All the shit was happening to me!
- the only thing left is for it to rain! -
I said reluctantly. I walked up the street looking for a cab, but they were all busy, dammit!
- I carry you? -
A guy full of tattoos on a motorcycle told me, I glared at him and kept walking, I wanted to get to December alive.
- disgusting fat -
The son of a bitch yelled at me!
- Damn unhappy boy dick!!-
I yelled at him, the people who were walking stared at me, but I didn't care, I wasn't going to let any unhappy insult me.
- cab! -
I ran to the car when it stopped, I got in and smiled from ear to ear, I was finally going to reach my destination.
- to the same place, miss? -
I looked at the conduit and life hurt me internally, it was the same as a moment ago!
- Yeah -
I answered him reluctantly, he smiled at me and started, with the same slowness as before, I leaned back on the seat and continued to recriminate my life.
After an hour or so, I got to the company, paid the guy, looked at the license plate and recorded the numbers, I would never get in that fucking cab again!
When the girl who was at the reception looked at me with a bit of pity, I smiled at her and went up, I had to explain things to my boss.
- What the hell happened to you, Victoria? -
Lina, my co-worker asked me, I smiled at her and walked on, she needed to speak well with my boss, she had to understand my situation.
- Good morning sir, how are you today? -
I asked him as soon as I entered his office, he looked at me and then pouted, I tried to smile at him, but it was useless, he still looked at me with an unfriendly face.
- What are you doing here, I emailed you informing you of your dismissal -
I gasped, he couldn't do this to me! I didn't even know what had really happened! He couldn't just make that decision.
- Sir... my brother had an accident, they called me from the hospital because they were going to operate on him as an emergency, I didn't have time to inform him, I hope he can understand my situation -
He frowned and ignored me, I got closer to his desk and tried to talk to him, but he stopped me immediately.
- This is your settlement check, and I don't care what happens to your brother, his life is not my priority!! You made me lose a lot of money! And tell me at least he died?-
When he asked me that, the anger in me exploded! I jumped at the wretch and grabbed him by the tie, I started to pull hard, I wanted to hang him! How dare he speak of my brother like that!
- Victoria let it go! -
Someone yelled, entering and pulling me away from him, I looked at him with such anger, he could tell me whatever he wanted, but messing with the only thing I wanted in this life was not going to allow it.
- Stick his work up your ass! -
I yelled at him angrily and left the office.
"My God, what did I do?" -
I scolded myself as I walked to the elevator, I took the air out of my lungs and pressed the button to leave me on the first floor.
I walked out of the elevator like hell, the last thing I wanted to happen to me was to end up in jail, it would be so horrible! My resume right now has a huge blemish, no one is going to want to hire a girl who beat up his boss.
I stopped short at the door and looked back, what if I begged for forgiveness on my knees? Maybe that way he'll take pity on me and give me my job back.
I scratched my head aggressively, and now how was I going to pay for Víctor's hospital? How were we going to survive? And the therapies? I bit the nail on my index finger nervously.
- Calm down, not everything can be so bad -
I told myself to calm down, and I left the company, I walked to find a taxi to take me back to the hospital, I felt so stressed, everything from one moment to the next started to go wrong, damn!! My luck was on the floor!
I yelled at a taxi and ran to the car, got in and leaned back in the seat, I needed to think about what I was going to do with my life now, how I was going to solve what happened to Víctor.
- Shall I take her to the hospital? -
I raised my head and saw the same taxi driver from before, but... was this the same car? Damn my luck.
- Yeah -
I told him badly, he started immediately, and I took a deep breath, what else could I do? At least he had some money to survive this month.
I grabbed my bag and started looking inside, but the check wasn't there, I squeezed my eyes shut and cursed out loud, the taxi driver looked at me in the rearview mirror, but he didn't say anything.
I called Lina, I needed her to get the check back, because I wasn't going to go back and risk being put in jail, my bad luck was enough for today.
- you are crazy, Victoria -
She yelled at me as soon as I answered, and yes... maybe she was a little, but I was too stressed with my brother, for that bastard to tell me all that.
- tell me you have my settlement check, please -
She giggled and told me yes, I thanked her and I also thanked the universe, at least something good had happened today, I said goodbye to Lina and hung up, now I was sure I had money to survive a month.
- sir, can you put the air conditioning up -
I asked him, since he was cooking me in this damn taxi!
- it is damaged, but already under the window -
Okay!! This isn't anything too bad, I'm just... I'm sweating like hell, the window rolls down slowly, and some coolness hits my face, what a delight.
My name is Luciano Lombardo, I am 30 years old, I am the CEO and owner of several advertising companies.
Today I was going to propose to my partner with whom I have been in a relationship for 2 years, I know it took me a while to propose this, but I think that is enough time, I want children, and she is already 28 years old, so the most It was advisable to have them in these following years. Katia was perfect to be my wife, she met all of my requirements, she was someone calm, tender, loving, she came from a very good family and, most importantly, she was very organized.
Luciano, are you sure? -
My younger brother Mariano asked me, I looked at him and glared at him, he didn't like Katia and I knew that quite well.
- Yeah. Now stop bothering and help me choose the damn ring -
I looked in the store windows and I didn't like any of them, they were all so big and horrendous, I wanted something distinctive, but I didn't have time to order a personalized one, maybe in the future I'll find time for that.
- I think you would like this one -
Mariano showed me a huge ring, he looked too ostentatious, something I didn't like at all, personally I liked women with simple tastes. Although, thinking about it, I think Katia will like this ring.
- If you give him a smaller one, he may say no, so don't risk that -
I took the ring from her hand and gave it to the girl so that she could collect the value, pay the money that the ring cost.
I had everything planned to propose to her today, everything was meticulously planned, nothing could go wrong.
- And if he says no, it's already your fault, because if they gave me one of those rings, I would love you for the rest of my life-
Mariano was a pain in the ass, but I'd rather ask him for advice than my older brother... Viviano, he was... strange.
- be quiet! Now I'm leaving, and tell mother to stop sending me 5-minute voice notes, who the hell listens to a voice note of that long? -
Mariano smiled broadly at me, he didn't even know why he had asked him.
- good luck brother, I hope with all my heart that she tells you no, Katia is a horrible person! Not even mother likes-
I take a deep breath.
- mother doesn't even like us -
And that was true, she has always been very cruel to each one of us, although she deserves it by raising her in Sicily, thank God we no longer live there.
- mother is an angel compared to her, I advise you not to make that kind of comment in front of mama, or she will disinherit you -
I rolled my eyes and left the place, today was the day my future was going to change, my grandfather will be happy about the news.
The cell phone rang, and it was my mother, I answered him while he got me in the car.
- you're crazy? How can you want to bring that woman into our family! Luciano, I warn you! I don't want you to marry her, it's an order! -
I rolled my eyes, this woman really was serious.
Are you going to leave me talking to myself? -
I hung up on him and went straight to my house, I needed to get ready for tonight.
When I got home, I took a quick shower and changed into a suit I had bought in France last week. The door to the room opened and my butler entered.
- sir, Miss Katia wants to talk to you -
I asked her to let her in, it was very rare for her to come here, especially since I had told her that I was going to pick her up at her apartment later, my butler left and after a few minutes, Katia came in, as perfect as ever...
- something happens? -
I asked her, she came up to me and nodded.
- I want us to end this relationship, I don't love you anymore -
I never would have expected that. And now what did she do with the ring? I think I have the receipt somewhere, damn it!! So much time wasted for nothing.
- you are with someone else? -
I asked curiously, I thought that she and I had a good relationship.
- Yeah. And I'm pregnant with him
I sat on the bed, I couldn't process this well, I just couldn't believe it.
Are you sure it's from him? -
I asked her, because if she wasn't sure, I wasn't going to allow my son to be raised by a stranger.
- Yes, that happened in the month you were away, the dates coincide -
I nodded.
- okay, I congratulate you on him, baby -
She opened her mouth wide, I raised my eyebrow in question mode.
- I can't believe you didn't even claim me for infidelity! -
I laughed at what she said, did I have to waste my time on that? Women abound in this city, why would I have to mortify myself for one? If it wasn't her, it would be someone else.
- you know I don't like wasting time on trivialities -
I answered her and got up from the bed, she walked quickly to me and slapped me.
- you will end up alone, Luciano Lombardo! -
She yelled at me and left, I raised my hand to caress my cheek, damn how heavy this woman's hand was.
- frames! -
I yelled at my butler, he rushed into my room.
- I don't want that woman to enter my house again! And how is the search for what I ordered you going? -
He put his hands in his pockets and smiled, I didn't like that at all! I needed someone to take care of me for twenty-four hours, why the hell was nobody here yet?
- no one has come sir, none of the agencies have responded -
I rolled my eyes, how useless they were.
- put an ad in the newspaper, but I want someone here for this Friday! Or I'm going to fire you
I threatened him, he nodded and left the room, what a disgusting day! I walked to the table where he kept the ring in one of the drawers and took it out.
- what a waste of time -
I said to myself and tossed the ring on the bed. Today I would also have to go out to eat, as that annoyed me.
I remembered that I had rented an entire restaurant for the proposal. Well, at least I wasn't going to have to dine with noise, and I had already spent a lot of money on that, I would go and take advantage of the restaurant for myself.