"You should accept Xavi's offer to work at the winery,"my mom said to me as I helped her with her make up the following morning. "You are on first name basis with each other?"I was paying attention to every little detail that concerned their marriage.Our family."Dad moved out of the master bedroom and now you are on first name basis with each other?"I questioned my mother.
"Please stop!There's no reason to panic.We'll be alright,"she assured me but I didn't know if I could believe her."So,are you going to work with me at the winery?"She asked again. "Mum,you already know my answer,"I said. "You should work there.If you don't want everything to be taken away from us,"she said and I suddenly understood her. "This is about that step brother situation,"I figured and I stopped doing her make up. "I can't work there mum and that's final,"I stood my ground.Dear reader,let me break it down for you,my mum wanted me to work in the winery because she thought that someday I'll be the CEO after my dad had retired.But again,I wasn't his real daughter and now there was a son in the picture.The situation seemed to be scaring the shit out of my mom. "Eva,your dad is filling for divorce,"she dropped the bombshell.I knew it was meant to play the sympathy card."You're lying right?"I asked with so much fear and pain in my heart.My worst fear had come to pass."No,I'm not.Xavi asked me not to tell you,yet,"she said."You guys don't love each other anymore?"I asked."Let's not get into that Eva.Just take the damn job.Trust me,"she said as she patted me on the cheek and rose from her seat.I left the room and headed straight for the study roomwhere I knew I would find my father.On my way there,I ran into some guys carrying new furniture into the empty room upstairs.Looks like my 'step brother' was moving in...soon! "Hey,come in,"he said to me and flashed me a reassuring smile."How long have you been standing there?"He asked before planting a kiss on my forehead."I just got here,"I replied. "Seems like big brother is moving in,"I said to him.He nodded."When?"I asked. "Today.I'm sorry I didn't tell you,"he said. "It's okay,I'm not here to discuss that,"I said. "Is it true that you are filing for divorce?"I went straight to the point.He hesitated for a second before telling me what I wanted to hear."Of course not sweetheart.I'm not filing for divorce,"he said and I have never been so relieved in my life.Whether he lied to me or told the truth didn't even matter at that moment.I embraced him tightly and he embraced me too.A tear dropped from my eye and I realized that I loved that man more than I knew.As I broke away from the tight hug,I just had one question."What's his name?"I asked,referring to my 'step brother'.
"Carlos.Carlos Gonzales,"he said. "Nice name.I'll try to get along with him,"I promised."Thank you,"he responded.I nodded and left the study room feeling at peace with myself,though there was one person who was still mad at me.My nanny.She wanted me to tell my dad about my drug problem and I didn't have the guts to do it.Leave alone that,I didn't want to hurt my dad.I didn't know how my mum would react since she had always proved to be one unpredictable human.I didn't think she would be very upset. So I walked to the kitchen hoping my nanny wasn't mad at me.It's the little hope that matters."Hey,"I started off the conversation with a simple greeting.
"Hey,how was your night?"She responded casually and posed another question."Quite okay,"I said. "Hmm,pancakes,"I noticed that the family chef was preparing pancakes for breakfast.I loved pancakes.
"Can we talk outside?"I requested.She nodded before turning to the housekeeper. "Eva and I will have our breakfast outside at the patio,"she instructed.My nanny and I walked side by side in silence,to the patio. "Are you still mad at me?"I asked her as soon as we took our seats."Do I look mad?"She asked. "It's hard to tell,"I said and she shrugged. "You should tell Xavi.He deserves to know,"she said.
"I won't do that,not now.I promise,I'll tell him someday.I don't want to hurt him right now,"I explained."I know,I know.It's just that I shouldn't be keeping secrets from Xavi and I've kept this going for a long time now.And you just went right back at it.You started doing drugs all over again,"she said and there was pain written all over her face and voice."I'm sorry,"I mumbled.
"If I do this,If I keep your secret you have to promise me that it'll be worth it.You quit for good,"she spoke.
"I'll never do drugs again,I promise."I assured her but little did I know that promises were easier to make than keep.One thing about being a drug addict was that once the withdrawal symptoms kicked in,you would do anything to get rid of them.Including using drugs all over again. "You better keep your promise this time.The next time I find out you are on drugs,I'll tell Xavi myself,"she said."There won't be a next time,"I assured her and myself as well.
Suddenly,Jose' pulled up in my dad's range rover.He wasn't alone though.An elegant,slightly tall gentleman was with him.I noticed his dark hair,his fitting blue jeans and matching Denim jacket.He knew how to dress.I loved people who knew how to dress.Fashion ,to me,spoke volumes.He was Carlos Gonzales.The name seemed to fit him.He looked in our direction and I recognized him from somewhere.I was sure as hell I had met him somewhere,I just wasn't sure where.
"Is that him?"I asked my nanny. "Yeah,"she replied."You've met him?"I asked again and she nodded. "I've met him too,"I said as the memories of a night in Los Angeles came rushing into my mind.I finally remembered where I met him,I just didn't know if my nanny was ready to hear it.
"Really?Where?"She asked.
"Los Angeles.I had a one night stand with him,"I dropped the bombshell. "What?Are you sure it's him?Do you really mean that?"Her questions came flowing in. "Who can forget that handsome face?"I asked her.
"Now I'm glad you are not Xavi's daughter,"she said and I remained silent,pondering over her statement.For once,it didn't make me sad.It was just reality.Xavi's real son had just arrived and I knew things were going to be different."You are not mad that that I said that,are you?"My nanny asked with a lot of regret masked with concern.
"No,it's fine.I know what you mean.I would have slept with my brother if I were Xavi's daughter,"I said to save her from her regret.
"Well,tell me about that one night stand thing.You never mentioned it before,"she changed the topic and she was actually smiling.
"Oh no,I don't want to talk about it with you.It's awkward.Especially now that he's here,"I said and my fears began to set in.It was going to be awkward.I just slept with this guy and now we were going to be living in the same house.In opposite rooms."Fine by me.For now,because I'm dying to hear that story.Or I can just ask him,"she said.
"Nanny!Stop it,"I cringed at the thought of that. "I'm joking,relax,"she assured me."I'll go say hi to him.You want to come?"She asked. "Coming in a few,"I said and she headed for the house.I was trying to gather courage to face Carlos.Deep inside,I was wishing he wouldn't even remember me.Again I knew it would be impossible not to remember me.Maybe he even knew who I was at the time he slept with me.We had even agreed not to tell each other our names but I guess I was the one who was played for a fool.Carlos knew who I was that night but he just slept with me anyway.
The more I thought about it,the more I just became angry at him.He was still a stranger to me but he was getting on my nerves.I decided to join my dad and my nanny in the mansion to welcome the stranger in the name of a brother to our home.My mom had left for work and I didn't really know how she felt about Carlos moving into our home.
"Eva,you are here,"dad spoke to me.He was so excited and he just couldn't hide it. "Meet Carlos,"he said and I was glad he didn't include the 'your brother' part.I wasn't related to that young man.Thank God!
"Carlos,this is Eva,"he turned to Carlos. "Hi Eva,nice to finally meet you.Dad talks about you all the time,"Carlos said to me and extended his hand for a handshake.It just came to my realization that he too,was going to be calling Xavi dad.How fast things change.I just woke up one day and found out Xavi had a son.I went to bed and woke up and found out that he was moving into our house that day.
"Nice to meet you Carlos,"I said and we shook hands.The softness of his palm,I was already familiar with.
"I can help you set up your room upstairs.Please follow me,"I offered to help just because I wanted some alone time with him.Just a few seconds to set the record straight.
"Thank you,"he responded with a smile.He really was a mini-Xavi.So I helped with some of his luggage and together we carried them upstairs.I locked the door behind us once we entered the room.I wanted to speak but I didn't know how to start.There was some kind of tension between us but I just couldn't explain.The kind of tension that makes you aware of your own heartbeat.The kind that makes you aware of the other person's respirations.Yeah,Carlos was breathing pretty first.For a moment we stared at each other and our eyes locked.I felt like his eyes were burning into mine and scanning the whole of my mind.
"Whatever it is that you want to say,you can say it,"he said.
"Did you know who I was when we met in Los Angeles?"I asked my burning question even though I already knew the answer."I did,"he replied.
"But you just slept with me anyway,"I pointed out. "You came onto me,remember.And I'm just a man like every other man on this planet,"he said.He just rubbed it on my face that it was me that wanted the one night stand thing.My ego had just been bruised.
"You're savage,"I said and walked away.I was obviously hurt,but no,I wasn't going to cry.