I was going crazy because of Mia or whatever her name was.
Understanding something about her was worse than opening a Chinese box.
Luckily, she was an open book and I understood every time she lied, but this did not console me.
I wanted to know everything about her and after seeing her cry at breakfast, I felt the urgent need to protect her and defeat what made her feel so bad.
"Didn't you fall in love?" Jacob teased me after my outburst against Marielle when she came to tell me that Mia had refused to open the door and told her she wasn't hungry for lunch.
Marielle tried to elaborate on her sickness and the need for her to get better, but her explanation had served no purpose.
I ran back to the first floor and knocked violently on Mia's door.
"Do you think you can continue like this?"
"Please, Lorenzo. I need to be alone and rest ", she had pleaded to me crying, through the door she had persisted in leaving closed.
"I want you to have dinner with me downstairs tonight at my table. If you don't come, I'll make you regret it, "I growled furiously.
"You men only know how to threaten women to get what you want, right? You are all the same! "
That accusation hit me violently.
Yes, I was used to using strong manners if necessary. I had never had a problem with it, but I had never considered the idea that I could hurt people close to me.
For dinner, I had vegetarian dishes prepared, though I was sure she wouldn't come.
I felt I had hurt her with my behavior and, for the first time in my life, I had felt like a worm in front of a woman.
To my surprise, I saw Mia arrive and sit in front of me.
Nobody noticed her dark circles under her puffy eyes and a pale face.
At that time, the place was still empty as few came to dine. Most of my clients came here to have fun later in the evening.
"I wanted to apologize for how I treated you before. I am so used to commanding that sometimes I forget I have human beings in front of me and not machines, "I began determined to obtain her forgiveness.
"It does not matter. I'm used to it," she downplayed the issue, without looking at me.
"That's not good. Mia, you must never get used to being mistreated, offended or humiliated, "I tried to cheer her up, placing a hand on her trembling wrist. She was so weak and distraught that her torment was evident.
Finally, her angelic gaze rested on me, remaining hooked on mine.
"Thanks," she whispered with a smile.
It was the first time I had seen her smile. It was as if the sun had entered the room, illuminating, and warming everything around her.
Finally, I felt the tremor in her wrist cease, and I saw her body relax, while biting into a sandwich filled with pesto tofu cream.
"It's delicious," Mia moaned with pleasure, suddenly making me excited. Seeing her eat heartily and lick her green sauce dripping on her thumb was something terribly exciting.
I stared at her intently but didn't think she intended to provoke me in any way.
She was so lost in the food that I had specially prepared for her that she didn't even notice how seductive she could be.
Another reason why I couldn't get her out of my head.
Actually, I knew a highly effective way, but something told me that my fantasies would clash with reality. Mia didn't look like a girl to sleep with for one night and then erase from memory forever.
In the end we talked at length.
She wanted to get to know me better and she also relaxed, telling me about her passion for food, art, history, civil rights struggles ...
When she retired to her room, the place was already full of people.
I asked her to stay but she was tired and wanted to sleep.
The following morning, I was again forced to get up early because of the insistent knock on the door of my apartment.
I went to open it.
When I found myself in front of Mia, I was stunned. I had dreamed of her that night and the nature of those dreams was still evident from the bulge in my boxers.
"Hello!" She exclaimed cheerfully as I had never seen her in my life. However, as soon as her gaze slipped on my bare chest and my underwear, I saw the smile wane and change into a blush that quickly made her face turn purple.
I laughed at childish embarrassment.
"I ... sorry ... here ... I didn't know ..." she stammered, placing her hand on her eyes to avoid staring at me and placing the weight of her body on one foot and then on the other. She was so agitated that she couldn't stand still.
"Mia, what do you want?" I asked her hoarsely.
"Here, I wanted ..." she started to tell me, but then her eyes fell again on my boxers and at that point she began to grope.
"Do you know what you want? Just ask and you'll be satisfied, "I teased her amused and excited by her embarrassment.
"I ... I'd better go ... we'll talk about it when you're dressed," and she hastily took off.