Chapter 16: Nicolás and Diego's Secrets
The hum of the office was quieter than usual that morning, the bustle of ringing phones and clattering keyboards now replaced by a strange sense of stillness. Lía sat at her desk, her fingers dancing across the keyboard as she worked on a report for Diego. The day seemed to stretch on endlessly, but it was not the monotony of her tasks that bothered her—it was the feeling that something was shifting, something she couldn't yet understand.
She had been spending more time with Diego lately, a combination of work and the occasional casual dinner. He was still distant, his usual professional demeanor never slipping, but there was a subtle change in him, an openness that had not been there before. He had begun to trust her in ways that surprised even her, allowing her glimpses into parts of his life that he had once kept firmly guarded. And there was Nicolás—the little boy who had started to appear more frequently in the office.
Lía had always found herself drawn to Nicolás. He was quiet, with large, expressive brown eyes that seemed to hold more wisdom than his small frame suggested. He would often sit quietly at the corner of Diego's office, coloring or reading a book, never demanding attention but always present, like a shadow to his father. Lía had caught herself smiling at him more than once, remembering how much she used to enjoy being around children, something she had pushed away after her miscarriage. The pain of losing her baby had been too much, too raw, and she had buried those maternal instincts deep down. But with Nicolás, there was something different. She couldn't explain it, but he had a way of making her feel both needed and at ease.
One evening, as she stayed late to finish some paperwork, Lía was startled by the sound of the office door creaking open. She turned to find Nicolás standing in the doorway, a small frown on his face as he looked up at her.
"Lía?" he asked, his voice small and hesitant.
"Hey there, Nicolás," she replied with a warm smile, setting aside her work. "What's up?"
The little boy hesitated for a moment, his small hands twisting the hem of his shirt. "I… I can't find my dad," he said, his eyes searching the room as if Diego might appear from behind one of the office doors.
Lía felt a surge of tenderness for the child. She had seen Diego's protective nature when it came to Nicolás, always trying to shield him from the chaos of the business world. But here was this little boy, looking lost and vulnerable.
"Let me walk you to him," she offered, standing up from her desk. "I'm sure he's just in his office. Let's go find him together."
Nicolás nodded, a faint smile breaking through his worried expression. As they walked down the hallway to Diego's office, Lía couldn't help but notice how quiet the building was at this hour. Most of the staff had already left for the day, and the dim lights gave the place a strangely intimate feeling.
When they reached Diego's office, Lía knocked lightly before entering. Diego looked up from his desk, surprised to see them both standing there.
"Lía, Nicolás—what's going on?" he asked, his brow furrowing slightly.
"Nicolás couldn't find you," Lía said with a soft laugh. "I thought I'd bring him to you."
Diego's expression softened as he looked at his son, his eyes betraying a tenderness he rarely showed to anyone else. He stood and walked over to Nicolás, kneeling to meet his eye level.
"Sorry, kid," Diego said, ruffling Nicolás's hair. "I got caught up with work again."
Nicolás gave him a small smile before wrapping his arms around his father, holding him tightly. Lía watched the moment quietly, feeling a pang in her chest. The connection between father and son was palpable, and for a brief moment, she allowed herself to imagine what it would have been like to have that kind of bond with her own child.
As they lingered in the office, Diego turned to Lía, his usual professional façade slipping slightly. "I should probably tell you something about Nicolás," he began, his voice low. "It's… something I've kept quiet for a long time, but I think you deserve to know."
Lía blinked, surprised by the sudden shift in tone. "What is it?"
Diego hesitated, his gaze dropping to the floor for a moment. He took a deep breath before meeting her eyes again. "Nicolás isn't just… my son," he said, his voice almost strained. "He's the result of a relationship I had before. A long time ago. And it wasn't a relationship I was proud of."
Lía's heart skipped a beat. She had always assumed that Nicolás was Diego's biological son, but the way he said it, the tone in his voice, suggested that there was much more to the story than she had realized.
Diego's eyes clouded with something like regret. "I never wanted to mix my personal life with my professional life, especially not with everything I've built here. But Nicolás has been a part of my life for years now, and I can't keep him hidden forever."
Lía felt a rush of empathy for him. She had never seen Diego show such vulnerability, and it made her realize just how much he had been carrying on his own.
"I understand," she said softly. "You don't have to explain everything to me, Diego. But I can see how much he means to you. And that's enough."
Diego looked at her, his expression softening further. "Thanks, Lía. I appreciate that more than you know."
The silence in the room stretched on for a moment as Nicolás tugged at his father's sleeve. "Dad, can we go home now?" he asked, his voice a mix of impatience and hope.
Diego smiled, ruffling Nicolás's hair once more. "Of course. Let's go, buddy." He stood up, holding Nicolás's hand as they made their way toward the door.
As they left the office, Lía remained standing in the now-empty room, her thoughts racing. Diego's confession had been unexpected, and it left her with more questions than answers. But one thing was clear: Diego was not the man he appeared to be on the outside. There was a depth to him, a complexity that she hadn't fully understood until now.
Later that evening, as Lía prepared to leave the office for the night, she was startled by a sudden knock on her door. She opened it to find Valeria standing there, a smirk playing on her lips.
"We need to talk," Valeria said, her voice cold and calculating.
Lía felt a chill crawl up her spine. She had never trusted Valeria, and now, something about the way she was standing there—so confident, so sure of herself—sent alarm bells ringing in Lía's mind.
"What do you want, Valeria?" Lía asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
Valeria stepped inside without waiting for an invitation, her eyes scanning the room before landing on Lía. "I know about Nicolás," she said, her voice low and dangerous.
Lía's heart raced. "What do you mean?" she asked, though she had a sinking feeling she knew exactly what Valeria was implying.
Valeria's smirk widened. "I know about his mother, Diego's past. And I think it's time that someone took advantage of that information."
Lía's stomach turned. "What are you planning?"
Valeria's eyes gleamed with malicious intent. "Let's just say that Diego's perfect little world could use a little disruption." She turned and walked out, leaving Lía frozen in place.
The secret was out, and Lía knew the consequences would be severe. The question was: what would Valeria do with it?