Chapter 2

Two months had passed. Two months in which I had lived tied to my house without going out or making any effort.

At last, I was free! I could now leave the house; my wound had healed completely, and I felt much better. I felt stronger after everything that had happened. The truth was that I had lost a little weight, and in addition, my appearance was much more disheveled. My beard was out of control. When I looked in the mirror that morning, I realized that I had to get ready to go out again.

I was eternally grateful to my friend. Thomas had come to heal my wound every day and made sure that I had everything. He had helped me, more than anyone else, to get out of this rut and not to go crazy worrying about Sofia.

The time had come for me to return to work and find a way to get enough money to move out of this neighborhood, out of this house. I had to go somewhere else, safer, more decent, so I could get my daughter out of wherever they were keeping her and bring her with me to our home, where she belonged.

Night had fallen, and it was time for me to go to work. Thomas had come to pick me up in a different carriage, not the everyday one, that’s for sure. It was a beautiful new car worth at least five times what my house would be worth and what I’d be worth myself if someone were willing to buy me. I was extremely curious, and I barely waited a couple of seconds to ask him where he got it.

I got into his car, and there he was, dressed in a brand-new luxury suit. His shoes were worth much more than my salary, and the gold watch shining on his wrist, I didn’t even want to think how much it cost.

It was too much, and as much as I tried to connect the dots, I couldn’t understand how a person who worked just like me had achieved all these new things.

“Thomas,” I looked at him rather confused, “I have questions,” I said with a half smile. “How did you get all this? New car, branded suit, gold watch... As far as I know, we work and get paid the same.”

“I’ve simply been working with a new investor,” he replied, very pleased with himself but more serious than usual, “On things that are none of your business. Don’t ask questions, and just enjoy the ride.”

Listening to Thomas’ answer, I couldn’t help but think that he had gotten himself into something shady. Something that could hurt him in the future, but I wasn’t an idiot, and I wasn’t going to keep asking. The smart thing to do was to let it go and, as he said, enjoy the ride.

The ride from my house to the bar was very fast. We arrived in the blink of an eye, and only I got out of the car. I closed the door and leaned against the window, feeling confused.

“What’s up? You’re not working today?” I asked my friend. It was very strange that he was given a day off, just like that, or that he hadn’t told me earlier.

“No, not today and not ever,” he replied calmly, “I don’t work here anymore. Things have changed too much.” He became very serious. Thomas changed. “I hope you understand that this is the last time we see each other. I need you to know, to understand, that I love you. You are, and always will be, my best friend. My family.”

He did not wait for my answer. He accelerated the car in reverse, with that characteristic roar, and left the place without another word.

I could not react. I was shocked, very shocked. My best friend, the man who had always been with me, who had fought all my life by my side, just left like that, giving zero explanation, was something that baffled me.

He wasn’t going to work here anymore, but I couldn’t lose my job now, so, still thinking about it, I went into the bar.

More surprises. I looked around and saw things had changed a lot: the tables had been moved, and the color of the walls had been changed, but what never changed was the smell of cheap liquor and tobacco.

I saw many new faces, but the one I didn’t see was Don Luis, the owner of the club. I approached the bar next to a woman I had never seen. Perhaps she was my only source of information.

“Hello, beautiful,” I greeted her seriously but politely, “Have you heard from Don Luis? I don’t see him anywhere.”

“I know you,” she said with a big smile, “You worked here before me.” The woman stared at me for a few seconds in silence, “Don Luis is in the new office.” And without looking away, she bit her lower lip.

My gaze got lost in that simple gesture before nodding silently. I didn’t believe in distractions, but of course, that woman could well be the best of all distractions.

I was on my way to the office, but I felt rushed, restless. I didn’t know what was going on. Furthermore, I couldn’t decide if it was because of the new waitress or the simple fact that this woman had spoken in the past tense, “that I used to work here.” It didn’t take me long to realize that I may have lost my job. I had been on leave for many weeks due to my health, and I cursed my luck.

I went down the stairs into a dark and dreary basement, only illuminated by a flickering light bulb; they should change it. The door that awaited me at the end was a damaged wooden door that I opened too quietly after knocking, and there I saw Don Luis dressed in black, with a cowboy hat and a cigar in his mouth. His shiny boots must have been polished too many times. Don Luis was talking on the phone, but he hung up as soon as he saw me in front of him.

“Don Luis,” I greeted him politely.

“Welcome back, Oscar,” he replied with his cigar in his mouth, “I see you’re doing much better. It seems that nothing can get you out of this world,” he smiled at his joke, which ended in a low, loud, shrill laugh that turned into a coughing fit.

I sat down, keeping my eyes on him. It wasn’t a gentleman’s duel. I respected Don Luis, and I thought it was mutual. But he was my boss, and I knew I couldn’t afford to lose this job.

“Don Luis,” I finally broke the silence, “Do I still work for you?” I felt ashamed to ask this question, but there was no shame worth it in a situation like mine. “You know that I am a good worker. That I deliver.”

“You shouldn’t come after all this time to ask me to give you your job back,” he replied after a few interminable seconds.

I was forced to lower my gaze at this statement, but he continued.

“You know all about how things are. I’ve already hired a nice girl. I’m sure you saw her. She’s made a lot of changes here, and I’m doing very well,” he smiled, satisfied. “Tell me why I should trade her for you. What can you bring me more than her? Or just tell me something you can do for me.”

“Sir, Don Luis,” I answered, trying to sound confident, “I can do whatever you ask me to do. I need this job. I have a daughter; you know that. I need to make a lot of money to get her out of where she is, to bring her with me.”

Don Luis laughed crudely, without the slightest consideration for me, but finally, after another coughing fit, he told me, “You’ll have Thomas’s job. From now on, you’ll be in charge of the liquor.”

“Thanks, Don Luis,” I said hurriedly, but he didn’t let me finish the sentence.

“Get out of my sight, Oscar,” he spat in disgust, “Before I regret it, shit.”

I left there, furious. Don Luis was not the best person you could find in Medellín, but I was not going to be humiliated by anyone. But I needed the job, so I could take his insults a little longer.

I left that place with my fists clenched. I wanted to smash something, but I had to restrain myself. I hated this life, I hated feeling like this, and I hated having lost my daughter.

“Goodbye, beautiful.”

I heard cheers and compliments nearby. I looked up, and my eyes focused on a woman approaching the bar, a black apron hanging on her hips, and in her hands, she carried a tray with empty crystal glasses.

I frowned; she was beautiful; yet, I didn’t think I had ever seen her before. She was one of those beauties hard to go unnoticed, and for proof of that, she had captured the attention of men immediately.

I thought maybe she had more time than I had on-site; that must be it.

I went behind the bar to talk to the woman, assuming she was my replacement. It made no sense to me; she was young, beautiful, her way of dressing and acting had nothing to do with all this, and yet there she was. I needed to know all of Thomas’ duties to take over his job. Those pods were his business, and until now, I hadn’t bothered to know them at all.

“My name is Oscar,” I introduced myself to the woman.

She looked me up and down with a twinkle in her eye that I could not decipher.

“Mireya,” she murmured, and her voice echoed in my head.

“Mireya…”

I shook my head and focused on my goal.

“I need to know everything Thomas was doing here,” I said, leaning back against the clientele, “From now on, it will be my job.”

“Thomas’s work?” she laughed, “He did almost nothing. But if you’re so keen to know everything, wait for me on your way out.” She looked at me flirtatiously, “We’ll go for dinner somewhere, and I’ll give you some answers there if you like.”

So easy. Why did I have a strange feeling that that wasn’t all? Maybe I was being paranoid. But I knew that no one is good unless they want something... So what did that little sweetie want from me?

“Okay,” I replied with a resigned sigh. “I’ll wait for you.”