Don't try to Escape

Chapter 3 - Part I & II

II

Alan Alden leaves towards the large glass door of the restaurant; Thomas and I stand still before the table. The music is happy, the background music from the restaurant makes the moment something out of context. I suspect that the problem that made him leave was his wife. She suffers from schizophrenia and, frequently, she has some episodes because she refuses to follow the treatment. I met her once, she was quiet, even a little doped as a result of many substances that she needs to take.

This is so sad.

"What makes you change your mind about me doing the advertisement for the Lobo Negro?" I ask anxiously to the man who now will be my boss.

Generally, I'm not that forthright, but my curiosity is overflowing. I suspect that our chat about the contest and the love I expressed for the paintings had touched him, but I want to hear that from his mouth.

"I haven't changed my mind," he says quietly, and he sits down again.

What? 

I look at Thomas, confused. He's elegantly sat with his legs crossed.

"I don't understand. You've just said..."

"Alan already has many problems, I didn't want to give him one more," he interrupts me. He takes his cell phone out of the blazer pocket, touches its screen with his long fingers and keeps it again.

"I wasn't accepted? "I ask him.

"Did you think you were accepted?" he laughs. "Sit down, we need to talk." He gives me a charming smile.

Thomas speaks with such elegance and casualness that is annoying. His lips match perfectly with his sharp eyes, that blink charmingly for me. Is he seducing me? I know it, he wants me to sit to tempt me to see me drooling over him every time he calls my name. I truly underestimate this man! He doesn't want to hire me but do what he couldn't at the club. I can't believe he's deceiving me! It's incredible how Thomas can distract me so easily! This stupid shoe fits, so there is nothing I can do, but we wear it and accept that I'm a complete idiot.

He keeps his black and intense eyes on mine and waits until the next sentence come out of my mouth. My disbelief is replaced by an increasing hatred, and I feel like screaming some offensive words right on his face. Who does he think he is? I really thought that Thomas was concerned about my relationship with Alden because he didn't want it to affect my work at Lobo Negro. I naively thought that he cared.

What's my problem?

I'm never wrong about people, they don't surprise me. Why with him is different?

Instead of exploding fragments of my anger like a grenade, I take a deep breath, then I take his jacket off my shoulders and throw it on the chair. He follows my moves, but he doesn't dare to speak. I get my purse and close my eyes. I try to decide what to say to this man who makes me feel the most ridiculous woman that ever exist since Eva.

He is the professor's friend, I can't make a fuss.

I open my eyes and Thomas seems confused but remain comfortable like a king on his gold throne. He seemed satisfied.

Enough! I won't please this jerk anymore!

I won't give him reasons to feel important. He doesn't deserve any explanation. I turn my ankles towards the exit quickly. Some loud noise mixes to my fast pulsation and, together, take over my ears. Look what he did to me! I was never so humiliated in my twenty-two years of life. A scream stuck in my throat hurts my heart and blinds my angry bull eyes. I passed by the friendly receptionist, and I stop when I notice that the rain not only has stopped but it became a cloudburst.