Mora waited.
For a word.
A sigh.
Anything.
He was quiet by nature, but the silence tonight was loaded. She'd studied him long enough to know—this wasn't one of his usual episodes. It was anger.
She lay under her sheets restless. He lay on the bed sipping coffee and hand reading one of his books. She couldn't understand the type of material those documents were printed in for that to be possible.
Irritated by his utter show of indifference and refusal to discuss anything pertaining to the day that they had, she woke up and went for his collection of books. Gliding her fingers through the different edges until she found the one she liked. She quietly removed it from its placement, retiring to bed with it in her hands. She turned to Guemo, waiting for any reaction but nothing. She smiled to herself secretly proud of her mischief.
She opened the first page and saw 'King of Beasts' splashed on it. Wow, wasn't this an 'Isabel Allende' original? Guemo didn't look like a fan. Opening the first chapter, she began reading.
As the silent banter occurred in Guemo's bedroom, Garcia and Victoria discussed Mora suggestions in his office.
"Give it some thought" Victoria advised "I really like this Lopez girl. She can be good for the family-you know after proper polishing"
"Mmmmm? You mean you like her to be on your side to irritate Ramona?" Garcia said dryly as he focused on the paper work on his desks.
"You always have to bring her in the picture?" she crumbled "I'm your publicist Garcia-this is what I do, this isn't just some matrimonial fight. Anyone who could be of good cred to your claim-we need to stand-by"
"And how can she be of good cred to my claim"?
"She's a doctor with good ideas" Victoria added looking at him knowingly
"Yes" he chipped in "So is Romoe-our family doctor" he added confused
Victoria shook her head then woke up confidently pacing the room "Did you pay attention to what he said about your children?"
"Who-you mean your brother?" Garcia asked sarcastically
"That's not the point" she said "I know Gonzalez and that's why I'm warning you, he is going to capitalize on any loop hole just so he can get ahead"
Garcia's head shot up now, he's attention fully on Victoria.
"If there's a point you're trying to make please get to it Victoria" he said
"I'm saying your son's speech portrayed you as a successful family man, we need to keep things that way. Meaning....your children need to get responsible. Starting with Guemo-the illness has already detach all links to him and our business but the reputation is already there."
"What reputation?" Garcia asked
"Of a.... murderer" Victoria hesitated calling Guemo for what he was-fearing to hurt the precious feelings of her fiancée by referring to his golden egg as such.
"Guemo needs to appear responsible and what other way to do that than marriage" she completed
"What are you saying Victoria?" he dragged not liking where that statement was going.
"He should wed the Lopez girl" she finally said.
Garcia quickly retired back to his work fully convinced Victoria was out of her senses.
Victoria elaborated further persuading him to see reason "She has a good education, a quiet family background, she is intelligent and knows how to hold herself in good society-did you see how people stared at them today? Moreover, her expertise will make her useful for future projects. All round she's good investment"
"Victoria you need to discuss this with Ramona" Garcia said avoidably
There it was again. Victoria thought. Chickening out to Ramona. He was the head of the family not her.
"Discuss what with me?" Ramona walked in on them as her voice sliced coldly. Garcia, not willing to be in the same room for their banter just stared in fright.
"Guemo's marriage to the Lopez girl"
"He's maid?" Victoria paraphrased shocked
"His nurse Ramona-not everybody is a servant."
"Well in this case, she is and this mad arrangement is for what reason?" Ramona directed that question to Garcia. Victoria turned to him, waiting for him to pitch the idea to her, to take his power for once.
"Victoria thinks..." Garcia dragged as Victoria sighed within her.
Oh for gracious hell, Victoria thinks?!
"Guemo's marriage to the Doctor will give us an upper edge in the election"
"My son is not going to be used for your political greed" Ramona cut in sharply. Victoria frowned with a knowing look. As if she cared about the wellbeing of her son. It was who suggested the idea that was her problem.
"He is doing this for the family Ramona" he hesitantly said.
"Of course" she spat "He has lived his entire life for the family. Damn Garcia he became a monstrous killer for the family and it got him into a wheelchair-blind but not this-not marriage-you won't take that away from him too" Ramona shot those final words and stormed out with wet eyes.
Victoria looked at her with a sigh. Ramona's failure in bringing up her children wasn't the soul fault of her brother. She has so much power over him and had no hesitation using them all these years to build what they both enjoyed, so why stop now?
...
It's been two fucking weeks.
Guemo had hoped she'd finished the book. He glared at the shadowed figure before him. His hand twitched with restrained fury as he wondered what to do to her. Then his self-control slipped.
He grabbed her shoulders and shook her violently.
"Recite it" he growled
A faint groan slipped from her lips. His hands softened, brushing over her face and down to her mouth. Her lips parted—slack, unconscious. He recoiled immediately, disgust curling in his gut at the thought of drool on his book. His anger reignited. He shook her again
"Recite it!" His voice rose this time, sharp and echoing.
Mora jerked awake, startled, disoriented—half-dreaming. Her hand slipped, sending the book tumbling from her grasp onto the floor. She blinked blearily up at him
"Excuse me?"
"Recite the book," he said, tone suddenly calm but commanding. "I want to hear all of it."
She blinked again, this time fully awake. And when understanding dawned, disbelief painted her face
"You can't be serious," she muttered. "You want me to recite the entire book—for you?"
"You had two weeks" he said coldly "Two weeks and you didn't complete it? I thought that was the reason for your incompetence"
Mora rubbed her eyes, trying to place his words into contexts. When she finally did, she exhaled sharply.
"I'm sorry for taking the book," she said evenly. "But I can't recite everything."
After what seemed as a decade of staring her down, Guemo turned his chair to the door
"Keep your phone close. Gustavo will send you an address. You'll come pick me up."
"Where will you even be?" she murmured, still half-asleep.
His glare answered for him—an order, not a conversation
"Okay," she sighed. "I'll wait for your text."
He nodded once and rolled out of the room.
...
Mora thought the GPS might be broken. Her path had long since left civilization behind
If it was a construction site they were at, it wouldn't be inside a forest. She thought.
As the trees thickened and silence pressed down, unease crept through her chest. She tried calling Gustavo for confirmation—but there was no service. She dialled again and again, each attempt swallowed by static and silence.
Frustrated, she parked the car and stepped out, searching for a signal beneath the canopy. No luck. She finally gave up and started walking, calling their names, hoping to see a house, a light—anything.
But the deeper she went, the more the forest twisted. Every turn looked the same. When she tried retracing her steps, the path vanished. The clouds overhead darkened to a heavy navy, and the first cold drops began to fall.
By the time it started pouring, she was lost. Completely.
A rustle in the bushes froze her mid-step. She turned sharply. Nothing. Then—it moved again.
Her heart began to race. The forest grew eerily quiet, save for the hiss of rain and distant cries of owls. Her breath came out shaky. Then she saw them—two glowing eyes in the shadows.
She screamed.
The creature lunged. She ran, branches clawing at her skin, her soaked shirt tearing in streaks. Pain flared as she stumbled, her ankle twisting on a thick root. She fell hard into the mud, struggling to rise—but her foot was caught.
She yanked at it desperately, screaming for help. The sound of pounding footsteps—beastly and fast—grew louder.
Tears streamed down her face. So this is how I die, she thought bitterly. In a forest-Alone.
And then she saw it: a bush pig, massive and snarling. She shut her eyes and braced for impact.
A gunshot shattered the air.
When she dared to open her eyes, the creature lay lifeless beside her. Her entire body trembled—relief and terror mixing violently. Then she looked up.
There he was...
Guemo; sitting in his wheelchair, drenched and staring at her with something between disgust and disappointment.
He was the one disgusted? After everything she'd just gone through because of him?
Mora opened her mouth to curse him, but before a sound could escape, the world went dark.