Meet Esteban, a carefree, 21 year old bachelor by day and bullfighter by night.
Since the night of his father's death, Esteban has made it his personal mission to kill every single bull in Espana, no matter what stood in his way.
But what happens...
"What about this Esteban?" I spin around, showing him a tiny, thigh-hugging sequined red dress. He was distracted, of course, signing autographs of some store employees and associates. Hector had encouraged it of course. Something about "building relations with the public"
Esteban lifted his eyes from the notepad and nodded, staring with pride before walking over to kiss my lips. "You look beautiful mi amor. Anything you wear looks wonderful" he teased, playfully biting the lobe of my ear.
"ACTuAllY!!!" I hear Hector's irksome voice behind me. "That dress is way too....loud" he frowned.
"Is it? Hmmm, that's funny. You said that about the 5 other dresses I tried on." I cursed, smoothing the ends of the sequins in the reflection of the mirror.
"Anais, Esteban has to be seen as the wholesome family man. Gone are the "playboy" days. Because you are his girlfriend you must match that"
"So what do you suggest I wear? Because you hated everyone I tried on."
"This one." He pulls out a black dress that looked like something a grieving wife would have worn to a funeral.
"My grandma bought me a closet full of these Hector! If it's conservative outfits you wanted." I frowned, pushing my arms above my chest. He was being so ridiculous.
"Come on Anais. It's black enough to fade into the background but short enough to show off those sexy legs"
I looked at Esteban to see if he had just heard Hector's bold words but he was too distracted.
"Ughh fine" I groaned snatching the dress from his palm. "pervertido" I muttered.
"Love you to Anais!" Hector yelled before going to the back of the store to use their phone. He probably needed to call a couple of reporters to tip them off about our whereabouts.
I shimmied into the little black dress, pulling and tugging until I finally approved of it. I guess it looked good. It was boring but safe; not daring at all.
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"Esteban? What about this one?" He walked over to me and frowned.
"It looks ...plain?"
"Plain is good!" Hector chimed. He looked at me like a man on a mission and grinned, "very good"
"Is it?" Esteban sighed, looked into my eyes grabbing my chin before kissing me. "You look beautiful mi amor... it's just not you"
"Esteban, it's not supposed to be her. Anais can wear her bright red and green dresses in her free time. At your conferences? All eyes need to be on you. We both agreed that she fades into the background. Right?"
Esteban' rolled his eyes, reconsidering Hector's shoddy advice. He looked into my own eyes before rubbing my shoulders. "I'm sorry mi amor" he whispers. "Please... you understand?"
"I do understand Esteban. That doesn't mean I like it" I nodded, smiling bravely before turning to the changing room, to disrobe.
A few minutes passed before I hear the hushed whispers of Esteban and Hector.
"She can't handle it, Esteban!"
"You do not know Anais. Did you not see her at the arena? Then at my press conference before the match? How many fuc*king times does she have to prove herself to you!"
"Esteban relax. I was just saying---"
"No! enough!" Esteban yelled. "She's given up her sense of normalcy, her reputation, her sense of autonomy. You drove away the others. I'll be dam**d if you drive away Anais. Give it a rest Hector. I mean it!" He fumed, pushing past the racks of clothing to stand outside my dressing room door.
I came out of the closet and he smiled lazily. "You ready to go?" He asked.
"Yea." I nodded slinging the dress over my arm. Esteban always made sure to defend me when needed but I knew there was no weight in his words. I was tired of everyone not believing in me. I was too timid. To pure. To innocent. The title of dancing Torerra was calling out to me. I would prove to Esteban and Hector what I was capable of, even if that entailed being more than Esteban's lap dog.
"I'll take that!" Hector interjected, pulling out his money to pay for the dress as we came to the register. . I rolled my eyes but Esteban shrugged. He was happy he didn't have to pet for a dress he hated.
———
We piled into Esteban's car, quickly weaving through the heavy crowd of reporters and photographers. Hector had ripped them off of course. Anything to get Esteban on the cover of another newspaper.
Esteban veered away from the little plaza in a Cocuna. I was exhausted from the long day of shopping.
"We need to find shoes that will match the dress and then figure out what we're gonna do with your hair." Hector said, leaning forward in the middle of Esteban's car to meet my gaze.
"And what's wrong with my hair?" I fumed.
"Nothing Anais! Sh**t! Why do you take everything as an insult?" Hector frowned, slouching back in his seat in frustration.
"Because everything is an insult coming from you Hector. You don't like me!"
"Anais I swear if you just took out the stick that's wedged up your a**s we would be great friends" Hector smiled, turning his head to the landscape as it passed us by.
"Esteban stop the car.,. AHORA" (now)
Esteban slammed down on the breaks, making us jerk forward. "Either he gets out, or I do." I fumed, staring into his soft brown eyes. Esteban met my gaze, looking back at Hector before nodding.
——-
"I'm so glad you saw it my way mi amor" I giggled, gently running a palm behind the nape of his neck. He smiled and kissed my palm, turning up the music.
"And tell Hector I'm wearing my hair in curls; the ones that make me look pretty and he better be okay with it"
"Of course mi amor. He will deal." he nodded turning down another street. It was only a 30-minute drive back to Esteban's apartment in the city. It would take 2 hours or more for anyone who dared walk the tedious trek.
