Butterfly's Year

4. Old love

Life with my boyfriend, who is now richer by an unknown number of millions of euros, has recently become a series of parties. One day it was his parents' wedding, and the next evening he dragged me to the opening of one of his shipyards. There was no rest, not even for a moment, and for every occasion, he bought me a new outfit, starting from lingerie and ending with jewelry, and I couldn't get through to him that I didn't need any of it. Moreover, he indulged himself quite a bit, albeit in a different category.

– New car? – I asked when, dressed like a movie star on a red carpet, I was already sitting in the comfortable interior of a Bentley Continental GT, which had to be his new acquisition since I had never seen it before.

– Also – he replied with boyish joy in his eyes as he settled into the driver's seat, just as my phone beeped.

I glanced quickly at the display and immediately noticed two missed calls from Alexander and one SMS.

Alex: You're not answering. Would you be happier if I disappeared from this world?

I sighed as quietly as possible so as not to draw unnecessary attention from Victor, who was busy with his new toy. I had had enough of these messages. I didn't think he would actually do something to himself, as I had received dozens of such texts from Alex since the beginning of my relationship with Victor, in various versions, but if he actually did hurt himself and it was because of me...

Paulina: Come on, Alex. You know I don't wish you any harm.

Alex: You don't want to talk to me.

Paulina: Because we have nothing to talk about.

Alex: I miss you.

Paulina: You only think you do. There are plenty of wonderful women.

Alex: None of them are you. Let's meet and talk.

Paulina: We have nothing to talk about. And don't write to me anymore, please.

I didn't check if another message had arrived because we had reached our destination, and Victor, with a broad smile, helped me out of the car and, with an even more joyful expression, led me into the spacious banquet hall.

– Do you like it? – he asked when we stood by a wall with photos of ships in various stages of construction.

– You look like a child who received the dream Lego set – I replied, sending him a warm smile, as his boyish joy moved me.

– Because it's his childhood dream – explained Marcel kindly, who suddenly materialized next to us. – To build ships.

– I'll have a beautiful yacht built for us, and I'll take you on a cruise to... – Victor began, but I didn't get to hear the end of his thought.

– Around the world – Marcel interrupted. – So that no one can disturb you when you're...

– You definitely won't be there – Victor cut in coldly, then shot him a disapproving look. – Find someone for yourself, maybe then you'll stop peeking into others' bedrooms.

Marcel didn't seem discouraged in the least.

– But he's stiff, right? – he turned to me, winking mischievously. – How do you stand him, and for free?

I couldn't help but smile. I still wasn't used to such a radical change in the attitude of Victor's right-hand man towards me. Not so long ago, he treated me like a necessary evil, and now he behaved as if I were his favorite person.

Victor opened his mouth, presumably to quash his right-hand man with a cutting remark, but he didn't manage to.

– Beautiful Paulina is already with us – the voice of Manuel Perez attacked us from the right side, unexpectedly.