Mantis

28. Anti-date

– What does his son want from you? – Victor continued to dwell on the subject nearly half an hour after the meeting with Manuel.

I was sitting in an armchair in his room, which was adjacent to mine. Marcel, who had not yet commented on the fact that not only Perez had a special relationship with me, had already disappeared into his room with a promise not to be disturbed because he intended to get some sleep.

– How am I supposed to know, since he told you to take me there? – I asked, scrutinizing the nails on my left hand just to avoid making eye contact with Victor. – You brought me to him. I didn't push myself here.

– Didn't you ask him?

– Of course not! – I snorted. – Besides, it doesn't matter because I don't want to talk to him, and you said you would keep him away from me no matter who he is, and I'm holding you to that.

– Are you afraid of him? – Victor looked at me intently, with sparks of curiosity dancing in his eyes.

– I'm not afraid – I replied, looking him straight in the eyes. – I just don't want to talk to him.

– But you know him? – He stated more than asked, and when I only gave him a look that said. – So what? – he sighed and cautiously said. – You know, both Rafael and this Manuel act as if you are very important to them. I don't want to be indiscreet, but...

– But you are – I interrupted him unceremoniously. – I don't want to talk to Manuel, and whether we know each other or not doesn't affect who you are to them.

Victor frowned and looked at me with an inscrutable gaze.

– I guess it does, because I'm here thanks to you – he muttered indifferently. – Young Perez has some business with you. Otherwise, he wouldn't want me to come here with you. I'm just a pawn who got lucky. If it weren't for you, I'd still be looking for money on the street, and they would have taken someone they know better for this contract. Someone they know at all.

– If you're so curious, ask him yourself – I growled, feeling my patience running thin. – I'm not going to do it. I'm going to my room.

I entered my apartment, which was furnished in such a way that one could live there for a lifetime, and grabbed my discharged phone. I connected it to a power bank and waited a moment for it to turn on, then checked the messages and missed calls.

There weren't many. One message from Lu and a few missed calls from Alex. I read the SMS from my friend first.

Luiza: Can you finally call and tell me where the hell you are?

I smiled warmly at the smartphone screen. Lu, always on guard. I just hoped she hadn't already notified the police and fire department.

I replied briefly, saying where I was and with whom, though I doubted it would calm her down after the last meeting with Victor, and then I went out on the balcony and called Alex back.

He picked up almost immediately.

– Hello, Paulina? Are you okay? Why didn't you answer? Where are you? – A barrage of questions poured out of the phone.

– Hi, Alex – I said calmly, completely ignoring his frantic tone. – I was in Berlin.

– In Berlin? What are you doing there? – he asked, surprised.

– Actually, I'm already outside of Berlin – I clarified. – But still in Germany. It's an unplanned trip. I'll be back on Sunday evening.

– Did something happen? – Alex's voice was full of concern.