Mantis

38. Paula's biggest secret

In the morning, as soon as the sun rose, I put on the dress in which Victor had brought me to Berlin. I had no intention of wearing anything he had paid for. That didn't belong to me.

I quickly went down to the restaurant, hoping that if I showed up so early, I might get ahead of all those I didn't want to meet. Actually, I would have been happiest if there had been no one there yet, and although it wasn't quite that good because some early birds were already sitting in the corners, there were so few of them that finding a safe haven wasn't difficult. Actually, it wouldn't have been difficult if not for Marcel, who showed up shortly after me and approached with a cup of coffee in his hand as soon as he noticed me.

– What's with the sad face? – he asked with fake concern in his voice and so much venom that it could be felt in the air. – Did you two have a fight? Was the present not good enough? Or maybe the bed was uncomfortable? Because you look like a steamroller ran over you.

I raised my tired eyes to him.

– Do you want something, or did you just come to torment me? – I asked, not hiding my dislike for him.

Marcel sat down at the table opposite me and smiled brazenly.

– You're so grumpy – he sighed ostentatiously and gave me a defiant look. – What does Victor see in you? But never mind. In the end, it turns out it's good that you showed up – he said, drilling me with an unsettlingly sharp look. – Good that this time Victor knew who to screw. I hope you had at least as much fun as he had benefits – he finished, smiling maliciously, then stood up, patted me on the shoulder, and walked out of the restaurant briskly as if nothing had happened.

I stared after him for a moment, speechless, then propped my head with my hand to release the helplessness that suddenly overwhelmed me. Did he really come here just to say that to me and bring me down even more? Admirable dedication. But on the other hand, the guy was right. It paid off for him. I had no idea how much of this Victor had planned because he couldn't have known about my past with the Perez family, but he managed to gain too much for someone whom Perez had practically picked up off the street, and that worried me. Was he so calculating to use me as a bargaining chip and still have fun doing it? And why did it hurt me so much?

– Am I interrupting? – a gentle male voice came from behind me.

I turned to the cheerful face of Rafael Perez and returned his smile, simultaneously wondering where Manuel and Victor were lurking since they were the only ones missing from the complete set.

– Not at all – I lied smoothly.

Rafael nodded, then sat down opposite me and gave me a gentle but attentive look.

– Are you waiting for Victor? – he asked.

– No – I denied immediately.

Rafael tilted his head and examined me closely, making me feel like I was under an X-ray. I shifted in my chair and crossed my already crossed legs, unable to find a comfortable position.

– You're thoughtful – Rafael noted after a short while. – Is everything okay?

I looked up at him. Was everything okay? No one had ever given me so much pleasure and pain in one night. How did Victor always get what he wanted? Was I the only one so weak that I couldn't handle him and ended up dancing to his tune, or did everyone have such a damn weakness for him?

– I was just wondering... – I began cautiously, and Rafael immediately looked at me with polite interest on his face. – Why are you so kind to him? To Victor? He showed up out of nowhere, for no apparent reason, suddenly... You're helping him even though you don't know him at all? I don't believe you just take people off the street like that.