Boneca [Doll]

Chapter 40: Pay For My Sins

Luuk rapped on Alex's office door, waltzing in. "You didn't wait for me this morning," he declared.

Alex beckoned him over. "Sorry about that. Delegations from Mexico needed a stand-up routine. Now that you're back, let's spice up the training module with a dash of Spanish. Easy peasy." He checked his watch. "Just waiting for Mom and Dad to join the circus, and we're good to go."

After resigning as the Chief Operating Officer four years ago, Luuk's appearances at the security firm resembled cameos in a sitcom – short and usually for the shareholder's meeting. Dominic, the COO extraordinaire, made Luuk's departure seem like a plot twist the audience had already forgotten.

Alex dog-eared a paper in front of him, looking like a detective about to crack a case. "Have you talked to da Graça about relocating?"

Luuk fiddled with the end of his coffee-stained blue necktie. "Not yet. I've got a feeling he wouldn't want to move in with me."

"It's a high chance. He's got his own show going on there in Stanford," Alex said, rubbing his neck. "You'll need to move, with or without him. Guy's an adult. Knows what's good for him. And I need you here."

Alex, the maestro of heartless understanding, spoke with the subtlety of a sledgehammer. Moving in together after three months felt like a plot twist even Luuk was unsure about. Meanwhile, Jona, the enigmatic character, lived with Chaves, and Luuk couldn't decide if it was a sitcom or a soap opera.

The meeting room buzzed with family drama from seven main characters, each with their own quirks. Luuk, once the nincompoop who quit to spite his brother, exited as the president of a new branch. One month until the grand opening, and Luuk had more on his plate than a buffet at a family reunion – including figuring out his relationship with Jona.

Luuk swaggered into the kitchen the next morning, finding Juliana feeding Karma on the veranda. "Morning, pregnant ladies," he greeted.

"Bonjour," Juliana replied, flashing a smile.

Karma, the not-so-mini beast, trotted over with a small bark, acting like a fluffy dog. Luuk appreciated that she didn't unleash rabid mutt barks or give him a drool face-wash.

"Well, well, dog. You're in a surprisingly good mood," Luuk observed, rubbing Karma's neck. "Elle mange bien aujourd’hui?" [She eats well today?] he asked, slipping into French effortlessly.

"Oui, elle vient de finir son petit déjeuner. Elle est tellement adorable," [Yes, she just finishes her breakfast. She's such a sweetheart. She wouldn't leave my side last night.] Juliana answered, her affection for Karma evident.

"I know she would enjoy your company,"

"You seem to know things about handling dogs. You used to have dogs?" Juliana inquired.

"Worse. I have students," Luuk deadpanned, glancing at Juliana's stomach. "I'm no woman to judge, but you sure have a small bump for someone carrying the child of my giant brother. Good for you. I couldn't imagine how Mom carried him for nine months."

Juliana, unfazed, continued her tasks as they bantered. Luuk, showcasing a newfound talent for handling dogs, found himself in uncharted territory.

"Tu veux quelque chose pour le petit déjeuner? Espresso?" [You want anything for breakfast? Espresso?] Juliana offered.

"Don't worry about it. I'll do it myself," Luuk replied. "You should stop doing housework now that you're expecting," he advised. "This house is too big for you to clean alone. I know that Milada doesn't help you."