The Stripper

Tears keep traveling out of my eyes, how easy you lose what you love the most from one moment to another. I wait in the same park as always for him to arrive. The only person I know very well who will support me at this time, the man I love. I know that we will find the solution to this problem. How easy life took my mother and grandfather.

Yesterday they died in a car accident, I am alone with my four-year-old little brother, I am only sixteen years old. The sun is setting and it seems strange to me that it has not arrived for hours.

"Are you Ariadna?" A little girl approaches me asking.

"Yes, it's me," I answer in a choked voice. I feel tired, my eyes irritated and an emptiness in my chest that I feel, at any moment, I will fall defeated.

"They sent me to give you this," he says, handing me an envelope. "Bye-bye." He leaves before I can ask who sent it. As I am too curious, I open the envelope and discover a paper folded in two, I quickly unfold it and read the content.

Ariadna, if you are reading this it means that I am very far from you. Do you know that when I met you I fell in love with you? But apparently, that love was not so strong as not to deceive you. I cheated on you several times, not just once, every time he prevented us from meeting, it was once he cheated on you. I'm sorry, but I feel something stronger for her than myself. I'm being honest with you, I hope you are happy and you forgive me sometimes.

To: Ariadna

From Marcos

It is at this precise moment that my world is falling apart. Tears and more tears are those that accompany me in my pain.

I wake up agitated and sweating. It has been a long time since I dreamed of what happened seven years ago. I get out of bed and do my morning needs, when I go out with a towel wrapped around my body, I look in my closet for a white long-sleeved shirt with a black pencil skirt, I make a high ponytail to my black hair and I put on natural makeup.

I go downstairs to make my and Alex's breakfast. As I do so I think about the dream-memory, I sigh heavily. When I finish making breakfast I realize that it has been longer than it should.

“Alex!” I yell because the sleepyhead must have stayed up late.

"Yes, sister?" Alex comes down wiping the drool from his cheek, I suppress the laugh that wants to flow from my lips and I make an angry face. The truth is that it is very difficult to be angry with him for long.

Since the death of my mother and grandfather, that child became my reason for living. Nothing mattered to me as long as he's okay.

Leaving my studies was painful, but I had to find out how we were going to survive. I had to work, seek help because my father was an orphan when he was an adult and from my mother's family I only received a strong rejection. Nobody wanted us and they didn't want to carry two more people. So I had to play strong and give everything to my brother, everything that was in my hands.

"It's late, go get dressed, I have to take you to school," he nods, fearful of my reaction.

"Sure sister, I'll come down right away" she runs upstairs and I allow myself to laugh at her reaction. When Alex fixes up, we both leave in my car, on the way we are talking.

—You stayed playing last night when I said go to sleep — I glance sideways as he swallows and nods — what did I tell you about not sleeping late? —It's only three blocks to go to Alex's school.

"What happens is that I lose track of time when I play, and I didn't notice the time, excuse me." I look at him seriously and nod.

"I'll accept your apologies, but the game is forgotten for this week, no video games" he nods sadly and gets out of the car "Alex" I call when I see him walk away.

-Yes?

—Take — I pass him his breakfast when he enters the car as a passenger — you know I love you, right? —I see how the corner of her lip raises.

"Me too, sister, may you do well all day" I kiss her cheek and when she closes the door when leaving, I put the car in gear towards my work.

I've been working as a secretary for four years at a conglomerate run by my boss Eric Russell. He is a good boss, although too cold when he puts his mind to it, yet I can tell that he has affection for me.

I hope that the traffic light changes color to advance/ when it accelerates and I also see a car coming towards me. I close my eyes and feel the impact, I slowly open them and check myself. Yes, I'm still alive, I come out as the exorcist's girl.

“He's crazy!” I yell angrily and see a young man get out of the other car. He is blond and that irritates me immediately, I feel my blood boil while hazel eyes look at me annoyed. Tall, tall is this guy. He has strong arms. Fuck this guy is awesome, but my annoyance is palpable as my hormones take a break and my devilish, annoying side comes to the fore at its best.

"How dare you damage my car," the boy complains and I raise an eyebrow.

"I remind you that you were the one who was driving like a madman!" I reproach him exalted, "you are irresponsible, you almost took my life and fought me for your stupid car, for your car!" Mine was worse and I'm not crying like a woman in her days — I vent — she crossed the red light, idiot — I point out angrily.

—I will pay the expenses for the repair of his — he looks at him disgusted — his car — I glare at him. He calls for the car and I stare at him like an idiot for a few minutes.

"I don't even know how he's licensed, he drives like a retard, don't think we're fast and furious," I say mockingly. He raises an eyebrow that looks more beautiful than mine. He has long eyelashes, I hate him for that fact. Mine don't look as good as yours. Lucky shit.

"She's not very good with jokes, miss." I look at him annoyed. He looks at me amused. How I hate when a stranger makes fun of my attempts at jokes.

"It wasn't a joke," I say, pulling him out of his mistake. I see him make a face and he focuses his pretty eyes on me with great attention.

"Yeah, whatever you say, what's your name, miss bad jokes?" He asks mockingly.

"That doesn't interest you and I'm leaving, I'm late for work," I say when I see the tow truck coming for my car.

"I take her wherever I work," he proposes and I think the horrified face I wear is a clear answer.

"Me with you or to the corner," I let go and call a taxi making signs with my hands.

—But what a bore — I show him the middle finger and I get into the taxi, I give him the address of my work and he takes me to the company. In the process I only think about that idiot and that because of him I will have more debts, agh! The damn fool who looks blind. When I arrive I enter reception on my way at a determined pace to Clara, the receptionist.

"Hi Clara," I greet being friendly, although I dislike him because he has always wanted my secretarial position. She thinks nobody knows, but she has a crush on Mr. Russell, my boss.

"Hello, Ariadna," he greets looking me up and down. "What's on offer?" I smile every hypocritically.

“Has the boss arrived?” I ask nervously.

"An hour and a half ago," he replies, smiling maliciously, he may have invented some lie to my boss.

"Good, thanks." I walk nervously to the elevator. When he opens I mark the top floor, praying that my boss is in a good mood to bear my delay. The doors open and an impressive hazelnut welcomes me.

"Late." His cold voice makes me swallow dry.

"Good morning Mr. Russell" I would like to tell you that you are rude for not saying hello first, but I want my job and I respect it too much. Maybe it's cold, but in the four years I've been working, he's cared about me, and at a certain point, he's fond of me.

"Reason why you were late?"

"I had a little accident." He looks at me surprised and inspects me with his eyes.

"Is she okay?"

"Thank God, all good, too bad there are idiots who drive like crazy," he smiles at me.

—Start with your work — he takes a few steps, but stops — my children will arrive at any moment, if they enter your house like Juan, don't worry — I nod and get ready to do my work. A few minutes later, my best friend Julia appears with a huge smile.

"Hello, silly," he greets and I smile at her, too affectionate.

"Hello, witch." I stick my tongue out at her and she rolls her eyes.

"Forget that, you have to get over it." Last year Julia dressed as a witch for a party at the club where I work as a stripper. His suit ended up shattered in a fight with another girl, from that moment I nicknamed him that — But hey — he fixes a lock of her hair that falls on her face.

"By the way" I stir trying to make myself more comfortable in the chair "did you find an apartment?" His smile fades.

"Still nothing," she responds sadly, "I'm very scared, Ariadna," she confesses, "if I don't get anything this month, Peter and I will be on the street." Her eyes turn glassy and an excellent idea comes to mind.

"How about you go to my house?" I propose excitedly. "We can be calmer," she denies immediately.

"I can't Ariadna, that would be abusing your trust" I glare at her.

"None of that, my house is exaggeratedly spacious for only two people." You know why I don't sell it. Also, you could help me with the expenses and nothing better than a woman accompanying me — I joke to say yes.

“Wouldn't your brother be uncomfortable with all this?” She asks worriedly.

"None of that," I reply, "in fact, I think it would feel great considering that Peter will also live there," she agrees, analyzing the situation.

"Okay" I jump out of my seat and hug her "when do you think I can move in?" I think, today I have the day off at the bar so we can accommodate everything.

"Today, after your shift and mine are over," she nods.

"I have to go to work before they fire me and you too," he jokes and I laugh.

"Go away" she sticks her tongue out at me and I do the same.

I sit down and start typing concentrated, I plan all the appointments and meetings of my boss plus the reports that he ordered me to review and put in order. A few hours have passed because my fingers feel worn, two figures flash into my boss's office, I bet they are his children. Damn rude, at least they should have greeted me, it's not like I'm painted or anything like that. I sigh tired and hungry, the phone rings and I pick it up quickly.

—The reports that I asked him, bring them — he doesn't let me answer and hangs up, I get up fixing my clothes. I walk at a determined pace to the door which I knock on and until I hear a forward, I open slowly and breathe nervously, I enter and everything is silent.

"Here's what you asked of me, Mr. Russell." I walk to place the report on his desk.

"Thank you," I nod and look at his companions, the oxygen leaving my lungs when I saw the seated figure.

—But how small the world is — his sarcastic smile makes you want to hit him — don't you think so, miss bad jokes? —I breathe several times, I didn't think that the idiot who crashed my car is here tomorrow and that he's the son of my boss.

Shit, I think I'm fired.