Chapter 4

• Episode: "Scare To Death"
• New York City.
• 6 months before.
• The day augurs a cold climate, the grayish panorama is to be expected during this season of the year in the city that never sleeps, it is winter. I take the beige raincoat from the hanger, and I take a look in the mirror, for today I have decided to wear a white dress at the knees, stilettos of the same color and little makeup. My straight brown hair remains in an updo, some fringes adorn my forehead. I seem to look fine, so after making sure everything is in place, I can go to work.
• And yes I must hurry.
• Time is short!
• I get to the parking lot, press the button on the control to unlock the doors. The white Porsche blinks with the headlights. I walk to the car and board. I get into tedious traffic, it's terrible, no way. While waiting I start to listen to the radio, a melody does not play that calms my impatience, on the contrary, the announcer speaks repeating what time it is.
• It's five minutes to eight thirty!
• The delay is due to my carelessness, I shouldn't have stayed up late at night. Hitting one eye was difficult, in part it was the stupid insomnia that seemed inopportune.
• The occasional horn sounds behind me, everywhere I go. As if that changes anything. Well, the queue is barely moving.
• I mark my father.
• "Good morning Lunita, did something happen?"
• -Good morning Dad. I'm stuck in traffic, sorry ...
• "Easy, daughter." It's okay if you can't join me at the meeting.
• "I really wanted to be there, and I don't think I'll be there in time." I feel lousy.
• —Don't worry, I have to get in now, be careful when driving.
• -Hope everything goes well.
• —You will see that yes.
• The call ends, I put the phone back in its place. After half an hour I was able to escape the horrible traffic. I will not be able to be in the meeting, at least I will be present to welcome the new shareholder of the company. My chest fills with happiness knowing that the future of the family business will no longer decline.
• Although we need to baste on some points, there is nothing left for our financial problems to end.
• ...
• Getting to Miller.Inc makes me smile, it is my comfort zone, since I can remember it is one of the places where I feel good. Now that it is also my work area, it complements me.
• I greet Paulina by blowing her a kiss as I rush to the elevator.
• -Have an excellent day! He wishes before the mirrored doors close.
• I manage to reciprocate with a smile.
• Once I have reached the floor, I find myself face to face with Daddy's secretary.
• "Good morning, Regina."
• "Welcome, young Miller." I'll go get some coffees, then I'll take you to the meeting room, with permission, "she adds urgently.
• -I understand.
• I go into my father's huge office looking for some signed papers. I take them with me to my post; I have not graduated from business administration yet, but my father has given me the vacancy of administrative assistant, he believes in me, in the natural potential I have with calculations. Which I inherited from him.
• Karol, the head of administration, gives me my daily tasks. She is a beautiful woman with abundant reddish hair, a perfectionist, and without neglecting her sweetness and understanding when evaluating my work.
• "Precious, Luna, how are you?" His eyes of hers honey hers share a simultaneous glow that enlivens the good humor she brings along with a soft smile.
• "Karol, I actually feel bad about being late, I was looking forward to being with Dad at the meeting," I pout.
• She comes around the desk, stands in front of me and her delicate hands rest on my shoulders leaving the subtle caress of support. Get him to smile a little.
• "Courage, it will be the next one, on the other hand, rest assured that this meeting will be a success." I have known Riccardo for a long time, he is a trustworthy, benevolent guy and he knows that with his contribution to this place he is going to make exorbitant profits.
• —You are absolutely right in the world, now if you allow me, I will go to work. —I notice, I make the pretense of retreating, his hand wraps around my forearm, preventing my exit. I look at her. What?
• -How are your studies? I need you here, but college matters more, "she admits in a low tone.
• —All right, don't worry, I can combine both without missing a beat on either one. Hey, Karol, can I take the afternoon off? I ask, rarely would I deny something like that, I ask anyway.
• "Of course you have, you've worked hard these days, you deserve it, precious." Before you go, go for two coffees, "she adds with a wink.
• "Sure, decaf?"
• "No, I'm in the mood for a delicious cappuccino today."
• "Okay, I'll be back soon."
• In a hurry, I'm on my way to my boss's favorite cafeteria, it's not that Miller's, Inc. doesn't like her, but that across the street is a recognized one who has frequented since she was little, that's what she told me. She has also become my choice when it comes to drinking coffee, in different ways. The distinction of the place has earned it for its attention and the explosive mix of flavors in each order.
• It is a place where you can sit and have a coffee, while it is raining outside and being able to look at thousands of drops through the glass, makes it a moment of calm and special. I don't know, I'm sorry, in my opinion Coffe City York is indescribable.
• Before setting foot on the road, the shooting begins, in all directions, fear seizes me. I am paralyzed, terror has taken over my body and I don't want to be a victim, a fallen body. I need to protect myself, out of nowhere a subject appears who pulls me, leads me by the hand, I would like to know his identity.
• Everything is so fast that I don't have time to recognize it. He urges me to get into the car in the passenger seat, he does the same while getting behind the wheel.
• "You're safe," he tells me in a soothing tone that for a moment has managed to chase away the unease.
• At last I look at him, after fixing my eyes on his familiar ones, I breathe normally again.
• "Jake?"
• —I was driving to the company and suddenly I saw you, I noticed that you were in trouble, and I did not hesitate to help you. You have to walk with a thousand eyes, Luna, "he adds, inspecting my face. You are well?
• "II…" I search for the right words, I have had a fright to death, and I am fortunate to have escaped the sudden shooting unscathed. I get lost in the lights of the patrols that are arriving, the sirens bring me back to reality -. I guess so, thanks Jake.
• "It is not necessary, you know that ensuring your safety is a privilege that I will do whenever I have the opportunity," he says with a smile that tears his gray eyes. I appreciate him like a father, partly because Boyle is friends with Dad. Next time, avoid walking anywhere, you have a car, Luna.
• I just nod, accepting the scolding.
• "I thought it would be as quiet a day as the others, but I'll be careful." Could you take me to buy some coffees?
• "Is it near where the commotion happened?"
• "Unfortunately," I confirm.
• "I'm not going to expose ourselves."
• —You're right, let's go back to the company, I'll explain to Karol. I resign myself, as I deflate in the seat.
• I can't stop thinking about what happened. How do these things keep happening in such a crowded place? The police should be more vigilant. With so many psychopaths on the loose, beefing up security is not an option.
• Luckily nothing happened to me, not a single scratch.
• "Hey, Jake," I manage to get his attention, just a sideways glance encourages me to continue. I don't want you to talk to my father, otherwise he will worry and he is able to hire two burly men to guard me. Y…
• "Don't worry, just try not to be a passerby, I don't want to imagine what would have happened if a bullet ..." He takes a breath, leaving the sentence unfinished.
• "Okay, let's change the subject, please." How have you been? I want to radically change the course of the conversation.
• "Now that I have found out that the meeting has been successful, I am relieved," he says and I open my eyes in surprise.
• -Really?! I blurted out without giving credit, I was expecting it, but it was happening I was dislodged with joy -. That's wonderful.
• "This is good news, Luna."
• ...
• "Congratulations, Dad!" —The first thing I do when I see him is throw myself into his arms, proud.
• "Luna, my daughter, you see that everything has been solved." He separates me so he can take my chin with affection -. Let's share the good news for Elena together.
• I nod, then she kissed her cheek tenderly. My father is so handsome, he keeps up very well even in his late sixties. He continues to maintain the sparkle in his greenish eyes like mine, and the elegance in his bearing and manner of being.
• "Come on, we have to celebrate, Dad."
• "Of course I do. Before I call your mother, come, I'll introduce you to Riccardo."