Chapter 2

That night, after asking any ghost of the underworld or the Devil himself for a miracle, I thought they would ignore me, just like God did me. Maybe God thought I didn't deserve it. Or that my family didn't deserve it. But it doesn't matter, I'll forget all that, now I wanted to start a life again. No more crying. No more suffering. Owen was very happy to see that I ordered two pieces of chocolate cake, one for me and one for him. We had already forgotten what chocolate tasted like. We had already forgotten what a sweet was, a sugar. But now, we would have that happiness from when we were children. Thanks Constantine. A demon that... Damn it, Stella, don't think about it right now, my subconscious whispered. I closed my eyes and counted to three. Enjoy, buy. Shopping for the house, shopping for clothes. It was the point of this afternoon. "Stella, are you okay?" Owen asked me, his little face creased in concern. "Perfectly champion" I smile, transmitting happiness. Although I also felt a little bad, you don't have to worry. Dessert arrived about five minutes later. Owen's eyes sparkled like never before and he began to devour the cake like there was no tomorrow. My cheeks hurt, from smiling a lot at this moment. Owen's happiness was mine. And he was very cheerful and happy. But then he stopped, and looked at me strangely. "What's wrong?" I mumbled, reaching out to stroke his hand. "How... how will you pay for this?" he asked, confused. I swallowed. I inhaled a lot of air and then let it out. "I've got a very good job that will help us with expenses, Owen. Don't worry, eat—I lied and gave him a lopsided smile. His little brown eyes light up -A new job?! That's amazing Stella, mom will be so happy!" he yells very loudly, making some people notice us. My cheeks flush with embarrassment. Owen notices, and tries to look like he hasn't yelled. I laugh internally. "Calm down Owen," I whispered. He looks at me sadly. -I'm sorry. I give him a sympathetic look. I understand your emotion. I am too. But there's something about all this that makes me think it's not real. "Don't worry," I say after a few seconds, "we're going to make a big purchase today, are you in?" "Yes, of course I'm in!" He laughed with happiness when he saw him finish gulping down his cake. This was what he wanted so much. What I wanted so much to have again. This kind of happiness is unique. Seeing your little brother, happy that things will change, is something... that gives you peace of mind, relief, because you know that now nothing will be missing. No more. A few hours after doing all the shopping, both food and clothes, and some toys for my brothers, I asked for an Uber. Now we were in front of my destroyed house with a minimum of twenty-five bags. The driver, without asking, helped us lower the bags and place them in front of the door. Once everything was taken out, I paid him and wished him good luck, he was kind to us. Now came the best and worst part. "Are you ready, pup?" I muttered, grabbing what bags I could and opening the door. Owen winked at me. "Super smart," he replied. I chuckled. I opened the door all the way, and yelled: "Mary, mom, please come down!" The next thing I heard was Mary's feet sprinting downstairs. "Watch out, Mary!" I murmured as I saw her running down the stairs. When he finished going down, he observed all the bags, with food and clothes. -And what is that? Did they loot a store? Mom, Owen and Stell...! "Shut up, shut up." I covered her mouth with my hand before she finished what she was going to say. First, we haven't looted any stores, Mary. We would not be able. Second, I have good news for you—I whispered the last thing in her ear. Mary agreed. "Okay, I believe you" and he walked away from me to help Owen with the bags of food to the kitchen. I went back to the door and took the last ones that were left, I closed the door securely and when I turned around, I met the inquisitive and terrifying look of my mother. "Where did you get all that, Stella Aileen Moritz?" she asked suspiciously, "you've spent at least more than three hundred dollars there and we don't even have fifty to spend, so tell me," she demanded now, adopting her threatening posture. The bags that I had in my hands, I put aside. I let out a long snort and opened my mouth to say something but she held up a finger to shut me up before saying anything. "No lies, Aileen. I know you very well," she asked. And I got more nervous. What the hell am I going to tell him now? "Mom... I got..." "Mommy, look, Stella bought all kinds of cereal!" And she brought me a Barbie doll, and some pretty dresses!" My sister ran to me and hugged my stomach tight. Mary and Owen are thirteen-year-old twins, almost my height now, "Thank you, Stell." Sorry to interrupt, I'm leaving—and she ran back to where she came from. "You got what?" -A... The doorbell rings and I roll my eyes. "Shit!" I exclaimed, losing my patience. "That dirty mouth, Stella!" I turned and flung open the door. Constantine was in front of me, wearing casual clothes and not a suit, with a cocky smile. I frowned. "What are you doing here?" I blurted out, puzzled. "And who are you?" my mother asked further back. Constantine fixed his gaze on her and smiled kindly. "Mrs. Gabrielle, it's nice to finally meet you." My mother and Constantine shake hands and he kisses her on the back, like a gentleman. My name is Constantine Agatone. Stella and I have known each other for months. I wanted to hire her at my famous hotel in the city and one thing led to another," she said and I almost fell on my ass to the ground. My mother's face is a poem. I think mine is even worse. Because what he has said has left me speechless and upset. *** "Why did you say that?" He chuckles. -Why lie? "Isn't what you said a lie?" "We kind of have a relationship now, don't we?" he says questioningly, arching an eyebrow. Her blue eyes penetrate every part of me and I feel intimidated. "On my terms, Constantine," I rebutted. He nods. -What did you want to do? "Wait some time, dammit!" His brow furrows. "Don't yell at me." His voice sounds completely rough and I stay still in my spot. "I'm sorry," I apologize, "I'm stressed, okay?" All in one day, Constantine. You could have waited I don't know, a week? Three days? I do not know! But in one day? Argh! I turn away from him, and I start to hear his laughter. With a frown I turned around. "Do you think I'm kidding or what?" I say, annoyed. Constantine stops laughing and looks me square in the eye. "Okay, sorry, you're just...cute?" In that state, I'm not good with compliments. I make a face and shake my head. "I don't want your compliments," I tell him. Constantine cracks his neck and I wince in horror. -And why not? I remain silent, watching him. No compliments, no flirting, no crush, I say to myself. "You said something about having a famous hotel in town, right?" I changed the conversation. I sit on my uncomfortable bed, crossed my legs and watch him. —A chain, rather—specific and I raise my eyebrows—, I also have a restaurant. Here. I swallow. "Are you very well known?" Constantine winces. —Ehmmmm, yes—he ends by saying—, if they see me with you, you would already know what to do or say, right? I frown. "Of course not," I blurt out quickly. They won't see me with you yet—loose. -Oh no? His look intimidates me. "No, Constantine. Wait a month. I... I want to recover from everything, and if you want me to appear in a newspaper with you, about which they say that you are already dating someone, I would have to make some arrangements, right? Constantine shakes his head and tilts a smile. "If you want we can say we're friends," he proposes and I roll my eyes. "And are you sure that's what the press will just say?" I adopt an amused but false face. I watch Constantine bite his bottom lip as he stifles a giggle. They knock on my bedroom door and then I hear my mother's voice: "Lunch will be served shortly, come down in ten minutes," he warns and then I hear when he goes down. "You're not staying to eat, are you?" I ask. —I have things to attend to in Averno, see you tomorrow? "Sure," I accept, "and please, don't scare me again." You learned to knock on the door. Constantine laughs and nods. Together, we went downstairs and entered the kitchen, Constantine wanted to say goodbye to my mother and brothers. I have to say that Gabrielle tasted good, but I'm still not sure if it's for the money. I watch him say goodbye to Mary and Owen, then drive off in a blue Porsche. The neighbors here are stunned to see such a handsome man leave my house in such an expensive car. I have to bet they're calling me a bitch right now and I don't know how to feel. I close the door of my house and enter the kitchen, where they are waiting for me to eat. "Why is he gone, darling?" I have made lasagna. I look at her after sighing. "I had things to do, mom," I mumble and sit at the table. The lasagna smells amazing. My palate is watering and my stomach quickly asks me to eat everything and enjoy. "I understand," he says, "and where did you meet?" Here came the typical questions, but which, I did not know what to answer. So I would say the first thing that crossed my mind. -Square. My mother frowns. -Square? What rich man spends his time in that square ?-She ​​looks at me suspiciously, again. "Mom, he's going to jog there." I'm starting to get nervous. Out of the corner of my eye I look at my brothers who are listening to everything in silence and attentively. "Yeah, sure," he huffs. You're lying. —Maybe—I release what is different from the "no" so that he gets confused. And that's exactly what it does, get confused. "Could we start eating now?" I'm hungry and this looks delicious," she exclaims, Mary. And now mom, it looks like Constantine is a good man, for giving Stella a job. I smile at my little sister and stroke her hair. -Let's eat. Profit—I say. I sat on the bed and began to fold the new clothes that I had bought. A few hours ago I started packing up the old one, to donate it, and now I was filling my old closet with new clothes. I felt full and happy to see that I will be able to put on something decent, without gaps or discoloration. From my room I could hear the screams of Mary and Owen playing with their new dolls. And there was nothing that made me happier. "Are you thinking of changing your bed?" —AHHH! My breathing becomes agitated from the great scare that hit me. I take a deep breath and then release all the air, I repeat this several times. —What do you have with scaring me? You've scared me three or four times in one day, Constantine. I see him laugh. "I'm sorry, Stella. I want to see you. I put my hands on my hips. -For? Constantine shrugs. -To see you. I frown. "See me and that's it?" I repeat, confused. Constantine turns his head to the side and I see him tip a smile. "Shall I help you?" He changes the subject. I wince, ignoring what has eluded me. "To what?" I question as I turn around to put the clothes away. "To ask you for a bed," he says, "or a house...