Chapter 3 The door opens

hours here — I remind her for the fifth time, I think. — Sorry, but I needed to tell you something. — Speak — I ask. I see her smile before she starts. — Remember that membership application with Arnon Miller? I immediately sit up, alert. - Of course. “Members around the world”. My friend, the guy is a master in tourism, any businessman would like to found a company with him. Anywhere in the world. If Arnon says the place is good, people buy tours to see it. — Are you aware that the convocations have begun? Immediately, I sit down on the bed and pick up my notebook. — What do you mean, Carol? She explains that Samuel went to a conference in São Paulo and that they commented on the expansion of Arnon Miller's foundation around the world, as well as saying that they would select a group of 30 people. The call had already started by selecting one name per day. — Friend, the names of those selected are mentioned on the foundation’s Instagram. I see that they are already at number 28 and that there are only two names left to appear. — My name might not come out... — I think it will, yes. You are a great businesswoman and have a thriving business. I'm pretty sure your name comes out before closing. I laugh. — I really wanted to gain this partner and the capital that comes with it. I could make a wonderful expansion, but... — My voice trails off. — Babis, don’t do that to yourself. — she scolds me — Dreaming is part of life. I know some things didn't work out, but that doesn't mean you should close yourself off from the world. Have you seen your income this year? They are getting better and better. — They are like this because I had your help — I remember. - I know friend. But the credit in France is yours. Never forget that. — She sighs. - Wants to know? Whether this guy Arnon calls you or not, I'm sure he'll be able to expand the agency next year. I smile into the phone. Only Carolina could be like that, determined and super competent in everything. Even in friendships. Afterwards, we changed the subject and started talking about her children, David and Rose, who are increasingly beautiful. The youngest is one year old and is so cute. David is almost three years old and thinks he's the man of the house. They have already come here and, whenever I can, I spoil them both with gifts, cuddles and kisses. At the end, we talk about the news and she always asks me about my relationships. Again I say that I'm not having anything serious with anyone, which is a fact, but to say that I didn't catch some French people during this period is a lie. So we end the call and I go back to bed trying to sleep. To tell the truth, I wanted to have a serious relationship, but who said I could? It's not that men have disappeared from my radar, but every time I'm in bed with one of them I remember Brian. That gringo who is as beautiful as he is a liar. I even wanted to give myself up, date for real, fall in love, get married and have children as cute as my friend's. But, unfortunately, I believe that this life is not for me. — Bonjour! I enter the agency greeting the employees and immediately realize that something strange is going on. I ask what it is and after insisting so much, my manager shows the phone number on Arnon Miller's institute page. Then, I see my photo, and even though I have knowledge of the French language, I can't understand what is written. I translate the page into Portuguese-Brazil and then I can read it. — Good heavens! — I exclaim, jumping with fright and joy. I don’t think so, but it’s really there “Bárbara SS Alves. Twenty-ninth selected for the Partners for the World project”. — How long will it take us to arrive? — I ask the driver, leaning forward. — There was an accident on the road, but they should be opening up traffic now. I sigh, irritated, leaning against the bench. New York traffic sucks. The problem is that I'm on short notice for an important meeting. — Sir, they're starting to release... — I hope so. Thankfully, ten minutes later he stops in front of the office building and opens the door for me. I grab my business briefcase and stride inside. — Good morning, Mr. Smith. — The receptionist greets me as I head to the boardroom's private elevator. So, I stop on the top floor of the building, the door opens and two secretaries approach. The first takes my folder and the other gives me reports and documents for the meeting. — They're waiting for you in conference room one, Mr. Smith. I nod and head in the appropriate direction, reading the document presented to me. Today we are going to have a tense meeting, mainly due to the number of people involved, but nothing different from what I've done before. I open the door and find my cousin, Robert H. Price, talking to them. — Thank heavens you arrived — he declares when he sees me and introduces me. — Now it's up to you. I nod my head in confirmation, leaving the documents on the table and placing myself at the end of the table. — Good morning everyone — I greet the others present. — I'm Brian Hamilton Smith. Heir and CEO of Hamilton Empreendimentos Imobiliários. Are we going to close our negotiations on your land? Two hours; This is the time when I am trying to close the negotiation of land areas belonging to the Kings' heirs. The father had recently passed away and he knew straight away that they wanted to sell, the problem was the price. Each wanted a larger amount. Then the problem started. Mainly because I already had a firm estimate of how much I would pay, but the oldest of them, because of my delay, insisted that I should pay more for the negligence of making them wait, and I was already losing patience. — Madam and gentlemen — I say looking at my watch. — Due to the impasse, we at Hamilton are withdrawing the offer... — No, Mr. Smith — the woman interrupts me. — Can I talk to my brothers alone? I look at Robert and he nods. We both left, leaving them alone. — How long are you going to leave them there? — he asks me as he closes the door. — Take it from me, in less than five minutes... Knock Knock. — Mr. Smith. — The door opens and the woman who asked for the time appears. — Let's close the sale. So, we open some champagne and the girl, who I now find out is called Aurora King, starts flirting with me. Of course I'm not interested. I'm not one to mix business with pleasure, and the truth is that I'm closed to relationships indefinitely. So I give up and leave my partying cousin with the trio. Since he's married, I know he won't get too fond of the girl, which leaves me free to look at the company's new construction projects. I go to lunch and when I return, I find a red box on the table with a card on top. At first, I'm worried, but my secretary says it was the girl from this morning that she left. Then I open the box and see a pair of red lace panties filled with a sweet perfume. In the note, a message that, if it had been from someone else, would have touched me “I would love to just wear this piece with you”. — More direct than that here is impossible — I comment to myself. Her bad luck is that I'm not like that. If it were my best friend, Samuel, before he was married, he would be having sex with her in the corner without thinking about the consequences. However, Miss King was wrong with her hand. One fact is that I have always been very selective. It's not just anyone I'm going to take to my bed. In fact, in my entire life, I have only had seven women, and each one left their mark on my path. But the only one who managed to capture me at first