"Right on time," she said as she walked over and opened the door. Dolores stood there with a tray, carrying a plate of cochinita pibil and a stack of tortillas.
"Thanks!" Carolina replied, clearly pleased.
She began eating, and as she did, she noticed a folded note resting on the tray. Curious, she picked it up and unfolded it.
"Check the wardrobe. There's a box inside. Wear what's in it. When it's eight, go to my room. Once you're inside, cover your eyes and wait for me on the bed."
The message was from Maximo.
Her fingers traced over the writing for a moment. The strokes were neat and refined.
Without wasting time, she stood and went to find the box.
When the clock finally struck eight that evening, Carolina stepped out of her room and glanced around the hallway. She had on a black robe, and beneath it, a silk nightgown of the same color. Seeing no one nearby, she quickly made her way to the room at the end of the hall and slipped inside.
She had once imagined her wedding night dress would be white. Among her belongings, Nadia had left a carefully chosen one. It wasn't out of kindness. It was meant as a quiet jab at her situation. Still, she couldn't deny that what Maximo had prepared for her looked far better. It suited her, both elegant and striking.
The room was pitch black. She reached out, feeling along the wall for a switch, but her fingers found nothing.
With no light to guide her, she moved forward slowly, her hands stretched out in front of her. He had told her to wait on the bed.
She settled in place. After some time, faint sounds came from outside the room. The hallway remained dark, and she still couldn't see him.
"Of course, he doesn't want me to see him," she pondered. Remembering the instructions, she quickly put on the blindfold.
Her nerves tightened even more, every small sound around her becoming sharper.
Cloth shifted softly, and then the mattress dipped under his weight as his presence closed in. She was already lying down.
"I-I... I've never..." she stammered, her voice unsteady. Carolina had always wanted her first time to be with someone she loved. That part hadn't gone the way she imagined.
At once, Maximo stopped. He had only ever seen her through cameras, and even then, he found her beautiful. Still, he had no intention of letting her see him. The thought alone unsettled him. If she did, there was a chance everything would fall apart.
His plan had been simple. Get through this quickly, and if luck was on his side, she would become pregnant right away. It wasn't that he felt nothing for her, but the way things were happening felt off for both of them. Now that he realized she had no experience, he had to steady himself. This wouldn't be as quick as he thought.
"Alright," he replied quietly, his voice low. His hand moved to her leg, and she flinched at the contact. "Relax. I'll be careful."
She gave a small nod.
True to his word, he moved slowly, letting his actions guide her instead of rushing. When she tried to reach for him, he caught her wrists.
"No. Don't touch me. Keep your hands where they are. I'll handle everything."
"But..."
"Carolina!"
There was weight in his voice, though it didn't sound harsh.
Letting out a quiet breath, she gave in and nodded again, unsure if he could even see her.
Every touch made her tense, her nerves stretched thin. He avoided her lips entirely, yet from her neck downward, his warmth lingered everywhere, leaving no part untouched.
Morning came quietly. When Carolina opened her eyes, she was alone again, back in her own room.
She pushed herself up slowly, a dull ache running through her body. Even though he had tried to be careful, there had been moments when his restraint slipped, and afterward, he had apologized.
Staring up at the ceiling, a small smile appeared on her lips. The memory of the night returned, and a faint blush crept across her face. It had hurt, but it hadn't been unpleasant.
As she got out of bed, something on the nightstand caught her attention. A small box sat there, shaped like it held jewelry. Next to it lay a note.
"The night was wonderful. Consider this your payment."
The softness in her expression disappeared. Her face tightened. Without hesitation, she changed, freshened up, grabbed the box, and walked out, anger burning through her as she ignored the lingering discomfort.
While she had been asleep, Maximo had already looked into her background. He searched her name and uncovered everything about her mother, along with the rumors that followed her. People said she was no different. That only made him more irritated. Paying her had been his decision. At the very least, it meant she wouldn't involve herself with anyone else.
He didn't expect love. He wasn't offering any either. That wasn't something he would accept.
His phone rang just then. It was his father.
"How's married life treating you, my son?" Cesar Castillo asked, his tone filled with expectation.
Maximo shifted in his seat and let out a low laugh.
"That's not bad. If everything goes the way it should, we'll know soon enough if Carolina's pregnant."
"Carolina?" Cesar asked, his voice filled with confusion.
"Dad, I'm talking about my wife. Her name is Carolina. Don't you remember?" Maximo asked impatiently.
"Oh..." Cesar let out a quiet breath. He didn't respond right away. "Well, I hope it turns out the way we want. Your grandmother will be thrilled if it does."
This marriage had been arranged for Eloisa, the woman everyone in town called a beauty, to become Maximo Castillo's wife. Even so, anyone could tell she would never agree to it. She wouldn't marry a man she had never met, especially not someone people whispered about as being covered in scars.
After the call ended, Cesar lowered the phone and let out a long breath. He should've seen this coming, yet it still left him irritated.
In the living room, Dolores adjusted one of the pillows.
"Good morning, Dolores. Do you know where my husband is?" Carolina asked. She kept her tone polite, since none of this involved the older woman.
Dolores lifted her head at once. Her eyes widened as she looked at her employer.
"Oh, good morning. He's in the office—" Before she could finish, Carolina had already started walking in that direction.
"Ma'am, please don't go!" Dolores called out as she hurried after her.
"I need to speak with him," Carolina said, and she didn't slow down.
"Ma'am, he won't react well to this..."
"I don't care how he feels. He treated me like that, so he's going to listen to what I have to say."
After that, Dolores gave a small nod and stayed where she was.
"Just... knock before you go in."
Carolina gave a brief nod in return.
When she reached his door, she struck it with a firm knock.
"Who's there?" Maximo called from inside. Hearing his voice only made her anger rise.
"It's me," she answered sharply. "Carolina."
"Leave."
The single word made her freeze, her lips parting in disbelief.
"He actually said that?"
She grabbed the handle and tried to push the door open, but it didn't budge.
"Maximo Castillo!" She slammed her fist against the door again.
"I told you to leave!" he shouted from the other side.
"Then open this door right now!"
He stayed silent, but not long after, two men walked into the mansion and headed straight for her.
"Ma'am, the boss wants you to move away from his office door."
The taller one had a hat on, and his tone remained calm.
"I'm not going anywhere until he talks to me," Carolina replied. She kept her voice steady as she faced him, then turned back toward the door. "So he's bold enough to sleep with me and leave me a note, but suddenly he can't face me now?"
Both men froze. Their eyes widened as they glanced at each other, clearly not used to hearing anyone speak about their boss like that.
A sound came from inside the office. The lock shifted, and the key turned. Right in front of her, the doorknob began to move.
