Page 10 of Distrustful

"I'm sorry, but he can't enter," she suddenly blurts out pointing at Benjamin, experiencing certain satisfaction at seeing the bewilderment on Trinidad's face.

Trinidad seems to hesitate at that moment and Maria is stunned when she realizes that she's probably considering not entering if she can't be accompanied by this man. For an instant, the lawyer has the sensation that something like fear crosses the businesswoman's eyes, but it only lasts that, a moment.

"Go in, Trinidad," he speaks and she seems to calm down, awakening an uncontrollable curiosity in Maria, "I'll be right here," Benjamin points to where he stands.

For a moment, Maria sees such vulnerability in Trinidad's expression that she considers letting the man in, but decides not to in order to check if she appears asconfident as the other night without having him shadowing her.

"Let's go," Maria says opening the door, but just before entering, she stops and turns to Trinidad, "by the way, as Ursula's lawyer, this time I'll also be present, I hope you don't mind," she says satisfied, savoring her small victory.

Trinidad raises her gaze to fix it on Maria for just an instant, enough for her to see the fierceness in those honey-colored eyes, an intensity that makes her body shiver for no apparent reason.

"Not at all," Trinidad responds with a voice that sounds cold and controlled while entering the office.

Ursula stands to receive the guest and the three sit at a round table located in front of a window in a corner of the office.

For more than two hours, the two businesswomen discuss Trinidad's proposal, giving it shape and molding it while Maria takes notes on her tablet and makes some legal insertions when Ursula forgets them despite also being a lawyer.

"I think we can do very good things," Ursula says pleased when everything is clear and they decide to carry out the project.

"That's the idea," Trinidad answers.

"Well, if you agree, Maria will draft the collaboration agreement as we've discussed and will pass it to your lawyer to review all the clauses," Ursula proposes changing her posture.

"I have one more to add," Trinidad says and Maria's eyes fix on her like slits.

"And what's that?" Ursula asks.

"Whatever we do together, I don't want my image to appear publicly under any circumstances."

Maria frowns, distrustful, and takes note when Ursula nods.

"Agreed," Ursula responds and Maria pierces her with her gaze for not asking the reasons, "well I think that's everything."

Trinidad smiles and stands up, extending a hand to Ursula that then, to Maria's surprise, she also extends to her and squeezes firmly.

"I'll wait for your call then. No need to show me out."

The businesswoman says goodbye and Maria turns to Ursula with her mouth open.

"See how weird she is? Who invests all that money in a social project of this magnitude and then doesn't want their image to appear anywhere? Not to mention that man she doesn't detach from," Maria fires, increasingly annoyed.

"She'll have her reasons, Maria," her boss resolves.

"You like her," the lawyer concludes.

"Yes, plus she has an expression in her eyes that I don't know, it reminds me of something I can't quite place."

"Well, I think she's a predator."

Ursula laughs when she realizes that Maria has Trinidad in her crosshairs and that it's going to take a lot of patience until it passes.

"Get started on the agreement, come on, I'd like to begin as soon as possible."

"I will, but first I'm going to investigate her," Maria decides.

Ursula arches her eyebrows.

"Really? Aren't you getting a bit paranoid?"

"Say what you want, but to me she seems more like a mobster than a businesswoman, I'm sure what she wants is to launder money through your organizations."

Ursula shakes her head slowly while sighing, thinking Maria is exaggerating, but if her right hand wants to investigate the businesswoman, she won't be the one to stop her either.

"Fine, investigate her if you want, but you do it after drafting the contract and before we go to sign it."

"Of course," Maria stands up very determined, convinced that she'll find something that will get this agreement dissolved before signing it.