Page 37 of Distrustful

Chapter 17

Maria has spent three days in a kind of trance with confused thoughts. Since spending the night with Trinidad, the tingling overflows her chest every time she thinks of her and the lawyer knows exactly why this happens to her, but refuses to accept that she's falling in love with a woman as mysterious as the businesswoman, someone who hides secrets that she's sure are painful, like that C-section scar that has her deeply intrigued.

"She's had a child," she says sitting across from Ursula while they both wait in her office for Mildred, who has warned she's running a bit late, to come pick her up so they can go home together after work.

Maria has seen the opportunity to keep venting for the fourth time this week and, instead of leaving, has stayed with her friend.

"You've repeated that three times," Ursula says exhausted from hearing the same litany, falling back in her chair.

"And doesn't it seem strange to you? Where is this child supposed to be?"

"Maybe they study abroad or are spending time with their father," she concludes while gathering her things. "Or in a Swiss boarding school because they're as annoying as you."

"And why won't she talk to me about it?" the lawyer insists.

Ursula fixes her gaze on her just as her phone vibrates.

"She must have her reasons. Mildred's downstairs, let's go."

"She sleeps with me, why can't she tell me?" Maria asks while standing up.

"Technically, you've only slept together once, the rest has been pure casual sex. God, how old are you? Trinidad doesn't have to tell you shit, Maria, just like you probably haven't told her anything about yourself."

"Because she hasn't asked," Maria rebuts, crossing her arms in a defensive gesture.

Ursula turns and stops, studying her friend with an amused expression while sketching a smile.

"You want her to ask? That's what really annoys you, isn't it?" Ursula concludes without hiding how much she's enjoying her friend's situation, "that she won't talk about her private life and also isn't interested in yours."

"I really don't understand what Mildred sees in you, I'm serious," she barks and walks toward the exit.

Ursula laughs and follows her until they exit the building, where Mildred waits leaning against the car.

"Well, go to your love nest, I'll go alone to my apartment. Maybe I'll use the app to meet some woman who actually wants to listen to me," Maria dramatizes while taking out her cigarette pack.

"You and I both know the only woman you want to meet has a name and surname, and is very attractive, by the way," Ursula responds winking at her.

Maria narrows her eyes and laughs, and doesn't verbalize what she's thinking because a man interrupts them before they separate.

"Excuse me," he says addressing Maria, "do you know someone named Adriana Martín?"

Maria gets nervous thinking he might be the jealous husband of one of her many lovers, but quickly dismisses it because she hasn't given any of them enough information to locate her anywhere and the only person from the company she's slept with has been Anabel, and she isn't married.

"Adriana?" Maria thinks for a few seconds, "well I don't recognize that name, sorry," she says looking at Ursula, who also shakes her head.

"Are you sure? I've been told she's been seen around here lately."

Maria frowns and somehow incomprehensibly, becomes alert. The man, despite wearing a suit and having the immaculate hands of an accountant, has something she doesn't like, but she likes his insistence even less.

"I've already told you no, now if you'll excuse me, I'm in a hurry."

Ursula glances sideways at the vehicle parked a few meters behind Mildred's, the one where her bodyguard always follows her closely, but at a prudent distance that doesn't draw attention. The man has gotten out of the car and approaches slowly as if taking a walk, which starts to make all three women more nervous, because Mildred is witnessing everything next to her car door.

"Wait," he insists in a friendly tone, "I just ask that you look at a photo, maybe if you see her, you'll remember."

Maria sighs and, after gripping her purse tightly and exchanging a look with Ursula, nods and the man extends a photograph that he places in front of her. Maria's heart flips and threatens to escape her chest when she sees in it a somewhat younger Trinidad, with longer hair and thinner, but without doubt it's the businesswoman she's falling in love with.

"I've never seen her," she responds dryly, trying not to appear disturbed so he won't detect that she knows her, because she doesn't trust the man.