Chapter 5 - The Offer
Six months later, Arturo requested a meeting.
Mariana almost refused.
Octavio asked why she changed her mind.
“Because eventually this has to end.”
They met in a conference room at the Gran Hotel Alvarado.
Not table seven.
Arturo arrived alone.
He looked different.
Less polished.
Tired.
He sat opposite Mariana.
“Thank you for seeing me.”
“You have twenty minutes.”
He nodded.
“The settlement.”
“What about it?”
“I'll accept.”
Mariana showed no reaction.
“All terms?”
“All.”
Octavio pushed the documents forward.
Arturo signed.
One page.
Then another.
Then another.
When he finished, he placed the pen down.
“That's it?”
Octavio checked the signatures.
“Once finalized, yes.”
Arturo looked at Mariana.
“So thirteen years ends with signatures.”
“No.”
She closed the folder.
“It ended before these papers existed.”
Octavio excused himself.
Arturo watched him leave.
“Was I really that terrible?”
Mariana considered the question.
“You want me to make you feel better?”
“No.”
“Then yes.”
He flinched.
She continued.
“But you weren't always.”
Arturo looked surprised.
“The man I married wasn't.”
“What happened to him?”
“I've asked myself that.”
“And?”
Mariana looked toward the lobby.
“He started believing being successful meant being more important than everyone around him.”
Arturo stared at his hands.
“I lost everything.”
“No.”
He looked up.
“You lost things.”
“What's the difference?”
“You're alive.”
She stood.
“You can rebuild a career.”
“You can rebuild friendships.”
She picked up the folder.
“You can even become someone you respect.”
Arturo gave a humorless laugh.
“You make it sound simple.”
“I didn't say simple.”
She headed toward the door.
“Mariana?”
She turned.
“I am sorry.”
For the first time, it didn't sound like a strategy.
She nodded.
“I believe you.”
His eyes lifted.
“But forgiveness doesn't mean reconciliation.”
His brief hope disappeared.
“I know.”
Mariana opened the door.
“Goodbye, Arturo.”
“Goodbye.”
She walked out.
And neither of them looked back.
That afternoon, Sergio found Mariana inspecting renovations to the rooftop restaurant.
“Settlement?”
“Done.”
“How do you feel?”
“Hungry.”
He laughed.
“That wasn't what I meant.”
“I know.”
She looked around.
“Have you eaten?”
“No.”
“Come on.”
“Where?”
Mariana smiled.
“Staff cafeteria.”
“The owner of the hotel eats in the staff cafeteria?”
“My father did.”
Sergio followed.
“Your father also argued with suppliers over the price of tomatoes.”
“Smart man.”
“He once fired me.”
Mariana stopped.
“What?”
“Then rehired me forty minutes later.”
“Why?”
“I told him his new lobby design looked like a casino.”
Mariana burst out laughing.
Sergio stared at her.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You're laughing at me.”
“No.”
“You absolutely are.”
May you like
She continued walking.
For the first time in years, her laughter wasn't careful.
