“UNKNOWN ENEMY”

"YOU are the greatest," Joaquin told her with a smile.

Lara's rolled her eyes when her husband said that. Then she opened her mouth to speak.

"Really? How many women have passed through your life? I'm the best even if I'm not?” she asked in a row then followed what she said with a soft laugh.

Joaquin hugged her tightly because of that. Then he kissed her forehead.

“They are all in my past. For me you are the greatest not because you are excellent in bed," her husband explained to her.

That's when Lara's eyebrows rose and then she met her husband's dark eyes with a questioning look.

"What do you mean?" she asked in confusion.

Joaquin slightly pinched her chin and then explained with a smile.

"Do you know I love the way how you subdue? That's what really makes me want you, always. At first, you're the type who seems to want to keep up. But eventually, you know I will be more dominant every time we make love. And every time you surrender everything to me, I feel like I'm the most powerful man in the world," Joaquin continued.

Lara couldn't help but blush because of what her husband said. But despite the heat on both of her cheeks, she still decided to admit to Joaquin what was happening to her every time they were together.

“Really? Well, I really like the effort you put in to make me scream," she said shyly looking away.

"Yeah?" It's like he can't believe it, but Joaquin's tone of voice shows that he liked what she said.

Lara bit her lower lip and then nodded consecutively. "Actually, I like everything you do. Maybe that's just my favorite. Do you know why?" she asked him.

"All right, why?" Joaquin's eyes flashed and asked her.

"Because by then your lovemaking tastes better. I'm losing myself and my sanity more," she said, unable to stop herself from being affected by what she was saying.

That's when Joaquin slowly brought his face closer to her. "Yeah? I am good? You mean great?” he asked with a smile even though the tone of his speech could be said to be seductive.

And if she were to describe it, she would say it was the same as the one he used on her as Venus. Joaquin's stunning bedroom voice that she never forgot.

"Yes, you are the greatest," she answered in a tone of voice almost in a whisper.

Joaquin's smile widened when she said that. Then he pressed a kiss on her lips before continuing with what else he wanted to say.

"You haven't told me who and where you met Callie's father," he told her.

As soon as her husband said that it was as if cold water was poured on the hot temperature she was feeling.

"I-It's because for me he's important anymore," she replied, avoiding Joaquin's gaze.

"You don't love him, do you?" Joaquin asked in a tone that seemed to want to ask her for reassurance.

That's when Lara stared straight into her husband's eyes. How can she deny that she doesn't love Callie's father when he is exactly the man he wants to know?

"Why? Do you think it is possible for one person to love two people?” that's what she thought of answering instead.

Joaquin nodded and then looked at her deeply.

"Is there anything I need to know?" he asked her.

Lara's chest grew even more nervous at that question. Does her husband suspect her? Or maybe he resonates with the secret she is hiding from him?

Lara let out a series of breaths and then forced herself to calm down. Somehow, she succeeded in that.

"For what reason do you want to know about Callie's father?" she asked him.

Joaquin shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe because I am your husband?" he replied

Well, that's right.

He has all the reasons to ask about her past because he is the man she married.

"I told you about, Venus, right?"

She nodded.

"A while ago, while your eyes were blindfolded, did you know that the strong resemblance between you two is undeniable?" said Joaquin.

Lara swallowed at what she heard. And before she could even open her mouth to defend herself, her wife had preceded her.

"Please, don't think that I'm thinking about her as we make love. I can't do that to you. It's just that, it's like I suddenly saw her in you earlier," Joaquin continued.

Lara's mind worked quickly.

Does she have to admit the truth to Joaquin? Is this the right time to do that?

She then quickly shook her head and put that out of her mind.

She can't put at risk everything she and Joaquin have just because she's weak.

She had to find the right timing for something as serious as her secret. So again, even if it’s against her will she needs to tell him a lie, again.

"Maybe it's just a coincidence that we look alike," she said.

Joaquin stared at her for a moment and then brought his face closer to hers.

"All right," he replied then kissed her again.

"We just finished, didn't we?" she even reminded him.

That's when Joaquin glanced at the big clock hanging on the wall of their room.

"We still have three hours before our daughter returns from school," said Joaquin looking at her.

Lara giggled at that. "But I'm still tired," she said truthfully.

"I understand. That's why we'll do our last round here on the bed," he said, removing the blanket and revealing her nakedness again.

Lara smiled. "Aren't you tired?" she asked, caressing her husband’s broad chest.

Joaquin shook his head. "I will never get tired of the things that I cannot do without you," he said meaningfully.

Lara was thrilled by what Joaquin said. That's why the next touching of their lips is what once again led her to the place she knew she couldn't go without Joaquin.

She followed what he wanted. And again, she gave in and subdue.

Now that she knows that Joaquin is happy with what she's doing, there's no reason why she shouldn't do the same. Not just because she wants her husband to be happy. But as well as the fact that as a woman, she has an obligation to do that. It is her obligation to submit everything to Joaquin. And that was among the promises she swore when she married him.

*****

Selena was in the parking lot of that mall since earlier. Waiting for the right opportunity when to go down to visit the boutique where she saw the woman Ramil was obsessed with.

She wants to teach the girl a lesson. And she will start it in such a way that that woman will know whom she stole from her.

She was in that situation when a familiar face was what she saw walking from the front of her car. Selena immediately smiled.

"Well, I guess today is my lucky day," she said as she stepped on the gas of her car.

*****

Things happen so fast.

When she and Joaquin were able to park, she got off first. Her husband came with her to help him explain to Cynthia why she suddenly decided to resign.

But when from behind her she heard the noise made by the tires of the car on the floor of the parking space, she immediately turned around at the same time as her chest thumped loudly.

In shock, she was like a statue unable to make a single move. Fortunately, Joaquin was able to quickly grab her by the arm, so she was not hit by the car.

"Are you okay?" Joaquin asked her then caressed her face which turned pale because of fear.

She nodded one after the other even though the truth was that her heartbeat was not normal.

"What the hell was that? Should be grateful and I didn't get the plate number. But I can ask the mall guard so he can see the---.”

"Never mind. I'm fine. We don’t want any problem, don’t we?" she said.

"But Lara---."

“Listen to me, okay? And one more thing, I will never come back here, so you have nothing to worry about," she said to her husband.

It was only then that she made Joaquin agree to what she wanted to happen. Then he hugged her tightly.

"Thank you," she whispered to him.

"Always welcome," Joaquin replied then kissed her on the lips.

*****

"FANTASTIC bitch! And dare you to fool Ramil like this?” Selena said snarling.

"I will make sure that everything will not end here. Because I haven't started yet. You owe me a lot. You're just pitiful because you don't know about me as your enemy," she said followed by a loud laugh before driving the car away again.