Feelings for him

(Alana)

Nothing scared me more than getting intimate with a man, when I was a teenager, I always stayed away from men. Especially those who showed interest in me. The reason my friends called me a coward was that I was a virgin even in college.

After that time at the party with Ricardo, I knew my body and feelings were acting up. It was hard to ignore what my heart was feeling.

I sat in front of the mirror, combing my hair, when in actual senses I was reminiscing the times Ricardo and I were making out in his office.

What was that, how did we reach that stage? My heart was confused more than my brain was. What happened that evening was out of my hands, I kept asking myself if I was attracted to my husband.

“How come?” I thought, only to realize I said the words out loud. Slamming the pink hairbrush on the table. I looked at my reflection in the mirror. Creased my hair a little.

“I'm beautiful, right?” I muttered while feeling my face, it was smooth. My fingers slid down my cheeks and rested on my lips. He kissed me, I thought, while rubbing my thumb over my lips. I could still feel his warm soft lips cushioning mine.

His lips tasted nice, soft like rose petals. When I sucked on his tongue. My whole body tingled. My breasts hardened and pressing them against his chest eased the pain and gave me pleasure.

“Ah,” my eyes closed when I reached for my neck, the way he kissed me there. Did he like me, or was he just using me? I wanted to know if he liked me.

Suddenly, the door flew open, jerking me back to my senses, and it was Ricardo. I panicked, thinking Ricardo saw me or read my perverted thoughts about him.

“Are you ready?” Ricardo asked once he walked in, I nodded and picked up the hairbrush again. My hands were cold and slippery.

“I was told you never attend such gatherings,” I said, clearing my throat and began brushing my hair again. It was another day, Ricardo went to the office while I stayed home with Santiago to get ready for the evening party for employees.

“My son is coming with us…and well, I'm the boss,” Ricardo said nonchalantly, and I nodded. The party was specifically for the Romero company. Of course, the boss was needed there. Ricardo was already wearing a burgundy tuxedo. He looked dashing.

“I'll get him ready then,” I said and rose from the chair abruptly when Ricardo stopped her.

“No, you get ready, and I'll take care of him,” he said calmly, she wasn't even ready yet. Women took a long time getting ready.

“I…just get ready, I'll be fine,” Alana said lowering her head, Ricardo stared at her for a while.

“Get ready Alana,” saying that, he glanced over at the red dress carefully placed on the bed and left the room. Alana was frozen in place.

“Oh no, why am I acting like this?” It was frustrating to act so coy despite being an adult. She was 22, not 10. She stared at the dress and sighed. This time she made sure the dress wasn't from a certain someone.

She picked it up and loved the color and fabric, so rich and seemed expensive. Ricardo bought it for her. Although he said it was Marcela, she thought so too until she called Marcela and asked her. Well, the man lied. He gifted her the dress to wear for the party.

“He-he, this will do,” she giggled and found the cutest earrings and necklace to go with the dress and stilettos. She chose a black purse for the occasion.

Alana took her time getting ready, this time she had a different feeling. She wanted to look more beautiful.

___

Back in Santiago's room, Ricardo was kneeling on the carpet in front of his son. He was satisfied with how his son was looking.

“You look handsome champ, just amazing,” Ricardo said with a smile seeing his work of art. His boss looked like him, handsome in a little tuxedo he had made for him.

“Smile champ, I'm taking you out,” he caressed his face, but like always. His son seemed lifeless. Ricardo hated seeing Santiago like this. There was no life.

Santiago was in constant fear. Ricardo hugged him tightly. He blamed himself for this.

For letting Erica torture Santiago until he was traumatized. Nothing was working, he had hired countless doctors and nurses to help his son get better. Unfortunately, to no avail. His heart was restless, Santiago was his life. His son meant the world to him.

“You'll be okay, I promise,” Ricardo moved away and ran his hand through Santiago's hair. There was no reaction from his son, but he knew Santiago was intelligent. He understood things around him.

“Let's go,” he said getting up, grabbed Santiago's hand. Immediately Ricardo turned around, he was startled when he saw Alana standing by the door. She was startled too as if she were caught stealing.

“I… I came to get you… I'm done,” she said, lowering her head and holding her purse tightly, Ricardo scanned her carefully. For a second, he thought he was seeing some film star standing in front of her.

His wife was looking stunning, the dress fit her perfectly well.

“We are done,” Ricardo said, averting his eyes when Alana cleared her throat, obviously she caught him staring at her.

“Come, Santi, you look dashing…so handsome,” Alana said with cheers and walked to Santiago's side and grabbed his hand. Ricardo watched her from the corners of his eyes. She was happy, on the other side, Alana was worried about Santiago and Ricardo.

She came to the room and found Ricardo talking to his son. It turned out he was hurting. Alana wondered what happened in the past. Why was Santiago like this? Thinking up to that, she made it her mission to find out herself.

“Oh madam, you look stunning, like a fairy… Just look at you,” Mrs. Marks said once Ricardo and Alana went outside. Dennis and a few men in black suits were waiting for them.

“Thank you, Mrs. Marks, please take care of the house,” Alana said with a smile and Mrs. Marks nodded. The rest of the servants watched from the sidelines in anticipation.

“Careful,” Alana said while helping Santiago get in the car. He sat in the middle, with Ricardo and Alana to the sides. Dennis was the one driving the car. Two more cars followed from behind closely.

Alana wondered why Ricardo hired extra security around the house.

___

The evening was slowly turning to darkness, the city was bustling with people and busy cars. It was the end of the week. The clubs were open, the fast food restaurants were fully packed. The side food stands were busy as customers flooded the place having their late-night meals. The traffic wasn't as annoying as in the morning. But Dennis made a few stops to allow people to pass.

Alana was nervous as she sat in her seat, fiddling with her phone. She just received a message from Rocco, and he wanted to see her urgently.

He said it was something important concerning her work. It was late, she was going to a party, why would Rocco call her?

Alana was agitated, she didn't tell Ricardo about it. Seeing how he was keeping guard.

She knew he would get upset if she told him.

“We are here,” Alana's trail of thoughts was broken by Ricardo's voice. She realized they arrived at the venue. A five-star hotel, she saw countless cars parked to the sides. A red carpet extended to the entrance and people elegantly dressed taking pictures.

“Come,” Ricardo helped her get out of the car once Santiago did.

“Thank you,” she mumbled shyly only to get startled when her phone started ringing, Ricardo saw it and the caller was Rocco.