The Last Obedience of Lust

The international arrivals gate of New York JFK Airport opened with a rustle. After a long journey that lasted for hours, Isabelle walked slowly through the crowd, exhausted and worn out. The air of New York was nothing like the soft breezes of Europe, especially the Mediterranean. This city was sharp, this city was hungry. Yet, she had been sunbathing and relaxing on the most beautiful beaches of Barcelona, finding peace. For a moment, she remembered the days she enjoyed the sea with her friends at La Barceloneta Beach, and also the moments she spent alone in peace at Nova Mar Bella Beach. But now... she was in the very center of this city. In New York, at the core of all business centers. At first, she had been very eager and excited, but leaving her country, moving away from familiar places, leaving behind the peaceful beaches... She had felt a chill on the plane. She had been scared… and unprotected, all alone. As people flowed around her, she tried to appear confident, shoulders back, steps firm. With her long wavy chestnut hair, slightly curvy body, beautiful almond-shaped brown eyes, and full lips, she was a 32-year-old Spanish beauty. It was obvious from every detail that she was a foreigner. She felt cold, a tremble, something she couldn’t quite explain. What was vibrating inside her wasn’t just fatigue. There was a feeling of pressure, a foreboding she couldn’t name. Was it loneliness, fear… or an undefined excitement? She had a large black suitcase in her hand, wearing jeans and a long-sleeved sweater, with a light beige trench coat over her shoulders. She had loosely tied her hair before boarding. Those few strands framing her face made her look tired yet striking. She hadn’t looked in the mirror, but that didn’t matter right now. She wasn’t trying to look beautiful. When she stepped out of the crowd and reached the main terminal gate, she looked around carefully — the company had stated in the email that a private vehicle would be sent to pick her up. As she looked around, a man stood waiting, wearing an all-black suit, dark sunglasses, upright posture, almost military-like in stance. He was holding a sign: “Ms. Isabelle Alvarez – Valenhurst Group” She pressed her hand tightly on her suitcase handle and began walking toward the man. When Isabelle got close enough, the man noticed her and slightly nodded his head, but said nothing. Isabelle stopped, pointed at the sign. — “Hello. Isabelle Alvarez. I came for Valenhurst.” The man slowly removed his sunglasses. He made direct eye contact with his deep blue eyes. His voice was clear, deep, and disciplined. — “Welcome, Ms. Alvarez. Please, your car is ready.” When their eyes met, what Isabelle felt was not just a greeting. This man didn’t seem like just a driver doing his job. There was such precision and order in his movements that she thought to herself, “what a strange man...” After a short ride, they arrived at the hotel. She had been temporarily assigned a luxurious but soulless cold suite room in one of the hotels owned by the Valenhurst Group. Everything was complete, but nothing gave her a sense of belonging. She already missed the orange sunset and warm sea of Spain. She said to herself, “Isabelle, this is temporary. After you earn some money, you’ll move into your own apartment. Be patient, girl.” She took off her trench coat and placed it on the bed. She looked around with low energy; time was short, because the driver would pick her up again in an hour and take her to the company. She was very tired, but she had to get ready. She went into the large bathroom. When she saw the collection of soap kits from famous brands, she smiled, chose one by its scent, and washed her face thoroughly. She looked in the mirror. There was tension in her eyes. She remembered the email: “Today at 15:00 your first introduction meeting will take place. You will be welcomed by the senior medical director.” She did a nice eye makeup and applied a light lipstick. She fixed her hair. She wore a navy-blue, knee-length, slim-fit dress. Not too formal, not too bold. But feminine. Whatever had been suppressed inside her… Seemed like it wanted to leak out from somewhere.