STRINGS OF THE PAST (A Song we will play)

Chapter 24

Bruno Cut Between Love and Duty

Bruno felt as if the week had been dragging on forever. Every morning in New York, he awoke to the echo of his late father's words in the Sanchez estate's walls, as well as the weight of an unplanned future crushing down on his chest. The encounter with Tracy Rodriguez lingered like a bitter flavor that he couldn't shake, no matter how hard he tried to persuade himself he was only doing this for the firm.

Now, one week later, his mind was set on meeting Catherina. She deserved to hear the truth straight from him. She deserved honesty, even if it meant destroying the link that had held them together through loss, music, and the craziness of their adolescence.

Bruno's PA had booked a first-class ticket to Massachusetts, and by the time the plane landed near Harvard, his chest tightened with nervous expectation. He wasn't terrified of boardrooms or mafia whispers that occasionally lingered on the outskirts of his reality; what he worried most was Catherina's reaction when she learned about Tracy Rodriguez.

The autumn air in Massachusetts was crisp, with the slight scent of leaves that had begun to succumb to their brilliant colors. Bruno slung a leather bag over his shoulder, although it had no music sheets today. Instead, it weighed paperwork, contracts, and notes from his father's lawyers. Mr. Sanchez's death marked the end of his boyhood.

He spotted her waiting at their favorite café near Harvard Yard. She had always adored this little restaurant, with its gentle yellow lighting and window chairs overlooking the brick courtyard, where students rushed past holding books and laughing. Today, however, when she spotted him, her smile was gentle but shaded, as if she had fought back tears before approaching him.

"Bruno," she said, standing to hug him.

He could feel it when his arms tightened around her—the way her body shook and the tiny rigidity in her shoulders. He drew back to examine her face, but she turned her head and feigned a grin.

"You made it."

"I told you I would," he added in a low voice that tried to convey both reassurance and regret.

They sat, and for a while, the café's warmth enveloped them. He wanted to ease into it by talking about trivial memories from their high school days and asking her about her classes and professors. But the burden of his secret grew heavier with each heartbeat.

"Catherina," he said, closing his hand around the mug of coffee that the waiter had just brought down. "There is something I need to tell you. "Something huge."

Her eyes were filled with concern, yet she nodded. "Go on."

He took a deep breath and looked at the steam curling from his cup, as if it could protect him from her sight.

"My father... Before his death, he left Digital Studios in my hands. I am the new CEO now."

Her lips parted in shock. "Bruno...Oh my God. That's—" She paused, as if her words were torn between pride and grief. "That's huge."

He nodded and forced a smile. "It is. But there is more. The corporation isn't in good shape. There are debts and obligations. Investors are pulling out. I had no idea how horrible things were until I saw the whole books."

Catherina leaned forward with her hands folded on the table. She remained mute, giving him space to continue.

"There's one potential lifeline," Bruno continued, his voice husky. "Mr. Rodriguez, the businessman you've surely heard of. He offered to help us by paying off some of our bills and investing in us. But…" He trailed off, his jaw clenched.

Her heart thumped painfully. She could see where this was leading, and a cold aching had already seeped through her chest.

"But what?" she asked, her voice barely audible.

Bruno glanced at her, his dark eyes full of conflict. "He's got a daughter. Tracy. His unsaid help is contingent on my presence with her. Publicly. I am dating her. Perhaps even more down the line."

The words landed like stones between them. For a brief moment, the café's warmth faded, replaced by the frigid silence of sadness. Catherina's fingers curled around her mug, but she did not drink.

Her throat burned.

She wanted to ask, “Do you love her?”However, she already knew the answer. Instead, she braced herself, pushing her trembling heart beneath layers of practiced calm.

"And what about us?" she inquired quietly.

Bruno sighed, his voice heavy with agony. "I love you." God, Catherina, you know I do. Nothing about this alters that. But if I don't do this, or at least play along, I risk losing everything my father has achieved. His legacy. The corporation. The name."

Her chest shouted silently. A thousand protestations clawed at her throat, but what about me? What about what we built?—but she gobbled it all. Instead, she gazed into his eyes and saw the child she had known her entire life, the one who had held her hand when she was overcome with grief, the one who poured his emotions into music that spoke to her more deeply than words could.

She smiled. It was faint and frail, but it touched her eyes enough to obscure the tempest within. "Then do it," she whispered. "For him. For your family name. I will be fine."

"Catherina…" His voice cracked, with guilt in every syllable.

She shook her head swiftly, blotting the pain from her eyes. "Don't. Please do not complicate matters. You're already carrying enough. You need to think about the firm. Regarding your father's legacy. And… I will be proud of you no matter what."

Bruno stretched across the table and clasped her hand. It felt warm on his skin, yet there was a slight tremor he couldn't ignore. "You mean more to me than all of this," he continued, his voice raspy. "I hate that this is happening."

She clutched his hand back and smiled, but her lips quivered. "At this time don't dislike it. Let's just survive it."

Bruno's carefully constructed façade broke later that night, when she finally left her dorm room.

Alone in her chamber, the silence became suffocating. She cuddled up against her pillow, muffling the cries that burst forth. The image of him sitting across from Tracy Rodriguez at a grand dinner tore her heart apart piece by piece.

Even worse was the secret she kept hidden—the marks Junior's jealous wrath had left on her arms, the threats muttered in the shadows. She had wanted to tell Bruno so many times, beg him for aid, but how could she do it now? He has enough enemies. Enough wars. If she informed him, he'd go after Junior—and she couldn't afford to lose him to violence or mafia crossfire.

So she suffered it alone. Her body bore the scars, her soul was silent.

"Be strong," she said to herself through tears. "For him. For both of us."

And even if she sobbed herself to sleep, she would get up the next morning. She'd smile again. And when Bruno called, she would respond with encouragement in her voice, even if her heart ached quietly behind every syllable. So she concluded.

Following their chat, Bruno stayed for a time outside Catherina's dorm door. He didn't want to leave her like this, with a brave face concealing his grief and encouraging him to do what his father would have wanted. His chest felt heavy, split between gratitude for her courage and regret for the load she was silently carrying for his sake.

He sighed and ran his hand through his dark hair before turning down the quiet hallway. The bulbs flickered slightly, leaving lengthy shadows on the ancient carpet. The night air outside smelled like damp leaves and wood smoke. He just wanted to move away and lose himself in music till the ache subsided.

But then —

"Bruno Sanchez."

The voice abruptly stopped him. Sharp and cool, with a dangerous edge. Bruno turned slowly, his gaze narrowing. Junior Cortez stood at the end of the corridor, broad-shouldered and silhouetted in the dim light like a threat poised to strike. He was dressed sharply, still in the dark tailored suit he must have worn to the family function, his tie loosened but his expression far from casual.

"Junior," Bruno said calmly. "What a surprise."

Junior's lips curved into a sour smile as he approached, his shoes clicking against the floor. "Surprise? No. More like disappointment." Bruno raised an eyebrow. "Disappointment?" He reiterated.

Junior's eyes gleamed dangerously. "I returned from my family's gathering tonight and headed to my flat... And guess what? Catherina wasn't present. The neighbors informed me that she was seen around here. With you. "And then I hear whispers..." His voice fell, anger permeating every word. "That she kissed you."

Bruno's jaw tensed, but his voice stayed calm. "Whatever you heard, it is none of your concern. Catherina is not yours, Junior.

Junior moved closer, and the space between them vibrated with tension. His tone was mild, but the menace was clear.

"She was inside my apartment, Bruno. She was with me. And now? She dashes over to you the instant I turn my back. What does that make her?" He rhetorically asked.

Bruno's fists clenched, and his heart pounded. He wanted to break Junior's smirk right then, but he forced himself to remain calm.

"Be careful with your words. If you respect her at all, you would not talk about her in that manner. You can insult me no problem but if you ever insult Cat again you will get the second beating of your life.” He said.

Junior laughed quietly and without humor. "Respect? Don't lecture me on respect. You're the one sneaking around and kissing my girlfriend behind my back.”

Something inside Bruno snapped. He took a step forward, narrowing the distance between them until they were practically nose to nose.

"Listen to me, junior. I do not sneak around. She was never your girlfriend, you psychopath. And if Catherina kissed me, it was because she desired to. Not because I forced her. That is something you will never understand."

Junior's smile faded to something darker, and his jaw tightened. For a brief moment, they were silent, interrupted only by the muffled sound of laughter from distant students walking past outside.

"You think you're better than me?" Junior muttered, his eyes ablaze. "You think just because you play your pretty music and inherited your daddy's company, you can take whatever you want?"

Bruno's chest rose and fell, his voice steady yet sharp. "No. But I know one thing: you don't own her. If you try to hurt her..." He paused, his gaze narrowing like steel. “You'll answer to me."

Junior's hand jerked, as if he was about to unleash a punch. His body leaned forward, but then he remained still, smirking again. "It's not over, Sanchez. Not even close. Enjoy your brief moment. Because she will soon discover who she actually belongs to.”

Junior moved back, his sneer remaining like a scar. He gave Bruno one more look before turning swiftly and vanishing down the passage like a shadow slinking back into the darkness.

Bruno stood there, fists clinched and his breath ragged. His pulse raced with rage, but fear gnawed at him. Fear not for himself, but for Catherina.

Because tonight had made one thing quite clear: Junior wasn't simply jealous. He was dangerous.