FINALLY IN LOVE

CHAPTER THREE

Miss Carter, Nora’s voice sounded from the other side. Mr. Sterling asked me to inform you that breakfast is being served on the terrace. Thank you, Nora. I will be there in a moment, Anita replied.

Her voice is still a horse from sleep. She dressed carefully, opting for a simple dress she had brought from home - a small rebellion against the extravagant closet Kelvin had provided. Looking in the mirror, Anita barely recognized the woman who stared back at her. Her normally bright and optimistic eyes were cloudy with doubt.

On the terrace, Kelvin was already sitting, reading the financial newspaper, and drinking coffee. He looked up with an automatic smile forming on his lips when Anita approached. Good morning, Anita. I hope you slept well. Anita nodded, taking a seat at the table. Yes thank you, the room is very comfortable.

An uncomfortable silence settled between them as Anita poured herself a cup of coffee. Kelvin watched her over the newspaper, noticing her choice of clothes and the tension in her shoulders. “Are you alright?” he finally asked, putting the newspaper aside.

Anita hesitated, stirring her coffee absent-minded. I, I don’t know. This is all so different from what I am used to. I feel like I am losing my identity. Kelvin frowned, a wrinkle of concern forming between his eyebrows.

Anita, remember that this is temporary. You are doing an amazing job, and as soon as everything is sorted out, you can get back to your normal life. Kelvin’s words, although well-meaning, caused Anita a lot of pain. Back to my normal life?

After experiencing this world of luxury and opportunity, how could I just go back? What if I don’t want to go back? She whispered more to herself than to Kelvin. Kelvin stared at her, surprised. What do you mean? Anita finally finds the courage to express her inner conflicts.

Kelvin, I grew up fighting for every penny, dreaming of a better life for my family. Now, I am living that life even if it is a farce. How can I just turn it off and go back to my reality? Kelvin leaned forward, his intense eyes fixed on hers. “Anita, you don’t have to turn anything off. What you have achieved here, people’s admiration and respect, that is real.”

It’s the fruit of your authenticity, not money or status. Kelvin’s words touched Anita deeply but also increased her confusion. She stood up abruptly walking to the edge of the terrace. What about my family? My sister and my mother. They depend on me. How can I reconcile this new world with the responsibilities I have?

Kelvin joined her, keeping a respectful distance. Maybe it’s not a question of choosing one or the other. Maybe it is about finding a balance. Anita looked at him, surprised by the gentleness in his voice. For a moment she glimpsed the side of Kelvin that few knew, a side that intrigued and frightened her at the same time.

The moment was interrupted by the ringing of Anita’s cell phone. It was Catherine, her sister. With an apologetic look on Kelvin's face, she answered. “Hey Cathy, what’s up?” Catherine’s voice sounded worried on the other end of the line.

Ann, where are you? You did not come home last night and the cafe called asking why you did not show up for the morning shift. Anita closed her eyes, guilt consuming her in the excitement of recent events. She had completely forgotten her everyday responsibilities.

I’m sorry, Cathy. , I am working on a special project. I will explain everything when I get home, okay? After reassuring her sister and hanging up, Anita turned to Kelvin, the conflict evident on her face. I have to go, she said, her voice shaking. My family, they need me.

Kelvin nodded, understanding, of course, but Anita remember, you are not alone in this. If you need anything for yourself or your family, please let me know. Anita stared at him, surprised by the sincerity in his voice. Thank you, Kelvin. I will be back for the next event.

As Anita prepared to leave, Kelvin watched her with a mixture of admiration and concern in his eyes. He was beginning to realize that what had started as a simple business arrangement was turning into something much more complex and potentially dangerous for both of them.

Back at her apartment in the Bronx, Anita was greeted by a tight hug from Catherine. Ann, we were so worried, Catherine exclaimed, pulling her sister inside. Anita smiled trying to mask her guilt. I am sorry sweetheart. It’s been a crazy week.

Her mother, Rhoda, was sitting in the armchair in the living room. Her face paled, but her eyes shone with joy at the sight of her daughter. “Anita darling, I am so glad you are home.” Anita knelt beside her mother, holding her frail hand. “Mom, how are you feeling?” Rhoda smiled weakly. “Better now that you are here.” But Anita, you seemed different. Has something happened?

Anita hesitated, the weight of her secret weighing heavily on her chest. How could she explain the double life she was living? How could she justify the lies, even if they were for their good?

I got a new job, she finally said, opting for a half-truth. It’s a great opportunity but it demands a lot of my time. Catherine frowned, noticing the hesitation in her sister’s voice. What kind of job, Ann? And why are you dressed like that?

Anita looked down at her dress, suddenly aware of how out of place it seemed in her modest apartment. “It is a corporate events job. I have to dress accordingly”, Anita said. Rhoda watched her daughter intently and her motherly eyes noticed more than Anita would have seen.

Anita, darling, you know you can tell us anything, don’t you? Anita’s heart squeezed. She desperately wanted to share everything - the deal with Kelvin, the glamor of the events, the conflict she felt - but how could she expose her family to the risk and uncertainty of her situation?

I know Mom, she replied, forcing a smile and I promise I will tell you everything when the time is right. That night, lying on her single bed, Anita stared at the ceiling, her heart torn between two worlds. On one hand, the comfort and familiarity of life in the Bronx with all its struggles and unconditional love. On the other, the bright world full of possibilities that Kelvin had opened up to her.

She picked up her cell phone looking at Kelvin’s last message. “I hope you got home okay. Remember, I am here if you need anything.” Anita closed her eyes, solitary tears running down her cheek.

How could she choose between her family and the new opportunities that were opening up? How could she keep her essence while navigating a world so different from her own? With these questions echoing in her mind, Anita finally fell asleep.

Her dreams are a confusing mix of luxurious ballrooms and familiar Bronx streets. As she slept, she didn’t realize that her transformation had begun and the challenges she would face would be far greater than she had ever imagined. As the darkness of night settled in, the city continued to pulse with life, indifferent to the emotional turmoil of its inhabitants.

At the top of one of the skyscrapers that define its silhouette, Kelvin Sterling was in his office, a space that now seemed more like a refuge than a workplace. Dusk bathed the horizon in a spectacle of colors reflecting the inner turmoil that Kelvin was trying to disguise.

The glass of malt in his hand remained untouched. His focus is not on business but on Anita Carter. The woman who has unexpectedly captured his heart and thoughts. The sun was setting over Pennsylvania painting the sky in shades of orange and pink, Kelvin watched the city from the top of his office.