THE MAN WHO WAS ONCE MINE

Amelia Soto followed the secretary's instructions until she found Dorian Ferrer's office.

It had been two years since they got married, but it was the first time she had visited her husband's company.

"Mr. Ferrer is still in a meeting, please take a seat and wait a moment."

The secretary was very kind and even served her hot tea.

“Thank you,” Amelia received it with courtesy and sat on the couch in the hall, taking in the space - clean and well-lit, decorated with simplicity and a touch of discreet luxury in gray and white tones, just the way Dorian liked it.

The secretary also watched her out of the corner of her eye. Amelia looked young, her wavy hair fell gently over her shoulders, and her bangs parted on the sides naturally framed her face, giving her the air of an innocent and sweet girl. She also didn't talk much. She was still processing that she was Dorian's wife. Or, rather, it shocked her that Dorian, such a cold and distant man who kept everyone at bay, was married.

She couldn't imagine Dorian being tender with a woman.

The noises of people outside brought her out of her thoughts. “It must be that the meeting is over,” the secretary hurriedly said. “Wait here a moment, I'll see what's going on.” Amelia instinctively turned her gaze toward the door.

A tall figure appeared at the entrance, tilting his head slightly, discussing something with someone next to him. His marked and angular profile stood out among the lights and shadows of the place; his expression was serious and concentrated, looking at the person next to him.

When he saw the girl's smiling and radiant face, Amelia was paralyzed for a moment and stood up without realizing it.

Just then, her husband looked up and saw her in front of the couch, pausing for a moment before frowning. "What are you doing here?" The girl who was discussing the project with him also looked up and when she saw Amelia, she was surprised. Amelia smiled kindly and then turned to Dorian, passing him the briefcase she had in her hand. “You…” I was going to say your mother, but she changed her mind and said. My mother-in-law asked me to bring you this.

Dorian's mother couldn't stand seeing her “doing nothing at home, and since Amelia didn't want to be there with her mother-in-law either, she took the opportunity to bring him the document.

Dorian took it from her hands: “Have you eaten yet?”

She replied: “Not yet.”

He closed the briefcase and turned to the others who followed him. “We will continue the meeting in the afternoon, go ahead.”

The girl next to him opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she stopped herself under his gaze and toothily said “yes,” then turned to the rest who were looking curiously at Amelia and they went together with Dorian to the company restaurant.

While they waited for the food to be served, he remained busy, without taking his eyes off the computer, his fingers typing rapidly, with his usual seriousness and concentration.

Amelia, supporting her cheek with one hand, looked at him in silence.

He was very handsome, with well-defined features and a serious look, his high nose outlined with authority and an imposing coldness as he tilted his head slightly.

He always had that unflappable, distant expression, even in the most intimate moments between them.

Amelia had been secretly in love with him for eight years, from the age of sixteen to twenty-four, but now, she didn't love him anymore.

In her purse, placed on her lap, she carried the draft of the divorce agreement she had prepared.

However, she hesitated with her hand on the paper.

Strictly speaking, Dorian had done nothing wrong. He simply didn't love her.

They hadn't married for love, so maybe not loving her wasn't really a mistake.

"What are you staring at?" Dorian's deep voice interrupted her thoughts.

She looked up at him.

He had not raised his head; he was still focused on his computer screen.

Amelia always thought that watching Dorian work was a joy to behold.

"Hey? When he got no response, he finally looked up, resting his eyes on her face.

She smiled at him: “Nothing."

Then, as if it were a casual conversation, she asked: “How long has Carolina worked at your company?”

Carolina was the girl who was next to him at the end of the meeting. Amelia had shared a class with them for a year as an exchange student, while Dorian and Carolina were classmates throughout high school; both were the most handsome and popular in the class, in addition to being the brainiacs. They were always involved in all the school events and there was a rumor that there was something between them, but it was never known why they didn't end up together. In the end, it turned out that Amelia, who didn't attract much attention, got the best of it.

It's not that she performed poorly as a student; she had also attended prestigious schools and university, but when she arrived, Dorian and Carolina were already shining with their own light and by the time she began to stand out, they were already about to graduate and everyone went their way.

“It was at the beginning of the year,” Dorian said, returning his attention to the computer. “I don't remember well, I'm going in for an interview with human resources.”

She nodded, but did not continue asking.

The food came quickly, and then they fell into a long, silent lunch period.

That was the norm in their two years of marriage; for them, who preferred tranquility, there was no problem, but he felt that something was missing.

Amelia turned her gaze to the couple at the next table, who were feeding each other and frolicking.

She was envious.

That was a closeness she and Dorian would never have.

For that man, only work and efficiency existed.

His life was like a well-geared patchwork, precise and cold.

He explained what should be done at every moment and what should not be done, in a second and without failure.

That kind of man just wasn't cut out for marriage, She neither.

"Did something happen?" Noticing that she was distracted, Dorian looked up.

Amelia pursed her lips slightly and, meeting his dark eyes, smiled and nodded: “Yes, there is something.”

“Ding!” An email entered Dorian's computer, and his attention returned to the screen. She smiled. “Why don't you continue? We'll talk later." "Alright."

By the time her husband finished, an hour had passed.

“What plans do you have for later?” he asked while putting away the computer.

Amelia was surprised for a moment before realizing he was asking her.

“I want to go to the bookstore and then come home,” she said.

Dorian nodded. “I'll tell Yael to take you, but don't stay too late.” Yael was Dorian's assistant, and Amelia had seen him a few times.

She nodded. "OK."

Lunch ended without flavor or emotion.

After that, she went to the bookstore and didn't return until almost five.

Her mother-in-law, Cintia Ferrer, was still at home, playing with the cat. Seeing Amelia, she said: “Look, they are taking care of you. In everything, you have to eat, drink, and go shopping, but you don't know how to make money. Of course, to spend, if you do it well and without consideration. Furthermore, you are not even good for having children, you are not a princess, but you behave like one, why do we want you, eh?”

Her voice sounded cultured and pleasant, even with a joking tone.

Amelia pretended not to understand and said goodbye before returning to her room. She soon heard the sound of objects colliding and Cintia's anger. She could imagine how furious her mother-in-law would be; she increasingly missed the freedom she had before getting married. To be independent, not expect anything from others, not have to be hypocritical or put up with anyone.

Her mother-in-law had never really accepted her, and Amelia knew it.

She also understood why he despised her, after all, they came from different worlds. She and Dorian were like heaven and earth.

It had all been a mistake.

When they married, Amelia was unaware of Dorian's prominent social position. She thought that he liked her.

If she had known before about the differences between them, she would never have agreed to marry him, since they had only gotten married to have a baby and there was no love involved.

At first, Amelia still had illusions about the future and could tolerate Cintia's hints when Dorian was not present.

But now that she had other plans for the future, she didn't care about her mother-in-law's attitude. Cintia , frustrated by Amelia's lack of response and attention, finally left the house after slamming the door.

She didn't feel like cooking, so she ordered something quick to eat.

Dorian had to work late and had already sent her a message.

The company was still expanding and had a lot of work; overtime was the norm.

Amelia was already used to that pace of life.

It was after eleven at night when Dorian finally returned home, and he was still busy at work in the study.

Dorian had grown accustomed to the hustle and bustle. He first took a shower, and by the time he returned, Amelia had also finished washing herself; she was leaning on the headboard of the bed reading a book. Seeing him approach, she put down the book and turned off the lamp on her side of the bed.

Dorian also got into bed and turned off the light. As soon as he lay down, he turned around, and in an instant, his large body covered her completely. When the fresh masculine aroma filled the room, he kissed her.

Dorian was tender in the dark, but also aggressive.

He left behind all his daytime indifference, and Amelia couldn't imagine how a man who seemed so distant and detached could be so passionate and wild in bed.

The sex between them was almost perfectly harmonious.

After a long while, when the gasps and moans subsided into the night, Dorian continued to hold her in silence.

With their bodies sticky with sweat, Amelia didn't push him; she just hugged him gently and buried her face in his also wet chest. “Dorian,” she called softly, still breathing heavily. "Hmm?" His low voice, tinged with desire, was fatally sexy under the cover of night. “We should get divorced.”

She spoke in a low voice, noticing how the body he hugged tensed.

He looked down at her, his dark, sharp eyes seemed devoured by darkness, so calm that only a devouring abyss remained.

“Tell me the reason,” he said with his usual calm.

“At first we were only together because of the child, but unfortunately, we were not lucky enough to have him. Maybe it was meant to be like this,” she said just as calmly, looking directly at him, “I think I prefer the single life. I don't feel much difference between being married or not. Without you, I wouldn't have so many expectations and problems. I guess you feel the same.

Because after the divorce, she wouldn't have to deal with her mother and her extended family; he wouldn't have to deal with his parasitic family either.

Dorian didn't say anything; he just looked at her motionless, the black color in his eyes becoming deeper and more saturated. When Amelia thought that he would not respond, he nodded calmly: "Alright." There were no explanations or questions, just a “very concise, like when you agreed to get married.” That was the Dorian she knew.

Amelia smiled at him, feeling a lump in her throat and her eyes wet; although it was what she wanted and everything ended as cleanly as she had hoped, the bitter emotions tangled in her chest. She held back her tears, buried her head in his chest, and hugged him tightly for the last time.

Dorian did not respond to the hug; he simply stayed silent, letting her hug him, and she let him go Gently. “I'm going to wash up a little.

She spoke softly and just as she was about to get out of bed, her arm was grabbed and pulled back, her body was dragged back onto the soft bed. The shadow fell over her, and a storm-laden kiss reached her, stopping as she felt the panic in his eyes.

Dorian's eyes hid a hurricane, dark and heavy, but eventually they calmed into a fathomless stillness. He turned around and lay down next to her. “Sleep,” he said, closing his eyes.

The next day, when Amelia woke up, her husband was gone. The house remained the same, as if the episode of the previous night had only been a dream, but Amelia knew that things had changed. She packed her things quickly. She didn't have much, so it was quick.

Before leaving, she took one last look at the apartment where she had lived for two years. She left the keys and the signed divorce agreement on the coffee table, and then sent a message to Dorian: “I already signed the divorce agreement on the coffee table. I have left all the divorce matters in the hands of lawyer César. When you have time, please finish the procedures. I'm leaving; take care of yourself."

Dorian was in a meeting when he received the message. He stared at it lost for a moment. The others had never seen him distracted, especially Carolina, who had known Dorian for many years, had never seen that side of him.

"Mr. Ferrer? Carolina called him with a soft voice, to remind him that they were still in the middle of the meeting.

He took a look at it and calmly put down the cell phone, continued with what he was saying before, and just when everyone thought that nothing was happening, he suddenly blurted out "The meeting is over", grabbed his cell phone with a jerk and bolted out of the room. boardroom, leaving everyone else wondering what was going on?

"Mr. Ferrer, what happened?”