Page 5 of Until You Came Along

“Does your brother know you don’t like it?”

“I’ve tried talking to him several times, but he doesn’t even let me finish explaining. For him, the family business is his life, and I’m supposed to feel the same way. My mother supports him, so I don’t have a chance, beautiful.”

“But that’s not right. They shouldn’t force you. Would you like to do something else?”

“You’re the first person who’s asked me that. Everyone I know just assumes I’m happy with what I do. I have to admit that working in my family’s company would be many people’s dream, but not mine.”

“May I know what you’d like to do?” I asked cautiously.

He looked at me with distrust, then leaned back in his chair and sighed again.

“The music in this place is really good,” he commented, changing the subject drastically. At that moment, “Safe and Sound” by Capital Cities was playing. Then he sighed and added, “That’s another one of my secrets.”

“Don’t worry, I don’t mind if you don’t answer.”

“I’d like to make a living from my paintings,” he stated without hesitation.

“You’re a painter?”

“Why are you surprised?”

“I’m not surprised, I think it’s great. Do you have many works?”

“Quite a few. I’ll show them to you someday.”

“I’d love that.”

“It’s been a long time since I talked about this. I’m starting to think you’re right that having a friend to confide in can be good too. I don’t know if it’s as good as sex, but it’s definitelypleasurable,” he joked, abandoning his serious face to light up his features again with that captivating smile.

At that moment, the waiter arrived at our table with the exquisite small pizza we had ordered, so I couldn’t respond to his comment. I just looked at him with furrowed brows, and he widened his smile.

“Tell me about your family,” I requested, since on our walk we had talked almost entirely about me.

“I’ve already told you some things. My brother runs the company, my mother spends a lot of the money he makes, and I work at that company with zero motivation. My family has a lot of money, more than they need for this life and the next.”

“How old is your brother?”

“He’s 38, but he seems like he’s 60. I can’t remember the last time I saw him smile or have fun. He’s a serious guy who lives in the company, or rather, lives for the company.”

“How old are you, Baco?” I asked curiously, because he seemed quite a bit younger than his brother.

“I know why you’re asking. You see me as young and cheerful, nothing like how I just described Hermes. Well, that’s right—we’re complete opposites in personality, though physically we look quite similar. Hermes is 10 years older than me; I’m 28.”

“Is he married?”

“No, he’s not. He could be, but... actually, I assure you if he wanted to be, he would be. My brother is considered the most eligible bachelor in the city, or even the entire country,” he stated, but it seemed like he was about to tell me something and then changed his mind.

“Why? Because he has money? That’s silly.”

“Not just because of that. The guy is a total sex symbol. Didn’t I just tell you he looks like me? Though I’m more handsome,” he joked, batting his eyelashes.

“You’re such a clown!”

“But a sexy one,” he clarified.

“And your brother, he doesn’t have a partner either? I ask because if he had someone in his life, maybe he’d be less strict. I mean, someone he was in love with.”

Baco laughed cynically.