LIANA had been locked in all day and night. When she woke up the next day, she got up with an innocent smile. Anyone would say she was bipolar, but since her mood rarely changed on its own, she altered it on purpose. Today, she decided to go for a walk and buy furniture. Get some coffee. Eat breakfast out.
"I'll buy my furniture later…" she murmured. "But who am I kidding? I have so much work to do, but I don't want to do it. I'm always responsible. Only two days left until graduation. I should make one of those typical videos, but better not… I'm not very photogenic."
"Today I'll wear a simple white dress. Plain, no lace or embroidery. That's the one I'll wear. No earrings, and I'll tie my hair up. I'd thought about dyeing it, changing its color. It's always been the same tone, natural, of course… What about black? Or blue? Or why not red? Maybe even blue contact lenses… or some other color."
"Better get dressed. Talking and thinking too much… tires my brain. Then I forget things," she said with a serious face.
She dressed quickly. No makeup except for pink lipstick. And after a few minutes, LIANA was ready. What seemed simple ended up dazzling. Looking at herself in the mirror, she murmured with a resigned smile:
"I made it worse. I want to go unnoticed… but I can't help it. I'm beautiful. Time to go," she said, clicking her tongue lightly, like a "tsk, tsk."
She grabbed her purse, put in her phone, laptop, and headphones, and left the house. She got into the car. After a while, she arrived at the restaurant. She ordered orange juice and pancakes.
"Cooking is something I'm terrible at. I've nearly poisoned myself," she thought while eating.
From afar, she saw a group of beggars asking for food and money. One was very young, smiling, offering to carry things for passersby or help out. LIANA, watching him, thought with a half-smile:
"An innocent person trying to make a living fairly… Not bad. But that cheerful mindset reminds me of her. And that's… annoying. And boring. But well, if he wants to live like that…"
When she left the restaurant, she noticed they were no longer there. She walked a bit further and saw them laughing joyfully. That young beggar was sitting, reading a book, and teaching some children. The other beggars looked at him strangely and asked why he was so proud. LIANA just observed:
"How boring… I'd better leave. Though I must admit… it's the first beggar I see reading and teaching children. Even knowing his reality."
When she looked again, that young man was arguing with the others. He had a blank expression, a murderous aura. He finished them off without emotion… and the children smiled.
LIANA, with a satisfied and desirous smile, murmured:
"He has to be mine. He's the perfect secretary. I need to check if he's educated. And if not… I'll teach him."
She approached him with her obsessive smile. It wasn't carnal desire, it was possession. She already felt him as part of herself.
"Would you like to work with me?"
"No."
LIANA frowned but smiled.
"Why not?"
"I don't know if the job you're offering is decent. People like you… often can't be trusted."
LIANA thought: He's the perfect sheep. The way he speaks makes him sound smart, but not cunning. Wise, but reckless. Capable, but needy.
"Be my secretary. And butler. If you know how to read and write, that's enough. You'll keep studying. And if you don't, you'll learn."
"Aren't you afraid I might be crazy… and kill you in your sleep?"
"You won't. I know you won't."
He looked at her, confused, but said:
"Nice to meet you. My name is Lucas. I can read and write. I studied a university career."
"Okay. Say goodbye to the children."
Lucas did. Then LIANA smiled.
"Nice to meet you. My name is LIANA. From now on, we'll be together 24/7."
"I think that's… annoying."
"I was going to look for furniture for my house, but you're interesting. First, we'll look for clothes for you. Then… a bath. At first glance, you look handsome. But I don't know how handsome you really are. I don't accept people who aren't beautiful."
She took him to her friend Sebastián's store.
"From today, treat him as if he were me. He's my secretary and my butler."
Sebastián replied:
"As you wish. But why haven't you come for your graduation dress? I always have to remind you to come for the clothes you imagine."
LIANA looked at him with a murderous expression.
"Then… why didn't you bring it to me yourself?"
"You always want to intimidate me…"
"Or does LIA know that you don't stay with me on Fridays?"
"That woman is such a goody two-shoes… such a beauty!"
After choosing clothes for Lucas, LIANA asked Sebastián to pick the furniture for her house, giving him detailed instructions. Then she took Lucas home. She forced him to shower and change.
After showering, Lucas came out to the living room. LIANA was already waiting there, sitting with her legs crossed and eyes fixed on him.
"Tell me," she ordered emotionlessly. "How did you end up on the street? And why?"
Lucas replied without changing his expression:
"I studied a university career. My parents were never proud of me. They called me useless, a waste. When I graduated and started looking for opportunities, they kicked me out. Without compassion. I looked for work, no one accepted me. I ended up on the street. Simple as that."
LIANA yawned.
"What a boring story…"
Lucas thought silently: This woman… I don't know what she's thinking. Sometimes she seems interested, sometimes not. But her confidence, her presence… radiate respect. She'll be a good boss. He smiled lightly.
Meanwhile, in LIANA's mind: This man still isn't convinced. I see it. But I also know he sees me as a challenge. And that attracts him. The day will come when he swears loyalty to me. Like a vassal to their feudal lord. Like a slave to their master. But I don't want to manipulate him. I want his loyalty by his own choice. Out of respect… not emotional poison.
Nowadays, our worst enemies are psychologists, she thought with disdain. They make victims believe they'll be fine away from their manipulator. But even so, the manipulated one misses the person who destroyed them. That fascinates me… though I admit, some manipulations are poorly executed.
Her thoughts were interrupted by Lucas' voice:
"The doorbell rang."
"Must be the food," LIANA replied indifferently.
Lucas opened the door. It was indeed the delivery. He brought it to the table.
"Eat," LIANA said without looking at him. "I ordered it for you."
She opened her laptop while he started eating. Then, Lucas glanced at her and commented coldly:
"Today I noticed something strange in you. You seem happy… but your smile isn't. It's momentary. Empty. And that's cruel."
LIANA smiled slowly.
"Welcome to knowing LIANA. Because I think you'll spend the last part of your youth with me… and maybe part of your old age. Though, honestly, I don't think I'll live that long."
She turned to him.
"Tomorrow we'll leave this place. And one more thing…" she said, looking at her screen. "What do you think about firing a lot of employees and hiring new ones? Younger ones. Bringing in a more tech-savvy team."
Lucas, chewing without expression, replied:
"It depends. Why do you want to fire them? How good are they? What's their efficiency?"
LIANA answered without hesitation:
"They were allies of the former owner. Their efficiency is good, but not excellent. I don't want traitors around. I've already posted new job ads. They'll be replaced."
Lucas nodded.
"I understand. And what will I do?"
"As I said: you'll be my secretary. My butler. You'll manage my schedule, be my second opinion."
"All right," he replied calmly.
LIANA smiled.
"I hope we work very well together."
"From now on I'll call you LIANA," said Lucas.
"No need for so much formality. Call me whatever you like."
She picked up her phone and called AURORA.
"Hello."
"Hi, how are you?" AURORA answered.
"Good, thank God. And you?"
"Same here. What do you need?"
"Can you come tomorrow to help me pack? I'm moving. If I'm not there, I'll leave the keys under the flowerpot."
"All right, LIANA."
"Thanks. Say hi to LEONAR."
There was silence. AURORA, visibly uncomfortable, replied:
"What are you talking about?"
LIANA just hung up with a smile.
She looked at Lucas.
"Tomorrow begins our next move."