CEO'S TEMPTATION

When Graciela came out of the investment bank building with tears in her eyes after having been humiliated by that problem of hers and the same one that didn't allow her to communicate properly, in the blink of an eye, a Mercedes Benz approached her so fast that she was able to feel the air the car left behind because of its speed.  

Graciela frowned while her eyes kept busy looking for the person in the car. She indeed knew the person who was getting out of the car. That person was the new supermodel Mina, the Russian one everyone talked about since her arrival, the same one who had started having an affair with Graciela’s husband a year ago maybe. 

Mina opened the car door and got off. She glanced at Graciela frivolously just to end up mocking her as she had done since the moment she knew Graciela was the wife of Alvaro Davies, the next CEO of the Davies’ Company. 

"Mrs. Davies, dear Graciela Davies also known as Mrs. Stutterer,” Mina laughed. “It’s good to have run into you now, before you have to hear the good news from another person.” 

“W-what a-are y-you talking… a-about?” Graciela stuttered as any other moment when she felt intimidated by someone. 

Mina took off her sunglasses and with a smile, she said; “I'm pregnant. The child is Álvaro’s. Did you know it? By any chance, has he said something to you about this?"

Graciela glanced at her. She was in her early twenties, with red lips and heavy makeup. Mina was wearing the latest collection of dresses from the Dely family. She was covered in bright purple fur, which made her look particularly enchanting. Mina’s current taste was really elusive!

Graciela didn’t say anything, she just tried to avoid her. The truth was, by that moment there was nothing that could hurt her in terms of her husband. She had been married to him for a reason and that reason had ended up being the love she felt for Alvaro. 

Alvaro could have as many affairs as he wanted. She no longer cared about that.  

With a smile on her face. Mina waited for the reaction of Graciela but as soon as she realized Graciela didn’t seem to care, Mina’s blood boiled. She hadn’t managed to bother and humiliate her as she had imagined to do. 

Graciela just sighed and then prepared to walk off, but as soon as Mina realized her intentions to leave her, she stopped her by taking her right arm, "Mrs. Davies, do you think it's a boy or a girl? What do you think is a good name? Daniel? Eve? Alvaro?"

The difference between those two women was notorious. Graciela, in spite of the fact of being naive, she always showed to be in a higher class than Mina, just a ridiculous model. "A-Alvaro lives with m-me, he g-goes home every s-single night. Isn't it u-uncomfortable to be alone in an empty room while waiting for h-him?"

Mina couldn’t help but laugh. "It's incredible how you can’t manage to say something properly! Mrs. Davies doesn't drive, does she? Where are you going now? Why don't I help you out? Try my new car. Alvaro bought it for me. Three million dollars can’t mean so much for him." Mina smiled, giving Graciela the chance to see the dazzling pearl in Mina’s earrings.

Finally, Graciela recognized those earrings as one of the pairs of the most precious pearls she would have asked for. The designer was a big-name in that county, around 1 million those earrings had to cost him. The same ones she had seen in Alvaro’s coat pocket two days ago. Alvaro was a really generous man to the outside world, he was indeed taking care of his future family. He was trying his best to make Mina’s heart his as he had done with Graciela!

"I think Alvaro is just good to me. He would buy anything I want. Mrs. Davies, I heard that your birthday was two days ago. What did Alvaro buy you?" Mina looked at the pearl necklace hung around Graciela’s neck. "Isn't it the pearl necklace I picked out a month ago? I was tired of wearing it so when I didn’t like it anymore I decided to give it to you."

Graciela stood up straight. "A-are you d-done?"

Once again Mina laughed. "No, stutterer, I’m not done. Dear, is it still interesting that you occupy Mrs. Davies position like this? As far as I know, Alvaro doesn't love you at all. When he married you, it was because of the fortune he knew you had. You are useless to Alvaro now!" She said, pointing out to her with her gross but delicate finger. "Be smart, you and Alvaro are now divorced. Give me your place, everyone will not make trouble. It's such an easy way to get out of trouble!"

Graciela looked away, the right corner of her lips slightly raised. Instantly, proud was printed on her face. "Miss Mina, m-my h-husband dotes on you so much. I d-do know as soon as I'm d-divorcing him you w-will go to him. W-why do you want me to divorce him w-when you have gotten in my marriage like the b-b*tch you truly are?"

"I, I...!" Mina made fun of the way Graciela had talked. “I do not care what you said! I’m better than you, way better, dear.” 

She had been with Alvaro for more than one year without getting anything from him aside from the good nights and the luxury presents. That man didn't seem to have the intention to make Mina his next wife. What could she do when the truth was clear? No matter how much she intended to make fun of Graciela, Graciela was the real better one there. 

Graciela was sick of that to continue caring about what she could say, so, willing to walk away, she continued to take two steps forward when all of a sudden she stopped and turned around. She had to start drawing her limits even when she felt so insecure to do that. 

"By the way, there is something you probably don't know.” Finally Graciela had managed to say a whole sentence without stopping. That showed how encouraged she was to say the next. “When my husband and I got married, w-we signed a p-prenuptial agreement. He said that he will love me till we get old, if we get divorced halfway through, he wouldn’t have a penny from me and then, he would leave the house clean!"

Mina was stunned by the words of Graciela. Even the look she was giving her had changed. For a moment, she was no longer the naive woman Mina enjoyed to mock. 

In a funny but encouraging way, Graciela danced her finger around. "All the property you see belongs to me, including the Mercedes Benz and the pearl earrings he just gave you!"

After saying that, she turned around and left her. Her cellphone rang instantly. It was her husband.

Graciela could still hear Mina behind her, "Stupid Graciela, you'll pay for this, I swear to God! Who do you think you are? Alvaro married you because of your money, isn't it enough to leave him, Graciela? Graciela, I’m talking to you, stupid woman!"

Finally Graciela picked up the call. Her fingers tightened the documents she was holding to end up a little wrinkled.

"Where are you?" Someone asked her on the other line. Alvaro's cold voice sounded like thunder in the dark night, instantly paralyzing Graciela’s heart.

She didn't say anything.

"Come back. I have something to tell you," Alvaro continued.

Before Graciela could speak, Alvaro had already hung up the call.

They had been together for three years and had been married for two years. They had married happily, there was nothing else she could ask for in the past, Graciela didn't really understand when their relationship became like that even when she knew the truth.

After two years of marriage, all kinds of women around Alvaro came and went like nothing. He was not like that before. Three years ago, he doted on Graciela very much. In the midst of the fire, he saved her life. The scar proof of that was still imprinted on her forearm to this day. Husband and wife, what happened to them?

Mina had said it well. If Alvaro had married her it was for just one reason; he wanted her to share her fortune. 

Graciela stood there for a while, then put away her phone after having called a taxi to go to where her presence was required. The Davies family's villa.

In the yard, a Porsche had parked. It was Alvaro's car. He had already arrived and surely, he was waiting for her.

As soon as Graciela had stepped into the house a roll of promissory notes smashed into her face.

"From last month to now, a total of 6.5 million has been transferred out! Graciela, you must explain it to me now!" Graciela's mother-in-law said coldly after having thrown at her the notes. Furiously, she sat on the sofa. "Although the Davies  family is a wealthy family, although my son Alvaro can make money so easily, he can't stand your stupidities! Tell me! Where did all the money go?" The woman continued yelling at her.

Graciela frowned with tears in her eyes, not understanding what was going on there. She bent over to pick up the proofs that had fallen onto the floor. She looked at them and fou