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“You can take it, but first listen to what I have to say. I just spoke to my detective friend and . . .”
“I thought you said he was an ex-boyfriend.”
“If I tell you what I really call him, you won’t like it. I’m afraid you’ll faint.”
Despite all the craziness that’s been going on these last few days, I start to laugh because Bia’s mouth is as foul as a sailor’s, even though she looks like a Victorian-era lady. “Speak. I think I’ve already given a lot of evidence that I’m a big girl. I can take a swearword or two.”
“Fuck buddy.”
“Oh Jesus!”
“I warned you.”
“And what would that be?”
“The relationship is strong enough for me to consider him a friendbut not strong enough for me to want him as a boyfriend. He is a good guy. I like men who break the rules.”
“Is an outlaw your dream?”
“Who knows? I’ve never tried one. But I’m not going to lie and pretend it doesn’t turn me on having wilder sex.”
“Too much information, miss,” I say, covering my ears. “Now tell me about what your friend said.” I still haven’t said anything to her about my meeting with Christos tomorrow. I’m going to need some courage before I make any confessions.
“He said that by tomorrow, he’ll be able to access what we need and that it’s common for very wealthy people to make a confidential agreement on the amount of the compensation when involved in civil lawsuits. But it doesn’t make much sense to demand such a clause if the amount is insignificant, as Ernestine told you. Besides, he did a cursory search and found no criminal charges against Lykaios. Usually, in such cases, both run together.”
“I don’t know if I understand.”
“Which part?”
“The one about the amount he paid.”
“He explained that, usually, when confidentiality is required in a legal deal, the amount is astronomical.”
“It’s not possible, Bia. I was a kid, but I was well-aware that there were essential things missing in that house. When my birth mother was still alive, we weren’t even close to rich, but there were fruit and cookies for me. At Ernestine’s house, it was borderline poverty. She controlled every spoonful of rice we ate.”
“What if she spent the money?”
“But you said it would have been an astronomical amount.”
“Yes, but even high amounts, if mismanaged, can go away. There are many cases of people who win the lottery and then end up in poverty.”
“That’s true. I even watched a documentary once about the ex-rich.”
“Well, it’s all speculation for now, but we’ll find out, Zoe. I promise.”
I approach and hug her. “You are the best friend I could wish for.”
“I’m more of a mother, aren’t I? Because of my age.”
“Well, I’m going to pray that I’ll look as beautiful as you do at forty-five.”
She smiles awkwardly. Like me, she doesn’t know how to handle compliments very well. “Did you mention going for ice cream?” She suddenly changes the subject.
“Yes, I will allow myself that luxury. After everything that happened today, I can go off the diet.”
I starve, literally, to keep myself within the measures of the contracts I sign, but every now and then I allow myself to cheat, even though I know that tomorrow I’ll probably have to run ten kilometers to make up for it.
“Do you think you’ll be able to stay in this life for a long time? I mean, currently, your modeling career is very promising, and you can model and photograph until you are almost my age. The fashion industry has finally understood that the modern woman has the money to pay her own bills by her thirties, not at the age of twelve.”
