Chapter 8 Details

Camila had gotten ahead of her son and talked to her grandchildren about what their father planned to do. Daniel was furious-that was something that was up to him and no one else. But Camila was very worried about the decision he was about to make and wanted to warn her grandchildren. Things were getting a little out of control.

"What did you tell my children, Mom?"

"That you plan to commit an act of madness and that you are bringing a woman into your house who is not old enough to be their mother."

"That was something I had to discuss with them, not you."

"They are my grandchildren, Daniel."

"They are my children, and no one can intervene in my decisions or in the way I raise them. Much less preemptively do something that is my duty."

Camila did not have bad intentions. She was dismayed by all the scandal that was about to happen. Daniel Crusher married to a young girl who obviously only wanted his money. No woman her age married someone older with three children. It was well known that the only ones who met those characteristics were either mistresses or "trophy wives."

"Do you know the social scandal you are going to cause?"

"I do not care about that, Mom. I never have."

"That is because you have never committed such an outrageous act as this."

"I do not want to discuss this any further. I am very grateful for everything you have done for me and my children since Emily died, but I am going to ask you to stop meddling in my private affairs. And especially to stop involving the children."

Daniel was known for his tough and explosive character when he reached a limit, but this was the first time Camila was the direct target. He had never spoken to her that way, and all to defend a woman who only sought to fleece him and would surely abandon him later. In her head, Camila already had the whole story planned out: he would marry her, make a fool of himself, then after getting a good amount of money, she would abandon him, and he would become the laughingstock of all society.

No other woman would want to marry someone like that, with his reputation stained by a meaningless affair. This was a disaster! And what would happen to Harry and Susan? They would also receive part of this embarrassment and would be affected. In reality, Camila had quite old-fashioned concepts and a lot of imagination.

"You will change your mind when you meet her."

"I doubt it very much."

"If you close yourself off like that, you will only continue to believe foolishness."

Due to her unwanted intervention, Daniel decided that the children would not attend the meeting. It would be better for them to meet her alone, without Camila's influence. Perhaps this way they would erase what-Daniel was sure-she had told them about her. Things were going to be smooth and simple; he had everything planned in detail so that his children could live with Deanna without major inconveniences. And now he would have to deal with the preconceptions their grandmother had implanted in them.

Lynda had already taken care of spreading the gossip that Daniel was about to be "trapped" to turn him into an exhibit. That woman had no shame whatsoever. She was convinced that there was no better match than him and that she was his ideal partner, but he had changed course and was now after younger women. It was clear that he had reached "the 40s crisis." And of course, everyone started talking about it.

The only one who seemed unperturbed and serene by his son's decision was Charles. He had a very peculiar relationship with Daniel because they were quite similar in many aspects. He trusted his ability and his way of handling things, and that is why he had given him the CEO position in the company. And it had been a complete success because since Daniel started taking charge of it, they had diversified and expanded rapidly. He was convinced that he knew exactly what he was doing.

"Do not give importance to what your mother says, son. She always exaggerates."

"I know, Dad, but I am worried about her habit of anticipating things."

"She has always been like that. You just have to stand firm in your decision; with time she will end up accepting it... So tell me, is my new daughter-in-law pretty?"

"Very..." That statement came out of him without even thinking.

"Ah, that is good. I am happy for you; a pretty woman always brightens the days."

What was that? Yes, Deanna was pretty, but very? Daniel did not know when he had come to that conclusion. But if he thought about it a little, it was not entirely wrong. She had many things that made her pretty besides her face, her eyes, especially her hair, her long legs, her pleasant smile, the freckles on her back... She had character and optimism for life, she was polite although she could also be indolent if she set her mind to it.

Was he seeing her as a woman? No, of course not. How could he? It was only because her appearance served to justify their supposed relationship, and nothing more. It had nothing to do with her distinguished demeanor when she was serious, or how she gesticulated with her hands when speaking or the pout she made with her eyes when she got angry. Daniel tried to justify himself by saying that he had only observed her to learn from her and not make too many mistakes during the meeting.

"Do not lie to me by saying you did not find Daniel attractive," Laura told her.

They were with Harry drinking coffee outside the campus.

"Of course, he is attractive..."

"I do not know if I want to hear this," Harry said.

"He is very popular among the ladies."

"I do not doubt it. He has a nice smile and expressive eyes."

"No, I do not want to hear this," Harry repeated, but neither of them was paying attention to him.

"Besides, he is known for being quite the gentleman."

"... his black hair suits him well... And he makes that gesture with his head when he wants to affirm something... his hands are very masculine..."

"When did you look at my brother so much?"

"I did not look at him, what are you talking about?"

"'He has pretty this, pretty that.' Come on, Dean! You were observing him from head to toe." Laura gave her a light tap on the arm.

It was true, when had she observed him so much? Well, it was natural; he was supposedly her fiancé and they had been dating for months. It was logical that she would inspect him a little. The fact that he was attractive made the situation a little more pleasant-at least she would pretend to be the wife of a handsome man, and having to see him daily would not be so heavy. It balanced the scales a bit with his "special" character.

"You are unbearable sometimes, Harry, you know that, right?"

"I do not want to hear you talk about my brother as if he were a man."

"And what is he supposed to be then?"

"My brother... it is grotesque that you see something 'attractive' about him."

"What?"

"That is what happens, Deanna, because for Harry, his brother is a kind of supreme deity. We are being blasphemous by referring to him as a mere mortal," Laura explained to her.

"You have issues, kid. That man is not even close to being a God."

And yet, Deanna kept reviewing in her mind all those small things she had seen in him in just two encounters; the details that characterized him. He had a distinguished bearing and a very peculiar serenity despite always seeming rigid; if it were not for his way of speaking which sometimes bordered on being dismissive, he would definitely fall into the "interesting man" category.