Chapter 1

And FINALLY, Mary's husband. Cami had only a few seconds to form an idea of the man who had been married to his cousin. Benjamin Rojas approached her on the gleaming floor of that spacious and cold office.

He saw that it was tall, blond, tanned leather; he wore a cotton suit and was over thirty years old.

And, without time for more, he had already given her the hand to greet her. They looked in silence, without knowing what to say, how to start.

Despite the instant pressure, his hand was pleasant to rub.

So, cautiously, as a tribute to that first encounter, he gave him a hug. He didn't find it unusual. The previous Tuesday, at Mary's funeral, she had also been embraced by unknown persons.

-Cami -He said after all. His voice sounded deeper than he had done the previous day on the phone.

-Benja.

He was strong, athletic. He could feel the hard muscles of his forearms, as well as those of his fornest chest. He hadn't expected to meet such a powerful man. But that was better: At that time, he needed to have where to support him.

It was only then that he began to realize the importance that this man would have in his life from that moment on.

His eyes were blue and bright, and his thick hair, a little clear and long by the fleecillo, invited to be put in place with a woman's caress.

He closed his eyes, sucked in his virile fragrance and noticed a tremor that contrasted with Benja's firmness.

-I'm glad you've come -said this one, with her lips on Cami's hair.

-I had to do it -she replied.

Which was true, although Benja didn't know why... But he would know it at the end of that meeting. During the plane and car journey to Philadelphia, I had hardly thought of anything else. Don Jarvis, Benja's personal assistant, had gone to pick her up at the airport to take her to the office of her superior and they had almost failed to cross two words. Fortunately, Don had been respectful of his silence, attributing it to the mourning for Mary's death.

When Benja released her, they finally remained looking at the face, without touching, but still close to each other.

-It's very hard," he said.

-Yes -Cami agreed, with a knot in her throat.

-I'm sorry I didn't go to pick you up myself.

-No, please! You didn't need to alter your schedule.

-You know? Yesterday, when you called... -Benja remained silent and shook his head, unable to find the words. Look, I'm going to give the day off to my secretary, Marcia, and then we talk calmly. We have to talk without anyone interrupting us. I feel you couldn't locate me before the funeral.

-Me too. I tried.

-I stayed for a couple of days traveling.

-And Mary had neither your address nor your phone pointed in any obvious place. I looked at their papers above, but...

-I know you tried it," Benja said. And I thank you for that. These days will have been terrible for you. Excuse me for just a second.

She left the office and Cami heard him give a couple of instructions to her secretary.

It gave him time to think, to feel the growing concern that had begun five days ago, within hours of learning about Mary's death. Why had it been so difficult for him to find any reference on the whereabouts of Benjamin Rojas among the roles of Mary? She was her husband! And yet it did not give the impression that Benja had been surprised that he had not been able to locate him. Something didn't fit. Not at all.

After five nights without a good night's sleep, it was exhausted. It sank into one of the two leather armchairs facing the window, overlooking Lake Diamond, and the beauty of the view seemed to serenade it. I understood perfectly that Benja would have chosen such a place to spend the summer; what he didn't understand was…