Missing Your Husband

“That’s by the way,” he continued, shifting the conversation back to the matter in hand. “Let me fill you in on other important things about the company. KRM isn’t just any business; it’s one of the largest gold and mining corporations in the country. We deal with everything from extraction to refining, distribution, and even trading. Romero expanded it significantly in recent years, especially in parts of Europe and South America.”

Carmen blinked, trying to absorb the information as Pablo spoke. “Gold and mining… so it’s a heavy industry. That explains the wealth and power behind the name.”

Pablo nodded, flipping open a set of documents to show her various charts, statistics, and financial records. “You got it right. We manage dozens of mines, thousands of workers. It’s not about mining gold, but also ensuring we adhere to international regulations, environmental standards, and keeping our relationships with governments intact. That’s where it gets tricky. A lot of it is political. We’ve got investors watching our every move, expecting profits every quarter. And with markets as volatile as they are right now, there’s pressure to keep everything running smoothly,” he disclosed.

As Pablo laid out the different challenges the company faced, Carmen forced herself to focus. But the sheer volume of information was overwhelming. Each document seemed denser than the last, filled with technical jargons, complex contracts, and financial figures that made her head spin. It wasn’t about leading a business; it was about keeping a giant afloat, balancing politics, economics, and relationships.

“Romero is brilliant at this. He always had a clear vision of where to take the company. But now, with him out of the picture for the moment, you’re going to have to step into those shoes. There are key people you’ll need to know; major investors, government officials, and a few international players we rely on,” Pablo went on.

Carmen’s eyes darted across the pages as Pablo continued to explain. She felt a lump forming in her throat, a tightening in her chest. She was way in over her head. She wasn’t a businesswoman, certainly not someone capable of understanding the intricacies of a global gold and mining corporation.

Carmen’s hands gripped the edges of the chair. She could feel the pressure mounting, Romero’s expectations, the board’s doubts, Perez’s hostility. “I…I’m not sure if I can do this, Mister Pablo. It’s too much. I was studying Sociology, not Business Administration, in school. I barely know anything about this world,” she admitted, her voice wavering slightly.

Pablo stopped mid-sentence, his eyes dimmed with concern. “Missus Monteiro, I understand it’s a weighty role, but you don’t have to know everything right away. No one expects you to be an expert overnight, not even Romero. But what you have is Romero’s trust, and that’s the most important thing. You just need to keep the ship steady until he’s back,” he encouraged.

Carmen shook her head, the magnitude of the task hitting her like a ton of bricks. “How long is it going to take before he returns? What if I mess up before he does? What if I make a wrong move, and it all collapses? I don’t even know where to start.”

Pablo leaned forward, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “That’s why I’m here to guide you. You won’t mess up. There’s a whole team of professionals behind you. You just have to carry everyone along with every step you take so there won’t be mistakes. And oh, your husband getting back here within a short period, all depends on you.”

“You mean Romero?” Carmen asked, her face twisting.

“Who else would it be? Romero still needs your caregiving services. You can’t abandon him just because he gave you a new task. That’s actually his intention in giving you this role. He wants you to neglect him and stop bothering him. And do you know what would happen if you granted him that?” Pablo inquired, his eyes staring fixedly at her.

“It’ll take far longer for him to return to the company?” Carmen answered rhetorically.

Pablo nodded, a tiny smile played on his lips. “Exactly! So, you had better be smart and watchful, if you don’t intend spending six months or even a year here.”

“That heartless son of a…” Carmen fumed with a deep scowl.

Pablo chuckled softly at her reaction, though his expression remained serious. “Romero has his ways, but he’s not heartless, Missus Monteiro. He trusts you, even if he has a strange way of showing it. And you should trust yourself too. You wouldn’t be here if he didn’t believe you could handle this.”

“That’s because he sees me as a meddler. He clearly told me that I love meddling, so I should come here and meddle in the family business,” Carmen replied, a mixture of frustration and fear bubbling up.

Pablo laughed, shaking his head. “Well, he picked a bigger place for you to meddle in, no doubt. But the best part is you’re still meddling in his life, and that’s because he wants you to. See it as an opportunity to help him. You’re using one stone to kill two birds in this situation.”

Carmen took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing thoughts. The weight of the role felt suffocating, and the fact that Romero wanted her to do this added a layer of complexity she hadn’t expected. It wasn’t just about the company; it was about playing his game, proving something to him, to the board, and to herself.

“So, what exactly is my plan here? I can’t just sit behind a desk and wait for things to implode,” Carmen eventually asked, her voice tense.

Pablo leaned back in his chair, folding his arms thoughtfully. “Your plan, for now, is to keep Perez and the others in check. I don’t trust them. Then you have to focus on learning this business, and attend the upcoming meetings. You don’t have to make any major decisions right away. Just show them you’re here, that you’re willing to learn, and that you’re not just a placeholder for Romero. Once they see you’re serious, they’ll start falling in line,” he said.

Carmen nodded slowly, her eyes drifting back to the thick folder of documents. “I’ll do my best, but if I falter, just promise me one thing.”

“What’s that?” Pablo asked, raising a brow.

“Don’t let them eat me alive,” Carmen half-joked, though her tone betrayed a real hint of anxiety.

Pablo smiled warmly. “I won’t. You’ll be fine, Carmen. I’ll leave you to familiarize yourself with the company details,” he said, standing up. “If you need anything, just give me a call.”

Carmen nodded, though her hands still trembled slightly as she gripped the armrest of her chair. As she watched Pablo leave, for a moment, she considered running; just leaving the office and forgetting about the whole mess. But then the thought of Romero, of what he might say, or worse, do with her, stopped her.

No. She couldn’t run. Not now.

Carmen’s phone buzzed in her bag, disrupting her thoughts. She reached for the phone, and when she glanced at the screen, it was a notification. She opened it quickly, her eyes scanning the message. Carmen gasped in disbelief, her breath caught in her throat as she stared at the screen. Her hands shook as she gripped the phone tighter.

“This can’t be real,” Carmen mumbled with shaky breath, dropping the phone on the table.

The notification had left Carmen speechless. She blinked rapidly, her mind trying to process what she was seeing; an advance payment of five-hundred thousand dollars. Half a million dollars! It felt surreal, almost like a dream. This was it. The first real proof of what she’d gotten herself into, a marriage bound by contract, sealed with money.

Her heart thumped as she picked up her phone and stared at the screen again. She had anticipated the payment, but not today, and even seeing the number on her screen made it all too real.

It was no longer just an agreement in theory; it was tangible now, with real consequences, and real stakes. This money symbolized the deal she’d made with Romero, the new life she’d stepped into, and the obligations she now carried.

Carmen stood up from the chair, feeling light-headed. It’s real… she thought, her legs barely supporting her. The tension, the pressure, the uncertainty that had clouded her mind for weeks suddenly didn’t seem as unbearable. This…this could finally save my brother. It can change everything.

A surge of excitement ran through Carmen’s veins, but it was quickly followed by a sense of anxiety. The day seemed to stretch endlessly before her, the hours dragging as she tried to focus on the documents Pablo had left. But her mind was elsewhere. Every second felt like an eternity as she waited for the evening to come. All she could think about was the hospital. Diego.

The minutes blurred into hours. Carmen’s eyes scanned over the financial statements and charts Pablo had handed her earlier, but none of them were registered. The anticipation of finally being able to pay for her brother’s kidney transplant consumed her thoughts. She glanced at the clock for what felt like the hundredth time, willing the day to move faster.

At some point, Pablo checked in on her, giving her pointers on the company’s inner workings. She nodded along, but her mind was only half there. Every so often, her hand would unconsciously drift to her phone, fingers itching to call the hospital and confirm that the payment would go through without any problems.

The day eventually drew to a close, and Carmen felt her breath hitch as she stood up from her desk, barely able to contain her restless energy. She grabbed her bag and raced to the door. Just as she opened it, Pablo stood there almost colliding with her.

“Whoa, you seem to be in a rush. Are you missing your husband that much?” Pablo jokes, grinning widely.

Carmen forced a laugh, she waved a dismissive hand. “Husband? Oh, please. I bet he even wants me around. I…I have somewhere to go. Can you leave without me?”

Pablo shook his head. “I’m sorry, I can’t. We’re going home together. I can go with you to wherever you want,” he replied.

Carmen’s heart sank at Pablo’s insistence. The last thing she wanted was for him to accompany her to the hospital. If he found out about Diego, she wouldn’t trust him enough not to tell Romero. She needed to come up with a reason, anything, to keep him away.