2014 Unconditional Love
Chapter 3
Elena sat in the backseat staring through the heavily tinted windows. From her vantage point, she watched the employees of Barnes Global walk from their cars in the parking deck to the lobby of the massive skyscraper.
Taking note of an attractive couple walking hand-in-hand, she soon realized it was none other than Mr. and Mrs. John Ross Ewing III.
"If that's not a match made in hell, I don't know what is," she scoffed. "John Ross only married her to avenge his father's murder, while Pamela only married him to spite Cliff!" she informed her driver. "Too many Daddy issues for that marriage to work out. Besides, I think she still might be in love with Christopher."
Glancing up into the rear view mirror, she saw the insightful smile of a man who knew much more about the Barnes and Ewing families then he cared to. After a long pause, he excused himself to carry out the next step in their business venture.
Elena pulled out her phone. The text she wrote was still on the screen, and she re-read it for the 100th time.
…
Christopher,
You're a good person who should not be trapped between adversaries whose twisted sense of revenge knows no limits. I'm so sorry,
P.S. I wish we could go home tonight and argue over whose turn it was to make dinner
…
While pondering the implications of sending such a text moments before announcing she was the proxy for the Devil himself, a familiar voice echoed off the concrete walls. At a quick pace, Christopher was making his way through the parking garage while calling to the delivery woman that he would get the door for her. The two chatted for a moment, and then he gave one of his adorable smiles. Elena's heart jumped.
Talk about Daddy issues, she chastised herself. Do you see what have you thrown away in retaliation of your own father's untimely death?
One of the more difficult things she ever did was send Christopher back to Dallas alone, as he had sworn he would not go without her. Her heart yearned to get on that plane and forget the last 3 years had ever happened, but only teenage girls could dream up such impossibilities and imagine them coming true. She had become much too cynical to brood over such nonsense. Now thirty-five, she surmised that using her brain instead of her heart to make decisions, could not possibly end with her devastated and lovesick, could it?
Surprisingly, the old friends had fun together throughout the four days he was there, as long as they steered clear of certain emotionally charged subjects: their relationship, Southfork, Ewing Energies, his Uncle Cliff (A.K.A. That Evil Son-of-a-bitch, as Christopher now referred to him), Joaquin's armed compound, and the reason for her sudden relocation. Such themes had dominated so much of her life for so long, the diversion was refreshing.
Together they explored Nuevo Laredo admiring the use of solar panels and wind turbines in the sustainable architecture, and took long walks pointing out plants and flowers that were native to the area. Christopher's Spanish was quite good by American standards, but she helped him with the local dialect and colloquialisms, while he taught her a few phrases in Mandarin. It felt like a bygone era, a time when she was untroubled, self-assured and content. It felt right.
When the dreaded topics were breached, however, their interactions ranged from not so calm to almost antagonistic. To Christopher's credit, he never yelled or became angry while with her (he went off alone more than once, however), but he certainly ran through a gamut of emotions, especially when she answered in ambiguous terms or flat-out refused to speak any further.
Elena could not be upset with him about it; all of those emotions he freely expressed was one of the things she loved about him. Christopher could not hide how he was feeling if he tried; his emotions were too powerful for that.
The inability to control his anger had always been an issue, but before returning from China, he had never directed it at her. Adoration, affection, and devotion were the sentiments he exuded for his first love. Mix those with his fierce intensity and passion ignited.
The car door opened, startling Elena out of her reverie.
"Ms. Ramos, it's time," her driver announced, putting out his hand to help her out of the limousine. "They're all in the board room."
Hesitantly, she nodded. Looking down at the text one last time, Elena closed her eyes, said a short prayer, and then clicked 'send.'
C2014tbimh
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