CHAPTER 1

A few months ago

| MAYA |

I'm just amazing, I smile in front of the mirror while i retouch the blood red lipstick on my lips. I am a very successful and intelligent thirty-year-old woman who has just join the team of doctors from Novo Horizonte, the most prestigious hospital in the city of Belo Horizonte, which has the highest technology in surgery and rare case treatments.

I am very happy to get this promotion because I will finally be able to work in my area of expertise which is cardiology, an achievement that I achieved with a lot of effort and hard work. Thinking about it reminds me that I have to resolve certain pending issues before i definitely start my service on the Monday of the following week.

As much as my heart is a little upset about having to take certain actions, nothing is more important than ensuring my success and good performance in the new workplace because of my ability. I don't want anything to be a hindrance to this job, my colleagues will have to recognize me, respect and admire me for the excellent professional I am, and not because of the people I relate to in or out of the hospital.

- My beautiful, your parents must be waiting for us at the restaurant by now. -John Peter says getting up from the bed and comes towards me wrapping my waist with both hands in a hug.

- They can wait a few more minutes. - I mean fun putting an earring in my ear.

I don't think Daniel and Sara Kyung-Soon would appreciate their prodigy's delay. -he jokes by pushing my hair to the side by placing them on one shoulder, and with his nose runs through the sensitive region of the nape to the curve of my neck.

My whole skin chills with the touch and I end up missing the ear hole while trying to put the other pair of the earring.

Then I'm going to put all the blame on you, since you won't let me finish tidying up. -I accuse myself of hiding a smile when I feel your lips tracing the same path of fire that your nose had done seconds before.

If i'm going to take the fall, I'd better do the job completely to make it worth the scolding I'm going to take later. -he says sliding his hand through the slit on the side of my long dress that goes all the way to the top of my thigh.

-Umum... -I murmur inebriated by the touch and turn in your arms to receive your mouth in a voracious kiss. But it would be a shame if you... messed up all this clothes lined up. Look at you, you're all dressed up in this suit and tie. -and to provoke him even more, I give strong pull on his tie bringing him closer to the point that our lips meet again.

JP growls in response before pressing our bodies to the level of almost becoming one. With errant but decided steps, he will guide us towards his bed that is right behind us. I tie my legs at her waist when we fall on the soft mattress and I scratch her back over the fabric.

I don't care, my beautiful. -is all he says with a serious countenance staring me straight in the eye, and then that's how we're a few more hours late to meet my parents at the agreed restaurant.

***

- Maya Kyung-Soon, is this time to meet a commitment? -my mother is the first to manifest, the neutral face reveals nothing to the people at the tables around us, but I know that inside she is like a real volcano about to explode in anger.

I'm sorry I'm late, Mom and Dad. -I apologize sitting in the chair that JP pulls so that I get comfortable facing both of them.

I ignore the fact that I was called by my full name, since I don't like my complicated last name. I face my parents with a polished smile on my face, after all I had wrong to delay without necessity, and besides, they still remain my parents to whom I owe respect and consideration.

My father mumbles with his eyes tapered. Do you even have a plausible excuse for that, Maya? - he asks with his impassive face just like my mother's.

-Sir Daniel... -JP intervenes but I stop you from proceeding.

Forget about it, please, Dad. I've apologized to you guys. Let's enjoy this evening to celebrate two important achievements for me, one of working in the place of my dreams and the other of getting my own apartment to live in.

All right, you're right, honey. These are two big steps you're taking and we're proud of you. That's what we created it for, to be successful and independent of us when we grew up. -my mom says and exchanges a strange look with my father before continuing. And since we've brought it up, unfortunately neither i nor your father will be able to help you with the move tomorrow, my child.

Don't you? - I question without understanding why.

Would that be a punishment for my delay?

No, i'm not. There's been a last-minute appointment at the office that we're going to have to sort out as soon as possible. -my father explains as if it was normal to drop any commitment in life to get stuck in the office on a Sunday day.

Well, for Daniel and Sara, my work-obsessed parents, something like that was really always common. I don't remember how many times they've done the same when I was still little and also in the course of my entire life.

- No problem, I can handle it myself. - I answer without shaking myself, as much as I'm partly disappointed in them.

I avoid sighing next not to give up my state of mind. I just wanted a little moral support at this new stage, damn it.

I can help you, Maya. JP offers himself and I feel even more horrible than I am already for what I'm going to have to do with him.

João Pedro is such a nice guy, a pity that my heart does not feel for him the same he feels for me. For me we are just friends who have become more involved beyond the limit of friendship, yet he has always been well aware of it. I never misled or deceived him with false hopes of anything more in the future. So I have to take action soon, I can no longer procrastinate and with that put my career at risk.