The Ride

By Tatiana Amaral

When I was a little girl, I heard my father say that destiny was a wise old man in short pants, who stood around the corner waiting for you to come over to play a prank on you.

For years I thought that this vision of life was the argument my father used to fantasize about his own story. Today I realize that I've never heard anything so wise, true and interesting. After all, who among us can say that one was not a victim of fate at some point on one's road?

The same goes for the two people whose story I'm going to tell. It is nothing invented by my head, let alone any dream I had and that I decided to put on paper. It's the true story of a couple, told by the best friend of a cousin of my second cousin's neighbor's ex-girlfriend.

No. This is not another love story. This is the purest story about how life and destiny duel to bring reality as close as possible to fantasy. And it's not that every day fantasy comes closer to our reality?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tatiana Lacerda do Amaral
• Release date: Mar 3, 2018
• ISBN: 9781547520343

Book preview

Prologue

When I was a little girl, I heard my father say that destiny was a wise old man in short pants, who stood around the corner waiting for you to come over to play a prank on you.

For years I thought that this vision of life was the argument my father used to fantasize about his own story. Today I realize that I've never heard anything so wise, true and interesting. After all, who among us can say that one was not a victim of fate at some point on one's road?

The same goes for the two people whose story I'm going to tell. It is nothing invented by my head, let alone any dream I had and that I decided to put on paper. It's the true story of a couple, told by the best friend of a cousin of my second cousin's neighbor's ex-girlfriend.

No. This is not another love story. This is the purest story about how life and destiny duel to bring reality as close as possible to fantasy. And it's not that every day fantasy comes closer to our reality?

CHAPTER 1

It was a cold evening, as it used to be at that time of the year in a small town, very close to Canela, Rio Grande do Sul.

Monotony lay in the practically empty town. The absent tourism declined a bit, only to increase next, with Christmas coming closer, and the city was preparing to welcome tourists who couldn't find accommodation in the most sought-after places in the neighboring cities

People sought shelter in their homes, thus avoiding exposure to the chill that night promised. Daniel Ferreira stopped his car, a silver CRV, which fed his ego at every acceleration in the parking lot of the only nearby diner that was open at that hour.

It was distressful for him to be back in there, and even harder to leave after three days reviving his story. Memories plagued him. He could still feel every moment experienced. Savor every pleasure that memories allowed him to, and hurt himself again with them.

Against his will, he turned off the car and stepped out into the thin, icy rain that fell steadily from the dark sky. Trying to protect himself as much as possible, he hid his hands in the pockets of his pants, shrugged, and with quick steps reached the diner, entering the establishment and thanking for the warmth of the place.

Many years ago Daniel lived in Rio de Janeiro, more precisely in Leblon, and, therefore, he was used to hot days. The cold reduced his reasoning ability, and he couldn't get used to it, even though he had lived in the city for years when he was still a child. He sighed with his memories. He had to keep them locked up in the past to which they belonged.

He hated that place, though he had longed for much of his life to come back and rescue what he had left behind. Something he did not want to end. But he didn't want that anymore. Not after what happened. The past was just a pleasant memory, a refuge in difficult times.

Paying little attention to the few people who were still taking a risk in the freezing cold of the end of the day, he sat at a distant table observing the bad weather outside. He would still have to drive to Canela, where he would find a hotel to spend the night. He picked up the menu on the table to choose his order.

– Good evening!

He lifted his eyes to face a pretty, smiling young woman with black hair, blue eyes, curves highlighted by the uniform, displaying an advantageous and unnecessary cleavage and with a notebook in hand. The waitress, he thought dully. It wasn't someone he knew, if he still knew anyone there.

– May I take your order? – she smiled.

Although it was probably a routine approach to all customers, Daniel realized that the girl, still too young, tried to disguise this fact through excessive makeup, and was dazzled by his beauty. He smiled back, his teeth perfect. He loved it when beautiful women reacted to him. But then he remembered his promise and immediately looked away, concentrating on the menu.

– Yes. I'll have simple coffee, hot cheese... not really... Hum! OK! That's right. Add a slice of cake. I think that... - he looked at the menu, checking the options, but there was only one - chocolate. - The girl promptly scrawled the order.

– Anything else? – she smiled hopefully.

Daniel hesitated, but stepped back again.

– No. Thank you. – And handed back the menu.

– You're welcome. If you need anything, just call me, sir... – Daniel cracked a smile, very well defined, to the exact extent which overcame any barrier of women, and realized that the girl in front of him had been even more dazzled.

– Ferreira. Daniel Ferreira – he blinked his eyes naively, however aware of the effect that his long dark lashes, going down his hazel eyes, had on girls.

Daniel was always handsome. Light brown hair, sometimes even reddish or coppery, thin and well defined features that stood out more as he grew older. His eyes had a light hazel tone which, when receiving the sun's rays, grew even clearer, as molten gold. We could say that this detail was his natural charm.

As a teenager, he learned that beauty helped open doors, among other things. Though he had never been able to devote his time or attention to another girl, except the one who, with a simple shy smile, managed to dominate all his actions. Just the one for whom he couldn't honor love. He shook his head to dismiss his thoughts. That was not a good time.

– So... Mr. Ferreira... just call. – The girl left to provide his order, looking back from time to time.

That was the man who could save her from her boring life in a small town. The waitress had dreams and plans, and they fit right in the hope of finding a rich, handsome, gentle man who wanted to give her much more than just a tip. She went into the kitchen with her head full of ideas. Little did she know that this wasn't her prince, let alone her great opportunity.

Letting aside the waitress' daydreams, as he followed her with his eyes, Daniel's attention was captured by a beautiful girl sitting on a bench next to the counter. She stared at him. Not that this was abnormal for him, but there was something about this woman that caught him. She is... beautiful! Not beautiful. Calling her beautiful would be an offense to her beauty. She is gorgeous!

Involuntarily his eyes traced the glorious body of that girl who still stared at him dazed. Red hair in a vibrant tone, or rather painted red, a dye that, though worn, not diminished at all that beauty, her hair falling in waves to her thin waist. Her pink lips, slightly fleshy, were half open, as if waiting for the contact of his. He couldn't see the color of her eyes, but he could see that she wore a heavy and exaggerated makeup. Yet she was beautiful.

Wonderful!

The word echoed in his mind as someone opened the door to the diner, allowing the icy chill to invade the room. The girl shrank, looking away from him. She wore no coat, only a thin T-shirt, not typical of anyone who knew the region.

Her breasts stiffened in the cold air. Daniel was amazed by the sight. He felt his mouth salivate and something between his legs showed how much he was interested in that girl.

Once again, she looked toward him with deep eyes that seemed to seek answers. He knew exactly what answer he would like to give.

– For heaven's sake, Daniel, remember your promise - he rebuked himself quietly, holding between his fingers a pendant with the image of Our Lady of Aparecida, trying not to overcome the barriers imposed by himself. The piece was a reminder that he should and must stay out of trouble.

How long had he not had sex? Six months? He was about to explode, but he would carry on the promise he had made since he managed to put things in place and got rid of Raquel Magalhães.

His big mistake. After so many problems, he asked himself how he had allowed that situation to go so far. Raquel was beautiful, very hot, as Daniel himself said, but completely crazy. He had allowed himself a few nights of fun and pleasure with her, knowing that nothing more than that interested him, but apparently the girl didn't share this thought.

After a few months of occasional nights in her company, Daniel didn't find any problem in continuing to enjoy what the girl offered, after all, serious relationship was out of question at that time of his life.

Raquel was very good in bed, a professional, as he told his friends, which is why he ignored all warnings received about their relationship.

– It's just sex, and she's aware of that - he kept saying to his friends.

– Raquel is troublemaker, Daniel.  She'll find a way to catch you, and then it will be too late for you to repent.

. Vítor, his childhood friend, fellow adventurer and keeper of all Daniel's secrets, tried to stop him from continuing the relationship. He knew the position he held in Daniel's life, so he was properly accredited to warn him, and maybe even persuade him not to venture so far with someone from whom everybody knew exactly the purpose: status.

– Vítor, it's the best sex I've had lately. I'm not marrying Rachel, let alone falling in love. It's out of question any love story, which doesn't stop me from having fun sometimes.

– She's only interested in your money, Daniel - said Gustavo, another friend, who joined the two of them in college and their friendship never fell apart, forming the power trio, as they liked to joke. He supported Vítor's reproof.

– And I'm only interested in having sex with her. It's an exchange. There is nothing bad about giving a woman a little luxury while she gives me great pleasure. Don't worry; I know what I'm doing.

By pure mischance, Daniel didn't know.

Then, one night when they were both drunk, Raquel did everything to make him extremely excited. He was eager to take her to bed and get as much pleasure as possible from her, however the girl was playing hard inside the car. She had refused to go out with the boy a few times, and at his insistence she understood it was time to strike.

At that night she would get everything she wanted from him. Sure that she had acted the right way, she thought Daniel was putty in her hands. While he tried to persuade her to enter the love hotel, she steadfastly refused. The young man insisted, without giving up. After all, since they've had sex countless times, there was no serious reason for the refusal.

– I don't want this life anymore, Daniel. - Raquel whispered like a moan on her lover's warm lips, while she massaged erotically, despite showing frailty, his erect organ. 

– I give you a more than perfect life, Raquel. What man would do what I do? What else do you want from me? - Daniel was extremely excited, moaning and kissing his lover's neck.

– I want to marry you. I want to be only yours. - He laughed at those words. She could only be joking. They weren't even in a relationship, and Raquel knew this detail perfectly well. Their relationship was just sex. It has never been otherwise.

Very deftly, Raquel unzipped her lover's pants, moving her hand inside. Daniel moaned louder, giving her certainty of victory. He needed to get laid that night, he was extremely happy and tired after a long meeting that resulted in a millionaire agreement. Not that he needed more money, but money was never too much, he thought.

He wanted to celebrate his potential to persuade people to do what he wanted, and also to close this night with a golden key, with a fuck he could only have with Raquel.

– Marry me, Daniel! And I promise that all your nights will be filled with a lot of hot sex.

– I marry you.

The young man had no idea of the mess he was getting himself into. For a while he believed they were drunk enough to embrace any madness, but not to think they could make it a reality.

He was convinced that Raquel was joking, playing with sensuality, just to spice up what was to come. Only for this reason did he accept the proposal, because, giving her what she wanted, he would reach his goal.

– Now shut up and start working.

Raquel gave him the best night of his life. She spared no effort, and Daniel never felt such pleasure. In the end, he was exhausted and longing for his bed. Alone. He left Raquel at her home with the usual promise: he would call. And he went away, wishing to sleep peacefully.

The next day hell settled into his life.

Daniel had a meeting with his team to discuss the new contract. He went to the company early and immediately worked hard to organize all the necessary paperwork, as usual. He was the kind of person who left nothing out. He liked to take full control of the situation, to understand every subject and to know even the smallest details, perhaps the reason why he grew up and stood out professionally when he was still very young.

In the middle of the afternoon, he received the call that unleashed all his problems. Daniel didn't know, but his life would become hell.

– Mr. Ferreira? - a polite, sweet voice spoke from the other end.

According to Milena, his secretary, the call was from Rozete Cerimonial. Generally his family used their services, yet Daniel never made any provision related to such activities. He couldn't understand the reason for the call, but even busy, he didn't refuse to answer