Under Manhattan's Sky

By Andrea Golden

WHEN YOU LOST ALL HOPE OF FOLLOWING IN LOVE AGAIN... 

The writer takes us with delicacy into a beautiful love story that happens in two scenerios totally opposed, from one another, one full of wealth, and another one devastated by poverty in an environment similar to AFRICAN MEMORIES. Story told by the same characters, from their different points of view.

Angela, an agressive business woman whose life has been marked with loneliness. She needs to break with that rare life that she had created for herself, full of loves, and heartbreaks. But, as a turn of destiny, which happen with no control, makes a man appear in her life, bringing sensations that she never expected. Peter, a brilliant Spanish Architect, that confront the most ambitious project in his carrer, never thought that meeting Angela would change his life; his boss. After a sudden encounter, she disappears from his life, coming back with an enigmatic call and a risky proposition. He will take a trip that will change his life forever, one of the most challenging events in his life, in an unknown, poor and faraway country, where he never thought about going, thrown by the love of a woman, that is unreacheable for him and is dryving him crazy.

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR:

I present to you a new love story approach. In each moment I express the feelings of each character  (narrated by both). If you wish to read something different I invite you to dare. These types of books have many lovers and many non lovers.

ANDREA GOLDEN Bibliography

August 2015 " Under Manhattan's Sky" ( Best Seller/ Romantic/Fiction)

July 2016 " Secret of a Memory" ( Best Seller/ Historical/Fiction)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Andrea Golden
• Release date: Dec 2, 2020
• ISBN: 9781071577578

Book preview

Under Manhattan’ s Sky

When you lost hope of falling in Love again...

Andrea Golden

Translation into English by, Campbell&Diaz Translations.

To my daughter:

live, feel, love...

«I know a song in Africa, that talks about a Giraffe and the new African moon resting over its loin, from the furrows in the farmlands and the sweet faces of the coffee collectors... Does Africa know a song that talks about me?»

FRAGMENT from Memories from Africa 

Under Manhattan’ s Sky

Andrea Golden

CHAPTER I. THE ENCOUNTER.................................7

chapter ii. the start.......................................41

CHAPTER III. THIRD parties.................................67

CHAPTER IV. AN UNEXPECTED TRIP......................85

CHAPTER V. LOVE IN FARAWAY LANDS...............125

CHAPTER VI. THE RETURN..................................173

CHAPTER VII. SWEET AND BITTER.......................191

CHAPTER VIII. YOU ARE NOT ALONE....................233

CREDITS AND THANKS........................................250

CHAPTER I.................................8

The encounter..............................8

The start..................................40

Third parties..............................63

CHAPTER IV..............................78

An unexpected trip.......................78

Love in farway lands....................112

CHAPTER VI.............................155

The return...............................155

Sweet and bitter.........................169

You are not alone.......................201

Credits and Thanks.....................216

CHAPTER I

The encounter

Peter Sanz 

My clock wakes me up as every morning. I listen to its soft melody, that immediately sounds and with my slipping and lazy hand I stop it, over the little night table where it’s placed.

A few minutes passed, and doing my usual ritual, I move my neck towards both sides, I incorporate myself slowly, I breath some air, and I jump and come out from the sheets with energy, which I need for one of the most important days of my life. On my way to the shower, while I go in, I mumble between my teeth a presentation about me: «My name is Pedro Sanz, and after four months working in New York, I have been one of the chosen to form part of the most innovating project of the last years in this city...». I recite it proudly, at the same time, water comes out with pressure, it hits with force my body, stimulating it, the moment that I had desired so much has arrived.

My Armani suit, is out of the closet and I hang it on one of the doors. It’s a suit that impresses me it has a  simple and impeccable presentation and cut, that is hidden inside the exclusive and exquisite black color, decorated with the shield of the prestigious store where I bought it. It looks like if it was waiting for me and also ready to be worn. I lower the zipper, delicately, slowly trying to make it still. My blue light shirt, made of natural silk, has a fine and soft touch. I grab it with both hands and I place it skillfully, noticing how it slips over my back, till it’s completely sticked to my body. Sometimes I fasten it, surprised, my head flies thoughtfully remembering all the efforts made to get to this professional opportunity that I am confronting. All thanks to The Smith Engineers the Enterprise where I work, that surprisingly choose me to participate in the construction of the highest skyscraper in Manhattan. Recently, they have contracted us to finish this work and today is the waited day, the day we reunite with the owners.

It’s eight thirty in the morning. It’s time. I go through the door of the apartment, I go out and I close it, stopping for some instants in front of it. I breathe deeply relaxing and I go through  into the great American adventure, walking down the stairs towards the gate. I go into the gate, making a small pause till I notice a slight clicking when closing. I  am walking to the subway, that is a block away. While I advance, I watch the morning in the frenetic city. People as always walking fast, somehow faster than in most of the big cities I have lived in. No one seems to stop the rhythm when they walk through Central Park. In Madrid, it’s exactly the same, also we go to a park for breaks and for those small occasions of relaxation that we all look for, then opposite thoughts invade me, nostalgy, that I try to stop quickly to have a  deep feeling of inspiration... After longing, instinctively, I take some brief moments to look at the sky, even if here, in the middle of the Great Apple, it’s not something easy to find, because it seems that it can be hidden, under a gray layer, that covers it, the skyscrapers hide it.

I come to the nearest subway entrance. Over the metallic arch, in a bluish green color, there is a small poster where you can read: Lexington Av/59 St.. I introduce myself with a big crowd at the stairs that go down in a smart way, at the same time I cross a crowd that is searching for something just as me, which is the way to arrive to their job on time. We all avoid the great car jams that are formed in the exterior. I go through the illuminated galleries full of billboards and psychedelic nightclubs, announced with suggestive bright colors, new and selective zone restaurants, popular theaters with famous actors playing... I try to calm my anxiety looking at everything with intensity, like if it was the first time looking around —even if I do it everyday—. I mix with the crowd that is formed in the wide hallways, joining with the crowd, movements that seems to be heading in the same direction. I come practically dragged by the crowd to the line that will leave me in my station. While I wait, I make a path through all its faces, even if it surprises me, many are the eyes that look at me blatantly, and probably attracted by my magnificent suit; it’s the effect of the smoking, like a friend of mine would say.

The way out to the subway is just in front of the building where I work. I go up the wide and inclined stairs, contemplating everything in front of my eyes I can see a scenario full of buildings, that for me is a dream come true. I come to the entrance and I take out the accreditation which I have hanging from my neck. The scanner of the doors detect the QR  that is placed on it, and immediately after being identify it opens abruptly. I come through the wide hall walked by people on suits, security guards and cleaning staff come out with their metallic cleaning carts full of utensils, converging at the same time. At the end we find the elegant highly modern elevators, that detect automatically the presence of people waiting and that frantically work to satisfy all the users. I went into one, and I was taken to floor twenty-five where the reunion would be celebrated. It was funny the first time I went inside one, how the luminous panel that indicated the floors advanced ten by ten to a frenetic speed and in seconds, a nice voice of a woman that came from the speakers would announce the arrival to the floor.

At the same time, and when hearing the soft whistle of the doors that finally open completely, some people got out and many of them start to walk fast through the long hall that separates us from the lobby. At the end, the doors appear opened. I come near and go in directly attracted by the chit chat of the co-workers that had come first. In the course of several minutes it’s was completely filled up. The previous tension of the start makes my stomach make some strange noises, pressured by the nerves that flourished in the morning and that now are getting worse.

The meeting, that apparently would had already started, by that time in which we were scheduled, seems to be retarded. In fact, I am surprised by the arrival of some technicians dressed with some characteristically blue bows and some shine silver badges, where we can read: Image and Sound Technicians. They move quickly filling the room  with cables and antennas that are placed near the big glass windows that surround us, unfolding a great screen that looks like a modern projector. We all see them work, and we also talk about the new situation that neither of us was aware about. The chit chat starts to increase till my boss appears abruptly, moment where silence appears. I look at him with admiration, I am impressed by his presence. Incredible it’s the first time that I see him in person, because when he visited our office I had gotten out to have a coffee.

He comes toward us with style and very straight, perfectly dressed too, he walks to the extreme of a big table followed by a bunch of assistants and advisors. While he sits, his Assistants hand out to his side a bunch of folders, that probably would contain documentation about the construction, as they come back on the opposite side, to get out of the way. We hear several sounds: the movement of heavy chairs, some others come from  pens and things on the table, the soft murmuring starts to disappear... silence came when everyone sat on their places, interrupted by a deep voice, then he incorporates, leaving  his hands over the new screen of the lap top that is in front of him.

Gentlemen He said getting all our attention. " I am sorry for the delay we had an inconvenient that we are working on as soon as possible.

I feel something is happening, like if someone important was missing, mostly because of the paraphernalia that appeared at that moment, capable of paralyzing such an important reunion.

I heard a small noise when the projector turns on for the occasion, and in the screen we see projected the image of an empty desk. I think, " The guilty one must be a rich and capricious millionaire that might be so busy with his finances that he doesn’t have time to assist personally". I see a ridiculous video conference that tries delicate topics that way.

Movements are being produced, impatiently, we think for sure a big and old rich guy will appear full of money to his feet.

A leg...! Slim...! A camera seems to correct the direction, and after a very quick movement, it goes down quickly to the thigh, pointing to some beautiful shoes that are Bordeaux color, with a long and fine heel. It’s the first surprising image that appears. We look at each other astonished with the start. «Would it be the secretary of the great boss, maybe he wants to show her off to give us envy» .(That is for sure the thinking that comes to my mind). Our surprise  increases when we see she walks elegantly to the solitary desk, and places her fine and cared hands over it, and subtly sits on the chair that is probably in front of the camera, instants in which we discover her image. Her face is sublime, it occupies all the screen leaving us expectant.

Good Morning she says with a soft voice. For the ones that don’t know my name, I am Angela Thomson and I am the President of Holden Thomson Group. My eyes seemed to get wider with such surprise. The reason for this reunion, as you all know, is to supervise the organization and distribution of the work and construction of my new building. Due to the importance of some topics I would had loved to be present, but I couldn’t and as everything was already organized, it didn’t seem  right to delay it. In some hours I hope to be in person with you. So then, let’s begin, Mr. Smith please, let’s begin. She gives him a slight smile.

My boss speaks, and after a little staging he gets fully into the project. He starts explaining the main characteristics about the structure that we will find when the work arrives. The engineers that surround them stand up and go through the table giving away some folders perfectly organized, as we open them, they  are filled with mathematical formulas which I have lost total interest in, because my eyes continue to be fixed scrutinizing the impressive woman that appeared, and that in some seconds captivated me. Her brown dark hair, appears elegantly pulled down as we saw her beautiful face, her beautiful green eyes stand out. I try to fix my sight to perceive its color better. Its features are fine and symmetrical. Her lips are fleshy and full and totally sensual and her suit, the little upper part of it the only thing we could see, also grabs my attention adjusting perfectly well to the contour of her breasts. Like we would say in Spain: An interesting lady.

As minutes pass, I try to forget her presence and concentrate in the topic that appears and attracts me a lot, the minutes pass, I try to forget her presence and I center myself in the meeting, as the topics seem more interesting, as they provide more new details. I participate actively incorporating certain innovating touches that I think should be a call of attention by the owner. During the morning course, I can’t avoid the temptation of remembering her, she seemed to be very active in her iPad.

For some seconds, the contact is lost and the image disappears, finalizing abruptly and unexpectedly with the video conference. We all look towards the screen waiting for the recovery signal, but, suddenly, the telephone that my boss has starts to sounds. He talks in a low tone, almost imperceptible, it even gets up and goes to a corner of the room looking for some privacy. He doesn’t talk much, and after hanging up, he goes to his place. Before, continuing with his speech, he seems to breathe deeply, and upset, he travels his sight through the faces of each and every one of us.

Mrs. Thomson just informed me she is landing in New York, that’s why she ended the video conference, we will have a small break of an hour.

Still don’t move from your chairs, even if we are all thinking in the comforting coffee break of the morning.

Mr. Smith keeps talking.

By desire of Mrs. Thomson He makes a pause and lifts his chin, Peter has to come with my driver to the airport to pick her up.

They all seem to look for Peter, I myself move my head. But, no one answers, by that name, when, my boss, again in a high tone names him again.

Peter Sanz! he shouts, please, do you want to get out, now! Don’t wait longer.

I stay completely petrified... Peter Sanz is me.

The shock of his voice naming me makes me jump, it incorporates me to out of the chair violently and in some way confused, in such a precipitant way I am followed by everyone’s eyes. When I came to his presence, I extend my hand, opening my palm and after colliding with his, he holds it strongly.

Mr. Smith, I am Peter Sanz he said firmly trying to hide my astonishment.

He doesn’t even look at me, he turns his head to the left  to talk to his assistant that appears suddenly in the room.

"Accompany Mr. Sanz to the parking lot  and don’t wait so much. Mrs. Thomson demands punctuality, he makes a small pause and as he directs a look to a servant over his shoulder .Do you know Mrs. Thomson?

I haven’t had that delight, Mr. Smith, he elevates one of his eyebrows in a weird way after my answer. Even if the one surprised with all this is me.

Angela Thomson

The morning starts to complicate when the pilot informs me that we can’t be assigned to a track because of a problem with a commercial plane, the pilot was informing me, and he explains that the control tower gives priority to commercial flights, not private. It seems like a joke, but after months of preparing this reunion we have to postpone it. I look for a cell phone, inside my bag, that comes with me in this trip, I take it out and I call Robert in a very bad humor, after hearing of  the unexpected problem. Long time ago that I haven’t talked to him. In fact, so long also that I haven’t traveled to New York. He takes my call quickly, maybe, he was waiting for it. Our first words seem a little choppy even emotional after some time with no contact. After explaining him the situation, he seems thoughtful, I explain the situation, he seems thoughtful, trying to look for a solution, because neither of us are interested about delaying the reunion, and a postponement, would mean again to look for a hole in our agendas, saturated by inescapable commitments, with the inconvenient of again moving the engineering team that is traveling from all over the world and that will be tomorrow in the city.

The great idea comes up before a great silence between the two, and Robert, with conviction, proposes to make a video conference. He stands in his office with a specialized equipment, and me, I am still on land, I have the best assistants available working for me waiting for any eventuality. The call ended and in question of minutes, after warning, my reduced plane becomes in a mini record studio. Even, trying to liberate some space, people from my own enterprise, equipped with numerous tools hanging from their waist belts, they unscrew several seats and make them disappear quickly through a small door that has access to the plane and where, with the help of a crane, are evicted. The transit of people increases when also a camera appears, that extends its tripod, in front of the small desk where the modern gadget is. They all seem to be bothered by the infinite space. The situation seems funny while I wait sitting down in my place, knowing that it will be the beginning of a very important reunion, which main objective is to give the starting shoot to the construction of the new skyscraper, the highest in New York.

I love to see my team working. Before all I see how professional they are. You can see their attitudes before any unexpected situation and how they solve it without a bad attitude, without any complaints, coordinated and respectful. I always had thought that success in an enterprise is not about the boss that directs, but in the ability of the employees to carry their own responsibilities.

Before an stampede, I find myself alone near the camera, that seems to choose the farthest seat from me. In that same instant the pilot appears, that travels the long hallway to stop in my place and nicely he informs me that in some minutes we will depart. He returns to the cabin and in that precise instant in which the motors start their slow awakening, we start moving slowly through the track. The sound increases when we start getting momentum to the maximum acceleration, we notice with no doubt that we are flying.

Unpunctuality annoys me, and also to be on retard, I fight constantly with this mania that has become an obsession, as if it was a drug, it changes my character radically, filling some waves of impatience in all my body. That I show and I feel, while I continue tied to my seat and contemplating how the hour of the reunion is passing.

A slight deep glance to the top, of the panel that is over my head, the lights just turn on and we are recommended to keep seat belts fastened. In that same instant, the camera rushes to its tripod  and, without delay, they make me a sign with their fingers while a back count starts.

Three, two, one, in the air... he finishes saying, without giving time to arrive.

I come near in a rush towards the small table, making my way, by the narrow corridor, when, suddenly I feel the objective of the camera that touches my right thigh. Immediately, the camera moves the lens,  downwards focusing to another place. The small incident provokes me a slight smile thinking about the first image that she might had of me in New York, it might had been my thigh. I come near the desk, I surround it, and recovering the seriousness in my lips, I place lightly my hands in the table, sitting down finely. Next, I talk towards the camera:

Good Morning I make a pause to try and captivate the attention of all and I present myself briefly passing the word to Robert.

I follow the meeting through my iPad, that receives the signal of the webcam that they have installed in their screen and that gives me a complete panoramic of the room. Incredibly I make a zoom over the object that is of my interest, to point into a direction, scanning the accreditations of the present. After, researching the possibilities of this gadget, I try to pay attention,  to the structure, that is the first topic, which is not my strength,  and