She are being interrupted by a knock on the door and the knock was followed by Gloria her secretary.
"Andreas, wait a moment will you?" Raisa then covered the phone and addressed Gloria. "Why are you interrupting me Gloria?"
"Ms. Andieta it's Carolyn Stenbeck on line two. I thought that.... I can tell her you will call her back." Gloria was unsure and afraid of her boss's temper. She remembered how Raisa had despaired over this woman the last time and she also knew that she was still employed because she knew the meaning of discretion.
"No, no... I'll take the call thank you Gloria" Raisa removed her hand from the telephone. "Andreas, I will have to call you back later. Asta pronto." She then pressed the button of the number two line before taking a deep breath.
"Carolyn..." her voice had come out huskier than she had intended. She only heard silence but she knew that Carolyn was listening.
"Raisa.... I am going to ask you for something and I want you to say yes."
Raisa laughed out loud, taken off guard. This she had not expected.
"What do you want?" Raisa asked still in good spirits.
"I want to leave Venezuela and I need your help to take my son with me."
There was silence for a minute before Raisa spoke. "I gather Matt doesn't see things your way." It was a statement not a question.
"No, he does not." Raisa could hear the slight twinge of stress in her voice. This call had cost her dearly to make.
"Are you leaving him?" She was brutally direct.
"No, I am taking Simon home. I'm afraid for his safety here."
"Liar."
"Is that your answer?"
"No, it's not."
Again the silence stood between them.
"I will do anything," Carolyn said suddenly.
"Cara, I haven't asked for anything," she answered sarcastically.
"Are you going to help me or not?" Carolyn demanded.
"I have invited a few families to the country..." Raisa spoke as if she had not heard the question until she was quickly interrupted in mid sentence.
"Raisa, I can't wait that long," Carolyn said sharply.
"It's only a few days Carolyn," Raisa bit back.
"I know you can do this if you want...it has to be right away." The stress was beginning to show in Carolyn's voice again.
"Alright, when you come to the Hacienda in two days I will..."
"I want to go today, now!" Raisa could now hear the touch of hysteria in Carolyn's voice now.
"What's wrong Carolyn? What's going on?" Raisa demanded. The line went dead. Carolyn had hung up. She tried calling her back several times but the phone was not being picked up. She called down for her car to be brought around and she left the office.
~~~~~~~~~~
Clara ran to the door as quickly as she could. The knocking was persistent. She opened the door and was pushed aside.
"Where is Mrs. Stenbeck?" Raisa demanded.
Clara was about to speak when she saw two men enter the house dressed in dark suits and the question she was about to ask died in her throat.
"Where is she?" Raisa demanded.
Clara was terrified and pointed to the staircase.
Raisa looked at the two men as if a message was given and understood. She then turned and went up the flight of stairs. She opened door upon door.
Until she was faced with Carolyn. There were two suitcases on the bed and clothes thrown everywhere. Something had happened.
"Why the rush?" Raisa tried to sound unconcerned.
"How did you get in...." The question died in her mouth. "Like everything else you just ram in don't you?"
"I've had no complaints Cara," Raisa answered with a smile.
"Just get out! I don't need your help. I will pay off whomever. After all, everything is for sale isn't?" Carolyn finished saying in frustration and began to throw clothes in the suitcases again.
Raisa was about to give her smart assed remark when she noticed Carolyn's eyes were about to overflow with tears. She took a few steps away and looked around the room. When she spoke again her voice held no sarcasm. "Why the rush?"
"This is not new. I have wanted to leave for a long time." Carolyn answered as she continued to pack.
"Why right now? I told you in two days..."
"I can't wait two days!" Carolyn faced her again.
"I swear you Americans are insane. I don't know why I bother with Americanas like you!" Raisa said in disdain.
At that statement she barely had enough time to move before Carolyn had thrown something at her.
"You almost hit my face, you bitch!"
Again Carolyn grabbed another shoe and was about to throw it before Raisa tackled her to the bed.
A loud roar was heard in the distance. At the sound Carolyn began to whimper. Raisa just looked down at the woman beneath her in surprise. The thunder was heard even closer this time and Carolyn hid her face in Raisa's embrace.
"It's all right Cara," Raisa began to say softly and her mouth placed light kisses on her forehead. Raisa' mouth began its search.
"Get off me!" Demanded Carolyn suddenly very erratically.
"Calm down."
"This is his bed. Get off me!"
Raisa got up and Carolyn got off as if the sheets had burned her. Raisa stared. All of a sudden reality hit hard. This was Carolyn's bed. She stared at it unable to look away.
Both Raisa and Carolyn heard as the winds began to pick up and the rain started coming down hard.
The next crash of thunder hid the primal scream that came out of Raisa as she started pulling everything off the bed. The electricity went out and Carolyn stared unable to stop her or aid her. Raisa had thrown everything on the floor and torn at the sheets until the bed lay bare. She was breathing hard like it had not been enough. She then turned her eyes towards Carolyn.
Her Carolyn. His wife. His bed. She screamed like an animal does when in pain. She started tearing at whatever she could grab. Her pain became anger. And to Raisa Andieta anger always equaled violence.
"Does he touch you better than me?" Raisa asked in what seemed barely a whisper. "Is the pleasure with him what you want!" She screamed as she kept the distance that separated her from Carolyn. Carolyn started to break the status quo.
Carolyn's hand went out to her slowly. When her hand was about to reach Raisa's face it was slapped away. Suddenly she pushed Carolyn against the wall.
"How did he touch you Cara? Tell me! Tell me!" Raisa was screaming now. 'I can do anything better than him! Tell me! How did he touch you!" Raisa was totally out of control now.
"I want you," Carolyn said between tears.
"Arrgghhh...." Raisa hit the wall behind her with a cry of anger and despair.
Carolyn tried kissing her but she turned her face away but still not releasing her hold. Carolyn buried her face in Raisa neck. "I haven't been with him since the first time I was with you." Carolyn heard a moan of shear pain as Raisa began to sob and she then held her tighter to her.
~~~~~~~~~~
Carolyn had held on. Raisa at first had tried pushing herself away. When Carolyn held onto her even tighter she seemed to just surrender and then her arms went around Carolyn.
Raisa's rage and sobs continued as Carolyn held her tightly and cried as well. An hour, a lifetime. They had slid down the wall and as the sobs and the anger subsided all that could be heard was the storm still raging both inside and outside the bedroom.
Carolyn still held Raisa to her with her back against the wall as they both lay on the floor. Raisa was half lying on her, her face lay on Carolyn's chest. Carolyn began to softly caress her hair and Raisa's eyes closed as her mouth turned up to meet the lips she knew were waiting.