Yenedith stops by a different law firm to prevent her father's lawyer from interfering with Elena's lawsuit — I'm looking for attorney Bianca Benitez; I know she works here.
— Please give me a moment, — says the man at the front desk. After a few minutes, he tells her she can go in.
— Good afternoon, Yenedith. How can I help you? — Bianca waves hello and motions for her to take a seat.
— It's about my stepmother. She needs a lawyer for a domestic violence and sexual exploitation lawsuit. There's evidence of the beatings, and I have this — Yenedith places a folder on the desk.
Bianca opens it to find what looks like a magazine-style catalog with provocative photos of a young woman who barely looks eighteen. — Is that her?
— It's from thirty years ago. She was recruited and forced into prostitution by her current husband, Edwin Singer.
— Wow, this is going to be a complicated case if they're married.
— Not to mention that she was just arrested for being his accomplice in human trafficking and money laundering.
— So your idea is to prove that, as a victim, she had no choice but to cooperate with her husband's crimes.
— She's been held captive for more than three decades. She may have played a part in the conviction of girls like herself, but I don't think she should be judged in the same way.
— If you want our help, she must accept my team.
— I'll talk to her — Yenedith stands up — Thank you very much for seeing me, Bianca.
— It was my pleasure — both stand up and shake hands.
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It's been two weeks since Gustaph asked for time to rescue his daughter, but he hasn't heard from him since. Even so, he decides to go ahead with her plan to fly to another country using his old birth name to avoid being tracked down by Alexander, and with Edwin behind bars, there isn't much the bastard can do to contact him.
He checks his email again, hoping for a response from the Swiss Consulate regarding his passport, and smiles upon learning that he can now go pick it up.
— What are you doing awake? — Alexander whispers.
— I can't sleep anymore.
— It's six in the morning.
— I'm going to the gym — Tadeus says, getting out of bed. He asks his bodyguard to drop him off at a gym twenty minutes away from the consulate, so he can change inside and leave through another door. He picks up his passport along with other important documents bearing his name. He returns to the gym, works out a bit, and goes back to the house Alexander has rented.
— You haven't told me what happened — says Tadeus as they eat breakfast on the spacious balcony, which is decorated like a garden.
— The delivery didn't go as I'd planned. I need you to… I want you to stay by my side; it's too dangerous for you to be alone right now. I'm sure Jade has something to do with this.
— Your men won't even let me go to the gym alone.
Alexander reaches out to kiss Tadeus' hand — Did he say anything to you? Jade?
— No.
— I heard you got a letter.
— It didn't say anything. It just had a number on it, but I threw it away.
— Remember what I told you about the threats. If he finds you again, I need to know so I can protect you.
— That doesn't matter right now; you need to get better. — Tadeus smiles for a second and continues eating — I've been thinking that we could take on new names and maybe… live in a little house like your parents' but in another country.
— My love, I thought this was a fresh start for both of us.
— I'm suggesting you choose a life without devious businesses.
Alexander laughs just enough for it to be considered a smile — That's a little difficult.
— Forget what I said — Tadeus lets go of his cutlery, but Alexander takes his hand to keep him in his chair.
He intertwines fingers with his and turns his own wrist to look at the palms of both their hands. — I want you to be part of my life, too; beyond what we have now — he says, keeping his gaze on those eyes as he reaches into the pocket of the robe, they hear a knock at the door. — I can promise you a comfortable and secure life.
— You can't.
— Let me finish.
— Let's go to the beach; we could walk there and get to know the area better — says Tadeus.
Alexander looks down and runs his fingers across his forehead before heading toward the door. — The laundry's back, sir.
— Please put it on the bed.
Robert sets the two suits on the bed and leaves the room.
Alexander steps into the shower, where he caresses Tadeus' chest down to his lower abdomen and kisses his shoulder all the way to his ear — When was the last time we made love? — he whispers — I don't remember anymore.
— I'm not prepared.
Alexander caresses his lover's penis until it's erect, then turns off the shower, gets down on his knees, and sucks until the semen runs down his throat. He smiles as he looks up and maintains eye contact while tracing his tongue up Tadeus' abdomen until he reaches his neck, where he bites him. Hearing that sudden moan turns him on, but he just kisses his cheek and turns the shower back on.
— I'll make a reservation at a restaurant with live music; I know you're going to love it — Alexander says as he steps out of the shower, wraps a towel around his waist, grabs his phone, and walks toward the balcony.
Tadeus uses the bathrobe to dry off when he feels a bulge in one of the pockets and sees that it's a small case covered in blue velvet. He looks toward the balcony before opening it, to find a silver ring with half of it encrusted with blue sapphires. He puts the case back where he found it when he sees Alexander approaching and heads back to the bathroom to hang up his robe, so he grabs another towel, pretending he hasn't seen a thing.
The couple walks hand in hand along the beach until it's time for lunch — Do you have a reservation? — asks the hostess.
— Yes, under the name Alexander Strauss.
— Please follow me.
— I feel a little dizzy.
— You must be really hungry; you barely ate breakfast — Alexander remarks, taking Tadeus' hand as the waiter leads them to a table on a small private balcony at the top of the restaurant overlooking the beach. It's impossible not to notice the blue-and-white carnation decorations.
— Are you ready to order? — the waiter asks after a few minutes.
— Please, a steak with pasta and Parmesan cheese, and a 1915 red wine, thank you.
— I'd like the pasta with octopus and squid rings. A white wine would be nice; whatever the chef recommends.
— Of course — the waiter takes the menus and walks away.
— You know how much I love you, my love — says Alexander, intertwining the fingers of his right hand with his own; he stands up and leans in to kiss him tenderly until he's out of breath. When he feels a slight gap between their lips, he caresses his face with both hands and seeks out those kisses with even greater longing to calm his nerves a little.
Tadeus manages to push him away just enough to say something — The waiter is coming over.
— What does it matter what he thinks? Let everyone know how deeply in love I am with you — says Alexander, kneeling down and resting his elbows on Tadeus' lap. He takes Tadeus' left hand and places it on his right cheek to feel the warmth of his palm, then kisses his fingers — I want it to always be like this, with you by my side. I can no longer imagine my life without you in it.
— Alexander… — Tadeus sighs, profoundly moved. With his thumb, he wipes away the tear that spills over and brings his other hand to his face when he sees another tear fall.
Strauss places his hand on Tadeus' chest and pulls his shirt to draw him closer, to kiss him again. — Would you marry me?
When he opens his eyes, he sees the ring without its box between Alexander's fingers. Tadeus takes it, slips it onto his left ring finger, and kisses this man until they're both standing, looking into each other's eyes and holding each other tightly.