The next morning, Jaguar woke up to find a surprise. Fati was already dressed and ready; she had packed her bags and was sitting on the bed waiting for him. She didn't look at him but was staring out the large window. He thought she was still asleep and planned to wake her, but he was shocked to see her sitting there, fully prepared. He wondered: Did she even sleep last night, or was she awake all along? He didn't ask her, not wanting to open the door to her questions, so he simply said
- Good morning
And went into the bathroom.
Fati gave a weak smile, trying to hold herself together. When he came out of the bathroom, she was gone. He panicked. Had she run away? Did she leave him? Was he too harsh on her? He searched for her bag, but it was gone and even his own bag had disappeared.
Jaguar rushed into the hallway and found her struggling with the heavy bags, trying to move them toward the elevator. His heart almost sank a moment ago, but now he stood before her, breathing slowly to calm down.
- What are you doing?
He asked, surprised.
- I just thought I should get the bags out.
She replied simply.
- The secretary told me we are leaving for the airport in half an hour.
- I see... but why are you pulling the bags yourself?
- So we won't be late.
She fell silent for a moment, looking at him. He was still in his bathrobe, and his chest muscles were visible through the opening.
- Why aren't you dressed yet?
She asked.
- I left everything you need in the closet.
Suddenly, Jaguar realized he had run out looking for her in his bathrobe because he was so scared. He noticed two women walking toward the elevator, staring at them.
- Fati, we are traveling on my private jet,
He said.
- Even if we are late, it doesn't matter. Let's take the bags back to the suite.
He grabbed the large suitcase from her hands, leaving her with his small bag, and went back to the room. He thought about how naive she was, realizing that his fear was unnecessary in her world, where she only cared about being helpful to others.
Fati followed him back, feeling annoyed. She had planned to have breakfast with the secretary and the bodyguard as she had promised them, but now she would miss the chance to say goodbye. She comforted herself, thinking she would see them again in her home country; in fact, she would probably spend more time with them than with this mysterious husband of hers. She pouted her lips angrily, whispering to herself. When she reached the door, she found him watching her pouting face, which made him smile.
To thirty year old Jaguar, twenty year old Fati seemed like a six year old child with her cute movements. He placed his hand on one side of the door and leaned his back against the other, blocking her way. She looked up at him and noticed his bathrobe had opened even wider, making her face turn bright red. In a sudden, quick move, she ducked down low, slipped under his arm, and ran inside.
- I'll wait for you in the living room!
She called out.
She hurried away so he wouldn't see her blushing cheeks. Jaguar caught the sight of her blush, looked down at his open chest with a smile, and said:
- I'll change and be back quickly.
Then he headed into the bedroom, still smiling at her playful escape.
Everything was quiet on the plane. Fati had learned not to talk to him, fearing her spontaneity would push her to cross his boundaries again. She decided to stop communicating for now, waiting for the ice around his heart to melt. She looked through the magazines in front of her, while he was busy on his iPad solving work problems. After a while, he looked up and found her asleep with a magazine in her hands. He stood up, took the magazine from her, placed it on the table, and covered her with his coat. Then he sat back down and began to get lost in his thoughts about her.
He wondered how he went from someone who didn't care about women to someone who couldn't stop thinking about her. Everything about her caught his eye, from her hair to her sneakers that didn't match her dress. She was full of contradictions yet so clear, a mystery that had turned his life upside down. He was now certain of one thing: he would not let his grandfather mistreat her. He decided to confront him and tell him how he felt, even if it meant moving her out of the palace to live in his private villa, the villa his grandfather had forbidden them from using, insisting they stay in the palace under his watch.
They arrived at the large palace through a forest that belonged to their family. The car stopped in front of the grand palace gate. Jaguar offered his arm for Fati to hold, as he didn't want her to be afraid of the place. As they entered the great hall, the head butler greeted them. Jaguar asked about his grandfather, and the butler replied:
- The Master has gone for his annual visit to the Little Lady's grave.
- What?
Jaguar muttered. He had completely forgotten the date. Now he realized why his grandfather had called him yesterday but he hadn't answered. He turned to Fati and said firmly,
- Wait here. I will go and come back.
- Should I come with you?
She asked.
- No! Not you,
He replied with a strange anger she didn't understand.
It felt as if she had no right to know his secrets. He left her and drove away. The butler asked,
- Would my Lady like to eat something?
She turned to him with a bright smile and asked:
- What do you have for me?
The butler was surprised by the warmth and kindness in her face feelings he had never seen in this palace. For the first time in all his years of service, he smiled and said:
- Whatever you wish for, you shall have.
Her face lit up even more, like a light shining in the dark palace.