Four: Caught by Surprise

“May I ask where?" Antonio inquired.

"Just get ready, no questions, please," she replied firmly and made to leave.

"Thank you for everything," Antonio expressed his gratitude as she turned to look at him. "Yeah, yeah, now get ready," she replied before leaving. Antonio couldn't help but wonder why she wasn't her cheerful self at that moment.

He began to get dressed, but soon enough, a concern struck him – he had no other clothes besides the fresh outfit Maria had provided earlier that day.

Remembering the phone Sara had pointed out earlier, Antonio decided to call for assistance.

"Excuse me, can you come for a moment?" he asked on the intercom.

In no time, Sara arrived at his door. "What can I help you with? Is it the plates? Have you finished your meal?" Sara inquired.

Antonio replied, "Not just that, though I've finished eating. There's something else. Maria just left, and she told me to get ready for tonight. But the thing is, I don't have any other clothes here. I was wondering if you could help me convey that to her."

Sara smiled, reassuring Antonio, "Of course, I'll let her know. But first, shall I take your plates?"

"Sure, go ahead," Antonio agreed.

Sara efficiently gathered the used dishes and called in another cook to help with the task. Then, she proceeded to deliver Antonio's message to Maria. She entered Maria's room, which was still filled with cigarette smoke.

"What is it?" Maria asked, continuing to apply her makeup.

Sara conveyed Antonio's message, "I apologize for the interruption. Mr. Antonio mentioned that you forgot he doesn't have any other clothes to wear."

Maria paused her makeup application. "Such a loser, I forgot he had nothing," she remarked. "Tell him I'll be there in a minute. I need to finish my makeup."

"Alright, ma'am," Sara said and left to relay the message to Antonio.

Maria chose a stunning black v-back gown for the evening, pairing it with striking red heels and a matching red purse. Her makeup was flawlessly done, with her red lip gloss adding a touch of brilliance to her appearance. In a rush, she headed to Antonio's room, noticing that time was running out.

Upon entering Antonio's room without knocking, Maria apologized, "I'm sorry for barging in, but please meet me outside. We have to leave, and we'll stop to get you something better to wear."

Antonio, understanding the urgency, quickly changed into the outfit Maria had provided earlier – seemingly the only clothing he had at the moment. He adjusted his shirt hurriedly and made his way down the hallway, eager not to keep Maria waiting and cause any unnecessary delays.

When he arrived outside, Maria was already seated in the car. Antonio apologized, "I'm sorry I kept you waiting."

"Just get in," Maria instructed. Antonio complied, and one of the guards standing nearby closed the car door after him.

Maria then picked up her phone and sent a text to her dad, "Hey dad, I left earlier. I need to get this loser something to wear. I'll see you there."

Despite his curiosity about their destination, Antonio chose to remain silent and trust Maria's judgment. As promised, they stopped at a suit store, and Maria talked to one of the employees. Antonio was then led to a special section.

In this special section of the store, Antonio was encouraged to try on a stylish blue suit with a black shirt underneath. It was a transformation he had never experienced before.

When he emerged from the dressing room, Maria, who was seated nearby, observed him with a critical eye. She didn't look satisfied. Antonio was then guided to try on another suit, this time a striking red one with a white shirt and a black tie. Maria nodded with approval, her smile affirming her satisfaction with the look.

Antonio felt like a completely new man in these exquisite clothes. As he checked the price tag, he couldn't believe his eyes. The suits were worth more than the money he owed the loan shark, and he was taken aback.

"This is too much, I can't accept this," Antonio protested.

However, Maria paid no attention to his objections and confidently handed her card to the store to complete the purchase. Afterward, they left the store with Antonio in his new attire.

The drive to their event was long and unusually quiet. Antonio sensed that Maria was acting cold and distant, a stark contrast to her usual cheerful demeanor. He couldn't help but wonder if he had done something wrong or if something was bothering her, but he decided to keep his questions to himself.

When they arrived at their destination, the driver informed them, and Antonio, in his habit, opened the car door without waiting for the guard. This action irritated Maria, and she scolded him, "Can you please wait for the guard next time? Damn it!"

Antonio immediately apologized. "I'm sorry if that pissed you off. I'm not used to it, but I'll try to adjust," he said.

"You'd better," Maria retorted. "Come with me."

Antonio followed Maria as they walked into the building. He was astonished at the beauty inside; he didn't need a soothsayer to tell him it was an art gallery.

"Welcome to my niece's art gallery. Tonight is the opening, try as much as possible to stay composed," Maria said. As they spoke, a waitress approached them, offering trays of wine.

"Wine?" she inquired. Maria accepted a glass and gestured for Antonio to do the same. He complied, though his mind raced with questions. "Why didn't she inform me earlier? Why not just say we were attending her niece's art gallery opening?" Despite these thoughts, he decided to play along, keeping his focus on the goal ahead.

Soon, a lady and a man approached them, moving gracefully and radiating an air of elegance. Everything about them oozed sophistication.

"Hey Sis," the lady said, embracing Maria and exchanging cheek kisses.

"Hi, Carlos," Maria greeted the man, and he responded with a cordial nod.

"And who do we have here?" the lady inquired, turning her attention to Antonio. He had been quietly observing, hoping they would acknowledge him.

Antonio started, "Hi, I'm..." but his introduction was abruptly interrupted by Maria, who coughed discreetly and declared, "He's my fiancé."