“For now in Buenos Aires. Nubia wants to learn Castilian, to finish high school here and then study Nutrition at the University. I plan to resume my studies in agricultural engineering. For that we should be in Buenos Aires or Rosario.”
“You got any job in mind?
“Not for now. I´m just arriving.”
“Listen, the job you had with us until you decided to go abroad is still available. I need someone I can trust to take care of the business when I'm traveling and you already know the job as you have had it for over a year. I need only to update you on some products and new customers.”
Gonzalo, who was also an agronomist, had a business exporting exotic fruits to the United States and Europe. For business he had to travel thousands of kilometers from the north border with Paraguay to Patagonia to buy fruits and also abroad to sell them.
“Well, I thank you. I will accept the job. As we will tell you after our departure from New York was a bit ... hasty.”
Arriving at the house the four children of the couple were waiting, two boys and two girls. Although the smallest, one year old, began to sweep as he saw for the first time a person with black skin and dressed so differently, the curiosity and interest of the brothers soon overcame that reaction. Finally he smiled when Nubia picked him up.
“You seem to be used to dealing with children.” Observed Fernanda. A cloud of sadness invaded Nubia's face.
“Yes. I worked in a school in Ethiopia before ... happened what happened.”
Fernanda put one hand on the girl´s shoulder. “ Sorry, I was not aware of this story but there will be time for confidences later.”
Gonzalo had left in his car to take the kids to school and Nubia had accepted the invitation to accompany them so as to get acquainted with the city. Fernanda and Marcos were sharing a cup of coffee while the boy was emptying the suitcases and bags and sorting things.
“Nubia is a stunning beauty and a very intelligent woman.” Stated Fernanda.
“I know the first part and I am interested in your opinion as a professor on the second.”
“ She shows much interest in everything that surrounds her and picks up things very easily, obvious signs of intelligence.”
“I do not know what I've done to deserve her.”
“Don´t be fool. You're a very attractive man for women of any race, and have a sweet nature.”
Then she changed the subject.
“For the first days we booked a room for you at an unpretentious nearby hotel. Gonzalo told me you've agreed to work with him while you continue your studies, and since we have offices two blocks from here we thought that you might want to rent something in the surroundings.”
“It's a good idea.”
“With time you might want to rent an apartment. In this neighborhood there are many apartment buildings, both new and old. Tomorrow we can go out to visit some estate agents to see what they have available.”
“You know? I think you've become a benchmark for Nubia, something like a guide. She has had a very eventful life in the last two years and needs a kind of older sister to support her in this new environment.”
“ What she especially needs is you. I see it in her face every time she looks at you.”
Chapter 18
Nubia was resting in bed after a devastating work week. She had begun working on a hotel belonging to an international chain the previous Monday and given her lack of experience and her rudimentary Spanish they had ordered her cleaning and conditioning rooms. She had to start somewhere.
The girl had also enrolled herself in a Castilian language course for non-Spanish speaking immigrants, where she shared the classroom with many Chinese people and another African girl. After a year, once obtained her Ethiopian documents, including her school curriculum, it would be possible to enter in a secondary school for adults. All this took longer since Ethiopia has no embassy or consulate in Argentina and the procedures had to be made through the embassy in Brazil. In all her efforts Nubia had Fernanda´s invaluable help and guide; indeed the woman had self-imposed the task of bringing the girl forward in her adaptation to the new country.
The new life was extremely busy and sometimes Nubia had no time to think about it. That morning, as Marcos had gone as every Saturday to play football, she dedicated it to rest and plan. After lamenting the fatigues of her new situation, a memory crossed her mind like a lightning. The image of a girl in a dirty shed surrounded by other women in the same condition, after months of abuse and the prospect of continuing in her miserable life, abused and enslaved in some infamous brothel.
In six months, her objective situation had taken a drastic turn and now Nubia had freedom, a man who loved her by her side, a modest accommodation and food on the table but above all, fundamentally, a life plan, plans for the future, challenging and difficult to carry out but workable. In addition, the shadows and threats due to the persecution she had been subjected to had been left behind. Nubia smiled to herself, plunged back into bed and fell asleep with her mind at peace.
The first guests had begun to arrive. The vast ballroom was prepared and fully illuminated. Loretta was dressing assisted by her friends in the middle of hysterics every time they found some small unexpected detail. Philip Gardner, his father, persecuted the organizers checking whether all the orders he had given had seen satisfied. At one point he looked at his watch. The religious ceremony would begin in an hour and a half.
The room was full of guests. The music sounded thunderously and the bride had danced with her husband and her father. At one point she saw through the crowd a well known figure and lunged at him.
“Eric. You've finally arrived. Come, I´ll grant you the next dance.”
Vince had been deploying an activity which was unusual, dancing with half the women in the room, and went to rest with some pain in his body. After a while Eric joined him.
“ I haven´t danced in the last thousand years.” Said the veteran policeman.” God, your in-law has invited all Harlem folks.”
“Like every politician Philip has many acquaintances and many commitments.”
“Where do all these whites come from?”
“My family. There you have the Caruso, the De Santis, the D'Angelo and others I do not even now.”
“I thought your family is not from New York City.”
“They are not. They come from Atlantic City, Newark and even from Boston.”
“The typical Italian family.”
“Right.”
“ The whole Sicilian Cosa Nostra.” Said provocatively Murphy.
“Rather the Neapolitan Camorra.” Answered Vince following the joke. “No, they are good people, professionals and working people.”
At that time there was some commotion and both men saw Philip Gardner running to the door and warmly shaking hands with a newcomer.
“Who is that?” Asked Murphy.
“One of Philip´s most important contacts. His name is Herbert Plummer and he is nothing less than the Comptroller at the City Mayor Office. My father-in law takes care of this relationship as gold because he depends on Plummer for his political career. Actually it is this man who has taken Philip up to his current position.”
“ Look, there he comes over to say hello.”
Vince got up and politely greeted the newcomer, then introduced him to Eric.
At one point the young man looked at his friend and said.
“Eric. Did you ever think about your retirement?”
“A thousand times. I am in a position to retire. But I hate the idea of staying alone with my dog wandering into my tiny apartment.”
“Loretta and I have spoken about you. We wish you moved near us. On the same floor of our building an apartment has been cleared. We would like you to come and see it.”
Murphy could not hide the pleasure that caused him finding that they had thought about him. The truth was that his loneliness was a concern at that stage of his life.
“Thanks Vince. I apprecia
te your invitation. I'll think about it.”
“The truth is that our offer is not entirely disinterested. When children arrive Loretta and I will need to leave them with someone, Philip is too busy in politics, and my relatives live too far away and already have many children.”
Both men burst out laughing drawing the attention of the guests at nearby tables.
The party lasted three hours yet, and some guests already were leaving. Vince and Eric were slightly drunk, as most attendees. Many men had removed their jackets and ties, and some women had taken off their high-heeled shoes to keep dancing. Vince looked up at the dance floor and sighed. Loretta was dancing the last waltz with Herbert Plummer.
Epilogue
Marcos entered the house like a whirlwind and almost without greeting his wife sat at his computer, turned on and connected to the Internet. Patiently Nubia left the books she was reading on the table, walked to where her husband was and sat on his lap. With her eight months pregnancy there was no room between them and the computer desktop.
“Good afternoon.” She said persuasively. “Want to share with me what´s on your mind?”
“Yes, Yes. Sorry. I just want to confirm the news.”
The woman saw that Marcos was opening the New York Times page.
“What happens? You suddenly feel nostalgic?”
“No, look at the police report.”
The central news accounted a series of raids conducted by the FBI and the NYPD in which they had dismantled a vast network of traffickers centered in the city with branches in the Horn of Africa and in the Medium East. Several people from the Mayor of the City of New York office, including the Comptroller Dr. Herbert Plummer had been arrested on various charges including human trafficking, deprivation of liberty, smuggling of heroin and numerous murders.
Marcos lowered his head and kissed the swollen belly of his wife, who stroked his head. Both knew that a dark period of their lives had been permanently closed.
From the Author
Dear reader
I appreciate your interest in reading these few words in which I talk about my work. It is a good habit to try to understand what led an author to write a particular book, because the motivations vary from author to author and from book to book.
As a sign of respect for the reader, in all my books I make a thorough previous investigation of the facts the work refers to, particularly considering that many of them take place in places sometimes very far apart from each other and also in various historical periods; my books often travel indeed through dilated stretches in time and space.
These searches are based on my memory, in the large family library and the huge quarry of facts and data existing in the Internet. In the global network everyone can search but not all find the same ... fortunately, since this results in a huge variability and diversity.
The plot of course comes from the imagination and fantasy. This is critical for me and I confess that I would never write a book that I wouldn´t like to read; my interests as a writer and as a reader coincide to a large degree.
My works often take place in exotic locations and refer sometimes to surprising and even paradoxical facts, but never enter the realm of the fantastic and incredible. Moreover, the most bizarre events are often true.
About the Author
Louis Alexandre Forestier is the pen name an Argentine novelist uses for certain types of narrative, in general novellas of erotic nature and books belonging to the noir genre.
The author has lived in New York for years and now resides in Buenos Aires, his hometown. His style is clear and straightforward, and does not hesitate to tackle thorny issues.
Works by Louis Alexandre Forestier
In English
South of Capricorn
Hot Brooklyn Heights
Cristelle
Valentina-Psychological Romance
Nubia- Magickal Thriller
Passionate Interlude
Nubia- Warrior Princess
Shaletha-Romance in Manhattan
Khaliyha- Ebony Princess
Zuwena- A Torrid Romance
Blue Black Skin
In Spanish
Al Sur de Capricornio
Hot Brooklyn Heights
Cristelle
Valentina
Nubia- Suspenso Mágicko
Interludio Pasional
Nubia-Princesa Guerrera
Shaletta-Romance en Manhattan
Khaliyha-Princesa de Ébano
Zuwena- Un Romance Tórrido
Coordinates of the Author
Website: https://louisforestiernarrativa.wordpress.com/
Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/hrq7bsy
Twitter: https://twitter.com/forastero010
mailto: louisforestier
Blue Black Skin Page 9
