꒰ ENEMIES? ꒱

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

𝐏𝐀𝐂𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 trip to Colombia was not something Estella was looking forward to at least not now. Although good for the small business she was in she couldn't help but feel like she needed to stay in México and not to mention that the last time she was in Colombia everything was somewhat better. Her and Miguel's romance was still not a thing, but she could remember the times Miguel had made her feel nervous during their time in Colombia. But in the back of her head, she also was thinking about someone else. Someone else that was supposed to be her "enemy."

She was still thinking about Benjamín.

Her mind couldn't stop thinking about everything. Why was she feeling like this? It's only supposed to be for the business, and that's that she repeated to herself but even she knew that nothing could convince her that she felt maybe even a small connection during that intimate night with Benjamín. It didn't just seem like a one-night stand for Benjamín and not for her either. It felt like more it felt like the two had been wanting this for a while perhaps even the first time they met.

She shook her head as she carried out her large suitcase and made her way out of the room where Enedina and Isabella waited for her. It was late at night but since they didn't plan to be in Colombia too long they needed to leave as quickly as possible.

Enedina was leaned against a wall as she smoked a cigarette eyeing Estella down in suspicion. After what happened earlier she couldn't help but feel like something was being kept from her. Something that had to include something about her or something close to her maybe even someone. Isabella, on the other hand, was busy talking to a man to help her carry all of their suitcases.

Estella was nervous as she made eye contact with Enedina since Enedina was a fierce woman and also very very smart. Estella let out a sigh as the two stood in nothing but silence only the sounds of the conversation between Isabella and the man happening.

"You're invited." Enedina finally spoke up walking away from the wall she was once leaning on, so she could face Estella. Estella was confused and made it clear on her facial expression as she furrowed her eyebrows.

"Ehm...no sé de que estás hablando." Estella answered as she swallowed the gulp in her throat. She was stumbling over her words knowing that Enedina was already onto her. It was obvious that Estella was slightly screwing this all up.

"You're invited to Benjamín's birthday party." Enedina clarified while offering Estella a cigarette which she hastily accepted. She shrugged trying to make it seem like she wasn't internally freaking out. Going to his birthday party meant seeing him and after what happened that night she was extremely anxious to do so. But it would also be a perfect opportunity to sleep with him again so this business could continue being a secret.

"I don't know. I might be busy." Estella said nonchalantly. Enedina let out a small laugh, but anyone could tell it was forced.

"It's tomorrow. We'll be back from our short and hopefully successful meeting by tomorrow morning. We might be a bit late to the party since we have to arrange some things once we get back but nothing too bad. No offense but you don't really have much to do ever since you know you and Miguel's split...no?" Enedina told Estella as she helped light up her cigarette for her. Estella bit her tongue forcing herself not to say what she was thinking. She knew it would be bad to curse at Enedina but at this moment she wanted to do just that. She looked up to Enedina and thought they were friends, so it was strange seeing her act like this towards her. But Estella knew their relationship would only get worse if she ever found out what she was doing with her brother.

"...I know you and Benjamín have had your differences in the past but it would be great to just relax and enjoy a party. Unless you have a reason not to attend...?" Enedina continued tilting her head. Estella quickly shook her head knowing that now she had to go or else it would only make Enedina's suspicions worse and she didn't need her plan blowing up in her face this early.

"Yes, you're right. I'll be there. Although Benjamín and I...don't get along at all I'm sure I'll be able to push aside my problems with him for a few hours." Estella joked causing Enedina to laugh and nod her head with a smile. Estella knew in her head that Benjamín and her had done more than just "get along" but she couldn't say that out loud to anyone especially to his sister.

"Well, we should hurry to get on the plane, or else we'll be late for our meeting in the morning." Enedina suggested as she wheeled the suitcases near the door.

"I'll be outside in a minute. I need to finish this cigarette real quick." Estella said. Enedina nodded her head and made her way out leaving Estella alone in her thoughts again. She couldn't help but want to scream knowing that so many things were going on. Her confusing thoughts about Benjamín, if she truly loved Miguel, the deal and small business she had with Enedina and Isabella, the gringo that was slowly figuring out her plans, and of course her family were on her mind 24/7. She held in tears knowing she had fucked up her life. She hated admitting it but she hated her life right now and the way she behaved. Every night she couldn't help but feel regretful for not moving to Texas with Jackson. Maybe her life would be a bit better even if she would have never found a way to love the awful man Jackson was.

Perhaps she would be living in a nice house and learned decent English to find herself a normal job. It sounded like a boring life but it was 10x times better than the living hell she was in at this moment. But there was nothing she could do now and instead took a deep breath and accepted that she couldn't go back in time no matter how desperately she wanted to. She needed to live in the present and had to keep going or else she would be killed or be held in an American jail cell. Estella needed to gain more strength and courage to get through this.

"Life fucking sucks." Estella mumbled under her breath and hurried her way out of the door so she could get on that plane and get through the meeting in Colombia. Maybe during the plane ride she could decipher her feelings for Benjamín perhaps it was her mind telling her these crazy lies about her feelings for him. Estella knew she loved Miguel so much but was she still in love with him like she had been in the past? She couldn't answer that question and it was a weird realization. Deep inside she knew her love for Miguel Ángel was fading away.

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"So what did you see? I don't have much time. I have a date with Miguel and the last thing I need is him seeing you here with me." Blanca stood with her hands on her hips as she spoke to Miguel's chauffeur Rafael.

Rafael had followed Estella as he was ordered to do and found out that Estella had left on a private plane to Colombia along with Enedina and Isabella. For what reason? He didn't know either and even asking the man who allowed them on the plane couldn't say due to "personal reasons." But he did know that a sudden trip to Colombia was something that was not notified to Miguel and appeared to be something secretive.

"I saw Estella with Enedina also Isabella too..." Rafael nervously whispered to Blanca who now was admiring her appearance in the mirror. She closed her eyes in irritation at the lack of details this man was giving her. If she wanted Miguel, she would need something to make him hate Estella and when she means hate she means to the point where Estella could be a target or even one of his enemies.

"You know that you're horrible at explaining and giving details. Is that how all men are in Venezuela?" Blanca joked as she approached the man. She stood close to him as she lifted his chin to face her. He opened his mouth to say something but he only found himself stuttering.

"Do I make you nervous or what?"

"No...sorry...it's just what do you gain from all of this? Miguel is in love with Estella everybody in this knows that and if I were you I wouldn't waste my time. My advice is that you find someone who isn't stuck on their ex-fiancé..." Rafael explained once again regaining his confidence to speak up to the annoying woman again. Blanca scoffed as she stood back from the man.

"What are you now? A fucking therapist? Answer my question idiot. This is not a time to give me life advice. I already told you the deal and in about 15 minutes Miguel will be at that door waiting to pick me up so we can enjoy a night out together. If you don't say anything I'll not only mention you lied to him earlier but also how do you think you're going to be able to explain why you're here? I can easily tell him that you tried to seduce me...your choice." Blanca smirked knowing her manipulative skills were working since his facial expression dropped. He knew he would be a dead man if Miguel found him here without an explanation why and there was no way in hell he would believe his chauffeur over the woman he had been sleeping with every day recently.

"She got into a plane with Enedina and Isabella. I spoke to one of the guys, and he said they were heading to Colombia...I tried to figure out a reason why but he wouldn't tell me. I don't know what's happening, but I think she's in some sort of a deal with Enedina and Isabella. I think the three are all working together." Rafael confessed feeling somewhat guilty for spilling all of this to Blanca. Blanca, however, couldn't feel any better knowing she had something against Estella. Surely Miguel Ángel wouldn't be okay with the fact that Estella was doing business behind his back that could affect his own business. She was going to have to figure out how to tell him this information.

"Bueno, gracias por la información." Blanca looked the man up and down giving him a sign to leave. Rafael rolled his eyes as he made his way out of the large home. His hands were sweating as he unlocked his car knowing his next stop was to meet with Guadalupe Palma the wife of Güero. He had been sleeping with her, and he knew now that he was handling two risky things at once and that possibly one day he would be dead and also his words can result in the death of Estella and the two other women as well. He didn't know Estella but he was more confused about her being in this why was she getting involved against someone she loved?

He shook his head and drove away from Blanca's home trying to get his mind off of this messy situation.

Blanca however was nothing but content by what Rafael had told her. She now knew that Estella was doing something behind Miguel's back but she had to be careful on how she would bring it up to him. It couldn't be tonight or else there's a chance Miguel wouldn't believe her. Even though she hated admitting it, Blanca was 100% aware that Miguel Ángel was still in love with Estella and wouldn't believe a woman who had done nothing but sleep with and take out for a few dinners over a woman he almost married. It was not going to happen tonight but soon Blanca knew she would have enough information to get Miguel to realize that Estella was indeed a sneaky lying bitch.

"Are you ready?" Miguel walked in with a cigarette in his mouth as he walked past Blanca making his way to pour himself a drink. Blanca hated that he never even cared to look at her or give her a kiss like he did with Estella in the past. She forced a smile knowing that soon that could be her and all she needed to do was gather more information and be patient.

"Yes, I'm ready. We should go now." She grinned as he nodded his head and opened the door for her the only polite and gentlemen thing he had done so far. Miguel sighed knowing that no matter what nobody not even Blanca an attractive woman could compare to Estella. He wanted her back and he hated that he couldn't move on when he was able to move on quite easily with every other woman in his life but Estella was not just any other woman. She loved him for him, and he knew that he had destroyed that.

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Arriving in Colombia felt very nostalgic for Estella knowing that the last time she was here in this beautiful country she was with Miguel Ángel along with Isabella. Although they weren't together at the time, she remembered the tension between them. Now she was here stepping out of a plane into a car alongside Isabella and Enedina. She wasn't complaining since this business was so far thriving but also she couldn't help but feel sad. Sad that not too long ago she was terrified and somewhat innocent into all of this now she had to make something of her own to stay alive in this type of life. No one could leave without dying you either had to stay or try to leave but even then the attempts to leave were almost always unsuccessful.

Estella wished she could say that she didn't like the power, but she did and that was a guilty feeling. But she also did miss when she was just seen as Miguel's gorgeous wife and nothing else. At least then she wasn't at constant threat or at the fear that Miguel would be out to get her or find out all of her dark secrets.

"Are you okay? You've been spacing out the entire time even on the plane." Isabella snapped her fingers in front of Estella's face causing her to immediately snap out of her trance. She shrugged only mumbling a few curse words and looked out the window admiring the view as they got farther away from the city. She thought about Benjamín's party tomorrow as well knowing after what happened the other night she couldn't bear to see his face. How was his reaction going to be when she walked into that party?

She needed to sleep with him again to keep everything steady but she didn't expect to be thinking too much about this or him. Distracting herself from that night was nearly impossible there was no way that night between them was only a sloppy one nightstand. Estella felt a connection and she wished she could deny it knowing how much Miguel would hate her for this. Her life could be in danger if Miguel Ángel ever found out that she had slept with Benjamín. That's why she knew that she had to stop thinking about him and had to realize that this was nothing more than her brain lying to her. There was no way in hell she was risking her life for a deeper connection with Benjamín. It was only going to be casual sex from now on, and that's that.

"We're here. Remember that we got this girls." Enedina winked at Isabella and Estella as the car doors were open for the three well-dressed women. Henao had a huge grin on his face as he approached the women gathering them to a table so they could discuss everything about the business. Estella was not in the best mood and wanted this interaction to be over with as quickly as possible.

She sat in between Isabella and Enedina as Henao lit Estella and Enedina a cigarette and began to talk his face being towards Isabella every few seconds glancing back to Estella and Enedina.

"I didn't expect to see you again." The man said with his Colombian accent. Estella peeked over at Isabella who appeared to have this all under control.

"But here I am." Isabella replied with a subtle grin on her face. Estella watched as Henao's slowly pulled down his sunglasses his eyes shifting to her and Enedina. She gave him a polite smile despite her feeling a bit uncomfortable as she continued smoking her cigarette feeling some of the stress wear off.

"And with such lovely company." He gazed at the two women as Isabella started to speak again.

"Thought it was a good idea for all of us to meet. We need more." Isabella went straight to the point Henao nodded his head listening to Isabella. Estella blew out some smoke from her cigarette as she sat up straight.

"At least 700 kilos this time." Estella insisted with confidence in her voice. He chuckled a bit looking at the three aggressive women.

"Business must be good."

"We've been saving our allowances. Right girls?" Enedina spoke up for the first time smiling at Isabella and Estella who both nodded their heads with a similar grin agreeing to Enedina's words.

"Give me two weeks...I hear things are changing in Mexico." Henao announced instantly catching Estella's attention to the conversation now.

"Changing? How?" Isabella asked while shifting in her seat with a puzzled look.

"Cali is going to start moving product through the Gulf with Juan Nepomuceno Guerra. But I don't see why that should change our arrangement..." The women all stared at each other with confusion on their faces hearing this news. Estella stopped smoking her cigarette recognizing that name and remembered Miguel mentioning that man before.

"...Going forward, maybe we can make this an exclusive relationship." He continued. Isabella quickly interrupted him to try and arrange the deal even better.

"Knock ten percent off every load over 400 kilos, you're the only supplier we do business with." Isabella advised Henao who only snickered. Estella couldn't help but feel eager knowing this was going to be a remarkable change for their business and also very big for them. But the lingering thought of being competition to Miguel was sort of chilling. She was in love with this man well at least she thought she was and now she was betraying him by becoming essentially another target for him.

Nonetheless, she didn't show her concerns for this and decided to accept it as an accomplishment. The three women walked away with their heads held up high realizing they were doing something huge. Three women were actually doing something for themselves without the men bossing them around. It felt good and Estella made sure to ignore any negative thoughts about Miguel Ángel knowing that with time they would figure it all out.

"Félix has competition now. He's weak." Isabella sneered fanning herself as the three made their way back to the car.

"But we still need to work harder." Estella explained as she sighed. For once during this trip Enedina agreed nodding her head with a serious facial expression.

"Yes, she's right. We need to push harder. It's time to expand." Enedina clarified, Estella quickly agreeing as she made her way back inside the car. Once inside Isabella looked back her mood changing a bit.

"Every time I sit down with him, I feel like I need to wash my hands." Isabella mumbled in disgust. Enedina ignored her and waved back at Henao. Estella glanced back as well laughing a bit at the man.

"Yeah, he is a little weird." Estella laughed pulling out her compact mirror as the car drove off. She couldn't be any more proud than this.

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Colombia was an incredible country but Estella couldn't help but feel relieved when she finally made it back to México. She was exhausted as the plane landed in Tijuana in the early hours of the next day. She didn't care to think or stress about anything all she wanted to do was sleep in a bed.

Estella agreed to stay the night in her old bedroom in