Carmen laughs lightly, one hand still resting on Augustín’s arm. Her eyes never leave mine, though. “I suppose it depends on the kind of woman. Not everyone can handle what comes with a man like César. He’s definitely had his fair share of dates.”
I can’t tell if it’s a warning or a compliment. Maybe both. I know for certain I don’t like her. How can one person look both bored and disgusted at the same time?
Before I can decide how to respond, Augustín gestures toward a group of sharply dressed men gathering near the back of the room. “Come, hermano. I want to introduce you to a few of the investors I was telling you about.”
César turns to me. “You’ll be okay for a bit?”
I nod quickly, because what other choice do I have? Tell him not to go because I don’t want to be alone with Carmen? Fuck that. “Of course.”
He leans in, brushing his lips against my cheek in a move that’s equal parts possessive and intimate. “I won’t be long.”
God, I hope he’s not.
Then the men head off, leaving me standing with Carmen, who lets out a long sigh the moment they’re out of earshot. I don’t miss the glare she gives her husband as he walks away.
Interesting.
“Men,” she says, like it’s the ultimate curse word. And yeah, I get it. We can agree on that at least. “They love talking numbers and pretending the world can be bought and sold with charm and ego.”
I offer a polite smile, unsure what to say.
She studies me for a beat. “You’re beautiful,” she says finally, almost like she’s disappointed that I am. “That dress is perfection on you. César has good taste.”
“Thank you,” I offer, a little thrown off by the unexpected compliment.
“I mean it. It’s no small thing, showing up to a place like this with men like them. The women here can be just as cutthroat. From how many women César has dated, I worried he’d never meet his match. But maybe you’re the exception.”
I bristle but try to keep my face neutral. I know she’s looking for a reaction, and I’m not going to give her that if I can help it.
“I noticed,” I murmur, trying to sound disinterested while I’m fuming inside. Because who the fuck does she think she is?
Carmen smirks, apparently oblivious to the storm raging inside me. “They all want a piece of the empire. If they can’t build their own, they’ll try to marry into one. Tale as old as time.” She shrugs.
There’s something in her words that unsettles me. I take another sip of wine to mask the flicker of uncertainty I feel. I shouldn’t let this random woman get under my skin. I’m stronger than this. And yet, when it comes to César, I feel like things are so fragile. Breakable.
“You and César…how serious is it?” she asks, eyes sharp despite her gentle tone.
I hesitate. “It’s new, but it feels serious.”
Carmen nods slowly. “Do you love him?”
The question lands like a stone in my stomach. I’m just starting to get comfortable with the fact I’m dating him. But love? I feel like I’ve been hit with a ton of bricks. I open my mouth, only to close it again. No doesn’t feel right. It feels too much like a lie. So, I say the one thing I can. “I think I could.”
“That’s dangerous,” she says. “Not love, necessarily. But loving a man like him. Power like César’s is intoxicating. You feel seen. Wanted. Worshipped. But eventually, you start to wonder if he’s in love with you…or with the way you make him feel when you’re on his arm, showing you off like a prize.”
Her gaze is steady, almost pitying.
I hate how much that resonates.
“You seem like a smart woman,” she continues, ignoring—or not noticing—how she’s turned my world upside down in a matter of minutes. “But ask yourself—where do you fit in his world? Will he tire of you like he’s grown tired of so many before you? You’re pretty, but beauty fades. Power doesn’t. Not in this world. And I assume you aren’t in this world.”
I stare at the gold rim of my wine glass, unable to meet her eyes. I just shake my head. For the first time in a long time, I have nothing to say.
Carmen softens, though I’m uncertain if she actually feels bad or simply has me where she wants me. “Forgive me. I’ve been in your heels. Not with Augustín. He and I … well, we have our own problems. But he’s smart. He knows he needs a woman like me, who can thrive in this dog eat dog world by his side.”
I press my lips into a thin line. She’s said too much—and yet somehow, it’s not enough. I want to ask her why she doesn’t think I can be that for César. Why I’m not good enough,but the part of me that still wants to believe in César, so I stay quiet.
“I’m not judging you,” Carmen quickly adds, like it will change everything she just said. “But this world? It’ll eat you alive if you don’t know your worth.”
