“It is,” I confirm, a smile touching my lips at her directness.“I wasn’t about to walk in there looking small and defeated.”
“Damn right,” Helen says, nodding sharply, her eyes gleaming with pride.“Way to show thatpendejoexactly what he’s missing, Ames.Make him choke on it.”She leans in, practically vibrating with anticipation.“So?Don’t leave me hanging like last week’s laundry!Spill.What happened?”
I take a deep breath, the images from last night still a chaotic whirlwind in my mind.“Okay, okay.”I try to gather my thoughts.“So I found James and his entourage at his usual booth.Even the assistant I caught him cheating with was there.And her sitting away from him wasn’t fooling me.”
“Bruja,” Helen hisses, her nose wrinkling in disgust.“So, you sashayed in, looking like a million bucks plus interest.What was his face like?Did his jaw hit the floor?”
“Not exactly,” I say with a wry smile.“One of his smarmy friends spotted me first.Then James saw me.And, Helen, he was not happy to see I showed up alone.”
“Of course he wasn’t, the controlling bastard.”Helen rolls her eyes so hard I’m surprised they stay in her head.“So, did you light him up?Tell him off right there in front of everyone?”
“I started to,” I confirm, the memory of that brief, empowering moment still vivid.“I got about two, three words out before he was all over me.All fake smiles and charm, pretending he was thrilled to see me.”I lean closer.“But what his precious entourage didn’t see was that when he stepped up close, making a big show of kissing my cheek, he was whispering threats in my ear.”A shiver traces down my spine, even now, at the remembered venom.
“¡Ese hijo de la gran puta!” Helen explodes, smacking her hand down on her denim-clad thigh, her eyes flashing pure fire.“The nerve of that cockroach!”
“He basically warned me that if I caused a scene, he’d personally make sure I’d lose everything.”
“And I’ll personally make sure to introduce hiscojonesto my boot!”Helen adds, her hands clenching into fists.
A light giggle escapes me.“Well, hold that thought, because you’ll never guess what happened next.”I pause dramatically, letting the suspense build.“Matthew showed up.”
“¡¿Qué me dices?!” Helen’s jaw literally drops.Her eyes wide as saucers as she points a finger in the direction of the main café.“Matthew, Matthew?At Hydra?How in the… what in the name of all that’s holy—?”
“Exactly!”I exclaim, leaning forward, mirroring her incredulous energy.“One second I’m facing an angry James alone, and the next, Matthew is there.He just appeared beside me, put his arm around my waist, kissed me on the cheek like we have all the time in the world.”I lower my voice slightly.“He whispered something about it being his part to play.Nobody else’s.”
“Ay,Dios mío,” Helen breathes, her hand flying to her chest.“Like something out of a movie!So, did he play the part?Did you two make out?”
“Not exactly,” I say, a blush creeping up my neck.“It got intense.James was furious.He threatened Matthew’s career, saying he’ll be telling Bancroft about us.”
Helen gasps.“James knows Bancroft?”
“Apparently, his father knows him.”
“No!That snake!What did Matthew do?”
“He didn’t even blink,” I say, a surge of pride swelling in my chest.“He stood there, cool as ice, and told James to do his worst.Threatened to expose every dirty secret his family has ever tried to bury.And then…” I pause, because this part still astounds me.“He looked James dead in the eye and told him the loan for Maddy’s Place was settled.Done.A gift.From him to me.”
A long, impressed whistle escapes Helen’s lips.“Madre de Dios, Ames!That man doesn’t play.A gift?Just like that?”She shakes her head in utter disbelief, then a huge grin spreads across her face.“I knew I liked him, butcarajo, this is something else!”She leans in closer, eyes sparkling.“Did you two end it with a big, dramatic kiss in front of James to seal the deal?”
“Something like that,” I confess, the heat in my cheeks deepening as I remember that searing kiss in the hallway.“We definitely kissed.And James saw.”
“¡Perfecto!” Helen pumps her fist in the air.“Oh, I wish I could have seen his face!That must have burned him up!”
“Yeah,” I say, my voice quiet but edged with finality.“Maybe he finally got a taste of what it feels like to watch everything you thought you controlled burn down.To know you’re powerless to stop it.”
My gaze lifts to Helen’s.Her smile is gone, replaced by a somber understanding.“I know this has all been hard,mija.But look how far you’ve come.And you now have this real gentleman by your side.”
I nod, warmth spreading through me.
Helen’s expression switches back to playful curiosity.“Speaking of your gentleman… how exactly did you end up here this morning, in last night’s dress, with him?”
My gaze flickers toward the back room door.“Well, after that kiss,” I begin, unable to stop a shy smile from spreading, “we went back to his place.”
Helen leans back, dramatically fanning herself.
“Stop!”I giggle, nudging her.“It was more than that.”
“More than justmuycaliente, passionate—”
