And I don’t want to lose her.
Not just because of Nina, although seeing the two of them together, yesterday and today, confirmed within me that I did the right thing by going after her, but also because I want to see where what we have will lead us.
“Who is she?” my obsessive brother asks again, now in a more moderate tone. Even so, Nina lifts her head to look at him. She holds his face with her chubby little hands, and his expression instantly relaxes. Joaquín can be unbearable most of the time, but he’s crazy about his niece.
I was totally surprised when I was leaving the room and he told me he took the day off to be with her because he didn’t want me to hire a daily babysitter, since he had no idea Olívia was here.
“Did you go to the hospital?” I ask instead of telling him to mind his own business.
“Yes. Dad will be discharged today. Now, don’t try to change the subject.”
“Are you aware that I’m your older brother and don’t have to justify my life to you?”
“What’s the problem, Guillermo? Why so much mystery? I just want to know what kind of woman you’re allowing to be around my niece.”
“I’m not having this conversation with you in front of my daughter.” I keep my voice low so Valentina won’t be frightened. “But let’s get one thing straight: my personal life is none of your business. Don’t even think about investigating Olívia. I know how far your paranoia can go, but this is my life, not a courtroom. You’ve been warned. Stay away from her.”
Instead of sending her a message, I decide to go directly to the area where the junior secretaries sit.
There’s no way I’m giving her a chance to escape from me.
The first thing I did when I arrived at the office was to call the head of Human Resources and order Kathleen’s transfer. I made sure that neither her salary nor even the annual bonus would be changed, since once she stops working directly with me—which would be the highest position she could reach inthe company as a secretary—there would normally be a loss of salary. Despite how she’s been acting lately, I can’t forget her competence over the years, and I regret that she imagined our professional relationship could turn into something more.
I even thought about sending her to another hotel, but I know this one is closer to where she lives and maybe just changing her floor will solve the problem. I’ll lose an employee who knew my work rhythm inside out, but the situation had been becoming unsustainable for a while, culminating in her attempt to intimidate Olívia yesterday, and even worse, overriding my direct order and interfering with Valentina.
As soon as I leave my office to look for Olívia, I see Kathleen packing her personal belongings into a cardboard box on the table. She looks up, her voice humbler than I’ve heard in years when she asks if the transfer will be temporary.
“Unfortunately, no. I wish you luck, miss, but our interaction ends today.”
“Was it because of what I said about Valentina yesterday? I just wanted to help . . .” She tries to infuse sweetness into her voice, but I don’t buy her act for a second. There’s nothing delicate about Kathleen.
“I’ve been considering your transfer for a few months now. I don’t think either of us was performing well working together anymore, but your belief that you could make decisions regarding my daughter certainly sealed your fate.”
“Who will take my place? Her?”
I know she’s talking about Olívia, and I won’t argue about it for anything in the world. Although it was never my intention to put Olívia in her place, I don’t need to communicate my decisions to her.
“Good luck in your new role.”
We were never friends, but now I can say I’ve taken a dislike to the woman.
I descend two floors until I reach Olívia’s department, and when I enter, a thick silence settles in immediately. It’s as if everyone’s stopped breathing. I know the reason. I’ve never been here before.
I walk straight to her desk and see she’s looking down, checking some sort of list that I suppose is for hotel purchases.
At first, I just observe her. Even though I’m aware that probably all eyes are on us, I couldn’t care less. There’s nothing rational about my actions, and I try to convince myself that I’m still in control of the situation, when in fact being deprived of being with her in the morning drove me crazy.
“Miss Freitas, I need you to come to my office.”
She lifts her face, and her cheeks immediately turn red, but my little firecracker doesn’t back down. “I . . . um . . . Can you give me five minutes, sir? I’ll be right there.”
“No. Now.”
Chapter 24
Guillermo is staring at me, leaning against the opposite wall of the private elevator. Although I’ve never ridden it, I knew of its existence through Melissa.
His tone just now reminded me of when he spoke to me that day in the cafeteria, no longer the sexy man who nearly drove me crazy last night. Thinking about it brings warmth to my body, and I observe him through my lashes, only to find his gaze burning into me.
