I glanced down at myself, then at the mirror. For the first time since meeting Christina, I wondered if she had a point. A knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts.
“Come in,” I called.
Maria stepped inside, her warm smile immediately easing some of the tension.
“Miss Evania,” she said gently. “Christina called. She will arrive in the next two hours.”
I stared at her.
Two hours.
Two.
A vivid image flashed through my mind of me dramatically throwing myself off the nearest cliff.
“Wonderful,” I said flatly.
Maria tilted her head. “I take it you are not looking forward to her visit.”
“That would be the understatement of the century.”
I wasn’t even sure why I was attaching so much importance to this situation. It wasn’t as though Callahan had ever given me any reason to doubt that he was attracted to me. If anything, the opposite was true. Which only made my reaction to Christina’s comments even more frustrating.
Maria stepped further into the room.
“You know,” she said gently, “we could always hire someone else.”
I blinked. “What?”
“You do not need to lower yourself to please her.”
I stared at her. “Have you been eavesdropping?”
Maria’s eyebrow lifted slightly. “Yes, I had to keep my distance to avoid throwing something at her. ”
Fair.
I sighed. “You’re right.”
Maria smiled faintly. “So if she comes today with the same attitude…”
I leaned forward, narrowing my eyes at my reflection. “I will absolutely not hold back.”
Maria’s smile widened. “Good.”
Considering how the last two days had gone, that outcome seemed very likely. Once Maria left the room, I picked up my phone and sent a message in the group chat with my siblings to organize a shopping day.
Evania: Emergency shopping day needed.
Three dots appeared almost instantly.
Elena: I'm in.
Serena: Who are we fighting? I’m free after lunch.
I smiled despite myself.
Me: No fighting. Just shopping.
