‘I will, Papa,’ she said, with a fierceness that surprised her. Because she wanted to be just like her papa. She saw how people looked at him, at the respect he commanded, but also the way no one was afraid to talk to him. He shared his easy smile with everyone around him, remembering names and always seeming interested in the families of those who worked for him.
As the car slowed and then stopped, he placed his hand on hers and looked into her eyes. ‘Valentina, everything that’s mine will be yours one day, do you understand? I am leaving everything to you,mi dulce chica, because I can tell you have the heart and strength of a lion. I know you won’t let me down.’
She loved it when he called her his sweet girl, and she beamed back at him.
‘I promise, Papa,’ she said, as their driver opened the door. ‘I won’t let you down.’
Valentina adored her father, and even though she was only ten years old, she knew with every beat of her heart that she would spend her life proving that she was just like him, that she could follow in his footsteps in any way that he wanted her to.
They stepped out and he held out his hand for her, waiting for her to press her palm against his as they walked into the building bearing the Santiago family name.
5
PRESENT DAY
Rose held Jessica as her friend wrapped her arms around her, engulfing her in a long hug as they stood near her departure gate. They’d managed to get flights that left Heathrow within ninety minutes of each other, which meant they’d been able to go through security together and have dinner at the airport, before it was time to say goodbye.
‘I’ll see you in five days,’ Jessica said, taking a step back but keeping both hands on Rose’s shoulders. ‘I can’t wait to show you around New York.’
Rose smiled, hating how emotional she felt at saying goodbye to Jessica. She’d managed to not feel alone while she was staying, but saying farewell was even harder than expected. She wished they were boarding a plane together.
‘Thank you for being here. I don’t know how you just managed to drop everything to?—’
‘Tell me you wouldn’t do the same if the shoe was on the other foot,’ Jessica interrupted.
Rose sighed. ‘You know I would. But still, I know it can’t have been easy, especially with the girls.’
‘Well then stop thanking me. I did what any friend would do,’ Jessica said, picking up her carry-on bag and taking a step back.‘Remember to text me as soon as you land, and send over any documents you want Ryan to cast an eye over.’
Rose nodded.
‘But most of all,enjoyit,’ Jessica said. ‘It’s not every day you get to travel to a beautiful country and uncover family secrets. It’s going to be great.’
Jessica finally turned away and walked to the gate, looking back before heading down the air bridge and blowing her a kiss one last time. Rose watched until she disappeared completely and then went in search of coffee. She felt as if she’d barely slept for weeks, and she was hoping that another shot of caffeine would at least keep her going until her flight boarded.
After she’d ordered, she reached into her bag and took out the little box she’d brought with her. Rose opened it, reaching for the now-familiar piece of silk and rubbing it between her forefinger and thumb, wondering whether to show the clues to the lawyer or not when she arrived.
Just have the meeting, see what he has to say, and take it hour by hour, day by day, she said inside her head, giving herself a little pep talk.You can do this, Rose. This is what Mum would have wanted.
Almost fifteen hours later, Rose wheeled her suitcase through the doors into the arrivals area of the airport, still bleary-eyed from sleeping for half the flight.
A man with a whiteboard held high caught her eye, and she stopped when she saw that his sign hadROSE BELLAMYwritten in capitals across it. She’d expected to catch a taxi to the lawyer’s offices, but it seemed a car had been sent for her instead.
‘Hola,’ Rose said, saying one of the only Spanish words she knew as she stood in front of the man.
‘You are Rose?’ he asked, in heavily accented English.
‘I am,’ she said. ‘I wasn’t expecting a driver.’
He nodded enthusiastically and lifted her bag from her shoulder, despite her protests at how heavy it was, and took her suitcase from her other hand, wheeling it ahead of him.
‘Let me,’ he said, smiling and gesturing that she follow him. ‘Please, come.’
She was going to apologise and tell him that she’d had to pack for a few weeks away from home, but decided better of it and just followed him instead. She figured she wasn’t the only person he’d chauffeured who’d overpacked.
When they stepped outside, Rose was surprised at how different the air felt in Argentina. It was hot, but not stiflingly so, but it just smelt more…alive. Her skin felt almost immediately moist and she was breathing differently, and there just seemed to be a different kind of energy around her than at home.
‘Have you read tourist guides about Buenos Aires?’ the driver asked, as he bundled her things into his car and opened the rear passenger door for her.
