Page 30

"Okay." Laia tucks the document into a folder and stands, but instead of leaving, she stays on her feet in front of her boss.

"What?" Elvira looks up at her over her reading glasses.

"Can I take Claudia with me?"

The factory owner leans back in her chair and crosses her arms, studying her.

"What for?"

Laia feels a wave of heat shoot up her spine.

"She's here to learn every part of the business, right? And supplier visits are part of that. Plus…"

She trails off and scratches the back of her neck. Why is she doing this? She doesn't owe Claudia anything, and spending more time with her than strictly necessary is definitely not good for her heart—but Claudia has been here almost two months now, and Laia has only seen her genuinely enjoy herself in one of the sections.

"Are you going to say something before nightfall?"

Laia startles. Elvira drops these little remarks sometimes, and they only make her more nervous.

"I think she'll like it."

"So we're pulling her off her post so she can have fun?" Elvira's eyes seem to darken, and Laia just wants the floor to swallow her whole.

"No, that's not it—of course not. But when she was in the pattern-making section she seemed to really enjoy what she was doing, and Remei says that when she was little she used to draw and say she wanted to be a designer when she grew up." Elvira's gaze is so pointed that Laia takes a step back. "I'm just saying—I don't know—she's here for a reason. And maybe if we lean into what she actually likes, she'll start caring and stop…"

"Behaving like an irresponsible, immature woman who seems to do the exact opposite of whatever her parents tell her?" Elvira offers.

"Yes. I suppose that's a fair summary."

"Fine, let her go with you," Elvira agrees. "Anything else?"

"No."

When she walks out of the office, Laia grabs her things and heads down to the factory floor to find Claudia, who is on her last day of her first week in the packaging area. She finds her standing in front of the label printer, waiting with a look of pure tedium for it to finish printing.

"Hey."

Claudia turns her head and gives her a half-hearted smile.

"Hey, Laia."

"Bored?"

"I'm seriously considering sneaking into one of these trucks to make my escape, but none of the destinations are calling to me," she deadpans, no smile behind the joke.

"Maybe I can help with that."

"Oh yeah?" Claudia scoops up the labels and turns toward her, intrigued.

Laia holds up her hand and dangles her car key.

"I have to go visit the fabric supplier and check the order. Want to come?"

Claudia sets the labels down on the table and stares at her.

"Are you serious, or did you just come down here to gloat about how bored I am?"

Laia lets out a small laugh and shakes her head.