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Claudia's expression falters and she crosses her arms, waiting.

"I want you to stay at my place until the contract ends. I'm tired of all this nonsense of Laia chasing after you and you going out just because you're angry at the world."

"I didn't go out once this week," Claudia says, defending herself.

"I'm glad, but I'm not done. Pack a bag and stay with me for a while. Get your head straight, Claudia—no going out, no alcohol, no hangovers, no late nights. Use this time to think about what you want."

Claudia lets out a slow breath and scratches the back of her neck.

"Look." Elvira leans forward. "I won't keep you out of pattern-making if you say no—that would be absurd," she says, because she has thought it over and realized she was pushing, exactly what her sister does. "But I'd like you to do this, Claudia. I think a change of scene will do you good—get you out of your routine."

"My toxic routine," Claudia adds under her breath.

"Call it whatever you want," her aunt says, "but you and I both know that life you're living isn't doing you any good, and above all, it's not what you want for yourself—much less what you deserve."

Claudia bites her lip and closes her hand around her aunt's when she takes it.

"Come stay with me and feel completely free to come and go whenever you want. I won't ask you for explanations." She gets up and goes around her desk to grab her bag from the top of the filing cabinet, pulls out a set of keys that Claudia takes without protest. "If you're not comfortable, you leave whenever you want. But at least give it a try."

"Okay," Claudia agrees, realizing she genuinely wants and needs that change. "Is tomorrow okay if I move in? I'll go home today and pack."

"Of course, whenever you're ready. Go on, I've taken up enough of your time."

"Aren't you leaving?" Claudia asks as she stands.

"I'll be here a little later today. I want to wrap up a couple of things or I won't be able to rest this weekend knowing I left something unfinished."

"Do you need help with anything?"

Elvira smiles.

"No, go on, get out of here."

Claudia leaves her office and steps into Laia's, closing the door behind her.

"Explain to me why you ran after saying what you said, and why you've been avoiding me all week," she says point-blank, giving Laia no time to brace herself for the conversation.

The assistant wrings her hands and stares at the door as if she wants to bolt. Claudia seems to read her mind, because she positions herself directly in her line of sight, pressing her back against the wood like she's guarding the entrance.

"We're not leaving here until you answer," she warns into the silence.

Laia stands up, comes around her desk, shaking her hands as if they're wet, and musters the courage to say what's been burning inside her for days.

"Because I'm not ready to hear that you don't feel anything. I know I'm being a coward, but I think I still need more time to prepare myself," she explains in a rush. "So please don't say it yet. Give me a few days to—"

"You don't even know what I'm about to say," Claudia cuts her off. "Don't be like my mother. Don't assume you know what I think, what I feel, or what I need. I can figure that out on my own."

Laia blinks, thrown.

"I know. I'm sorry."

Claudia bites her lip without looking away from her.

"Go out with me," she says, and Laia's already restless heart turns over. "Let's have a real date. An actual one—dinner, or a movie, I don't know, whatever you want."

Laia can't even blink, she's so stunned.

"You want to go on a date with me?" she asks, dumbfounded.