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"I'm a little nervous now," Claudia says when they get out of the car in the company's parking lot, where the only vehicles are hers and Elvira's, who arrived a little while ago.

Laia moves to her side and takes her hand.

"This is where I saw you for the first time," she says softly, and Claudia turns to look at her. "Sometimes when I leave the factory and walk to my car remembering that day, I can still feel exactly what I felt that morning. I lose my breath and my whole body vibrates while this strange sensation of falling washes over me, something quick that makes me feel like my stomach is shifting out of place."

Claudia looks at her with a delighted smile.

"I figured you were nervous—you were quiet the whole drive from Barcelona—but we can still leave if you want. You don't have to put up with this."

"That's not what's making me nervous. Or not entirely."

"Then what is?" Laia asks, curious.

A mischievous smile curves Claudia's lips, and it sends a flutter straight through the other woman's chest.

"I think I know what I want to do. Come on."

She pulls her by the hand toward the entrance, and even though Laia asks and protests, demanding to know what it is, Claudia says nothing—just watches her with an amused look—until they go up to the first floor and find Elvira in the conference room, sitting at the head of the table with her laptop open in front of her.

"Working to pass the time?" Claudia asks from the doorway.

Elvira lowers the screen a little and shrugs.

"Occupational hazard, I guess. I can't set foot in the company without thinking I need to be doing something. What are you two doing here so early? There's still half an hour left," she says, glancing at her watch.

"I could ask you the same thing."

Claudia pulls out a chair for Laia, who sits down with flushed cheeks when she feels Elvira's amused gaze on her.

"I want to ask you something," Claudia says, taking a seat between the two of them.

"Go ahead." Elvira folds her hands on the table, waiting.

"I want to keep working here at the factory. I know it's a lot to ask—you already have a full staff and you were more than generous giving me six months—so I'm not going to ask for a salary. I'll do it for free."

Elvira and Laia exchange a surprised look.

"I know this is what I want to do—keep drawing, and maybe someday get someone to buy one of my designs—but I love being in the pattern-making section with Remei, and I still have so much to learn. I need more experience, more time with her, to keep absorbing everything she knows. But I'll understand if it's not possible. You just have to tell me."

Elvira looks at her and nods, then leans forward and rests her elbows on the table.

"I'm very proud of you," she says.

Claudia smiles, a little embarrassed, as if she's just been paid a compliment she didn't see coming.

"People keep telling me that lately," she murmurs, glancing sideways at Laia.

"Let me figure out the details. I'll talk to HR on Monday and we'll work it out, but of course you can stay if that's what you want."

A lump settles in Claudia's throat that keeps her from putting her gratitude into words, but her aunt doesn't need her to—she can see it on her face.

"So that's what you wanted to do," Laia says beside her, looking at her with a smile.

Claudia opens her mouth to answer, but before she can, they hear the sound of an engine in the parking lot, then car doors closing, and a few seconds later, several sets of footsteps on the stairs.

"They're here," Elvira says.

Even though Claudia is clear about what she wants, she can't help tensing up, her pulse picking up speed.