Page 53 of It's Only Make Believe

My mouth drops open. God she’s good.

“But why didn’t you just tell me Tia was taking the internship? Do you think I would have stood in her way?” Enrique says.

“No, but you would have demanded to know why I wasn’t taking it,” she says. “I’m really sorry I lied, but I hope you understand why I did it.”

Enrique sighs.

“I understand,” he says, and he actually sounds pleased when he goes on. “So, you have two offers now?”

“Yes,” Louisa says. “I’m kind of hoping you can give me some advice on which one to take when you come home.”

“My clever girl. Of course I will,” he says.

“One other thing,” Louisa says. “Please don’t fire Luke. He had no idea about any of this. I mean what would you have said on Tia’s first day if he had called you and basically said this girlis too white to be your daughter and you had adopted her or something?”

“Ok, ok, point taken,” Enrique says. “I won’t fire Luke. And seeing as Tia is almost my adopted daughter at this point anyway, I don’t want any of the money back.”

“What money?” Louisa says.

“The wages. The internship was unpaid, but I knew you would never agree to do that, so I paid the wages,” he says.

I gasp and put my hand over my mouth.

“Oh my God, I swear I will pay the money back Mr Sanchez,” I say.

“Oh, you’re here Tia,” he says. “You will do no such thing, and let’s drop the Mr Sanchez thing ok? Like I said, you’re practically family girl.”

“O … OK,” I stutter. “Thank you so much.”

“No more scheming you two, ok?” he says.

We both laugh and promise him no more schemes and then he and Louisa say their goodbyes and she ends the call.

“I feel awful now,” I say.

“About the money?” Louisa asks and I nod. “Look I’m not trying to knock what my dad has done because I think it’s very sweet of him, but it’s pocket change to him Tee. Don’t worry about it.”

“It’s not that. I mean he’s giving me that money and we’re still lying to him,” I say.

“Oh God, what haven’t you told me?” Louisa says.

“Nothing,” I say. “I meant your internship and second job offer.”

“Oh, that’s true,” Louisa says. “It’s why I’m never around when you call me through the working day.”

“Oh wow. You dark horse,” I laugh. “Congratulations.”

I clink my glass off hers and we drink.

“I’ll text Luke and tell him his job is safe,” I say. “At least that bit is corrected. Now I just have to get him to forgive me and find a new job and everything is good.”

“To everything being good again,” Louisa says, raising her glass again. We clink again, but this time, it doesn’t really feel like a celebration to me.

Chapter

Thirty-Five

LUKE

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