Page 31 of Tell Me What You Want, Or Leave Me

“I remember I was really hurt, and I didn’t talk to him for almost a month. In fact, I looked for another job, and, when he realized what I was doing, he was furious. He didn’t want me to work for anyone else. And then, incredibly, he doubled my salary the next month. When I told him I hadn’t asked for a raise, he said that since he couldn’t give me what I wanted, he could at least try to make me happy financially so that I wouldn’t work for anyone else.”

Well, well...there’s a lot going on here!

“Mother of God, Graciela,” I say, “what you just told me confirms that he likes you, and a whole lot.”

“No...”

“Then why would he give you a raise without you asking?”

“I don’t know. Dexter is very loose with money.”

“Could it be he’s very loose with it when it comes to you because he likes you?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Well, that’s what I think. No boss doubles a salary just because.”

“You think?”

I nod. I still remember when Eric suggested I go with him on that trip to all the German branches and told me to name my own salary.

“I’m telling you, Graciela, that man is drooling for you.”

“Oh God,” she says, blushing a deep red.

Dexter’s watching us again. I wink at him. Poor man, if only he knew what we were talking about. He smiles and looks away.

“Oh, Graciela, people say women are strange, but men are so strange too.” We both laugh. “I’m telling you, Dexter likes you as much as you like him. He’s overreacting to what you did last night, making it clear that he’s interested.”

“Oh, Judith...don’t say that; it makes me nervous.”

We laugh again. “It’s only going to get worse when we get to Jerez and my friends start flirting with you left and right.”

Our arrival in Jerez is a very big deal.

My father wants to get us at the airport, but Eric has already made arrangements. We’re greeted by a man who hands us the keys to an eight-seat Mitsubishi Montero, the exact copy of what we drive in Germany.

“I bought this so we could have it at our disposal when we come to Jerez,” Eric says when he sees the surprise on my face. “Is that OK by you?”

I nod and smile. Eric likes to be in control.

We all laugh and have a good time on the way to Jerez. When we arrive at the house Eric bought me, I see a new sign that says “Sweetheart Villa.” I crack up, as does my husband.

I give him a kiss. I’m grinning like a fool as he takes the remote out of the glove compartment to open the black gate. I love his surprises, and when I see the house is so well taken care of, I get emotional. He tells me he asked my dad to contract with somebody to keep up the place even when we’re not here. As soon as the car stops, I’m the first to jump out.

“Welcome to our home in Jerez,” I tell our guests.

As soon as I’m in the house, I call my dad to let him know we’ll be over at his place in an hour. He’s made dinner and is happily waiting for us with my sister and the kids.

As the hostess of Sweetheart Villa, I quickly figure out who is sleeping where. There are enough bedrooms for everyone, and, after we’ve all had a chance to shower and change, we climb back into the Mitsubishi and head over to my father’s house.

I can’t wait to see him.

When we park the car, I see Flyn and Luz come running toward us.

These beautiful children!

They throw themselves on me, and I hug them back. “Auntie...Auntie,” says an excited Luz, “what did you bring me?”

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