Page 38 of His to Bedevil

She beams. “I see. You are certainly beautiful.” Then she frowns and rakes her eyes up and down my body. “And much too thin,flaquita.”

I have no idea what suddenly comes over me, but it all crashes down on me like a tidal wave. Between the stress of the past several weeks, all the sudden reminders of my past, and the anger I have for Alejandro, I snap. Choking, I bend over and bury my face in my hands, incredibly embarrassed as I choke down an ugly sob.

“Dios mío.”My God, she gasps, and I feel her arm go around me and pull me into her side. For some unexplained reason, I let her. The sob takes me completely by surprise, and now that I’ve started, I have no idea how to stop. I haven’t shed a tear in years. As in since I was a child. “Mija, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to dig up old painful memories.” She smooths my hair down gently. “I would just like to know who my son is so crazy about.”

This somehow helps me get ahold of my temperance and calm me down some. Taking a deep breath, I straighten up and wipe the tears away with my hands. “I apologize. I don’t know what came over me.”

She smooths my hair down again, like a mother would do to their child. “Do not apologize,mija. Never apologize for your genuine feelings. Ever. Do you hear me?”

I smile at her and nod. “I just didn’t mean to break down like that.”

She smiles back and sighs. “Everyone needs a good cry once in a while.” She stands to her feet and takes the seat across from me again.

Taking another deep breath, I act as if it never happened. I need to be the woman I raised myself to be. Strong and, at times, callous. “You say Alejo is crazy about me?”

She smiles, and a couple of maids come in with our lunch and also more mojitos. Hopefully a bit stronger this time. The first maid is the same one that brought us our drinks last time, and the other one is just as pretty. That stupid pang of jealousy hits me again. Does Alejo purposely keep pretty women around to use at his disposal? Disgusting. I would not be surprised.

Alejandro

Iknow I need to stay focused and catch up on work and also finish closing this Russian deal, but it’s been too many hours withoutmi pequita. I just want to check in on her. Make sure she doesn’t need anything. Maybe steal a kiss.

When I walk into my bedroom and catch a short glimpse of her as she glances over her shoulder, I immediately jump into action. Taking long strides, I appear in front of her and crouch down. Her eyes are slightly puffy, and her face is flushed. Even the little bit of makeup she had put on is smeared. “Mi amor.What happened?” For the first time in my life, I want to turn around and yell at my mother. Demand to know what she said or did to upset Irma.

She blinks her eyelashes hurriedly as she stares at me with a stoic expression. “Nothing. I’m perfectly fine. Just enjoying lunch with your mother.” She brings the drink she’s holding up to her lips and takes a sip. I study her for a long moment, and it seems as if she isn’t lying, but the physical appearance of her eyes tells another story. It’s obvious she was crying.

Standing, I turn to face my mother, and she, too, is looking at me unemotionally. “We’re just having a lovely lunch,mijo. Have you come to join us?”

I take a seat next to Irma and glance over at her again. I know she was crying. Maybe before my mother got here, but if I find out it was my mother who made her cry, I will have strong words with her. After everything I put Irma through, she never once broke down. Never once shed a tear. But I leave her for half a day and she cries. I should’ve been here.

“I can’t stay long. Just wanted to check in.” I take Irma’s hand and hold it between mine in my lap. My mother notices the gesture, and her lips twitch, obviously amused.

My mother has never seen me with a woman before. Sure, she’s heard of my substantial appetite for women, and she may have caught a woman or two leaving my room or the estate several times. But she has never been introduced to one. Never sat down and ate lunch with one. And I have never moved one in with me or shared a bed with one without fucking them.

“How sweet,” my mother croons. “He missed you,tesora,” she says to Irma as she sips her own drink, eyeing me above the glass.

I grunt a little, not appreciating my mother’s provocation. It’s true though, and I think that’s what makes me uncomfortable. Every minute that has passed being away frommi pequita, there was a sense of longing. I was anxious to return to her. It’s too bad we aren’t alone though. I was hoping to steal a kiss to help me get through the rest of the day. Especially after visiting her ex-lover in his tiny prison.

At first, no matter how hard Diego hit him over and over, he wouldn’t speak. Not a single word. Until I brought up Irma. With the look of rage that took over, he looked like he was about to break out of his restraints. He cares for her, but I still don’t know how much she cares for him.

“Well, I think I’ll leave you two, so you can have a little privacy,” my mother says as she gets to her feet and crosses the small space to us. Bending down, she kisses Irma on the cheek then cups it and smiles at her. “It was so nice getting to know you more,tesora. I am so happy you are here.”

I was hoping this visit would go well, but I didn’t expect it to gothatwell. My mother is a hard woman to impress, and with the fact that Irma is still such a mystery to all of us, she was extremely skeptical.

She kisses me on the cheek next and cups my face as well. “Don’t you work too hard,mijo. We need you.” She pats my cheek and stands up.

Irma says goodbye, and my mother finally leaves. Now that we’re alone, I look at Irma again and want to know what made her cry. She sucks down her drink and sets her empty glass down on the table in front her, avoiding eye contact. “Mi amor—” I start, but she turns to me and cuts me off.

“I want to see Matches.” Her eyes are wide, and her lips are thinned. All too ready for an invective. Her meek persona vanishing before my eyes.

“Not yet.” Possibly not ever. If she thinks I’ll let her go see her ex-lover, she is sadly mistaken.

“When? How do I even know you haven’t already killed him?”

“You could just take my word for it.”

“Not good enough. I want proof that he’s alive.” She holds her chin high. My defiant girl is radiant when she’s being stubborn. Even though it’s a pain in my ass.

“And what makes you think you’re in the position to make demands?” I muse.

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