Page 60 of Through You
I feel my cheeks getting warm so I lower my head.
“Come on, which one? It’s okay . . . as long as it wasn’t Ares.”
I’m opening my mouth ready to answer when I hear the sound of heels heading in our direction. I turn around to find Mrs. Hidalgo.
She has deemed the occasion worthy of her presence.
Sophia makes her way toward us on red stilettos, wearing a white skirt that sits above the knee and a low-cut blouse. Her makeup is excessive, and her hair is up in a very tight, high ponytail. Her eyes land on Raquel.
“And who are you?” She does what she knows best, scrutinizing the poor girl with eyes filled with contempt. Raquel doesn’t answer. “I asked you a question.”
Raquel clears her throat.
“My name is Ra-Raquel.” She politely extends her hand to greet Mrs. Hildalgo.
Sofia looks at her hand and then at her.
“All right, Ra-Raquel.” She mocks Raquel’s initial stutter.
“What are you doing here?”
I step next to Raquel. “She came with Ares.”
Sofia arches an eyebrow. “Are you joking? Why would Ares bring her along?”
I roll my eyes. “Why don’t you ask him yourself?”
Sofia purses her lips. “Don’t take that tone with me, Claudia.
The last thing you want is to provoke me. Where is my husband?”
I point to the room’s door, hoping to get her away from us.
Mrs. Hidalgo enters the room, taking her bad energy along with her, and leaving us on our own. Raquel looks pale.
“What a nasty lady.”
I give her a smile. “You have no idea.”
“You don’t seem intimidated by her.”
“I grew up in that house. I think I’ve mastered the ability to engage with difficult people.”
“I can only imagine. I just thought that since she’s your boss, you’d have to . . .”
“Let her treat me poorly?” I finish her sentence. “I’m not a kid who gets scared easily anymore.” I sit and pat the chair next to me. “But enough about me, tell me about yourself instead.”
“There’s not a lot to say. Only that I’ve fallen under the spell of the Hidalgos.”
“I can see that. I can also tell that you finally managed to get the idiot to confess his feelings for you.”
“How do you know?”
“Because you’re here,” I tell her in all honesty. “Their grandfather is one of the most important people in their lives. The fact that Ares brought you along speaks volumes.”
“I’ve heard a lot about this man, and would love to meet him.”
“I hope you do very soon. He’s a wonderful person.”
