Page 31 of Never the Bride
My phone buzzeson my desk, and the screen lights up with Mamá Rosa. I almost let it go to voicemail, but I swipe anyway.
“Hello?”
“Camila?” Her voice carries that sharp edge I know too well. “Why are you trying to convince your sister not to marry? Do you want Selena to end up alone like you? Like me?”
I close my eyes, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Nice to hear from you too, Mamá.”
“Ay, ay, ay,” my mom clucks. “Landon is a good man who will take care of Selena. She’ll want for nothing the rest of her life.”
“I’m sorry, Mamá, but that’s not a good enough excuse to marry the man.”
“It is for me.”
“Of course it is for you,” I bite back.
“What happened to you? What happened to the little girl I raised? The one who would play pretend wedding with her dolls? Make a wedding veil out of napkins and paper towels?”
“She grew up.”
Her tone softens only enough to cut deeper. “Where did I go wrong, raising such a stubborn woman? You fight men, you hate them, you don’t believe in marriage?—”
I let out a short laugh. “Hate men? No. Distrust men? Absolutely. And gee, I wonder why. Maybe because I watched you rush into marriages with winners like—what was Husband Number Three’s name again? The one who ‘borrowed’ your car and never came back?”
“Don’t you put your issues on me, Camila. They are yours and yours alone, and don’t you dare put them on your little sister. She’s making good choices for her life.”
Before I can shoot back about how Selena’s choices are going to land her in my office in a couple of years, my door cracks open, and Marcy, my secretary, leans in. I point at the phone, mouthingMom, and she nods sympathetically.
“Mamá, I have to go. I have clients with real problems. We’ll talk later.”
“You run from me like you run from everything,” she huffs.
“Love you too,” I say dryly and hang up before she can say more. I sit back in my chair, looking at Marcy. “That woman is going to drive me insane.”
“I have some good news that will make you feel better.” She grins as if she can barely keep it in. “Richard’s secretary just called. They want you in his office right now.”
Three days back at work, and Richard Vanderveer hasn’t said a word about my future in this law firm. I’ve been discouraged, to say the least, but now my life suddenly makes sense again.
After a quick dance party with Marcy, I walk to the top floor and lightly tap my knuckles on his door before stepping inside. “You wanted to see me?”
“Ah, Camila. Come in.” But it’s not just Richard. It’s every partner plus the co-owner, Jerry Wendtz. A room full of men,casually sitting on Italian leather couches. This isn’t the time to show weakness. Moments like these are meant for my best foot forward.
I roll my shoulders back, carefully placing a confident smile on my lips as I glance around the room. “Gentlemen.”
“Take a seat.” Richard gestures to the empty chair in front of me. “There are some things we’d like to discuss with you.”
My mind goes through the mental list of achievements and accolades I’ve earned over the years at this law firm. I’m ready to argue my case as to why I deserve to be the first female partner.
“Richard has been telling us what an all-star you are,” Jerry starts.
A strategic smile drifts across my mouth. “I’m more than an all-star. I’m an indispensable asset to this company.”
Jerry laughs. “I think we’re seeing that to be true.”
“Camila, where do you see yourself in five, ten, twenty years from now?” Richard leans back in his chair.
“I see myself as one of the top divorce attorneys in the West.”
There are a few nods of approval from the men around the room.
