Page 30 of Santiago's Conquest (Four Dark Horsemen 1)

My phone vibrates on the table, and I see a message flashing on the display.

Sorry, running late.

It’s fine. I’m at the library. The one closer to my house. It’s not huge but cozy enough.

It’s still around? Stay there until I arrive and pick you up. Have fun *insert sarcastic laugh*

Just after I finished my shower last night, Lenora showed up and announced we have to do something fun today.

Our plans include a long walk around Chicago, updating me on all the amazing places the city has to offer and sort of have a date with it. I arrived a bit early and stopped by the library to wait it out.

I check my emails and sit straight when one from my professor lands in my inbox. He found me a job at the art center; they need some help teaching the kids art for fun. Given my professional skills are almost nonexistent, it’s a career high for me. They want to see one of the sketches of mine first though, focusing on some myth.

My brows furrow at this. Shouldn’t they want an interview with me and see my actual work? How can a sketch give them any idea of what I can do with it in real life?

Then again, I’ve never worked in the art industry before, so what do I know? I should be grateful the professor liked me enough to slip a good word for me to one of his best friends.

I grin when the memory of how I begged him for it pops in my head.

“Professor Matias, please! I need a job in Chicago.” I make praying hands, pleading with my eyes for him to agree. “Any job.”

“Niña, you’re a disaster in my class. You and sculpting…” He trails off, probably searching for all the words to describe my fuck up, so I help him out.

“Are a horrible match and an insult to art?”

He waves his hand in a dismissive gesture. “Waste of your time and talent.” I frown, taken aback by such a conclusion, because it’s the last thing I expected. “Your talent lies in that sketchbook of yours.” My cheeks flush when I realize he knows about my little secret, a secret I guarded for the last few years, and even Lenora doesn’t know about it. “Why don’t you work on that and let people see you?”

My sketchbook holds one of my darkest secrets, my pain and heartache along with some truths no one ever wants to hear.

Inviting people to the world I created on paper, a story consisting of images, is like opening up my heart for everyone and awaiting their scrutiny and judgment.

“Please, Professor.”

“Fine. I’ll ask my friend Rebecca. She has several studios around the country and one art center. She should have something for you, at least for the time being.”

My fingers hover above the phone, ready to send him my thanks, when the name of his friend registers in my mind. I didn’t pay attention back in his office due to my happiness over convincing him to put in a good word for me.

Oh no.

Oh no no no.

Scrolling down to the end, my stomach flips when my suspicions come true and her full name comes into view.

Rebecca Esmeralda Cortez.

One of the best artists in the world for the last thirty-five years and Santiago’s mother.

Rumor among the elite has it that Lucian wooed her relentlessly, but she wouldn’t give in no matter what, so he kidnapped her to Chicago and blackmailed her into marrying him. She ran away from him five times, and every single time, he dragged her back home. Although I don’t believe in such things, because whenever I saw them on videos or in magazines, it was clear the marriage was a love match.

Oh my God!

Palming my head, I groan into my hands at the prospect of working for Rebecca and maybe colliding once again with her son.

A son I did my best not to think about yesterday and today, pushing any thoughts of him far away, because dwelling on our dance and embrace creates chaos inside me.

How his body moved with mine, how his arms wrapped tightly around me as if I were the most precious thing he ever held, his sinful voice whispering….

Digging my nails harshly into my palms, I will myself to snap out of the stupid infatuation with Santiago that has already lasted longer than it should.

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