Page 80

I sit up a little straighter. “What about?”
“Well, now that my lawyers have drawn up our prenup, I’d like us to get married next week.”
“Next week?” My voice rises with panic. “I haven’t even told Ava!”
A wave of unease spreads through me.I thought he would give me at least a month to prepare Ava—and myself.
“Camila,” he says with a sigh. “I know we don’t know each other that well, but I need you to trust me. Everything is going to be okay.”
His conviction makes me want to believe him, but it all just feels so rushed.
“I want to take you and Ava to a private hospital,” he continues. “We can have a nice lunch afterward—just the three of us. Then we can buy anything you both might need for the wedding. Later tonight, maybe we can ask Mrs. Evans to watch Ava for a couple of hours so you can review the contract. How does that sound?”
“Crazy?” I say hesitantly, unable to hide my skepticism.
He laughs at my answer. “Camila, I promised you the world. Let me show you I truly mean it.”
“What about Ava?” I ask, my voice low.
“Duckling likes me. Once she sees us together, she’ll understand that what’s between us is real.”
“Is it?” I ask, afraid to hear his answer.
“It is to me,” he says simply.
I inhale sharply through my nose. I want to believe him, I really do.
But I can’t let Ava get hurt.
“I really thought you were going to give me more time to introduce the idea of me dating someone to Ava. I haven’t dated since before she was born—let alone get married to a man I was calling adicktatorjust a week ago,” I say with a tight knot in my throat.
Vicente barks out a laugh, and I join him. That nickname will never be not funny.
“Let’s see how she does today with me spending time with the both of you. Ava is a smart girl. I’m sure she’ll let you know if she doesn’t want me around.”
“And if she says she doesn’t want you around?”
“I’ll break off the engagement and rip the contract apart.”
I exhale a breath, knowing in my heart that I can trust this man. “Okay.”
“Perfect, I’ll pick you up at noon,” he says in a triumphant tone.
“But what about work?” I ask, confused he’s taking yet another day off.
“Don’t worry about it. I actually sent an email last night to everyone in the company. I’m giving them two weeks of paid leave.”
“Are you crazy?” I ask, shocked at his behavior.
“No, I’m just taking care of what’s important in my life first. For once.”
That does it. His answer leaves me speechless.
“But what about Mr. Durán? He’s been waiting for an answer from you for several days now.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m going to call him right now.”
I’m not sure what to say because I’ve never seen him take charge of tasks that are supposedly mine. But at the end of the day, he’s the boss.