Page 175

Eric furrows his brow, but he’s not serious.
“Are you jealous of Claudia?”
“No.”
“Then?”
Ill humored, I move a strand of hair from my face.
“Stop smiling at me like that, or I swear I’m gonna crack your head open with that planter.”
Eric guffaws, and his laughter echoes in the office. He stands up and comes around his desk, but he doesn’t touch me.
“Mmm ... You know that very Spanish character of yours drives me crazy.”
Seeing him so close to me, I lift my chin.
“Why didn’t you say anything? It’s supposed to be my job, and you’ve already given it away to someone else.”
“Love, she will take care of my business for the time I have left in Spain. At the same time, she’ll start to learn what you do. That way, when you’re not here, everything will function as it always has. I have to think about what’s good for the company.”
“But have you seen how she looks at you?” I say, angry, and not really paying attention to what he has just said. “I’ve only been here five minutes, and I can already tell she’s attracted to you and ...”
“The person I’m attracted to is you,” he says, interrupting me. “And other women, Claudia included, don’t matter at all to me. Only you. Get that through your pretty little head, OK? And if I haven’t said anything, it’s because I’m trying to save you these headaches. And you know why? Because once you are in Germany, I want you to rest and to live like a queen. I want you to be happy doing what you like. I want you to indulge each and every one of your whims. And if you want to work, don’t worry. I promise there will be a job for you there.”
I suddenly realize how ridiculous I must seem.
“How embarrassing! What am I doing?”
Eric smiles, but as he’s about to respond, the door opens and there’s Claudia with his coffee. The phone rings and she answers. After she tells him the call is from Germany, I leave, and we each go back to our desks.
At one o’clock, Eric leaves the office. He has a luncheon, and I decide to go eat at Vips. On the way back, I pass a florist and get an idea. I order a beautiful bouquet of roses for Eric that costs me a pretty penny.
On the card, I write,I don’t speak French or Russian or Chinese. Will you still renew my contract? ILY, Your Honey
Two hours later, as I’m typing away at my computer, I hear Claudia’s phone ring. Seconds later, she gets up, and I see a delivery person come in with a pretty bouquet of roses. A surprised Claudia takes them in to Eric. Discreetly, I watch as she hands them to him and leaves his office. Surprised, he stares at them. Roses for him? When he opens the card, I see him smile and look my way. I can’t help smiling back. An instant later, my cell buzzes. A message from Eric:Your contract is renewed for life in my heart. I love you.
64
At the beginning of December, Eric’s mother shows up in Madrid to see with her own eyes how her son is doing. According to what she tells me, little Flyn was going to come with her, but at the last minute, one of his pranks made it impossible, and so she left him in Germany with his nanny. Her happiness on seeing Eric is obvious and more so when she talks about our coming move.
One night, when I arrive at a restaurant and see my father, my sister, and my brother-in-law waiting for us, I’m moved beyond words. Eric has organized it all with the utmost discretion. He wants our families to meet and our relationship to be totally official. I like the surprise even more when my father kisses me with approval.
“He knows what you’re worth,” he whispers to me.
What I feel on hearing my father and seeing his proud face is indescribable. He wants the best for me, and he knows Eric makes me happy. Andrés and Frida also join us, and when I think there’s no room for anyone else, along comes Marta with a friend.
We all toast to us, and Eric and I look at each other like fools. I can barely believe this is all happening to me. I’ve found love when I least expected it and with the person I least expected. Eric is my world and my life, and nothing, absolutely nothing, can get in the way of my happiness and my joy.
My marvelous boyfriend is looking particularly handsome in his dark suit and blue shirt. He dresses so elegantly that at times, I fear I won’t be able to keep up. He’s driving me crazy.
“I’m dying to get back to the hotel,” I whisper as I lean into him.
“Mmm, you’ve become depraved, love,” he says, then kisses my shoulder.
I smile as everyone around us enjoys their meal.
“Only as depraved as you. I can’t help but think about ...”