Page 102 of Cryptic Curse

Kind of sad.

“Are you all right?”I ask her.

“I’m fine,mija,” she says.

On the bed, my phone buzzes.

“No time for that now,” Consuelo says as I eye the phone.“Your papa is waiting.”

In the mirror, I grin.I look like someone who belongs at a party.Not the girl who gets nervous answering questions.Not the girl who sometimes feels like she’s in the way.

“You look beautiful,” Consuelo says.

“Thank you.”I smile into the mirror.

“All right.Now off with you.”

Her eyes are glistening, as if she’s about to cry.

“Are you sure you’re all right?”

She stiffens her face.“I’m absolutely fine.I will always be here for you, Daniela.”

“I know that.”

She kisses my forehead.“Never forget.I may not be able to take care of you at every moment, but I will always be here for you.”

I’m not sure what she’s talking about, but I simply nod.“Thank you, Consuelo.”

“Your papa is waiting downstairs in his office.”

“All right.Thank you for everything.”

I leave my bedroom, race down the stairs to the first floor of our grand mansion.But then I slow my pace.I don’t want to mess up my hair.

I walk to my father’s office and knock.

“Yes?”

“It’s me, Papa.Daniela.”

“Yes, Daniela, please come in.”

I open the door.

Papa sits behind his large desk, and another man sits in one of the chairs facing him.Both of them stand when I enter.

“I thought I was going to a party,” I say.

“Yes, you are,” Papa says.

“When are we leaving?”

Papa smiles, gestures broadly around his office.“The party is here, Daniela.This is a colleague of mine, Señor Hernando Reyes.”

Señor Reyes is young and good-looking—well-built with dark gleaming eyes and a thick shock of black hair.

I nod.“Good evening, Señor.”