Page 53 of My Heart's Doctor

“Very busy with work.”

“And my beautiful little niece?” she asked, trying to show that she cared about Aurora.

“Better than ever,” I responded curtly.

“When can we meet so you can tell me a bit about her? Can you do today?”

The first thing that came to my mind was that Devon might call me to meet up and, if she did, I wouldn’t hesitate to meet her, but the reality was that I hadn’t heard from Devon and didn’t think I would that day. Perhaps it was best to meet with Leonor as soon as possible and get that matter over with.

“Let’s meet today because I have complicated days ahead.”

“Can you pick me up?” she asked, with that syrupy voice I so detested.

“Impossible, tell me where and when and I’ll be there.”

“Aaah, you’re such a difficult man, Willi. Well, it doesn’t matter, how about dinner at theArôme Exquisrestaurant? I’ll wait for you there at nine-thirty and, since there’s a nightclub upstairs, afterward we could go up and…

“Leonor, I don’t meet with you to have fun, I meet with you to talk about Aurora. If what you want is to have a date, you’d better call someone else because it’s never going to happen with me,” I stated coldly, I already had enough to put up with her for Aurora’s sake.

“You don’t need to be so harsh with me,” she said, playing the victim.

“I’m being honest. If you’re interested in your niece, that’s fine; if your interest is something else, you’d better not call anymore.”

“You know I adore my niece, she’s all I have left of my sister,” she almost sobbed, and faced with such hypocrisy, I had to make a great effort not to hang up.

“And why don’t you try to see her?” I questioned, though I had no interest in her seeing Aurora, simply to hear what she would say.

“You know it’s very hard for me, she reminds me so much of her and it breaks my heart,” she said, and I was certain this woman could be an actress and would win several Oscar awards.

“Very well, see you later.”

I ended the call, put the phone on the desk and ran my hands through my hair. I was furious and frustrated.

“Your sister-in-law?” asked Xavier, who was still in my office.

“The very same.”

“I don’t know why you keep meeting with that woman when you know the last thing she has is interest in Aurora, the woman wants to catch you. Tell her to go to hell once and for all and you’ll have one less problem.”

“I do it for my daughter. She’s her only relative, if something were to happen to me, Aurora would be under her guardianship, it’s better to keep her happy.”

“And treating her like that helps you keep her happy?” he asked sarcastically.

“I meet with her occasionally, talk to her a bit about Aurora and that’s it, I do it so she doesn’t bust my balls, otherwise she’d be calling me every day for a week.”

“The women in your life don’t give you a break! Well, except for one who apparently decided to disappear from your life.”

I raised my head and glared at him. I didn’t need to be reminded that Devon wasn’t interested in seeing me. Thinking about that made me feel a strange discomfort in my chest.

“Can you stop mentioning her?!”

“Who? I didn’t mention anyone,” he said, playing innocent.

“Xavier, I’m not in the mood for your nonsense. I’m leaving,” I said, grabbing my briefcase. “See you tomorrow.”

“Good luck with your sister-in-law.”

I didn’t respond, that bastard had already exhausted my patience. I stood up and left the office so I could get home and spend some time with Aurora before heading out to the restaurant where I was meeting Leonor. What a day I’d had! And to top it off, I had no hope it would improve because a dinner with my exasperating ex-sister-in-law awaited me.