“Dallas...” She said the word like it was the first time she’d ever heard it, then crossed her arms over her chest and leaned in on the chair. “Now tell me what else is going on before your father barges in here.” Her expression softened and I knew something feelings related was about to happen. “And thank you for before.”

“You should be running this whole thing,” I said, honestly.

“You’re right, I should be, but stop stalling and tell me what this is really about.” She spoke with the certainty of someone who knew too well that unless there was a life-or-death reason I would never do something like this willingly.

“What makes you think there’s anything else going on?” I hedged like she couldn’t see right through my bullshit. “I’m just as committed as you are to see this Valle Mar thing happen. This was a good and timely solution.” I gestured at the phone that had just sealed my plan for the next two months.

“Theodoro Anibal, do you think I was born yesterday? I know Alba’s in Dallas, pendejo.” Lesser men would’ve crumbled under that sweet as honey accent of my stepmother’s but I had fifteen years of building up resistance to it. “So what’s the deal.”

“Alba’s not coming back,” I admitted, and instantly that constriction in my chest returned. It was like she’d taken all the air to Texas with her. “She sent me an email this morning saying she was staying down there. Apparently she got a job offer and...she’s not interested in coming back.” Cecilia’s expression went from concern, to realization, to something very akin to satisfaction.

“Good for her.”

“Thanks for being on my team, damn.”

My stepmother didn’t even blink. “Oh, shut up, Theo. That girl should’ve left this job ages ago. You’ve seen what she does with those bedrooms, she’s a genius and she couldn’t wait around for you to get your dumb ass together.”

“That’s not very nice.”

“Pssh.” She waved off my comment dismissively. “Who needs nice with tits like this.”

“Please stop,” I pleaded sincerely, and she just laughed at me.

“Seriously though. I told you so many times to just let her know how you felt.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. Not this shit again.

“I could not just start hitting on my assistant like some old creep.” As soon as I said it I realized my poor choice of words, since Cecilia met my father while serving as his translator during one of his business trips to Havana. But she waved me off.