Isab

o me how to launder money through his casinos. I memorize every

," he concludes, stubbing out the cigarette butt in a glass ashtray. His eyes stud

ply. "It's a fl

ity has always been their weak point. "Your father should le

le I care about my father going broke, I only care abo

others," he replies with a misch

too slow. Each gesture calculated to project the masculini

ty, so for a moment I allow my shoulders to relax. Three hours of l

Ric

. She is wearing a simple cream-colored dress and her hai

no," I greet w

th small, measured steps. Typical of a woman raised to

just finished w

e to take a walk in the gardens now. The sun

ore time pretending, especially with her. But refusin

asure," I lie with

ust admit they are impressive: perfectly trimmed shrubs, marbl

d, she designed these gardens herself," Sofia com

I reply sincerely. "I'

she says with a sad smil

eedy fathers: we are both motherless. Empathy for he

few minutes. The sun begi

nt to say somethi

rong, Miss Cast

ountain, "if we're going to get mar

nervous. Familiarity creates closeness, a

Sofia," I fi

I call you, is Mr. Ric

e feel guilty. This girl is marryi

ening my tone. "There is no nee

It's a beautiful smile, lighting

as if testing how the n

in this house. Her voice is melodious and she is impeccably educated, as you would expect from the daughter

ne structure that rises above a smal

ike it?"

autiful,

so much so that I can smell her per

months," she comments, looking toward the hor

lanned in advance," I reply, taking

is a question in her eyes. "Do you dis

supposed to answer? That the problem is not her

o as not to hurt her feelings. "Arranged ma

. "I get it, none

s painfully familiar. We are pawns in the

"or if he hadn't had the accident, perhaps I would have more options

be just a daughter to trade. Isabella, not Isidro, and I would s

rd," I say, allowing a bit of my t

eact, takes my hand in hers. The contact paralyze

ly, "we could be allies

that would seem like a rejection. A normal man would

t, trying to keep

s, "but that doesn't mean we should be unhappy. We could... get

in the face. She has no idea h

l tell what we can build, Sofia. For now, I t

crosses her face, but she

ice do I have? Any closeness between us is impossible as long as I

entrance to the

he ride," she

I reply. "G

vening,

hen do I allow myself to let out the air I didn't know I was

specially difficult with Sofia. There's something about her that awakens in

nths until the wedding. How will I manage