His answer when I asked him about his mother’s test comes to mind.
It’s not that kind of test. Also, I’ve already put everything in action.
Was I the condition of his promotion? Gaining my feelings? How could they even come up with such a sick idea?
His mother’s satisfied expression flashes through me. That’s why she was so overjoyed when I admitted to loving Nathan. She wasn’t glad for me or about my relationship with her son. She was happy that Nathan proved to be the right material to lead their empire. How could Nathan do this to me?
I dart to the stairs, not caring whether my running steps are loud or if my skirt shuffles. I need to get out of this mansion before Nathan comes out of that room. I don’t want to see him. He has played with me. He earned my trust and then shattered it for good.
I grit my teeth as I take the stairs by double and almost trip. In the back of my mind the gloating laugh of an old, soulless woman echoes. I know who it is, and I know it has come to get me.
To think, I almost convinced myself that I wouldn’t end up victim of La Mujer Sin Alma. That my story would turn out like stupid Cinderella’s.
What a fool. A darned, hopeful fool.
Chapter 34
(Nathan)
As I say the words, I almost choke on them.
Hiding my love for Eva while my chest rumbles like a volcano about to explode has been the biggest and most difficult task of my life. One I’ll never want to repeat once I’m out of this room.
“I don’t know how this is possible.” Mother adjusts her swept-back hairdo. “I thought Murphy came up with the perfect challenge. He was sure it would work…”
The distraught edge in her voice catches me off guard. A flicker of suspicion sizzles through me. Could it be that Mother wasn’t unsure about how good of a leader I could be? Maybe the test was just simply a task she hoped I wouldn’t pass? A way to confirm Larry’s claim without feeling guilty? If so, they fooled me. They fooled me perfectly.
I square my back. “I’m sorry to be the carrier of such disappointing news. Murphy had free hand about choosing my challenge. As per your request, I believe. Of course, I wouldn’t know, since you didn’t pick up any of my calls while you were on your cruise with Malcom.”
Mother looks like I’ve just slapped her in the face. “Nathan, my son, I’m not sure you understand the situation correctly.”
Oh, but I do. Mother wanted me to fail. It’s evident by her disappointment as she stares at me. This can only mean one thing. She never planned on letting me win against Larry. The bitterness of this whole thing dawns on me. “I was such a moron for believing that you and Murphy would hold up your end of the bargain if I managed to conquer Eva’s heart. Murphy chose her because you two were sure that she would never fall for me, right? You knew of her dad, didn’t you? And of her brother? Did you hire a private eye to investigate her before you picked her or what?”
“What gibberish are you saying, Nathan?” Mom’s surprised outrage sounds sincere. “Private detective? Eva’s father? I don’t know anything about this at all.” She inhales, pinching her nose with two fingers, as her other hand fans her face with rapid little beats. “Nathan, you don’t get it. We…Murphy and I…we didn’t—”
Murphy’s hands tap loudly on the window then he whips around and springs over to us. He gives me a you’ve-gone-mental look, which ought to be prohibited for him, given his profession. “Nate, you’re wasting your breath. Nobody plans to disrespect our agreement. If you’ve won the bet, you’ll be promoted. Right, Mother?”
She blinks at him, her mouth a confused frown, then suddenly her face brightens, as if Murphy’s intervention changed something. “Of course.”
“So, does that mean I am becoming CEO?” I feel like an animal kept in captivity for too long. My cage looks like it’s open, but I still don’t dare to take a step forward.
“Not just yet.” Mother shakes her head. “We’ve only checked one condition so far. The second one is still open.” She levels my gaze, her green eyes boring a hole into mine. “So let’s proceed, shall we? Did you or didn’t you fall in love with Eva?”
My heart drops and my stomach shrinks to the size of a peanut. “I-I-I…already told Murphy. Ask him.”
“I’m asking you, my son. Please answer me.”
Come on, Nathan. Reply. This is the moment I’ve been preparing for in my head. I’ve played and replayed how I would need to state my lie to make it believable. I mustn’t break eye-contact, and it’s best is if I keep my arms in a lazy posture. If I fiddle with my cuffs or make any other unconscious movements, Murphy might notice the incongruence between my non-verbal clues and my confident words.
But if I’m so well-prepared then why do I suddenly feel at a loss, with a giant lump in my throat that makes it impossible to utter even a sound, much less a full-blown fib?
Mother grabs Murphy’s hand as if she is experiencing great tension. My brother pats her, while his foxy eyes remain on my face. “Nathan, the question should be simple for you to answer.”
I’d have thought so, too. Except it isn’t. I was certain I’d be capable of lying about Eva to ensure I get both her and my promotion. And I did manage to hide my
