Catalina slammed the car door, putting everything she hadn't said into it, then walked toward the mansion without giving Alejandro a single look.
Yes, it was just an arrangement. She had her role to play, her benefits too - but was that reason enough for the Montoyas to treat her like nothing?
So what if she wasn't one of them.
And Javier. Did he really have to be there.
All she wanted right now was to sink into a bubble bath for hours, calm her nerves, lie down - and maybe wait for Alejandro to bring up how the night had gone.
"Are you okay?" His cold voice came from behind her, sending a chill down her back.
"I'm fine," she murmured, not stopping, not looking at him, trying to convince herself it was true.
"Get some rest then," he said as she walked inside, him just behind her. "Sweet dreams."
"Of course," she murmured, wondering what was going through his head. Part of her wanted him to comfort her - to hold her, to tell her his family wouldn't bother her again, that Doña Carmen had only been testing her.
But that was just an illusion. She was his employee. Hired for a purpose. In two months she'd go back to her life. What would his attention mean then.
Why hadn't he asked how she knew Javier. Had he already figured it out on his own.
With all of it spinning in her head Catalina made it to her room and dropped onto the bed. Too tired and drained to undress or shower. She was asleep almost immediately - not knowing what was waiting outside her door when morning came.
---
A soft knock pulled Catalina out of sleep.
"Come in," she yawned, stretching as she sat up, confused about how she'd managed to fall asleep still in her dinner clothes.
"Good morning, miss. Jandro wants you to have breakfast with him," Nina said softly. "You should hurry - he's about to leave for work."
Catalina nodded slowly, wondering why he suddenly wanted that. First time since she'd moved in.
Had he finally realized his family had treated her badly the night before?
Did he want to ask how she knew Javier?
Or worse - did he want to tell her who the child at the table was?
"I'm coming," she murmured, changing out of the dinner dress and into a comfortable bunny pajama set. Moved through her morning routine quickly and went downstairs.
Alejandro was already seated, looking like a man who controlled all of Madrid.
"Good morning, Miss Rivas," he said, smiling when she appeared.
Catalina gave him a long suspicious look. What on earth was going on in his head.
"Good morning, sir."
"Sit. Have breakfast with me," he said, eyes following her as she moved.
Very aware of his gaze, she decided on sarcasm - maybe it would make her feel slightly more in control.
"That's why I'm here. In the dining room."
"About last night." He watched her push food around her plate. "I'm sorry about Doña. She's always like that. Very particular about who's in our circle."
"They want you with someone from your world." She shrugged, pretending not to care. "Maybe you should just give them that. I knew something like this would happen. Just didn't know how soon."
An uncomfortable silence settled between them. Just cutlery against plates and the clock on the wall.
"So." He cleared his throat. "After I left you at dinner last night, I spoke with Don. Some things changed."
She raised an eyebrow. "And?"
"He wants to have dinner with us again." He dropped it like that.
Catalina's stomach immediately clenched. Don had been the only kind one at that table but she did not want to walk back into that family again - not after everything, not after all those looks and comments.
She thought about saying no. Then remembered - wasn't that the whole point of her being here.
"Don't overthink it," he said, reading her face. "It'll just be the three of us. My family won't be involved."
She let out a breath she hadn't known she was holding.
"That's... better," she managed, taking a long sip of coffee like it could hide her nerves.
Alejandro breathed in slowly, like he was steadying himself before the next part.
"The dinner is in three months."
"H-how is that possible? Our contract will be over by then." Catalina's eyes went wide and without thinking she looked straight at him - and found the softest eyes she'd ever seen on his face.