Chapter 3 Valencia Eats Good Girls

There are voices coming from my mom's room as I approach. I pause by the door. Amused chattering. Three people, two of whom I recognise. My mom, my half-sister Beatriz, and the third voice sounds like a young girl. I lean in, my ear against the door. "Bold of her to think she can come from God knows where and you will start following her across Valencia like some tour guide," the girl says. "You should have seen how she was listing places we should visit. She even did research. An entitled piece of shit like her father. If I didn't have a plan in motion, I would have slapped her," Beatriz says. They are probably talking about one of their friends. "Oh, Beatriz, we will finally get our revenge for what was taken from us," the girl says gleefully. "You need to get her to go there. I have made a copy of the contract, but she still has the original," I hear my mom say. "That's the only loose end left." What are they talking about? Besides, what am I doing, eavesdropping? "Señora, don't worry. Trust Beatriz to convince her. Everything is ready. It'll be handled as planned." I'm getting uncomfortable. I'll just go in and talk about the garden that brought me here. I knock. "Who is there?" "It's me, Elena." I could have sworn I heard something shuffling, as if they are arranging things. I decide it's probably nothing. "Come in," my mother finally says. I step in and immediately put a face to the voice. The girl is blonde, in her late twenties. "Are you here for something, or did you come to stare at your sister's cousin?" Mom asks angrily. "Cousin? How?" "She is from my dad's side," Beatriz explains. I didn't know Beatriz had contact with her father's side. I didn't even know she wasn't my father's child until she told me when we were teenagers. "Nice to meet you. I'm Ines." "Nice to meet you, Ines." "I will take my leave," she says, standing. "I hope you are not leaving because of me." "No. Besides, I'm here until we leave for Marbella." "We?" "You and I." She is obviously joking. Why would I go to Marbella? I wait until she leaves, then turn to Mom. She looks at me as if I'm standing before her dipped in poop. "Good morning, Mom. I... I saw the garden. It's in a terrible state." I since learn that it's always better to get straight to the point, when I'm talking to my mom. She arches a brow. "It's been abandoned. The staff said it was on your orders." "Yes. I gave the order." "Really... What about the gardener?" "I let him go." "Why?" "We needed other workers. I made the necessary changes." I take a breath. "Mom, we increased our workers. I corresponded with the accountants. I approved it. Somewhere in that expansion, you had to let my gardener go?" She laughs, her gaze travelling over me. "Look at you. Claiming authority over staff because your dad placed you in charge." A lump forms in my throat. "You haven't earned the right to boss me around. You haven't worked a day in your life except tending to your plants. Your aunt is trying to hold together everything your father built. And I won't even take orders from her about managing this estate." Oh no, I have made her angry. "Mom, please..." "I don't have time for this, Elena. I have a trip to make." She walks out. I turn to Beatriz, who is smiling. "What do I do?" "What?" "To make her like me." Her expression shifts. "Can you hear yourself?" She taps the bed. "Come, sit. Mom is just worked up from preparing for her trip." "Where is she going?" "I don't know. But I'm leaving for Italy in three days, so I've planned for you to go on vacation in Marbella." I didn't hear that right. Beatriz knows why I came. We talked on the phone, planning places we would visit together. "Let me know the guard you'll be taking so I can correspond with Ines." "I no longer use guards," I cut in. After Dad passed, I convinced Aunt Lucinda to let me live like a normal human being. Beatriz's eyes widen. A small smile curves on her lips. "You're joking, right?" "No. Aunt Lucinda let me. But you're joking, right?" "About what?" "Travelling in three days." "No, I'm travelling." I grab her shoulder. Her smile widens. "Beatriz, we have plans!" I shriek. "I know. I'm sorry. I have to make this trip. Trust me, I've made plans for you. Ines will..." "I don't want Ines," I snap. "Calm down, Elena." I wipe my eyes. I hadn't realised I was crying. "Since you and Mom are going, I'll just go back." "What?" "I don't want to go to Marbella with Ines. I'll return to Pinecrest." "I will strangle you myself, Elena," Mom mutters behind me. I turn. Her eyes blaze as she heads to her closet. I see the suitcases. They are all leaving right after I came. "Mom, where are you going? When I called to tell you I was coming, nobody mentioned anything. Now you're both travelling, and I'm expected to go to Marbella with someone I don't even..." "We do not all have the luxury of controlling your father's money. Some of us receive impromptu invitations, and we go." She steps closer. "And I don't know where you got the idea that I answer to you." "Mom, I never said..." "Then why are you questioning everything I do? Your father is not here anymore. So it's your turn to question me?" "I came to celebrate my birthday with you," I say, choking. "There is nothing important about your birthday that we all have to put our lives on hold for." The words land like a slap. "Do you have any idea what it took your sister to arrange this trip? Last minute? She made sure Ines came so you wouldn't be alone. You are just an ungrateful girl." I lower my eyes. I had told them before coming. We had talked about it, and no one had said anything about leaving. Now there are already suitcases in her closet, and I'm supposed to start packing mine. I don't even understand why Beatriz made all those plans with me if she knew she wouldn't be here. "You will go to your room and start packing. When Ines is set to leave, you will go with her to Marbella. It's not like you have anything to do in the US. You will leave just as your sister planned. Do I make myself clear?" Silence. "Do I make myself clear?" she repeats. "Yes, Mom," I reply with a sob.