Page 21

"Claudia." Her aunt's sharp voice makes her turn her head slowly, but her eyes don't quite follow—as if her body and her ability to focus aren't in sync. "Am I boring you?"

Her niece manages to look at her, but the information registers too late, and Laia feels the urge to help her.

"I think she's sorry."

Elvira spins toward her so fast Laia feels a twinge in her own neck.

"I didn't ask you. Or did she convince you to take her side?"

"Leave her alone," Claudia says suddenly, and Laia knows she shouldn't feel this sudden wave of warmth washing through her body just because the woman who is driving her crazy has come to her defense. "I heard you. You're right. I've disrespected everyone here, and I've disrespected you, and I'm sorry."

"Sorry doesn't do me any good."

"I don't know what else I can do."

"Behave yourself. It's not that hard." Her aunt's tone loses some of its edge, and Laia just wants to whimper and beg not to be made to witness this—because for some reason, she can't stand seeing Claudia like this. Every time she sits in that chair she seems too vulnerable. Her gaze changes. Even her posture changes. As if being in front of her aunt is the only thing that makes her show that other side of herself—the one she seems to hide from everyone else.

"That's what my mom says, and look where I am. Can I go now?"

The comment seems to knock Elvira off balance, because she nods without saying anything and watches her until she walks out the door.

"Can I speak?" Laia asks, straightening up in her chair.

"What?"

"I don't know what I'm doing following her around. I think it's pointless—a waste of time, because there's nothing I can do to make her change her mind and—"

"You think this was my idea?" Elvira snaps. "This whole mess seems ridiculous to me. Claudia is a grown woman and yet she looks like a scared little girl every time she sits in that damn chair. Clearly there's something wrong in that family, but Claudia agreed to this awful arrangement that, in my opinion, does nothing but humiliate her." Laia doesn't even blink as she listens, because she can't remember a single time her boss has spoken with this kind of raw hurt in her voice. "You can cancel the contract if you want. But my sister will ask me to assign someone else, so if that's what you're going to do, tell me now so I can find someone as soon as possible."

Elvira holds her gaze, and Laia feels so unsettled by the depth of those amber eyes that she doesn't have much time to think—but she doesn't need it, because if this is going to continue, she needs the money.

"I'll stay. It's just—" She turns toward the door and falls silent, not quite sure what she was about to say.

Does she feel sorry for Claudia? Honestly, yes. Because the more she gets to know her, the more she senses there's something weighing her down—and that's the real reason behind her behavior, not the idea that she's actually this irresponsible.

"What?" Elvira says.

"Nothing. It's just—I don't think your sister's plan is going to work," she ventures, and Elvira raises her eyebrows, surprised, but quickly softens her expression.

"Neither do I. But follow her anyway, and at least try to make sure she's okay."

"So we just let her get cut out of the will without doing anything? We don't help her?"

"You can't help someone who doesn't want to be helped, Laia. Just try to make sure she's all right—that she's not doing drugs or anything like that."

"What? Claudia's not doing drugs," she exclaims, startled.

"Sure, and you'd know that after spending two hours with her at some club."

Laia's face must be pure shock, because Elvira waves a hand as if she regrets the sarcastic remark—but part of Laia's mind reads something between the lines. Her boss never talks this much. And Laia gets the feeling she's asking for help. That in some way, she's asking her not to leave Claudia alone—as if she's holding onto the hope that Claudia will see the light someday, and that there'll be someone by her side when she finally opens her eyes and realizes she's been wasting her life.

Laia shakes her head and scratches the back of her neck. Is that what she imagines her boss wants—or is it what she herself wants? She realizes it's the second one. That she's the one who desperately wants Claudia to wake up to her own reality, so the sadness disappears—the sadness she's certain is part of what causes those moments of absence she's already witnessed twice. Maybe she could change her approach. Stop being just someone who follows her around and becomes her shadow when she goes out because she's getting paid for it, and start being someone who does all that and tries to be her friend. Maybe that way, Claudia will open up and tell her why the hell she behaves the way she does.

"You're right, it was a stupid comment. Anyway—I'm in a mood and I feel like firing someone, so get out of here," Elvira snaps, pulling Laia out of her thoughts.

The assistant jumps to her feet and is out of the office in three seconds. She steps into the hallway and heads to the far end, where Claudia is waiting with her shoulder against the glass wall, eyes fixed on the factory floor.

"Today you'll start in pattern-making. You'll be there for the next two weeks, if that works for you."