“But Ghita does. That’s why I need her,” she smiled, taking her phone out. “Call her while I write down a proposal. I will call Gabri.”
“What’s in your mind, Sofia?” Ilias asked.
“Do you trust me?” her brown eyes studied him.
“Always.”
“Then call Ghita, habibi.”
Ilias smirked, unable to hold back a chuckle. He grabbed his phone, calling Ghita, not sure what Sofia had in mind. But she was the brain of the two, he just had to trust her.
59
SOFIA
Nobody’s Son – Sabrina Carpenter
Her plan was reckless.It most definitely wasn’t going to work, but she needed to try it.
People like Yasmine built their entire lives around their children. Every decision, every sacrifice, was made with them in mind. José and Marina had been like that too, dropping everything to follow Alejandra and Carlos from competition to competition around the world. Sofia could see a trace of Marina in Yasmine, the same fierce devotion, and that was why she needed to speak to her son. But first, she needed to understand him.
Ghita arrived then, hair still wet with salty water, the darker outline of her bikini visible beneath her oversized T-shirt, chest rising and falling as she caught her breath.
“What… is… going… on…” she asked, pausing between each word.
Sofia truly admired her commitment. Ghita was determined to turn Azul into something meaningful, something lasting. Sofia just wanted to make sure that doing so wouldn’t cost Imsouane its soul, wouldn’t replace its charm with another soulless luxury resort like the ones that scarred the southern coast of Spain.
Truthfully, a resort alone wouldn’t destroy Azul. But the plan Thomas and his father’s company were pushing absolutely could. According to Ghita—and the other business owners they’d spoken to—their goal was simple: buy everything. Every shop, every restaurant, every inch of land. Tear it down and rebuild from scratch.
As a marine biologist, Sofia felt her entire body recoil at the thought. The environmental and cultural consequences alone made her stomach twist.
“How well do you know Emir?” Sofia asked in French, keeping her voice low while Yasmine busied herself with customers. Most of them were foreigners, groups of surfers chasing waves and cheap beer. Imsouane had potential, real potential. And the thought that it could lose everything because of her made guilt coil tight around her ribs.
Because yes, she felt responsible. If she hadn’t entered Ilias’ life, none of this would’ve happened. Thomas wouldn’t have noticed Imsouane. Wouldn’t have set his sights on it like a parasite. So she had to fix it.
Ghita shrugged. “Well enough. He surfs too. He looks up to Ilias, even if he’d never admit it with his mother around.”
Bingo.
“Yasmine is thinking of selling the restaurant to Whitmore LLC,” Sofia said quietly. “She believes the money will secure Emir’s education. But if that money isn’t invested properly, it’ll disappear, and she’ll lose her job, too. I see a lot of bad scenarios. Do you think Emir would want her to sell?”
Ghita scowled. “No. He loves it here.”
“Should we call him?” Sofia asked. “Tell him the truth?”
Her gaze flicked to Ilias, who was already frowning.
“Let me guess,” he said. “I’m the one who has to call.”
“Yup,” Sofia said brightly. “If he looks up to you, a heart-to-heart—man to man, stepbrother to stepbrother—could really get through to him. At the very least, it buys us time.”
“I agree,” Ghita said, smiling. “If Emir convinces Yasmine not to sell, she might convince others. He loves Imsouane. He only left because his grandparents live elsewhere, and because the schools are better.”
“What am I supposed to say?” Ilias protested. “We’ve never even talked.”
“I’m sure you’ll convince him.” Sofia smirked, squeezing his hand. “You’re famous for your persuasion skills.”
If it weren’t for his steady, unyielding presence, she might never have realized how good he was for her. Ilias Ríos El Idrissi could charm Medusa herself if he put his mind to it.
