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“But if you have time to straighten the room, that would be lovely.”
She smiles as though she won a prize and turns to go into the bedroom.
“Paula, is there a flashlight on your cell phone?”
She nods.
“May I borrow it?” I can barely keep the excitement from my voice. “I dropped an earring near the bed, and I can’t find it. It might have rolled into a dark corner under the frame.”
“I don’t have it with me. We’re not permitted to have our cell phones while we’re on the property. Security holds them. But I’ll look for the earring while I’m straightening your room. If I don’t find it, I’ll bring up a flashlight later.”
We’re not permitted to have our cell phones while we’re on the property.The words are crushing, but I manage to keep it together.
“Thank you. How long have you worked here?”
“In the house?” she asks.
I nod.
“Two weeks.”
“Do you know if there are cameras in this suite?”
Her eyes dart around the room, and she takes two steps back away from me.
She’s paler than the cream wainscoting, and her eyes are wide, darting around the room like a scared rabbit. I suppose that’s my answer.
“I worked in the caves, putting labels on Port bottles,” she says, a bit out of breath. “And I helped clean up after meals during harvest, and washed glasses in the tasting room. Then Jacinto picked me to work in the house. I-I don’t know about cameras.”
“That’s okay, Paula,” I say, as gently as possible. “Please don’t worry. I was just curious.” I smile at her. “I’m happy you’re here to help me.”
She nods and gives me a small smile, but she’s still a bit gray. I’m sure she’s worried about being caught talking about surveillance. That’s the kind of thing that can get someone fired, or worse.
“Oh,” she says. “I almost forgot to tell you.SenhorHuntsman will be joining you for dinner this evening.”
My heart pumps harder, but a sense of relief settles over me. It’s as if my body is engaged in a tug-of-war with itself, a push and pull, like all things with Antonio.
But there’s no doubt—the news lifts my spirits. Not because I’m dying to see him, but because right now my fate rests in his hands.
I look down at my dingy, wrinkled shirt and my faded pants that could use a good scrub. I’ve been wearing these clothes since I left for the airport two days ago. I slept in them on the plane, and then again last night. I’ve washed my face and brushed my teeth, and although my hair is combed, it’s greasy. Oh, and I stink.
I need to figure out a way to ensure some privacy so I can shower. I can’t go to dinner like this.
15
Daniela
Idon’t know where dinner is being served, so I follow the voices to the kitchen, where someone can point me in the right direction.
The moment I set foot in the room, the conversation stops.
Victor goes back to the pot on the stove, while Antonio glares at me.
“Hello,” I say casually. “It’s nice to see you.”
He doesn’t reply, but there’s a flicker of annoyance in his eyes. He stalks toward me, and when he stops a foot away, he wrinkles his nose.
I stink. I’m well aware of it. And now he is too.It’s humiliating.
