LOGINAt 4:20, I'm standing in the material library with Maya when Nina texts to let me know Rafael has arrived.I read the notification while holding two limestone samples that look identical to any normal person but are different enough to cost an architect a good night's sleep."Moretti's here," I say.Maya looks up from the sample board. "Business Moretti or personal Moretti?"I stare at her. "How many are there?""With your life these days? Honestly, I'm losing count."I set both samples down. "He's here for a technical meeting.""Mm-hmm.""Maya.""I didn't say anything.""Your face did."She smiles sweetly. "My face is very expressive.""Sadly." I pick up my tablet, check the meeting agenda one more time, then head toward the conference room.Rafael is scheduled to attend a review of construction sequencing, procurement dependencies, and several technical decisions that still need adjustments following the meeting at Jamesson Holdings.Professionally, his presence makes perfect sense.
I let out a tired sigh. "Sweetheart, I really don't know how to make this any clearer. If you want to know why Rafael's changed, you need to ask Rafael.""I did.""Then what did he say?""He said there are things in his life he needs to handle the right way."I frown because that sounds exactly like something Rafael would say.Very Rafael. Very unhelpful to anyone hoping for a three-paragraph explanation of his feelings.Noelle watches my face. "See?""See what?""You recognize that."I frown. "Noelle.""Do you know what he means?"I let out a humorless laugh. "No. I just know that man can make a simple sentence sound like it came straight out of a board meeting."Noelle doesn't laugh. She looks down again. "I don't want to lose him, Sasha."I shift in my seat, suddenly finding this armchair a little too comfortable for a conversation that's anything but. "Noelle...""I know he said he wants to break up. I heard him." She looks at me again. "But I'm not ready to accept that until he a
"Sasha?" Nina pokes her head in, looking like she's about to tell me something I'd rather not hear."If it's the West Hollywood contractor, tell them I've left the country.""It's not.""The Italian supplier?""No." She sighs. "Ms. Jamesson is at reception."My hands freeze over the keyboard. "Noelle?"Nina nods. "She says she'd like to talk for a few minutes. She doesn't have an appointment.""Is she alone?""Yes.""Did she say what it's about?""Personal."I slowly close my laptop. "Okay. Send her in."Nina nods and turns to leave."Oh, Nina?"She looks back."If Athena asks for me, tell her I'm in a meeting.""With Ms. Jamesson?""Yes.""Should I put it on your calendar?"I consider that for a moment. "No. I don't want digital evidence that I'm doing this voluntarily."Nina gives me a small smile before leaving.I lean back in my chair and stare at the glass door.Dios mío. I really hope Noelle is here to request a change in the limestone color.Seriously. I'm even willing to sit t
By 8:12, I'm already at Aster House with my second coffee in hand, sunglasses perched on my head, and a text from Gabriella informing me that Max has just tried to stuff twelve plastic dinosaurs into his school backpack.For the museum.The museum we haven't even bought tickets for yet.I look at the photo she sent as I walk through the lobby. My son is standing in front of the living room couch, wearing a T-Rex T-shirt and blue shorts, with a backpack that's almost as big as his chubby little body. His black bangs fall over part of his forehead, and he's holding Kevin in one hand and a brachiosaurus in the other, the latter being an absolutely ridiculous size to take anywhere.Gabriella: [He says they're his research team.]Me: [Please tell his research team that this trip is still pending confirmation.]Gabriella: [I did.]Me: [And?]Gabriella: [He asked if Om Rafe could approve it instead.]I stop in front of the elevator.That boy has definitely inherited his father's ability to f
I turn my stool slightly to face him and pick up the last strawberry. “Rafael, Rowan is my neighbor.”“I'm aware.”“Good. Because I was starting to worry you didn't understand the concept of a neighborhood.”He doesn't laugh.I pop the strawberry into my mouth and chew. “And he's not one of your employees who has to submit a report every time he visits.”Rafael rests his palm on the counter. “I asked if he has dinner here often.”“And I heard you.”“That's a very long answer to a simple question.”I shrug. “He comes over sometimes. Sometimes we have dinner together. One time, Mama made him eat so much arroz con pollo he could barely stand afterward. Normal neighbor things.”Rafael says nothing.My smile widens. “What?”“Nothing.”“Really?”“Really.”I nod slowly. “Interesting. Because your face doesn't look like nothing.”His gaze drops to my lips for a moment before returning to my eyes. “Since when do you pay so much attention to my face?”I laugh. “Please. Your face takes up most o
Rafael takes off his bomber jacket and drapes it over the back of a chair. Now he's sitting on the rug with one knee bent, his black T-shirt pulling slightly across his shoulders as he helps Max attach pieces of cardboard to make a parking area.I'm standing in the kitchen, slicing strawberries into a small bowl, and from where I am, I can see most of the living room.“The truck needs to come out this way,” Max says.Rafael shifts one of the boxes. “Then the door needs to be wider.”“But Kevin needs parking, too.”“Kevin doesn't drive.”Max looks offended. “He can.”“Really?”“Yeah. I taught him.”I laugh to myself in the kitchen.Rafael turns his head slightly.I immediately go back to cutting strawberries, as if I have some professional reason to be watching two guys design a dinosaur garage.A few minutes later, Max manages to get his little truck into the new parking area.He cheers.Rafael holds up his hand, and Max immediately gives him a high five loud enough for me to hear fro
We went downstairs together. The house was still full of clean morning light, the large glass windows in the living room catching the color of the ocean in the distance. In the kitchen, Max’s breakfast was almost gone: small pieces of pancake, strawberries, scrambled eggs he had eaten while complain
Today, Maxime Rivera decided that uniform shorts were a form of oppression.I knew this before he said it, because he was already lying flat on his back on the bedroom rug with one leg in the air, his black hair sticking out in every direction, his bangs covering almost half his forehead, and his wh
Max pressed his lips together, then slowly pulled out the chair. He tried to climb up by himself, his chubby knee pushing into the seat cushion, one hand gripping the edge of the table. His face was so serious, as if he were scaling the Pottery Barn version of Everest. Once he managed to sit, he im
My house sat inside a gated community far too expensive for people who still had real-life problems, but Los Angeles had always possessed a slightly cruel sense of humor.At the front gate, the security guard gave a small nod when he saw my car. I lowered the window and offered the minimum required







