House Of Secrets

Her breath caught, and her body froze from effect of having him that close 

His eyes searched hers. Looking for something. A crack in her armor.

She couldn't move. Couldn't breathe. Couldn't think.

Then he stepped back and laughed. That same mocking laugh from breakfast.

"That's what I thought." He walked back to his desk like nothing happened. "You don't know anything."

Inés's legs felt weak. Her face was burning.

What just happened?

Miguel sat back down and opened his laptop.

 "The real reason I called you here is simple. My father wants me to take you to the company tomorrow. Show you around. Introduce you to the staff."

Wait. What?

"Why?" she managed to ask.

"Because he wants you to feel like part of the family." Miguel's voice was flat. Bored. "He thinks it will help you... adjust. So tomorrow morning, 9 AM. Wear something appropriate. Not those ugly hoodies you always hide in."

"I have plans tomorrow..."

"Cancel them." He didn't look up. "This isn't optional."

Inés wanted to scream and cry.

"Fine," she said.

She turned and walked to the door. Her hand was on the handle when Miguel spoke again.

"Inés."

She stopped but didn't turn around.

"Be careful with boys," he said softly. "Some of them aren't who they pretend to be."

Her blood went cold.

She looked back at him over her shoulder.

Miguel was staring at his laptop screen, his face unreadable.

"Have fun studying tonight," he added. "At Jessica's."

The way he said it made her stomach drop.

He doesn't believe her.

She left quickly and closed the door behind her. She's almost to her bedroom when she hears Miguel's voice coming from his office from behind the door.

Inés stops walking. She knows she shouldn't listen. Should just go to her room and pretend she heard nothing. But something in Miguel's tone makes her freeze.

He sounds different and serious. Almost... secretive.

She takes a few quiet steps back toward his office. The door is open with just a crack. She positions herself against the wall where she can hear but can't be seen.

Miguel is on the phone.

"I need you to dig deeper," he's saying. His voice is low. Careful. Like he doesn't want anyone to hear. "I don't care what it costs."

Inés holds her breath.

"Yes, I'm sure," Miguel continues. There's a pause as he listens to whoever is on the other end. "I need everything you can find. Names. Locations. Patterns. I want proof."

Proof of what? She wondered.

"Someone is lying to me," Miguel says, and Inés can hear the anger underneath his controlled tone. "And I'm going to find out the truth."

Another pause.

"No, don't tell my father. This stays between us. He's too sick to handle this right now."

Inés's heart is pounding. What is Miguel investigating? Is it her? Her mother? Something else entirely?

"Saturday," Miguel says firmly. "Meet me at my office downtown. Three PM. Bring everything you have by then."

He must be talking to a private investigator. But investigating what? Who?

"I don't care if it's difficult," Miguel snaps. "I'm paying you to get results. So get them. Saturday. Don't be late."

The call ends.

Inés hears Miguel let out a long, frustrated breath. Then his footsteps start moving toward the door.

She panics and quickly walks away, trying to make her steps sound casual, like she just happened to be passing by. She doesn't look back. Just keeps walking until she reaches her bedroom and slips inside.

She closes the door and leans against it, her mind racing.

Miguel is investigating something. Something secret. Something he doesn't want Santiago to know about.

But what could it be?