helping you with work, maybe it’s not. But she needs to live her own life, and you know that.”
There’s another minute of silence.
“I’m sorry for yelling,” my father growls.
Elena snorts a laugh. “Te amo, hermano.”
“I love you too.” He sighs. “I’ll speak with her. I will, Elena, don’t give me that look.”
Elena says something, but I can’t quite hear it. I strain my ear as I press it tight to the door, leaning my weight against it. My hand slips, and it all happens quickly. My palm hits the handle-style doorknob, the door swings open, and I go tumbling inside my father’s office with a gasp.
I look up, red-faced and horrified as the two of them look at me in surprise.
“Mi hija?”
“Uh, hi.”
Elena grins widely, shaking her head. She reaches down and helps me up before stepping close to me.
“Tell him what you want,” she whispers in my ear. “Show him you’re the daughter of a king and queen like I know you are.”
She steps back and winks at me. “I’ll give you two a minute.”
My aunt squeezes my arm and steps out of the room, closing the door behind her. I swallow, my face still red as I turn back to my stern-faced father.
“So,” he says with a sigh. He folds his arms across his chest and leans against his desk. “How much did you hear?”
“Oh, not much, I was just walking by, and—”
“Catalina.”
I frown.
“All of it, I think.”
Slowly, my father smiles, shaking his head.
“Look, dad, she’s wrong and also right.”
He frowns. “How so?”
“I don’t hate it here. And I love being able to just spend time with you.”
“But?” he grumbles.
I shrug. “But I don’t know what I’m doing with my life, and I need to figure that out.”
“Catalina, you’ll want for nothing in life. Literally. There’s money for you to live whatever life you want.”
“I know, I know, papa. And I love you for it, but I need to make something of my own. Like you did.”
He nods slowly, his eyes searching mine. “Catalina, I know I said I never wanted you in this business, because you’re too good. But, if you want it, I will teach you. I’ll groom you to take control and run it as your own. You’d be good at it, too.”
I smile and take my dad’s hand.
“Thank you. But,” I shake my head. “I don’t think it’s for me. I don’t think it’s what I want.”
He nods. “Mi hija, I never wanted you to feel like a prisoner here.”
“I don’t.”
He arches a brow, and I smile and look away.
“Okay, sometimes, maybe a little.”
“So, that’s changing,” he growls. “Catalina, I don’t…” he shakes his head. “I just want to keep you safe, and have you want for nothing.”
“Dad, wanting something and having to work for it is a good thing. It’s what you did.”
He smiles wryly. “The apple does not fall far, does it?”
“Apparently not.”
“So, you want to build something, and work for something, but not my business.”
I shake my head.
“That’s probably a good thing.”
I grin. “Wouldn’t want me as a competitor, huh?”
He laughs deeply. “God no, you’d ruin me, my brilliant daughter.”
“So, are these words, or do I actually get to leave here if I want to.”
He frowns. “Mi hija, you’re not a prisoner. And it was never my intention to make you feel that way.”
“Would you be okay with me moving back to the US?”
He scowls. “To New York?”
“Maybe, but, probably not. I don’t love city life. Maybe somewhere in the country.”
“And do what?”
“I’m not sure yet, but maybe if I was there, it would help me get there in my own head.”
He nods slowly. “With your bodyguards, of course.”
“No, papa.”
“Si, Catalina,” he growls. “The reality is, I have many enemies, and there is a target on your back.”
I shiver, and he frowns before he comes over to hug me.
“I want you safe, even if it does mean letting you go figure things out.”
“How about one bodyguard then?”
“Three.”
“One.”
He chuckles. “I say two, you’ll say one again, won’t you.”
I nod, and he grins and hugs me tighter. “You are my daughter, no question there. Fine. This week, we’ll talk about it, and see where you might want to go, and what you might want to do. And I promise, you’ll have my support.”
I hug him fiercely. “Thank you, papa.”
He sighs. “Of course, sweetheart.” He pulls back and smiles at me. “Are you coming tonight?”
I frown. “A fight?”
“Si, a big one, too.”
My frown deepens. “With Hush?”
He nods. “He’s the star, after all.”
“And a prisoner.”
My