Hot & Spicy: De La Cruz Saga

by Macias, P. T.

  “No. I pray that nothing has happen to Chris. I know that he went to see his novia this morning and has not return,” said his mama Maria, looking over to her esposo. “It’s still early, and maybe he is still with his novia.”

  “That can be it, Mama. He just lost track of time,” said Alex, I don’t believe this for a minute. Mi hermano, being a Navy SEAL, is aware of the time and everything that is going on around him, thought Alex.

  “Okay, mi hijo, Dios los bendiga a los dos,” said his mama María. Las tias Queta y Lupe also gave them their bendicion.

  “Mis niñas, we need your help to clean up,” call out las tias.

  Las primas, las bebes, y Paty stand up to go assist in cleaning up.

  “I’ll help clean up the tables,” said Bella to las primas. She looks at Jessy y Jacki who also stand to assist in the cleaning up of the tables.

  Bella takes some plates over to the sink and returns to get some more. Jessy and Jacki are also picking up the plates on the other tables.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  RICKY TAKES THIS OPPORTUNITY TO tell Jose Enrique y Bella all about Chris y Monique.

  Ricky sits closer to his primo Jose Enrique. He looks at both his primos. “Jose Enrique, Bella, I have to tell you something real quick before the others hear me,” said Ricky, looking around to make sure nobody else is around.

  This really caught Jose Enrique’s interest. He waits to hear what Ricky has to say.

  Bella sits down next to them to listen to Ricky who is speaking real low.

  “Chris called me earlier this evening,” he said, looking at his primos. He then continued, observing their reaction, “Chris is in this moment in Vegas getting married to Monique. I don’t know if he wants me to tell everybody or not. I believe it’s best to stay quiet, and to allow him to take care of this,” he said, looking at his primos.

  They look stunned and are speechless. I can relate to that, thought Ricky grinning with glee.

  “He asked me to tell you Jose Enrique y Bella that Monique will start to work on Tuesday. He doesn’t want Monique to start working, being tired,” said Ricky nodding in agreement with a grin.

  Yeah, I know what he means. I didn’t want mi reina to start working the next day either.

  Jose Enrique scrutinizes Ricky. “You’re serious?” he asks, not believing what he just heard.

  One more primo taking off and eloping, he thought. Si, this is awesome. Now I definitely will not be the only one changing diapers, he thought wickedly grinning. I know mi primo. He had to have taken her innocence to want to rush to get married. The wild primo will not marry just anyone. It sounds like he’s all into this chica.

  Bella cannot believe that her hermano has eloped. Monique, the cute young girl, managed to catch the hot y wild De La Cruz. He is worse than Ricky, thought Bella grinning. Si!

  “That is okay with me,” said Bella. “He’s part of la familia company y now so is Monique.”

  “That’s right. I’m sure that Monique will be a hard worker, and that she has the skills and education that is required for the position. Jessy has nothing but good things to say about her designs,” said Jose Enrique smiling. “I know that Chris is doing the right thing. He would only be marrying Monique if he has strong feelings for her.”

  “Si, mi hermano is all into her. He saw her on Friday early in the evening for mocha and all day on Saturday. He went out early this morning to see her,” said Bella, smiling, recalling how feliz Chris was this morning before leaving to visit Monique.

  “Si, primos, Chris sounded real excited when he called me to get the information to the hotel that I used for mi boda. He wanted to make sure you two understand about Monique,” said Ricky amused. “Shit will hit the fan mañana when everybody hears about this. I don’t think that the news media will notice because they really didn’t know about Chris.”

  “We need to be supportive with Monique. Remember that Chris will be returning to his base for training mañana. Monique will be on her own the entire week,” said Bella, thinking of Monique’s position. I know that I would be sad to have mi esposo leave me so soon and especially being a SEAL.

  “Remember, it’s even worse that he’s a SEAL. She’s not used to that and will be very afraid for Chris,” she said, knowing that she would be feeling like that herself if it was her.

  “Si, we do need to make sure that she feels welcomed into la familia and especially at work. She is one of us now,” said Jose Enrique smiling, looking at his bella novia. “I know that Jessy will be okay with her starting on Tuesday.”

  “Okay, we need to keep this to ourselves, for today anyway, until he tells los tios,” said Ricky, looking around.

  “That sounds great,” said Bella, smiling at her primos, thinking how lucky they are, having such a great familia. “Now I will have another hermana.”

  Vero finished helping out in the clean up after dinner. She approaches los primos to ask them a question.

  “Jose Enrique, Bella, I want to ask about the positions that are available in the interior design department. I’m interested in working at la familia’s company,” she said, looking at her primos with a smile.

  “Prima, that sounds great. It’s always fantastic when our familia decides to work in la familia’s company. We do have several positions available. Bella y Jessy can assist you in selecting a position you will like to work in,” said Jose Enrique, smiling at his prima Vero.

  “Si, Vero, there are several positions available. You should stop by and see which one is the one for you. I know that Jessy y Monique will be able to assist in any training that you might need,” said Bella, smiling at la bebe.

  “Gracias, primos, I’m really feliz that I can work in the interior design department. It will be a challenge y pleasure to work in such a creative department. Thanks for allowing me to fill one of the positions,” she said muy feliz that her primos welcomed her with open brazos.

  “Prima, so you decided to stop modeling? Maybe you can do some of our commercials or ads for us when we need them. You can represent la familia’s company in the news releases and everything to do with the media since you’re qualified y experienced in public speaking,” said Jose Enrique, thinking of all of the areas that Vero can assist in la familia’s company. “You will be a great asset to la familia’s company.”

  “Gracias, primos, you really have made me feel that I have skills, experience, y qualifications that will be an asset,” said Vero, smiling with pleasure. Wow this is awesome and now I will have a new job.

  Jose Enrique takes Jessy home after helping out with cleaning up. On the way, he advises her about Chris.

  “Mi amor, I have news. Ricky told me that Monique will not be showing up to work mañana, not until Tuesday. Chris y Monique eloped tonight,” he said grinning with felicidad, looking at his novia. “I sometimes feel that we should have eloped. It seems to be the thing to do.” He pulls into the driveway. He turns taking Jessy onto his lap, kissing her passionately, and wishing that they were married.

  “Really that’s unreal. First, it was Jacki y Ricky. Now it’s Chris y Monique. I wonder who will be next,” she said, wrapping her brazos around his neck pulling him closer for un beso. “I wish that we were already married.”

  “Mi amor, I really wished that we were married. I wish that we were going to our casa, to our own cama, where I can hold you, love you all night,” he said, hugging her closer to him.

  “I know mi vida. We will be married soon. Tus primos are just cheating,” she said grinning, shaking her cabeza.

  “I know, and I wish we did too, but I was trying to set a good example. Look at what they’re doing,” he said, shaking his cabeza. “Now they are the first to marry.”

  He walks her to la casa, hugging her close. “I love you, mi amor,” he said, giving her his last beso for the night.

  “Si, mi vida, I love you,” said Jacki, nibbling on his lower lip. “I will see you mañana,” she said, walking into her casa.

  CHAPT
ER THIRTY-FOUR

  JOSE ENRIQUE Y JESSY ARRIVE at work at the same time. They walked together in the parking lot. “Buenos dias, mi amor,” he said, pulling her into his side.

  “Buenos dias, mi vida,” she said, giving him a quick beso as they walk into the elevators.

  “Today I need to get you started on redoing that office next to mine. Remember that we need that room,” he said grinning. “We still have a while for our wedding.”

  “Si, mi vida, I have ordered the furniture and the carpet. It should be ready by the end of week,” she said, smiling at him.

  “Will we be having lunch today?” she asks, thinking of loving him some. “I didn’t get to love you this weekend,” she whispers in his ear, pulling back to look into his hermosos green ojos that sparkled with wicked thoughts.

  “Si, mi amor, I will order some sandwiches, okay?” he said, giving her a passionate beso before the elevator opened.

  “Okay, see ya later,” said Jessy, going down the opposite hall to her office.

  She looks at her new secretary Sally Dias smiling. “Good morning, Sally,” said Jessy smiling.

  “Good morning, Ms. Cortez,” said Sally nodding.

  Jessy went into her office and starts to work. I want to organize everything so that it will be easy for Monique and me to pick up after one another without any problemas.

  It’s nice to know that Monique is now part of la familia. Now for sure she will do even a better job since she will be part of the la familia company.

  Hmm, I wonder if Chris decided to take the job that Jose Enrique offered him. Maybe he did, she thought with gusto.

  Jose Enrique enters his office y immediately has a phone call. The new client is verifying that he has the e-mail with his specifications on the building. He reviews that building request with the new client.

  “Okay, Senor Alvarez we will meet on Friday at one. If you have any further questions or requests, please call or e-mail me,” said Jose Enrique with a smile. Jose Enrique is looking at his agenda for the day when his personal cell rang. He answers.

  “Hola?” he said, thinking that he did not recognize the number and did not like it at all. The call is reminding him of the crazy phone call on Friday afternoon.

  “Hola, Jose Enrique?” said the caller. “It’s me, Carlos Corona. Don’t tell me that you forgot me?” he asks, wondering if he did or if his amigo has changed from when he last saw him in college. I will not believe that, thought Carlos. I know that Jose Enrique is honest, hardworking, and reliable.

  “Hola, Carlos!” said Jose Enrique. He is leaning back in his chair with a huge feliz smile. Mi great amigo is calling me.

  “Hola amigo, what’s up? Where have you been hiding? I haven’t heard from you in a long time,” said Jose Enrique beaming.

  “Yeah, Jose Enrique, how are you doing?” asks Carlos looking over at his CIA partner.

  “Carlos, I’m doing great. You know I am getting married in July,” said Jose Enrique, smiling thinking about his amor, so ecstatic that it transmitted through the line to his amigo.

  “Wow! That is great news. Congratulations! It sounds like you’re doing great. You sound muy feliz amigo,” said Carlos. “When’s the wedding?” he asks, genuinely curious that his amigo is getting married and sounds muy feliz.

  “I’m extremely fortunate. I cannot wait for mi boda. I really love her like I never dreamed I could love una mujer. She’s extraordinary,” he said with enthusiasm.

  Geez, his novia must be real special, he thought. “It sure sounds like you are in love. I am truly feliz for you,” said Carlos, looking at his CIA partner.

  “Thanks, the boda is on the thirtieth of July, I want you to attend mi boda,” said Jose Enrique, sincerely feliz remembering the great times that he spent with his amigo in college.

  “I will amigo. I was calling you to ask a favor from you. I need help, and I remember that you can possibly have one of your attorneys assist me. I know that tu hermana is an attorney in business law. Do you think that she can work with me on a project to give me some advice? I really don’t know any attorneys that I can trust. This is exceedingly important to me,” asks Carlos.

  “What’s wrong Carlos? Are you in trouble?” he asks, worried for his amigo.

  “I have these business contracts, I need to authenticate that they are legitimate, and that they are beneficial for me. I don’t know any attorneys that I will feel confident with. Can you help me?” asks Carlos, looking at his operations officer Jackson and partner CIA special agent Gregory Preston McKenzie.

  “I can ask her to call you and set an appointment with you. I’m sure she will assist you if I ask her, amigo. I will ask her as soon as we finish talking. You want her to contact you on your cell, right?” asks Jose Enrique, making a note to tell Paty.

  “Si that will be great, I will be waiting for her call. Like I told you, this is urgent and important to me. I will owe you big time, amigo,” said Carlos, looking at his partner and officer.

  “Si, I will have her call you within the next hour. I know that she will not have any problema at all to assist mi amigo,” said Jose Enrique with a feliz grin.

  “Okay, amigo. I will wait for her call. I’m glad that I will be able to see you soon,” said Carlos. “Adios.”

  “See ya later, amigo,” said Jose Enrique. “Adios.”

  I have to call Paty and ask her to assist Carlos in his legal matters. I know that mi hermana will not have any problema in helping mi amigo. She is great. Jose Enrique calls Paty.

  “Hermana, I need you to do me a favor. Mi amigo Carlos just called asking me to assist him in a legal matter. He said it is a very important and delicate business matter. He doesn’t know any attorney that he can trust. Can you please help him, hermana?” asks Jose Enrique confident that Paty will not refuse.

  “Hermano, si, I will help tu amigo. I have no problema in helping out,” said Paty. “Do you have his number so I can contact him to set an appointment?”

  “Si, I will e-mail you his number y information that I have, okay?” said Jose Enrique entering the information in the e-mail, immediately sending it to her.

  “I got it. I will call him now. Adios, hermano,” said Paty. She looks at the cell number and dials. The phone rang.

  Jose Enrique went back to work monitoring the job sites.

  Damn it all to hell. This is unbelievable! Jose Enrique jumps up making a call to one of the site managers.

  “What in the hell happened Jefferson? Why didn’t you call me immediately? This is costing us hundreds of thousands of dollars,” said Jose Enrique, trying to control his anger and not yell at the employee.

  “Mr. De La Cruz, we just found out this morning, and I have been running around trying to get the concrete ordered from our other suppliers. They all want us to pay extra for the emergency. What do you want us to do? It’s late in the day to start this big job. The job is late now. There is no way that we can finish pouring that amount of concrete today even if we do get it ordered,” said Jefferson, sweating and praying that he has not lost his job.

  “What has happen Jefferson? Why did we not get our order of concrete in the morning as we always do?” he said with frustration, trying to get to the bottom of this disaster.

  Who did this? Why did they do this? Jose Enrique wonders, trying to think of a solution to the disaster.

  “Jefferson, you know that we run on a tight schedule. We have all the materials ordered in advance, so we do not have any, not one single delay in the process of construction,” he said, clinching his teeth, trying not to yell at him.

  “I know, Mr. De La Cruz. I’m looking into where our order is. The concrete company states that they never received our order,” said Jefferson, looking at the job site and all of the workers waiting around.

  “Mr. De La Cruz, I think it will be a good idea to get the workers to go home for the day. It is costing money having them stand around,” said Jefferson, looking to the sky. There goes my bonus for keeping on schedule, h
e thought.

  Who did this? Jefferson wondered, looking at all the workers. I always place the concrete orders for the job sites.

  Lately, a lot of weird things have been happening, he thought, looking around for anything suspicious.

  “Yes, Jefferson, the men can go home. I want you to find out what happened to our order. This also means that we have to reschedule the delivery of the other materials that are due to arrive on schedule. I want you to find out what has happened with the concrete order. I want you to verify our other materials have been ordered, the order quantity, cost, quality, and delivery date. I want you to report all your findings today in my office, no later than three. Do you understand?” asks Jose Enrique with frustration, looking out of his window thinking.

  “Yes, sir I do understand. I will be at the office at three. I will have the report ready,” said Jefferson, sweating up a storm, looking around the job site.

  “Okay, I will be waiting,” said Jose Enrique, pacing back and forth in his office, thinking of what was occurring.

  It appears like somebody is sabotaging our work. I need to know who. This is costing us hundreds of thousands of dollars. I’m not willing to let this go without locating the one responsible, he thought.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  JOSE ENRIQUE WALKS DOWN THE hall to go and greet his amigo. Ms. Jones advised him that he was here for the meeting with Paty.

  He knocks on the door and opens the door going in. “Carlos, its great seeing you,” he said, going to his great amigo to give him a handshake and hug, smiling at him.

  Carlos looks up when he hears the knock, the door opens, and smiles when he sees Jose Enrique.

  Carlos stands up to greet his great amigo, smiling. “Yeah, it’s great seeing you. If I don’t come to you, I will never see you,” he said with a grin, turning to look at Paty, seeing her smile at them.

  “You know how busy I have been working in the familia company the last few years. Now I have mi amor to keep me entertained when I’m not at work,” he said grinning. “I want you to meet mi novia. She is a dream,” he said, turning to Paty.