Hot & Spicy: De La Cruz Saga

by Macias, P. T.

  “I will monitor the inside employees closer and the orders if you want me to make calls,” said Bella, starting to pace with los primos, thinking.

  “Why don’t we have employees that we can trust? I mean a security department to monitor the job sites in the day, and maybe it will be a good idea to have patrols at night to make sure nobody is messing with the sites,” said Jessy with a smile, hoping it is a good idea.

  Jose Enrique looks at his amor with felicidad. Si, she’s also smart. I love her idea. “That is a great idea,” he said, looking at his primos to get their feedback.

  “Si that is great idea, we should have thought of this years ago,” said Ricky smiling at his new prima, nodding.

  “I’m on it,” said Bella, going to the phone to get some security in place on the job sites.

  “How many job sites do we have in progress and starting this month?” asks Paty, trying to assist Bella get enough security in place for the entire month until this situation is over.

  “Si, this sounds like a great idea. We need to have the work sites secured for at least four weeks to make sure that nothing happens,” said Jose Enrique, pacing back y forth.

  “We still need to continue doing our jobs, monitor the ones that we have started, and are scheduled to start,” he said, thinking out loud.

  “I don’t want our padres to find out and get stressed out,” said Paty, looking at the job site schedule for the month and giving dates to Bella for the security.

  “I can also help Ricky on the job sites when I’m not drawing up a design,” said Tony, looking at his primos.

  “I agree, we need to have someone monitoring the job sites when I’m off on mi luna de miel,” said Ricky, thinking how this is going to happen.

  “Don’t worry about that. Tony and I can do the monitoring. You will be out for only ten work days,” said Jose Enrique. “We will just have to schedule new clients, for after you come back or later in the day, we will work it out.”

  “Mañana, we will need to split up our suppliers and instruct them not to take any orders, change orders, or cancel orders if it is not one of us,” said Ricky.

  “We need to make sure that all the orders in place now are correct,” said Jose Enrique. “We can split that up and call.”

  “At the very least, it will make it a little harder for the Mexican Cartel to interfere with the jobs,” said Ricky, breathing a little easier.

  “Okay, we have the security set up starting tonight. We only have a few job sites that are in progress. The other job sites are scheduled for next week,” said Bella, standing up y pacing.

  “What else are we missing?” said Tony, walking to the window and thinking.

  “I feel that we need to discuss this with Claudia y Chris this weekend. I know that they can provide additional ideas and measures that we need to take,” said Ricky, running his manos through his pelo.

  “We also need to keep this quiet. We don’t need la familia scared and stressing out,” said Tony, pacing back and forth.

  “We need to put in place security badges. I know that we had decided against it in our last meeting. I feel that this warrants the extra security,” said Bella, looking at her primos.

  “The parking garage should also have security. It is our parking garage and for the employees’ safety,” said Paty, thinking of other issues to address.

  “I’ll call now for this additional security in the garage. Until we get the badges going, we need to station security guards at the entrance and have everybody sign in and out,” said Bella, calling the security company.

  “We can offer security designs as a separate package,” said Jessy, thinking about a good package.

  “I like that,” said Tony, looking at Jessy with a smile. “The packages are working out real well, and the security one will be a benefit for our clients.”

  “It’s four, y Jefferson has not showed,” said Jose Enrique with frustration.

  “Primo, we should not worry about Jefferson. We have everything under control. This is a great lesson to learn. We need to keep track of our jobs with la familia monitoring. Nobody will care more than we do,” said Ricky, pacing and thinking of the guey that didn’t show.

  “I agree. We need to terminate Jefferson,” said Bella, getting up from the computer, making a note.

  “I think that is it for now. That guey from the Mexican Cartel said he will call on Monday,” said Ricky, getting ready to leave.

  “I will start at the job sites mañana and call if I need any backup,” said Ricky, looking at Tony y Jose Enrique before walking out.

  “Hermano, wait up,” said Tony, thinking, I need to know more, get some more information on what happen.

  “Si, primo, we will make the calls on the supplies,” said Jose Enrique, watching Ricky walk out.

  “I need to get going,” said Paty, turning from the window to go to the door.

  “I do too,” said Bella, walking out.

  Jessy stands up from her chair to go to Jose Enrique y embraces him. “Mi vida, Dios will help us through this,” she said with a prayer.

  Jose Enrique hugs her close, thanking Dios for having sent her into his vida. We can all work together to try to prevent the Mexican cartel from ruining our vidas.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

  JOSE ENRIQUE ARRIVES EARLY AT the office, working out in the gym. I have been lazy lately, he thought, finishing up y heading for the showers. I need to remind Ricky y Tony to work out or they will get fat. He grins.

  I feel better already; he thought sitting down on his chair to review the last request for a building. The request is from a very influential business man in the area. Jose Enrique performs the usual research on the new client. He is extremely satisfied with the new client’s business status. He signs off makes a copy to forward it to Tony. I need to have Tony draw some preliminary designs to present to the client next week.

  I’m going to meet y welcome Chris’s esposa Monique into la familia y la familia company, he thought, getting up to give the paperwork to Tony on his way.

  He stops at Tony’s office. Tony is busy and fully absorbed on his drafting board. Mi primo truly is an artist, he thought, all proud of him.

  “Primo, I have another request for a building. I reviewed the request and signed off. It appears to be a good client. I have his requirements in this file,” said Jose Enrique, looking at his primo draw.

  “Okay, primo. Please put them on mi red tray,” he said as he drew another line. “When do we need to have the designs ready?” he asks, without looking up from what he is doing.

  “Next week, primo, you have time. Primo, I want you to go with me to welcome into la familia Chris’s esposa,” he said with a mischievous grin, looking at his primo drop his pencil y stands up walking toward him.

  “You have to be fucking kidding me. No shit. No way. He’s mi party buddy,” he said with a groan of frustration. Hmm, is mi primo trying to mess with me? Tony is trying to see if he is messing with him. “You’re telling me that mi primo married that chica he just met last Friday? What’s up with mi primos y eloping on weekends?” he said, looking out the window and thinking.

  “I didn’t see her ayer,” said Tony, looking at his primo. “She is the new assistant for Jessy, right?” he said, still not believing.

  “Si, primo, he married Monique Acosta, and she is our new interior design assistant. Chris didn’t want to have her start ayer,” said Jose Enrique, not having any issues with that.

  “Uh, huh, I bet.” Yeah, thought Tony, Chris wanted his bride to rest after eloping.

  “Let’s go and meet her. We need to welcome her because Chris is away. She’s probably feels bad,” he said, walking out of his primo’s office.

  “Primo, Ricky asked me to tell you that Jacki is off work, and he wants her to return until after the luna de miel,” said Tony, following his primo.

  “Okay, I’ll tell Bella,” said Jose Enrique, walking down the hallway to the interior design department. Si, this i
s where mi amor is at right now, working her little corazon out, he thought.

  He went down the hallway to the interior design department. They both entered the interior design department that is full of activity.

  Jessy also has hired a young lady to be their secretary. Jose Enrique smiles at the secretary and introduces himself and Tony.

  She is young and nervous. “It really is nice to meet you sirs, I’m Sally Dias. Do you want me to announce you?” she asks, looking unsure, in awe, y anxious.

  “No, Sally, don’t worry. We will just walk in. Thank you,” he said as he opens his bella amor office.

  “Hola, mi amor,” he said, going to Jessy y giving her a quick beso on her cheek, smiling as he turns to Monique. “You must be Monique, Chris’s esposa,” he said with a huge smile. “I’m Jose Enrique De La Cruz, Chris’s eldest primo, and this is our primo Sebastian Antonio De La Cruz,” he said, smiling at his amor.

  “Hola, I’m Monique Acosta. Uh, hmm, I meant Monique De La Cruz,” she said with a smile y blushing like crazy from embarrassment. “I have to get used to this.” She smiles at them, extending out her mano to greet them.

  “Monique, I hope Jessy told you that she is mi novia,” he said, smiling, walking over to Jessy, and putting his brazo around her waist. “I wanted to meet you and welcome you to la familia y to la familia’s compania.”

  “Si, Monique, if you need anything, you can ask us,” said Tony with a smile, looking at the bella chica that stole mi primo’s corazon. No wonder Chris ran off to get married. This chica es una belleza and looks sweet. I’m glad that he found the one, he thought.

  “Please don’t forget that we are here in case you need anything. We know that Chris is only at home occasionally,” said Jose Enrique, looking around the office.

  “Si, mi vida, I told her that she can count on us for anything.” She smiles at Monique, thinking that she is sweet, smart, and capable to do a great job as her assistant.

  Jessy’s phone rings on her desk, and she answers. “Yes, Sally, bring them in here. We still need to get her office ready. Thanks,” said Jessy, turning around as the office door opened with Sally, carrying a huge bouquet of red roses for Monique. The roses are incredible.

  “Monique, I think those are for you,” said Jessy, smiling and real feliz for Monique, thinking it must be hard to be separated so quickly after marrying.

  Monique’s ojos got watery as she takes the card to read what her baby wrote. Mi cielo, I’m with you always. Love you lots. Love you like crazy. Yours, Christian, said the card. She got close to the rosas y smells them.

  Now I have some red rosas for mi office and some for mi cuarto. He sent me red rosas with all of his amor. He also selected the red roses on our wedding, she thought, trying not to cry.

  Jose Enrique is observing Monique’s reaction to the rosas and ascertain that she truly loved his primo with all of her corazon. She will be good for Chris, he thought with relief and felicidad.

  Mi primo won the lottery with this bella chica, thought Tony as he observes her reaction. I pray that I find a chica like her.

  “Monique, are you okay?” asks Jessy as she went over to her to give her a hug, feeling her tremble.

  Oh dios mio, this is so embarrassing, she thought as she quickly wipes her ojos and smiles at Jessy, nodding. “Si, Jessy, I’m okay. I just miss him,” she whispers with a smile.

  “Monique, time will fly, and he will be here with you on Thursday, right?” said Jessy, looking at her assistant. I can see that we are going to be great primas.

  “Si, he told me ayer that he will be here on Thursday to take me to his casa.” She smiles with felicidad.

  Bella is walking into the office to see if Monique is okay today. I see that the welcome party is here, she thought, smiling and going to Monique.

  “Monique, I want to welcome you into la familia,” said Bella smiling, giving her a warm hug. “I’m Chris’s hermana.”

  “Oh, si, Bella, Chris told me that tu eres his hermana and that Paty is his prima,” she said with a smile, nodding.

  “Did Chris send you this hermoso bouquet of rosas? I’m impressed,” she said bending to smell them. “Hermana, you have to show us the photos, video, y tu ring. Let me see,” she said, turning around to look at the enormous ring that her hermano bought his bride. “Wow, mi hermano really went all out. Its precioso,” she said, looking at the ring that sparkles no matter which way you turned it.

  “Si, Monique, that ring is just gorgeous,” said Jessy with a smile, looking at Monique, starting to feel better.

  Now that Chris’s hermana is here, it’s making her feel better. She feels like a little of him is with her.

  “Monique, mi mama wants to know if you will like to go over sometime this week. I told her that you might want to wait until Chris brings you over. What do you think?” asks Bella looking at her cara.

  I can see why mi hermano fell in love with her. She is smart, sweet, and really bella, she thought.

  “I will love to go over to meet Chris’s padres. I want to talk to him about it and see what he wants,” she said with a shy smile, looking at his hermana, praying she will not feel hurt.

  “Monique, that is very wise of you,” said Jose Enrique, impressed with her. She is giving Chris his place as her esposo and making decisions together, he thought.

  “Si, Chris will be here on Thursday. Prima, that’s only a few more days,” said Tony. “I need to get back to work. We’ll be seeing you, Monique,” he said turning to leave.

  “Si, later” said Monique nodding.

  That is Tony, and I thought that I will like him. No, Dios knows what he’s doing. Mi baby is the one, she thought, smiling at Bella. Bella has some of mi baby’s coloring and a little of his features. It makes me relax a little knowing that she is here, don’t know why, she thought.

  “Si, I need to get back to work. Nice meeting you, Monique,” said Jose Enrique walking out leaving las chicas alone.

  He stops quickly to let Paty know the news about Chris. “Hermana, Monique is here today working. Did you know that Chris y Monique eloped on Friday? She is now Chris’s esposa,” he said grinning, walking out of her office.

  “You’re just telling me now? You’re so mean,” she said, running to Jessy’s office, not bothering to continue to listen to him.

  “Is it true?” she said, running into Jessy’s office. All three of them turn around smiling at Paty.

  “Si, it is, Paty,” said Monique, shyly looking at her with a smile.

  “Oh yeah, how exciting, mi primo knew,” said Paty, all excited. “Welcome to la familia. Let me see tu ring,” she asks, looking at las rosas. “Did he send those rosas? Yeah, mi primo is in love.” She grins, looking at her precioso ring. “Look at the ring. It’s huge and sparkles like crazy. Geez, I want one.” She pouts at her primas.

  “Yeah I fell the same way Paty, It’s starting to look like we going to vister santos,” said Bella.

  “No, I don’t think so. You two are real young,” said Monique with a smile, looking at her new familia.

  The phone rings, and Jessy answers. “Si, okay. I’ll tell her,” she said, turning to Bella. “Jose Enrique wants you to stop at his office. He has a job that he wants you to do,” she said, looking at Bella wondering what it can be.

  “I think it’s time for me to return to work. Talk to ya later,” said Bella, walking down the hall to go and see what her primo needs.

  She enters his office sitting down, waiting for his assignment. “Prima, I need you to work on our investments, and to look into possible stocks for our company,” said Jose Enrique, looking at his prima. “I want you to research the market, 401k, stocks. I want you to map out our future. I don’t want our money disappearing in the wrong investments. Mi amigo Carlos has recommended his close associate that is an expert on stocks, 401k, and investing. I want you to get in contact a.s.a.p. His name is Gregory Preston McKenzie, and his numbers are on this paper. I also e-mailed them to you,” he said, lea
ning back, watching his prima’s expressions and waiting for her response.

  Bella takes the paper with the information on Gregory. “Primo, you’re correct on the 401k, stocks, and investing. I have been thinking about it a lot lately. We are slowly y consistently increasing our profits. We also need to be competitive in offering 401k to our employees to be able to retain the best. I will call Mr. McKenzie right now to set up an appointment,” she said standing up to return to her office.

  “Okay, prima. I will be waiting for tu report by next week on your recommendations,” he said, turning to look at his e-mails.

  Jose Enrique is calling the list of suppliers, making sure that all of the orders are correct. I wonder what happen to Jefferson. He never called or showed ayer, thought Jose Enrique.

  The phone rings. “Thank you for calling De La Cruz Inc. Jose Enrique speaking. How I can help you?” he asks.

  “Hola, Jose Enrique. This is Hector Lopez. I’m calling because I want to meet your building designer at the site mañana before you start building. I want to review a few details with him,” said Lopez, walking to his carro.

  Jose Enrique heard him and cannot believe him. This is unreal, but he is the client, and we will make him feliz at any cost, he thought, trying to be pleasant y smiles. “Si, Senor Lopez. What time will you like Tony to meet you?” he asks, waiting for him to advice.

  “Nine will be good,” said Senor Lopez with a smile, thinking, great, they do keep their promise to please the client.

  “Okay, Senor Lopez. Tony will be there at nine,” said Jose Enrique, ending the call.

  Wow. Okay. Take a deep breath and calm down. He is still a client, and we don’t know for sure that he is involved with the cartel. I need to tell Tony. He stands up striding down the hall to Tony’s office. He walks up to where Tony is drawing up a design. “Primo, you look busy,” he said smiling, always enjoying watching his primo come up with his great designs.

  “Si, I’m finishing up the last design for our new client,” he said with a smile, enjoying his work.