Law #1: Never Bet on Love: A Sweet Billionaire Love Story (Laws of Love)

by Agnes Canestri

  She won’t listen to your words, Nate. Only to your actions. So be patient, stick to the plan, and it will be all good.

  I take a calming breath, Murphy’s advice ringing in my ear. Isn’t it ironic that I need my brother’s voice to guide me, so that I won’t veer from the strategy we came up with together? Normally, I should be the one following the established method, instead of buzzing around recklessly.

  Even the fact that I discussed with Murphy what my best course of action could be is a miracle. But after having discovered the elaborate spiderweb my brother wove to save me from a successful but extremely solitary life, I decided it was safe to give more weight to Murphy’s ideas. Not on all occasions, though, otherwise he might get smug.

  I return my attention to Larry.

  Does he cheer inside, or is he frightened by the sudden responsibility? I truly hope it’s the former. My plan will only work if Larry is glad to step up to the role I would like him to take.

  Mother taps a pen against her glass, and a few condensed bubbles slide to the table. “So, I imagine we’re all happy with this proposal, aren’t we?” She asks, letting her gaze travel from one face to another.

  Larry clears his throat and finally dares a peek at me. “Well, as long as Nathan is okay with this, Holly. If anyone is entitled to take over your place, it’s him.”

  Mother smiles at him then at me. “Your promotion was Nathan’s idea, in fact.”

  Larry’s jaw drops. “Really?”

  Finally, the time has come to say my own points. I adjust my elbows on the table and lean forward. “I understand your surprise. But my idea about Larry taking a five-year mandate as a CEO before his retirement, is advantageous for all of us.” I lift a hand for emphasis and count on my fingers. “One, AMEA can profit from Larry’s invaluable knowledge and experience.” I flash a smile at the white-bearded man and he beams back at me, clearly proud of hearing me praise him. “Two, Larry will retire from a position he deserves. Three, five years will allow me to become a more seasoned leader. And, four, I can dedicate some attention to AMEA’s trainee program. We have always regarded this potential investment in HR as interesting, but nobody ever took the time to ward it properly.”

  My voice acquires an excited edge at this point. I wasn’t sure how Mother would react to my proposition about creating the Fresh Start traineeship, but she was thrilled when I explained the details to her. Quite frankly, it makes perfect business sense for AMEA.

  I raise my eyes and let my gaze meet each one of my fellow directors. “Through this traineeship, we’ll improve our reputation by giving back to the community. That in turn will attract more clients interested in associating their name with a responsible company. Also, by recruiting bright youngsters who otherwise wouldn’t have a shot at a proper job and education, we can build up a motivated and loyal supply of employees.”

  “Yes, we can mold them into what we want and need them to be skills-wise. And our trainees will learn from the best minds in business consulting,” Mother chimes in, giving me an encouraging nod.

  My heart leaps.

  It’s the very first time that she and I have worked in such a perfect synergy on a proposal, and it’s a pretty nice feeling indeed. I’m almost sorry that now, when our collaboration has turned so agreeable, she’ll be retreating from AMEA. Though, I understand that she wants to dedicate more time to her private life. Which, in itself, is a world-shattering novelty for me already.

  “So, it’s a win-win to all,” Larry says.

  “Indeed.” I nod.

  “But, Nathan,” Erica’s doubtful soprano intervenes, “…we all thought your highest aspiration was to become CEO. What changed?”

  My eyes meet Mother’s and I see the approving smile tug on her lower lip. She must be curious how I intend to answer this question.

  I don’t hesitate for a second. Honesty is my new shiny sword, and I aim to use it whenever I can. “Thanks to certain events in my life, I realized that I prefer to hone some of my abilities before stepping up to lead our company. As the official supervisor of the trainee program, I’ll be able to deepen my mentoring skills. Who knows, I might even like it so much that I’ll prefer to stay in that role in the future too!” I accompany my last phrase with a smirk, so if some of the board members want, they can interpret it as a joke for now.

  Even if I didn’t intend it like that. The memory of my last conversation with my father returned to me several times in the past days. I’m eager to test whether my childish dream of teaching is something that could give me the same, or even perhaps more, pleasure than just chasing numbers.

  And Alejandro will be one of my first candidates to try it with.

  This had been a hard one to get through Mother’s approval. As much as she wanted to help me mend what I’ve destroyed with Eva, she wasn’t happy to take on board someone with a criminal record. But I managed to argue my way and promised to be the boy’s personal mentor to ensure he’s off to a good start in becoming a poster-child for our training program’s success.

  “Well, if it is so…” Larry stands up and reaches over the large mahogany table to shake my hand. “I’m happy to accept this honorable duty. And I wish you, Nathan, the best of success with setting up the trainee program.” He grins at me. “You’ll, of course, have all the support from me that you need.”

  “Thank you, Larry.”

  There’s a knock on the door, and after Mother calls back, Rachel’s head appears.

  “Excuse me for the interruption, Ma’am, but Mr. Montgregor asked me to notify him when the, uhm…” She bites her lip, obviously realizing it wouldn’t be appropriate to state my specific request in front of the board. They might wonder why I asked my secretary to monitor Litchfield’s release schedule. Finally she continues, “…the package he ordered was sent out.”

  Mother arches a brow at me, but I’m already on my feet. I clear my throat. “Ladies and gentlemen, excuse me for stepping out this rashly from this important discussion. I believe, however, that we’ve addressed the most crucial points on the agenda, right?”

  Mother nods. “No problem, Nathan. This package is an urgent matter, we won’t keep you from it.”

  I bolt to the door and when we are in the corridor, I ask Rachel, “So Alejandro Flores was released?”

  “Yes, this morning. He should be on his way home. I was given the information that he got picked up by his sister.”

  I sigh. “Good. Please call Cathy’s florist shop and make her put together a bouquet that implies, “Congratulation for your new job.” Okay? I’ve already written the card, and it’s on your desk. Make sure they deliver it with the flowers.”

  “Certainly, sir.”

  “And, Rachel, did you check on the progress of the school?”

  “Yes, I did. I already have the keys, too. Though, the rooms have been freshly painted, so they wanted to wait an extra day to let everything dry.”

  “Perfect, thank you, Rachel, for taking care of everything so diligently.”

  Rachel blushes and smiles. “Of course, sir.”

  As we reach the elevator, I let Rachel take it alone and decide to use the stairs. My body is humming with a parade of emotions, and I need some physical movement to ensure I won’t explode. The anticipatory excitement is just too much to bear.

  I didn’t know today was going to be the day. But it is. If I know Eva well enough, and I hope I do, she won’t be able to wait after she sees the flowers. She will have to come to me.

  And I need to be ready when she does.

  Chapter 37

  (Eva - One week after the ball)

  “Alejandrito!” Abuelita exclaims and pulls my brother into the tightest embrace, just as we step inside our house.

  Her vigorous gesture confutes the common belief that people past seventy start to lose their grit. My grandmother, in particular, certainly has much zeal left in her. She might have swollen ankles and arthritis, but when her grandchildren need her, she demonstrates inexhaustible
energies.

  No one knows this better than I do.

  Abuelita has been my champion these past days for sure. While I’ve been walking around like a living-dead with a hollow in place of my heart, she kept everything together. Shame grips my stomach as I remember how she even called to excuse me from work for the whole week, claiming I’d gotten sick from eating her chimichurri—as if that could ever happen. She let me sit around in my sweatpants, cooked my favorite dishes, and took care that Juan or Espie never pronounced Nathan’s name. At least not around me.

  I heard them speak about him in the kitchen while I sobbed on the sofa. Juan couldn’t understand why Nathan was banned from our life for good. The simple, “Eva is mad at him because he lied,” didn’t satisfy his rebellious little mind. He even challenged our grandmother by saying that everybody lies once in a while, but if one regrets it, then we have to forgive them. I’m not sure who told my brother that Nathan regretted what he did. Maybe Abuelita?

  It doesn’t matter, though. Juan can’t understand yet that there are things that can’t be undone just because you say sorry. Things like pretending to be someone you are not. Or being interested in someone only to win a miserable bet with your family.

  No, these things are unforgivable.

  Laia takes my hand and drags me into our living room. “Look, I’ve put together a list of books I think you should read while you’re gone.”

  My eyes flick to the table, and I don’t even need to read the titles to know that each of the reads my cousin selected must be either a romance or some kind of hot chicken soup for the broken hearted. The bright, shimmery colors of the covers speak for themselves.

  “I don’t want to read anything,” I grumble.

  “Ah, Eva.” Laia waves me off. “I’m here because you obviously don’t know what you want or need right now, okay? Just come over here and check them out please.” She takes me by my shoulders and pushes me down on our age-old plush sofa.

  I grit my teeth and take the pink book titled, Rekindle Your Soul, into my hands.

  I mustn’t blame Abuelita for detonating the “Laia saves Eva” bomb. I mustn’t.

  My poor grandmother did everything that she thought would help me heal. But in the end, likely in her utter desperation after she found me fabricating a hand-written copy of ‘La Mujer Sin Alma,’ Abuelita decided to call in the heavy artillery.

  This morning, the day of Alejandro’s release, Laia arrived. My cousin started out her rescue mission by, literally and metaphorically, kicking my butt till she managed to haul me into the shower. After I was squeaky clean, she helped me comb my hair knot-free, which I didn’t think would be possible after keeping it in a messy bun—even when I slept—for days. But Laia’s tenacity won. And not just on my dark tresses.

  After getting me into a socially presentable shape again, she picked out some clothes, other than my homebody outfit, and bullied me into fetching Ale from Litchfield. She used such sophisticated emotional triggers to reach her goal that even Sigmund Freud would have envied her. I didn’t agree with her method while it happened, but now, hearing Ale’s jingling laugh as he tickle-fights Juan, I’m happy my cousin did what she did. I would’ve hated myself for missing out on my brother’s first hug after he got back his freedom.

  I tentatively open the book. Perhaps Laia could be right about this, too. I doubt that any written word, even the most sacred and wise ones, could lead me to peace and acceptance about having trusted a man again who clearly didn’t love me.

  But he did say he loved you.

  Huh, the tiny troublemaker in my head is back. It kept quiet for quite some time now, probably mortified for having been the instigator of my tragedy. Maybe my romantic cousin’s arrival gave it the courage to return? I need to suppress it as quickly as possible, before it starts nestling in for good.

  Nathan might have said he loved me, but those were just words. They have the same weight as the ones he said to his mother about me, expressing the exact opposite. So, I can’t hold onto a straw of hope like that. And I won’t. Instead, I will…

  I read the first paragraph of the book.

  “To start a new life, you need to cut the chains with the old.”

  Yes, that’s what I’m going to do. I’m starting a clean slate as of now. I will not only not speak about Nathan. But, better, I won’t even think of him.

  A shrill bell startles us all.

  Laia jumps up and bolts to the door.

  “Are you waiting for a visitor, Evita?” Abuelita’s voice is so hopeful that my chest squeezes.

  “No, I’m not. It’s probably just the post,” I murmur.

  I tear away my glance from my grandmother’s eager face. It’s clear whom she wants to see standing outside our door. It pains her to see me heartbroken, and she still wishes I would reconsider hearing Nathan out. Never mind that he didn’t even try to contact me for the past week.

  Even after telling Abuelita about the bet, she couldn’t abandon the idea that Murphy had a providential vision when he set up his brother. And that it wasn’t meant to hurt me, thus Nathan isn’t a bad guy. She even tried to bring Laia on her team about this, but luckily my cousin was on my side this time. “Nathan is a liar till the contrary is proven,” she replied to my grandmother.

  Oh, ginger snaps, I just thought about Nathan again.

  Before I can scold myself, Laia is back carrying a large bouquet in her arm.

  Abuelita claps her hands, her mouth drifting to her ears. “Wasn’t I right? This is for Eva, I’m sure. Though I would have chosen roses or carnations. Daffodils are more for a new house or a job. I’ll need to teach Nath—”

  “These aren’t from Nathan,” Laia exclaims. She fishes out the envelope from the buds and holds it up. “They are for Alejandro.”

  “Alejandro?” Abuelita squeaks.

  My brother, attracted by his name, shuffles to us from the kitchen. He carries a monkey-like hanging Espie on one shoulder and a wiggling-panda Juan on the other. Poor Ale pants and can hardly stand straight from their collective weights.

  “Espie, Juan, leave Ale alone. He needs to check out his gift,” I chide.

  “What gift? From whom? Espie is the first to inquire, but she is soon assisted by Juan.

  “Do you have a secret admirer, Ale? A cute lady you met in jail?” He grins.

  Ale snorts. “There were none of those in Litchfield. Just hairy and grumpy guards. Not a pretty sight, trust me, little brother.” He squirms the kids off him and steps over to Laia.

  She hands him the card and Ale opens it. As his eyes fly from left to right, his chin sinks lower and lower with each movement. Laia, just as curious as Espie, or maybe even worse, has already raised herself on her tiptoes and is bending over my brother’s shoulder to pry.

  “So, who is it from?” Abuelita asks. She eyes the large, expensive bouquet with furrowed brows. After realizing that they weren’t for me, her buoyant mood about the flowers has turned into worry.

  My throat also prickles a bit. Who could send Alejandro such a welcome home treat? Did he get involved in something we aren’t aware of?

  Ale claps the white card together. His face is distorted in the same surprised grimace I saw on him once, when he drew the highest prize during a bingo game in a church party.

  Laia’s mouth is open, but she gathers her wit sooner than Ale and says, “Okay, my mistake. It is from Nathan.”

  “What?” I jump up and the book stumbles from my lap to the floor with a thud. I don’t bother lifting it, but instead I stride over to my brother and snatch the card from his hand. “Why would Nathan think he can send Ale anything at all? They have only met once. How would he even know he’s at home already?” I mumble, as I open the paper.

  I half expect to see some computer-typed message along the lines of, “Good luck with your freedom,” and Nathan’s signature, and I almost choke on my saliva when I see dense lines full of his handwriting.

  “Dear Alejandro!

  I’m happ
y to announce to you that you’ve been chosen for the Fresh Start Trainee program at our company. It’s a program specifically designed for young, bright minds like yourself who might not be given the chance they deserve elsewhere…”

  What? What trainee program? Nathan has spoken to me about his company but never mentioned anything similar. I force myself to read more.

  “… Fresh Start would introduce you to our company’s various departments and provide you with a hands-on training to acquire specific skills required to perform various jobs. After an initial assessment period, you would be assigned to the best matching department to work there part-time. Part-time, so that you can attend any college courses that might be needed to consolidate your knowledge (all financially covered by the company’s trainee budget, of course).

  I hope you’ll consider participating. The program starts in three weeks. If you have any questions, you can reach me at my direct line. Your sister should have it, but in case she deleted it, here it is again.

  Welcome home from your fellow Avenger’s fan,

  Nathan”

  Below his name is Nathan’s personal cell phone number.

  When I glance up, Abuelita is standing beside me. Judging by her arched brows and enlarged nostrils, I can see she’s just as bewildered as I am. “What a chance, Ale, what a chance!” she exclaims, beaming happily at my brother.

  Okay, bewildered but not for the same reason as I am.

  Ale bobs his head, grinning. “Yes, isn’t this awesome? Oh, boy, I don’t even know what to say. Nathan is so generous.” He stops and blinks at me. “Wait… didn’t you say in the car that you and Nathan…you know that you two aren’t…”

  “Yes, we are not,” I say.

  “Okay, so then why would—” my brother asks, but I cut him off.

  “It’s obvious. It must be Nathan’s way to rid himself of culpability. It’s a consolation prize.” Of course, that must be it. “He feels guilty because he used me as a stepping stone to become CEO. So he invented this.” I point at Nathan’s left-leaning letters and let all my disdain transpire in my voice. “He thinks he can buy our goodwill. Maybe he is afraid I could go to the press about his bet or something.”