CHAPTER 3
From the moment she wakes, every action Victoria Rivas takes is shadowed by a mood so sour she struggles to contain it. The thought of spending her entire Friday afternoon at an event for that self-important writer irks her to no end. She knows Javier is right; she too had the support of well-known authors when she started, but she”s nothing like Micaela. Victoria has always considered herself humble, keeping her feet firmly on the ground, whereas Micaela—judging from a couple of internet interviews—seems to think she”s the Goddess of Olympus after just two novels.
”As if she”s learned all there is to know” Victoria mutters, slamming the cupboard shut after putting away the dishes.
”Come on, Victoria, lighten up. You know you usually enjoy these events,” Javier says as he greets her by the car, trying to soothe her with his chivalrous, somewhat sycophantic charm.
”Not this one. I really don”t like Micaela” she states flatly, looping her arm through his as they walk.
Javier chuckles, secretly amused by the brewing drama. ”But you don”t even know her. Or do you?” He squints at her, a teasing glint in his eyes. ”You”re not one of her conquests, are you?”
”One of her conquests?” Victoria asks, baffled and a bit scandalized.
”Yeah, it seems Micaela”s like those rock stars who leave their concerts with a fan or two” he gossips with a mischievous grin.
”How scandalous! And you”re okay with that?” she exclaims, her voice tinged with both shock and a hint of intrigue.
Javier shrugs, a casual lift of his shoulders under the warm sunlight. ”Don”t be so old-fashioned, Victoria. Micaela”s a single, free woman. She can do whatever she likes. If those girls are willing, I don”t see the problem.”
Victoria stops so abruptly that Javier nearly stumbles over his own feet. ”But I do, Javi,” she says, her voice sharp as a knife. ”She”s a writer, someone these women look up to in some way. Jumping into bed with them—it”s reckless. They might get confused, think they”re the heroines of her stories.” Her words slice through the air, leaving Javier momentarily speechless.
”Speaking from personal experience?” he jests, trying to lighten the mood.
”You”re such a jerk” Victoria spits out, her eyes flashing as she starts walking again.
”Okay, okay” Javier concedes, catching up to loop his arm through hers once more. ”You have a point. It is risky, seen that way. But it”s not our problem. Micaela”s grown enough to know what she”s doing.”
”I couldn”t care less what happens to that conceited woman.”
Javier laughs again, a sound that fades as they reach the bookstore. The line of people waiting for a signature nearly spills out the door, and Victoria clenches her jaw, her insides churning. The sting of seeing a newcomer achieve in months what took her years to earn gnaws at her.
They pass by the crowd, mostly women. Some recognize Victoria, their faces lighting up as they ask for photos and signatures on books they”ve brought, knowing she would be there. But the majority give her indifferent looks, making it painfully clear they have no idea who she is. It”s a cocktail of emotions for Victoria—relief that she doesn”t share the same readers as Micaela, whose writing style she deems inferior, yet a deep-seated irritation that these fans know Micaela and not her.
”Victoria, darling, come here. Let me introduce you to Micaela de Luca Bianchi. I think you two will make a great team. Two stars together, how wonderful,” Javier claps his hands, oblivious to the tension.
Victoria”s heart skips a beat, her thoughts still tangled in the line of women and their unsettling gazes. As she turns, there stands Micaela, a grin stretching from ear to ear, one that Victoria finds utterly disarming.
”I pictured you younger” Micaela says as a greeting, her voice smooth and confident.
”And I imagined you”d be more mature” Victoria retorts, the words laced with venom.
”Ladies, ladies, let”s make love, not war. Let”s be professionals—we”re here for an important event, so let”s get to it,” Javier intervenes, his voice firm despite the unexpected childishness of their exchange.
”Yes, let”s do what we came here to do and get this over with,” Victoria says, turning toward the setup with a podium, two chairs, and a table laden with books waiting to be sold that afternoon. ”Can you explain what I need to do?”
”Of course” Javier replies, checking his watch.
There are still ten minutes until the event officially starts, but the room is already buzzing. To prevent any unnecessary mingling and potential chaos among the eager crowd, the publisher pulls Victoria and Micaela aside to brief them. The presentation itself is brief; the real time consumer will be the book signing. Victoria won”t be signing today, but her presence is still required until the end. The bookstore is bursting at the seams, filled mostly with young women who have come to meet their favorite author and leave with her coveted signature.
Victoria strides to the podium amid a robust applause, positioning herself in front of the seated and standing attendees—the room is so packed that some find themselves without chairs. She tries to steady her breathing, slipping a sheet of paper onto the podium. It”s a supportive speech for Micaela, one she”s written because improvisation might betray her true feelings, potentially devastating her contract with the publisher if she speaks her mind and the crowd disperses in dismay.
”And now, I”ll leave you with her” Victoria announces, gesturing graciously for Micaela to come forward.
This is the moment she dreads the most. In front of this eager audience, they must feign camaraderie and embrace, just as Javier had pleaded.
”Good luck” Victoria offers politely through the forced embrace.
”Thank you, but I won”t need it” Micaela replies coolly, extricating herself to take her place in front of her adoring fans.
”You really nailed that speech, Vicky. You”re good at everything” Javier whispers to her once he”s beside her again.
”Stop buttering me up. I didn”t walk out when that rude woman insulted me because I have integrity and commitment. My God, have you seen how conceited she is?” Victoria retorts, her irritation palpable.
”Oh, come on. Don”t exaggerate. Micaela”s a bit of a diva, that’s all.”
”A bit?” Victoria cuts him off, her tone incredulous. ”She thinks she”s a goddess, Javi.”
”Well, maybe you have a point, but her personality is magnetic. Just look at that line of people waiting for her to sign their books,” the publisher counters.
”Personality? She”s practically falling out of her dress, Javier. She does nothing but provoke, and all these women in line are just dying to be with her,” Victoria complains bitterly.
”Jealous?”
”Go to hell” Victoria snaps.
”I”ll go, but not to hell, darling. I need some air; I”ll be back” Javier says with a wry smile, sprinting out of the bookstore before she can launch another verbal grenade.
The event drags on for hours. Throughout it, Victoria remains stoically composed, even gaining a few new readers, while Javier spends his time stepping outside repeatedly to alleviate his stress with cigarette after cigarette.
When the signing finally concludes, Victoria is caught off guard as Javier re-enters, this time with his son, Daniel, in tow.
”Danny, what are you doing here, sweetheart?” Victoria”s voice is a cocktail of surprise and warmth as she enfolds him in her embrace.
”I was close by and decided to drop in to see you, Mom” he replies, his words muffled against her shoulder.
Victoria pulls back slightly, her hands still gripping his arms, her eyes alight with pride. ”I”m so glad you did,” she beams, just as Micaela approaches with a stride that cuts through the air like a sharp scent.
”How about we celebrate the signing”s success with dinner for all of us?” Javier suggests, his voice buoyant, oblivious to the horror that flickers across Victoria”s face.
”We can”t” Victoria says quickly, her gaze flitting to her son, whose eyebrows arch in question.
”Sorry, Javi, but I”ve already made plans” Micaela chimes in, her smile sly as she nods toward a woman lingering at the back of the store. ”Catch up soon, okay?” With that, she spins on her heel, her next conquest apparently waiting, and strides away.
”Can you believe her? It”s like she thinks we”re at a dating club,” Victoria mutters under her breath, her voice tinged with scandal.
”Mom, she might hear you” Daniel interjects, his cheeks coloring with embarrassment.
”I don”t care” Victoria snaps back, her tone defiantly childish.
”To be honest, I think she”s stunning” Daniel admits, unable to mask his admiration.
”Stunning? Stay away from her, do you hear me?” Victoria”s voice sharpens, her face etched with concern. ”That woman is a predator, and I shudder to think what she”d do with a young man like you.”
”I”m twenty-one, Mom” Daniel protests, his voice a mix of frustration and amusement. ”I”m not a kid anymore.”
”To me, you”ll always be one, and I”ll devour anyone who tries to hurt you” she declares fiercely.
”Well, now that Micaela”s out of the picture, you”ll let me treat you to dinner, right?” Javier interjects, winking at Daniel as if to draw him into a conspiracy.
”Of course, especially if it”s at that restaurant we tried last time,” Victoria agrees, her mood lightening.
”Don”t push it, Victoria” Javier concludes, chuckling along with Daniel”s spontaneous laughter.