Chapter 22

Cesar Villamizar seemed to have lost more hair in the last few weeks. Sebastian suspected he was responsible for the dark circles under the older man’s eyes and the pronounced wrinkles across his forehead.

“You wanted to talk to me?” Cesar shut the door behind him, staring at the newspaper in Sebastian’s hands.

“Yes.”

Cesar’s jaw hardened. Sebastian knew the man didn’t agree with his new policies of cutting down personnel and changing the paper’s focus, and he probably didn’t like that he’d taken charge of the accounting either. If it hadn’t been for all those years of loyalty to his father, Sebastian would have fired the man already, especially after this.

“Are you going to fire me?”

“No. But I want to know why you ran this article without showing it to me first.”

Sebastian tossed the paper on top of his desk for Cesar to see. In big bold letters the front page of El Heraldo read: OPENING OF MADRESELVA A DISASTER.

Cesar didn’t look at it. “What’s wrong with it?”

“Well, for one, I don’t see how this is your top story with so many things happening in the world right now.”

Cesar sighed. “San Isidro doesn’t care about the world.”

“Still, I don’t think this is newsworthy. Talk about local politics, economy, something relevant.”

“Local politics? You mean the mayor’s new haircut? That’s all that’s happened since yesterday in the political arena.”

Sebastian hit his desk. “Then use one of the wire stories. People need to know what’s going on in Quito or Guayaquil. What is President Arosemena up to? His government is anything but stable.”

“What’s this really about, Sebastian? Is this about your connection to the Platas family? Or the fact that you got involved in the fight?” He smirked. “You must learn to be impartial, Sebastian. That’s the first rule of journalism.”

Sebastian fantasized about punching Cesar’s face, just like he’d done with the insolent drunk who made that obscene comment about Liliana last night. But he’d caused enough problems already. He didn’t need any more.

“People need to know what happens in this town,” Cesar said. “Especially after all the hype about the first tango club. You can’t pick and choose the news just because they are close to you.”

Sebastian knew that, in theory, Cesar was right, but there was no relevance in local gossip or smearing Amanda’s nightclub. Sebastian didn’t even want to think about Claudia’s hysterics now that her aunt’s nightclub had been featured on the front page, especially next to the word “disaster,” not to mention his own mother. Amanda had been her best friend for years.

“Don’t lecture me, Cesar. I’m not the five-year-old who followed you around the paper. This is the last time you publish a story without my approval. From now on, I want to read every single word written in this newspaper before it gets published.”

“Might I remind you, Sebastian, that your father trusted me completely? That’s why he named me managing editor.”

Sebastian crossed his arms behind his head, mimicking his father’s arrogant gesture.

“Well, things are different now, Cesar. The sooner you realize that, the better it will be for you. The Ignacio Rivas era is gone.”

Cesar’s eyes flickered with contempt, but Sebastian was not about to back down. He held his stare and smirked.

Cesar looked away and left the room.

Sebastian picked up the paper again. If this article had any repercussions on the nightclub, it would be his fault. He’d started the fight. Of course he regretted it now, but he couldn’t tolerate disrespect, especially toward women, and that jerk deserved all the punches he got. Sebastian rubbed his temple with his fingers. He had to learn to control that wretched temper of his. Somehow. As he shut his eyes, the image of Lili in her red dress emerged in his mind. He had no idea that girl was so attractive or that she could move with such grace. It had been a shock to see her there, dancing, looking so beautiful. The movement of her hips, her long legs, and her bare back had been like a magnet.

He opened his eyes again. He had to stop thinking about her. He was engaged and Claudia would be furious when she found out he’d gone to the nightclub after she begged him not to. But perhaps not as furious as Amanda would be after she read the newspaper.