The rooftop of the very prominent Santiago city hotel was pumping with lively music and the even more lively VIP invitees. Zenna stayed close to Luca’s side, trying not to get separated from him in the crowd that milled around them. They were surrounded with models, each one prettier than the next, and a whole gathering of celebrities Luca took pleasure in pointing out to Zenna. A reputable advertising company had organized the cocktail party for all those who had participated in a recent launch of a new exclusive fashion label. As the fashion photographer, Luca had been invited, and the photos he had taken for the launch were blown up and displayed around the venue.
Zenna looked at them in awe. They were good. She had thought Luca was simply amusing himself with a hobby, but the skill and technique that had gone into these, were far beyond a simple pastime.
“I’m proud of you!” Zenna had to raise her voice to be heard above the noise of the loud music and the chatter.
Luca took another glass of champagne from a waiter and handed it to her. “Didn’t think I was any good, did you?”
She giggled. “All right. I’ll admit that I had my doubts.”
He took a glass for himself. “I’m proud of you.” He nuzzled her hair with his chin.
“What for?”
“For looking to die for.” His eyes went over her black, sleeveless cocktail dress with appreciation.
“Thank you, Luca.” She sipped her champagne. “I do feel like a bus compared to all these long-legged models.”
He bent down to whisper in her ear. “All the men here only want to lay their hands on your curves.”
She exploded in laugher. “You charmer. If only...”
She was having fun. A distant part of her felt guilty about having left Etán behind. She missed him. Tonight she didn’t want to worry. She didn’t want to think about what Luca’s brother did to her. She didn’t want to ponder on why the chemistry between them was so powerful. She felt free, in control, and strong for the first time in her life.
Luca’s eyes shined. “It’s good to see you like this.”
“Like what?” she asked with mock indifference.
Instead of answering, Luca pulled at her arm. He pointed in the direction of the bar. “Look what the cat dragged in.”
Zenna turned her head in the direction Luca pointed and felt her heart come to a standstill. Marcos stood, only a few paces from her, at the bar. She immediately recognized the breathtaking blonde in the midnight blue dress by his side from the Gossip magazine photo. He was in conversation with someone, his hand on Monica’s hip.
Zenna’s first instinct was to take flight. “Let’s go,” she said, pulling on Luca’s sleeve.
“Not in your life, Sugar,” he said.
When she quickly looked up at him, he winked. “Payback time,” he said in an evil tone.
Slowly, a smile curved her lips. “That’s despicable.” Feeling the dare that came from Luca motivating her less admirable side, she lowered her voice, speaking excitedly, “Are you sure you’re up for it?”
“You bet, Sugar.” He smiled down at her.
In that same instant, Marcos turned and spotted them. At first, there was only an expression of boredom on his face, but as recognition set in, Zenna watched his face change from surprise, to shock, and finally into a look of confusion. She saw him say something to Monica, the blonde’s eyes moving, coming to a stop on Zenna with an undisguised, hostile expression.
“Playtime,” Luca whispered in Zenna’s ear.
Marcos had pushed his way through the crowd. “Zenna?” His eyes trailed over her. “You look...”
“Indescribably sexy?” Luca filled in for him. Marcos shot him a questioning look. “I get that all the time,” Luca explained, turning to Zenna. “Isn’t she a dish?”
Marcos frowned, measuring Luca. Luca stood a head taller than Marcos, his muscled body far broader and manlier than the finer body of Marcos. Luca crossed his arms over his chest, making a point of showing off his big biceps.
Marcos’ frown deepened. “Who are you?”
Luca extended a hand. “Luca Perez-Cruz.”
Marcos hesitated and finally shook the hand Luca offered. “One of the Perez-Cruz brothers?” He looked back at Zenna. “I thought you were with the other Perez-Cruz brother.”
“I couldn’t resist stealing her away, man,” Luca interjected. His hand slipped over Zenna’s backside in a suggestive movement. “Would you be able to resist a,” his eyes traveled seductively over Zenna, “woman like this?”
Zenna had to suppress the laugh building in the depths of her stomach. She cleared her throat. “Luca, this is Marcos. Marc is a model.” She placed an extra measure of emphasis on the last word.
Luca looked Marcos up and down. “Really? You don’t say.”
Zenna swallowed the laugh that threatened to escape. “Marcos is my ex-boyfriend.”
Luca’s eyes widening in mock disbelief. “You dated Zenna?”
Marcos’ frown deepened. “Actually, we were engaged.”
Luca slipped his arm around Zenna’s waist, pulling her close. “Oh no, I’m so jealous now, Zenna.” He kissed her playfully on the lips. “You naughty girl. I am so going to have to spank you for this. Why ever did you not tell me?”
Zenna enjoyed playing her part, moving into Luca’s embrace. “Well, we weren’t technically engaged because I never did have a ring.” She cocked an eyebrow in Marcos’ direction.
Marcos looked from Luca to Zenna. “You look great, Zenna.”
“Great?” Luca laughed with contempt. “Is that the best you can come up with? She is ravishing, my man. I work with these...” Luca waved his hand around the room. “Umm, girls every day, but I’ve never met anyone quite as exquisite as my Zenna.” He kissed her again. “You should see the nudes I took of her.” He laughed as Zenna shot him a look. “Actually, you should not,” he corrected.
Zenna pinched Luca. Really, nudes?
Marcos seemed to pale a shade. “So, you’re the photographer. I’ve heard about you.”
“Fashion photographer,” Luca said. He turned to Zenna. “Your glass is empty. Want another drink, cherie?”
She handed Luca her empty glass and watched as he made his way through the crowd to the bar.
Marcos gave a little nervous laugh. “You sure get around, Zenna.”
She smiled sweetly. “Oh, it was fate, you know.” She made sure he got the irony of her words, her quoting him, before she continued, “Luca is the son of our neighbors...” She coughed. “Oh, excuse me, my ex-neighbors.”
Marcos stared at her. “You look happy.”
“Absolutely,” she lied.
“I’m glad,” he said. “You deserve it.”
Zenna looked toward the bar where Monica stood glaring at them, shooting daggers in Zenna’s direction. “You’re obviously very happy, too. I’m so glad it worked out well for the both of us.” She laughed. “I don’t know what we were thinking, talking about marriage and all.”
Marcos seemed insulted. He actually looked hurt. “At the time we were in love.”
Zenna laughed again. “In love? Goodness, no. We thought we were, but that was before I knew real love.” She glanced in Luca’s direction where he was waiting by the bar. He winked at her. “He is so good...” She lowered her voice suggestively. “You know.”
Marcos’ frown only deepened. He rolled on the balls of his feet, pushing his hands into the pockets of his pants. “To tell you the truth, Zenna, my life isn’t easy at all.”
“How come? I thought you had it all going for you.”
“You don’t know how hard it is for me.” He glanced in Monica’s direction. “Monica is constantly on a diet. Just because she is, I’m punished too. She always makes remarks about how fat my ass is becoming. She comes to bed with sticky face masks, and she spends hours in the bathroom every day, plucking her eyebrows and bitching about gray hair.”
He shook his head. “Honesty, Zenna, I don’t know how long I can take it any more.”
Zenna pouted her lips. “You poor baby.”
“She always belittles me in front of her friends. She doesn’t trust me, at all. She keeps on checking up on me. She actually stole my mobile and checked my messages,” he said, a measure of disbelief in his voice.
“That’s horrible, Marcos. I simply cannot understand how she cannot trust you.” Her sarcasm went unnoticed.
Luca arrived with their drinks, handing a chilled glass of champagne to Zenna. “I don’t know about you, Sugar, but I think we should call it a night.” His voice changed with the insinuation of an underlying meaning. “I want to get you home, if you know what I mean?”
Zenna gave Marcos a sweet smile. “We have to go. So nice to run into you, Marcos. You look good.”
When she turned, he touched her arm. “Can I call you? Maybe we can go for a coffee or something. It would be nice to be friends.”
“Marcos I’m sorry, but Luca is so jealous I just can’t risk him bashing your head in with a baseball bat.”
Luca shrugged, smiling. “That’s my girl.” He put his arm possessively around her shoulders.
“See you around,” she called over her shoulder to Marcos as they made their way to the exit.
Once in the lift, she let the pent-up laughter bubble from her stomach. “Oh, Luca, you were priceless.”
He grinned. “I told you I was going to make it worth your while to come out tonight. We should be writing soapy television scripts.”
She punched him playfully in the ribs. “You knew, you scoundrel. You knew he was going to be here.”
“If I had told you, you wouldn’t have come.” He kissed her lightly on the cheek. “Now you know that you don’t feel a thing for him. Isn’t freedom sweet?”
She giggled. “You’re far too clever, Luca. Thank you for making me realize what a fool I’ve been.”
“You’re welcome, Sugar.”
She hugged him tight. “You’re a good friend.”
“Drink up.” He motioned to the champagne.
When she had obliged, he took the glass and threw it over his shoulder into the corner of the lift where it shattered onto the marble floor.
Zenna sucked in her breath. “What the hell?”
“Live life on the edge, Sugar.” He grinned, as he pulled her through the opening doors, drawing her by her hand and laughing down the famous fashion road of the capital city. “Stuff the driver. Let’s get a taxi. I can see our guards running to keep up with us.”
Zenna glanced back over her shoulder, giggling when she saw the four men running behind them. It was one of the best nights of her life. She realized she didn’t feel a thing for Marcos. He was a sorry, sad, selfish man, and she couldn’t imagine why it had taken so long for the blinders to drop from her eyes.
The following morning, Luca came to drag Zenna out of bed early. Despite her protests, he shoved her toward the bathroom with an order to take a shower and to get dressed. When she was finally ready, he was waiting for her in the kitchen. He casually announced he was taking her to breakfast in town and then on a shopping spree. When she told him she didn’t like shopping, he called her a liar. When the security officer in charge objected, Luca told him to arrange more bodyguards.
“What’s the occasion?” Zenna laughed happily. Luca’s good mood was so contagious, it was almost possible to forget about Etán. She hadn’t yet seen him this morning. Apparently he had left early for some meeting.
Luca ushered her through the front door toward where a chauffeur waited next to their car. “Today, we are going to celebrate your new freedom.” Luca held open the passenger door of the car for Zenna.
When he moved in beside her and gave the driver the address of a posh hotel, Zenna shot him a curious glance. “What new freedom?”
Luca produced a bottle of champagne and two glasses from the backseat. He handed the glasses to her. “Hold this so I can open the bottle.” He fiddled with the cork. “First of all, you are free of Marcos. Secondly, and more importantly, you are, as from today, an independent visionist.”
Zenna couldn’t hide her surprise. “First of all, champagne in the morning? Secondly, I thought Margarita had said I still needed a few sessions.”
The cork popped, and Luca took a glass to fill it. “Firstly, haven’t you ever heard of a champagne breakfast? Secondly, I spoke to Margarita. You do need a few sessions to polish your skill, but you are, as of today, officially in control of your mind.” He handed her a filled glass, taking the empty one from her.
“In other words, I’m not crazy anymore?”
“You’ve never been crazy. I think you’ve been too sane, but now you get to act as crazy as you want.” He touched his glass against hers. “To your new life.”
“You are crazy.” She laughed, reveling in her new status.
“Don’t you love it?” He had a glint in his eyes.
“I shouldn’t drink on an empty stomach.”
“I’m taking you to breakfast. The best breakfast buffet ever. We’ll be there in twenty minutes. You won’t get tipsy before then.”
She giggled. “How do you know?”
“I’ve seen you handling your alcohol before, when Etán and I went looking for you in that bar.”
She rolled her eyes. “Thanks for reminding me, but I was way past tipsy that night.”
“Indeed, but that was Pisco, not champagne.”
She smiled warmly. “You’re so nice to me. I don’t deserve you as a friend.”
“No, you don’t,” he teased. “Today we are going to buy you the clothes that reveals the real you.”
She waved to her checkered miniskirt and pink stretch top. “Isn’t this the real me?”
Luca looked at her as if he was inspecting a piece of art. “I think you’ve been hiding and running for so long you’ve forgotten the real you. We’re going to buy you things you really like.”
“But I really like this,” she protested.
“Then we’ll get you more.”
Zenna looked from the window of the car to the moving landscape outside. For the first time in years, she felt truly free. She realized she even felt a little bit happy with herself. When she was with Marcos, he was just a way of making herself feel better. In retrospect, she needed Marcos to make her feel good about who she was. It was wrong, because she didn’t really love him. She hadn’t even really looked deep enough to see him for who he was.
Inevitably, her thoughts drifted to Etán. If she was brave enough, she could look deep enough to see the man he really was. There was just the chance she could lose herself, her heart so deeply in him, she wouldn’t ever be able to find her way back. She wasn’t going to spoil the morning with nostalgia. Luca was being exceptionally kind to her. He was the brother she had always wanted to have, and she simply loved his boyish ways to bits. She pushed her longing to the back of her mind, and forced herself back to the present.
She brought the glass to her lips. “Cheers, Luca. To life.”
“To life, Sugar.” He patted her hand.
When they returned to Sol y Sombra, Teresa stepped outside, waved them to a stop, and spoke to the driver. Instead of going around to the front, the driver parked at the side of the house. The butler rushed forward to open the door for Zenna and to take their shopping parcels. Luca had been an evil shopper, rejecting Zenna’s each and every objection, making her shop until she literally dropped onto the backseat of the car. Boxes with shoes, dresses, and other things she wouldn’t even share with her mother filled the space. The champagne definitely had something to do with her exuberant mood, but it wasn’t as intoxicating as Luca’s positive vibes.
Zenna got out of the car and flashed a brilliant smile at Teresa. “What’s going on? Are we having VIP visitors or something that Luca and I are not allowed at the front of the house?”
Teresa looked flushed. She pointed a finger at her lips, motioning to Zenna to speak softly. “Don Etán and Clara are sitting on the front veranda,” she said with a big smile, her eyes widening in animated meaning.
Zenna looked at Luca and for a second she thought she saw him freeze. She looked back at Teresa who hurriedly ushered them toward the veranda door leading to the kitchen.
“Come look,” she whispered, waving at Luca. “It’s so very exciting.”
Zenna followed sheepishly, Luca short on her heel. The happy atmosphere of their morning madness evaporated. Luca looked hard and cold. Confusion assailed Zenna. They followed Teresa through the kitchen and down the hallway to the small reading room, which had a view of the front veranda.
Peering through the net curtain, Zenna saw Etán sitting at the white-washed wooden table, his body turned slightly in the chair, his legs stretched out casually, one arm leaning on the small table, the other draped over the chair back. Opposite him sat a young girl. She had long, red hair that curled down her back. She looked tiny and fragile, in a feminine way. She wore a pretty white dress with a thin, black belt around her waist. Her legs were crossed under the table, revealing some expensive looking, dainty white and black high-heeled shoes with ankle straps. Her hands were folded on the table in front of her, and she listened intently to something Etán was saying. He smiled at her, and she smiled back. She was too pretty.
Teresa clasped her hands together, tilting her head. “Aren’t they so beautiful together?” she whispered.
Zenna’s throat tightened. Luca’s face turned as dark as a brooding thunderstorm.
“Teresa,” Luca spoke without removing his gaze from the couple outside, “what is Juan’s Clara doing here?”
“What’s going on?” Zenna turned to Teresa. “What’s the meaning of this?”
Teresa had a dreamy expression in her eyes. “We are going to have a wedding.”
The earth spun under Zenna’s feet. “A wedding?”
Teresa smoothed her apron. “In one week!” She glanced at the couple again and then looked back at Zenna and Luca. “Etán said not to disturb them.” She flushed. “What are we doing spying on these people, so in love? What am I doing? I should be taking them their ice tea.” She darted back to the kitchen.
Zenna, her throat almost too tight to speak, forced the words past her frozen lips. “Luca, did you know?”
He shook his head. “Seems my brother is full of surprises. I don’t think I have the stomach to stay and watch this.” He turned and walked from the room.
Zenna narrowed her eyes. “Like hell,” she mumbled to herself.
Marching straight into the kitchen, she almost bumped into Teresa who was emerging with a tray and two glasses of ice tea.
Zenna took the tray. “I’ll take this.”
Panic flashed across Teresa’s face. “No, senorita.” She didn’t release her grip on the tray. “Don Etán specifically said he does not want to be disturbed. You cannot—”
Zenna plucked at the tray forcefully, causing some of the liquid to spill over the edges of the glasses. “Give it to me!” she demanded.
Teresa tried to hold on to the tray, but Zenna’s next pull almost caused both glasses to tumble.
Reluctantly the housekeeper let go, her face openly distressed now. “But... but...”
“No buts,” Zenna said over her shoulder.
She walked outside, and it wasn’t until she had stopped next to the table that the two people looked up.
“Hi,” Zenna said sweetly to the girl, ignoring Etán.
“Hola,” the girl said, smiling. She was even prettier up close than from afar. She had clear blue eyes and a friendly shine to them. If it wasn’t for the situation, Zenna might have actually liked her. The girl had an open face.
Zenna hardened her heart. “Who are you?”
Etán made a move, but the girl spoke quickly. “I’m Clara. You must be Zenna. I’ve heard so much about you.”
“Have you?” Zenna said coolly. “I can’t say the same about you.” She smiled candidly. “Teresa asked me to bring you this.” She lifted the tray.
Before Clara or Etán had time to reply, Zenna tipped the tray toward Clara, causing the glass closest to the girl to slide toward the edge of the tray, tip, and fall. The cold liquid spilled into Clara’s lap a second before the glass landed on her white dress.
Zenna tilted her head. “Oh dear, I am so sorry about that. Did I spoil your dress?”
Clara gasped in surprise. She jumped from the chair, causing the glass to fall to the floor, bouncing once before it shattered.
Etán was on his feet. The look he gave Zenna didn’t promise anything good. He moved to Clara’s side. “Come, let’s get you inside. I’ll get Teresa to help you get cleaned up.” He took Clara’s arm, leading her toward the house.
As they passed Zenna, he said in a low, dark voice, “I’ll have a word with you in the study.”
Zenna dropped the tray on the table, causing more of the ice tea to spill. She turned her chin up in defiance as she watched Etán escort the beautiful, soaked girl into the house.
Zenna marched to the study, because she too wanted a word with Etán. She stood waiting, her back to the door, facing a window with her arms crossed. She heard him enter and close the door behind him. She waited for him to speak before she turned to face him.
“Zenna,” his tone was reproachful, “that was completely uncalled for.”
She pursed her lips, fighting the tears she could feel building. “Are you going to marry her, Etán?”
He took a few steps toward her. His face told her the answer even before he opened his mouth to speak. She looked away from him. “Zenna,” he said softly, “I didn’t mean for you to find out like this. I didn’t expect you back so early.”
“What is going on?” She turned her face back to him. The effort of holding back the tears made her chest ache.
He held up his hands. “I need to explain to you...”
“I thought you said you’d never marry again. Or did that only apply to me?”
“The situation is exceptional.” He suddenly looked like he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. The way he hunched, the way in which he pulled a hand over his tired face, made her pause, made her look at him, and listen.
“Zenna, it’s the new land reclaim bill. It’s as good as done. The only way to save our land, our heritage, is to combine it with our neighbor’s, with Juan’s. The only secure way to do it is through a sacred joining.”
“Marriage?” She verged on hysteria. “You are divorced. You can’t marry in church again.”
“My father has already gotten me special permission from the church. Since I declared the divorce against my will at the time, the church has pardoned me.”
“How can you do such a thing? How can you sacrifice yourself?”
“Zenna, there are things in life that are bigger than us. We do our duty when we have to.”
“What about her? What about Clara? Doesn’t she want to marry someone she loves?” A painful thought suddenly hit her. “Or does she love you?”
“Clara is from a prominent family, Zenna. She knows what is expected of her. She is not doing this against her will. We both agreed to it. We were just discussing the more ... practical ... details of our future life together before you decided to drop a glass of ice tea in her lap.”
Zenna’s hands flew into the air. “What’s the point? You’ll save the land, but for what? For who?”
Etán was quiet for a long moment. When the meaning of his silence finally dawned on Zenna, her eyes widened in disbelief, and in pain.
Etán took another step forward. “Clara may be young, but she has both her feet firmly on the ground. We have agreed we will have a marriage in name. It won’t mean sharing a marriage bed except for the heir we have to produce.”
“So you’re going to have sex just to have an heir. Then, you each stay in your own separate bedrooms and fuck whoever the hell you please?”
Etán’s face darkened. “We won’t sleep with other people.”
Zenna rolled her eyes. “Oh, that’s very noble. Why don’t you simply become a eunuch for the sake of your family?”
He tried to smile. “I could, as long as I’ve first performed my duties to bring a child into this world.”
Zenna shook her head. “This is all so wrong. For all the wrong reasons. Don’t you want to be happy?” A sob escaped her. Tears she couldn’t hold back any longer streaked her cheeks.
He closed the distance between them and pulled her to him. “Zenna, if there was another way...” He kissed her hair. “Whatever it is, this thing, between us ... I don’t even know what to call it. I will always remember your touch, your kiss, the way you smell... Anyway, I couldn’t give you what you wanted, baby. You deserve more. Not some second-grade love from a man with a cold heart.” He sighed heavily. “This way is best. Clara doesn’t expect my heart or my love. She only asks for my respect and friendship in return for saving our lands.”
Zenna pushed away from him, her body trembling. “Where is Ana? She can’t possibly agree with this.”
Etán wiped a tear from her cheek with his thumb. “My parents have both given us their blessing, Zenna.” He smiled lopsidedly. “Nothing needs to change. You’ll still work in the office, maybe move in with Luca. You’ll always be a part of the family.”
Zenna looked at him in disbelief. Did he really think Luca could be a substitute for what she felt for him? Didn’t he know Luca was like her brother? She shook her head. She couldn’t talk about it any longer.
“I suppose congratulations are in order,” she whispered through her tears, before she ran from him to lock herself in her room.