“It can’t be...” someone whispered behind Ximena. Isn't that the blue Villasignor night? The one that closed Paris Fashion Week...
They say it's worth more than two million dollars.
The cup slipped from the fingers of Ximena and shattered over the marble.
No. No, no, no.
That wasn't happening.
Three days earlier, Ximena had invited Gabriela as a joke. An elegant cruelty, he thought at the time, a way of displaying it in the middle of the capital’s elite to remind him of his place. She had even smiled at telling her, in front of two female friends just as poisonous as she did:
Put on what you have. I'm sure you'll look... appropriate.
I had imagined a cheap dress, some old shoes, clumsy makeup. I had imagined laughter, photographs, stories for Instagram and that addictive feeling of feeling superior.
Not that.
Not a woman who looked like a queen walking straight at her.
Gabriela lowered the last step with an unbearable serenity. Her dark hair was collected in a high, elaborate, flawless hairstyle. Some diamond earrings were barely swaying, like drops of light. Her straight back, her raised chin, the natural elegance with which she advanced... everything in her screamed money, lineage and world.
But three days earlier, in Ximena’s dressing room, none of that was seen.
“Gabriela, come here,” Ximena had said as the girl settled down an endless line of Italian heels.
Gabriela turned with her hands still busy.
“Yes, Mrs. Alcocer.
Ximena joined her friends, Rebeca and Fernanda, both laughing before even speaking.
“I have wonderful news,” he announced with that sweet tone that he only used when he was going to be cruel. Sebastian and I are going to sponsor a full table at Saturday's Charity Gala. You know, the most exclusive of the year. It's half government, businessmen, celebrities... the cream and cream of the city.
Gabriela was silent.
“And I decided to invite you,” Ximena added.
The friends covered their mouths to hide a laugh.
Gabriela instantly understood that it was a trap. He knew it from Ximena’s smile, because of the malicious glow of his eyes, because of the way Rebekah squeezed Fernanda’s arm to contain the laughter.
“He’s very generous of you, ma’am, but...
