The Villa

making a number of claims and accusations, with you her favorite target, when she thinks she has the right ear."
    Sophia absorbed the betrayal, the disappointment, and nodded. "I'll deal with her."
    "See that you do," Tereza advised. "If an employee can't be loyal, at least she must be dignified. We won't tolerate a staff member using gossip or innuendo as a bargaining chip for a position with another company. And Pilar?"
    "She's learning," David said. "Business isn't her strong suit. I think you misuse her, La Signora."
    "I beg your pardon?"
    "In my opinion, your daughter would be more suited as a spokesperson, a liaison for the company where her charm and her elegance wouldn't be wasted as they are working at a keyboard. I wonder that you don't ask Pilar to help with the tours and the tastings, where visitors could be treated to her company and have the extra benefit of personal contact with a member of the family. She's an excellent hostess, La Signora. She is not an excellent clerk."
    "You're saying I've made a mistake expecting my daughter to learn the business of the Company?"
    "Yes," David said easily and made Eli fall into a fit of coughing.
    "Sorry, sorry." He waved a hand as Tyler leaped up to pour him a glass of water. "Tried to suck down that laugh. Shouldn't. Christ, Tereza, he's right and you know it." He took the glass from Tyler, sipped carefully until the pressure in his chest eased. "Hates to be wrong, and hardly ever is. Sophia? How's your mama working out as your assistant here?"
    "She's hardly had time to… She's terrible," Sophia admitted and burst out laughing. "Oh, Mama, I'm so sorry, but you're just the worst office assistant ever created. I couldn't send you into the city to work with my team in a million years. You have ideas," she added, concerned when her mother said nothing. "Just like today, about the disclaimer. But you won't mention them unless you're pinned, and even then you don't know how to implement. More than all of that, you hate every minute you're stuck in my office."
    "I'm trying. And obviously failing," she said as she got to her feet.
    "Mama—"
    "No, that's all right. I'd rather you be honest than patronize me. Let me make this easier on everyone involved. I quit. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll go find something to do that I'm good at. Like, sit somewhere looking elegant and charming."
    "I'll go talk to her," Sophia began.
    "You won't." Tereza lifted a hand. "She's a grown woman, not a child to be placated. Sit. We'll finish the meeting."
    It was, Tereza thought as she lifted her coffee, encouraging to see her daughter show a snap of temper and a hint of spine.
    Finally.
     
    He didn't have time to smooth ruffled feathers, but since he felt he'd had some part in the ruffling, David sought Pilar out. Over the past weeks, Maria had become one of his conduits of news and family dynamics. With her help, he tracked Pilar down in the greenhouse.
    He found her there wearing gardening gloves and an apron, repotting seedlings she'd started from cuttings.
    "Got a minute?"
    "I have all the time in the world," she said without sparing him a glance or an ounce of warmth. "I don't do anything."
    "You don't do anything in an office that satisfies you or accomplishes a goal. That's different. I'm sorry my evaluation hurt your feelings, but—"
    "But it's business." She looked at him now, dead on.
    "Yeah. It's business. You want to type and file, Pilar? To sit in on meetings about publicity campaigns and marketing strategies?"
    "I want to feel useful." She tossed down her little spade. Did they think she was like the flowers she tended here? she wondered. Did she? Something that required a controlled climate and careful handling to do nothing but look attractive in a nice setting?
    "I'm tired. Sick and tired of being made to feel as if I have nothing to offer. No skills, no talents, no brains."
    "Then you weren't listening."
    "Oh, I heard you." She yanked off her gloves, tossed them down as well. "I'm to be charming and elegant. Like some well-tailored doll that can be plunked down at the right time and the right place, and tucked away in the closet the rest of the time. Well, no thanks. I've been tucked away quite long enough."
    She started to push by him, yanked her arm when he closed his hand over it. Then stared in shock as he simply took her other arm and held her in place.
    No one handled her. It simply wasn't done.
    "Just hold on."
    "Take your hands off me."
    "In a minute. First,