"What? How did you know my name? Am I supposed to know you?" Her voice shook with uncertainty, her eyes searching my face and her brain scanning for possible places we could have met.
"No," I answered simply.
"Then how do you know my name, sir?"
I picked up a cigar from the table and dropped the glass of drink I was holding, briefly taking my eyes off her to scan the hall. My eyes found Doña Esperanza. It appeared she had been called over. Doña Esperanza and Alice's superior were looking in my direction. I raised my cigar and bowed my head to Doña Esperanza as a form of acknowledging her presence. She just smiled back at me.
I turned my head back to Alice.
"Are you going to answer, or are you choosing to keep me in suspense?" she asked, trying to sound nonchalant. I could see past her bravado.
I leaned back into my chair, my cigar in hand and its smoke curling around my head like a crown as I tracked the frantic movement of her pulse in the hollow of her throat.
With her notepad in hand, I noticed how she drowned in the middle of the hall, her midnight hair shadowed by the dim light. Most people looked away when I turned my full attention to them. But Alice… she just stared, her mind a visible storm behind those thick lashes. She was yearning for an exit that didn't exist. I didn't need her to speak; her confusion told me everything.
"You asked a question earlier," I said.
"Yes, several, in fact, and yet you haven't answered any," she replied.
"I remember you asking if I was having a good time and what you could get me tonight," I said, slowly tugging a corner of my lips upward.
"So?" she asked cautiously.
As an answer, I licked my lips and looked into the deep darkness of her eyes. She stared back at me, appearing unbothered, but there was the faintest tremor in her eyes due to my scrutiny. I held the contact for a few seconds, long enough for her pupils to dilate just enough to betray the quickened pulse she was trying to ignore. Only then did I allow my eyes to continue their slow, deliberate descent: her nose, down to her lips, her jawline, her throat, her chest, her stomach, her hips, down her thighs and legs.
I looked back up and saw in her eyes the aftershocks of my scrutiny. Understanding dawned in her eyes, and panic followed. She turned, duties postponed, cares abandoned, having one goal in mind: to exit the hall as fast as her legs could carry her. This time, she was successful at it.
Everyone looked at her as she fled past. At that moment, Doña Esperanza walked up to me after sending Alice's superior after Alice.
"What happened? Do you want her removed or fired? She has been around less than 72 hours," she said immediately as she was within earshot.
"Oh no, not yet anyway. It will spoil all the fun. She's an interesting character, and I want her around," I replied and took a sip of my drink.
"Sit, please. I'm not interested in giving an ear to any of Richard's proposals," I told her, and she looked behind her, briefly scanning the room for the man.
She finally took her seat and poured herself a drink. We both sipped our drinks in silence as the loud music, cheers over wins, and arguments over losses enveloped us. From the corner of my eye, Doña Esperanza turned her roaming eyes to regard me. She must have seen something that made her break the silence.
"How are you, Gordito?" she asked.
I wanted to tell her, but this wasn't the environment for such talks.
"I'm fine, Doña. You look lovely in that dress," I complimented, and she blushed, looking down at her dress.
She was wearing a floor-length, flowing midnight black gown. It had an off-shoulder cut that was bold, a testament to the confidence I had leaned on since I was a boy. She looked less like a housekeeper in that dress and more like a powerful, controlling queen overseeing her court. Her dress had black lace at the waist that caught the light. She extended her hand for me to plant a kiss. I gave her what she wanted.
"How have you been? I hope you're fine yourself," I asked, reminding myself that she was the only person, aside from my kids, I could never afford to lose.
"Yes, I'm fine. It's demanding work, yes, but it's going well. I'm so sorry about Meteo, dear. I've made calls and arrangements. I've also picked the date to fall on Saturday next week," she explained. She further went into details about what she had planned, but I barely heard a thing.
My body was still humming from my encounter with Alice. It's odd how I had never felt such a need like that. Not since Brenda and college, anyway.
"Doña," I looked at her and called.
"Yes?" she answered.
"I need to go to bed. I'll see you in the morning concerning Meteo's replacement. I hope you sleep well." I stood up, kissed her on the forehead, and walked to the exit; a few armed men followed me at a distance.
I intended to go to my room to rest a bit, but I thought against it. I knew I wasn't going to get a wink of sleep. So instead, I headed down to my study, about three armed men following me at positioned distances. I stepped in but froze momentarily. I was shocked to find Alice there.
The door had opened quietly, so she hadn't noticed. I took the opportunity to study her for a bit. She looked awed by either the number of books or their titles. I slowly realized that if it had been anyone else, I would have had them punished for daring to come into my sacred place, let alone touch my books. But Alice? I was satisfied with her reactions.
I clicked the door shut; its sound startled her. Then I cleared my throat.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to intrude. You have a very wonderful collection, but I noticed there are a few romance and adventure books. When I saw them earlier today while I was cleaning, I thought to check it out while I had the chance. I didn't know you might want to come here, though; my bad. But I'm surprised by your taste," she said.
Seeing the look on my face, she explained further, "I mean, for a man like yourself, I didn't realize… um… well."
Was she trying to confess to the fact that she thought I was illiterate?
"You left your work at the party," I pointed out, walking further into the room.
"Yeah, well, it was… stuffy… in there," she said.
"No, it wasn't," I countered, making sure not to take my eyes off her.
"For me, it was," she argued back.
"Are you asthmatic?" I asked.
"Um… no," she answered.
The hall was properly aerated. I understood the feeling she was having difficulty putting into words, so I dropped it.
Moving further into the room, I plunked myself down on my chair behind the desk. I was admiring her skin in the light's reflection when she spoke up.
"So, you never got to tell me how you knew my name,"
"La Casa Áurea," I said, observing how she searched for the precise moment of our meeting.
Then her face lit up suddenly. "The mahogany hair! I should have known, of course. It was you," she spat out, realization dawning.
"I rarely visit that place, but I went for a stroll around the area and decided to stop by for a meal, and so that's where you have it," I explained further.
"Hmm. And so, just to be clear, you're 'The Montoya'?" she asked.
"Yes, Alice," I answered. She was quiet for a while.
"You've got lovely kids," she said.
"You touch my kids, and your life is over, do you understand?"
Of course, she didn't answer, maybe because the calmness in my voice contradicted the weight of my words.
"What's your name?" I asked.
"You're joking, right?" she asked, trying but failing to hide her wide grin. I replayed my words in my head and noticed the joke.
"Your full name," I clarified.
She opened her mouth but clammed it back shut without saying a word.
"Why are you asking? You don't feel safe around me?" she asked, cocking her head sideways, challenging me. I smiled, inwardly noting to bring it up with Doña.
"Where's your dad?" I asked.
"He's dead," she replied.
"Do you have brothers?" I asked again.
"No, sir. Can I know why you're asking?"
I sighed, "I'm in need of a male worker. The pay is good."
"What kind of work?" she asked.
"Go to sleep, Alice; you've work tomorrow."
I watched her bow and took her leave.