36: The Contract

Ana and Eva were starting to show their discomfort in increasingly dramatic fashion. Mario watched them as one might watch a pair of circus clowns — the kind you only laugh at once the act is over.
"If you feel you should leave, please do." He suggested.
Their impulse to compete with each other made them bicker with unintentional comedy. He decided to leave them as a last resort.
His stepsister Melisa came over.
"I've seen how you look at my mother."
He made sure not to look alarmed, but his radar went on full alert.
"And how, according to you, do I look at Marta?"
"The way actors look at each other when they're a couple in real life."
"You're exaggerating."
"Like Snow White and the Huntsman in Once. Or Rafa and Amaia in Ocho apellidos vascos. That's how you look at her."
"Melisa — are you comparing me to Josh Dallas or Dani Rovira?" He tried to take a step back, feigning indignation — though he couldn't quite hide the ironic smile.
She rolled her eyes and came back to it.
"Obviously!"
He crossed his arms, deadpan.
"Is it so terrible that I admire your mother?"
"Your father admires her — he thinks he'll only be happy if she accepts him." Melisa pressed her fingertips to her temples, mimicking an explosion. "You look at her as though she's the only reason you have to keep going."
For a fraction of a second, Mario felt exposed by his stepsister. But almost immediately, he thought of the infidelity clause he himself had written into the marriage contract, and all the lies he and Marta had woven together to conceal what they felt.
"I have a girlfriend — remember?"
"One you're ignoring by spending all your time at GODANE, Mario." Melisa crossed her arms.
"Where's the woman who was calling my girl insecure — the one stroking my arm like I was a Bond villain's cat?"
"Whose cat?"
"Never mind — you wouldn't know it." Mario crossed his arms to match hers. "Have you stopped trying to seduce me?"
"How could I compete with my own mother?"
"I don't—" He started to make an excuse and let it die before it came out.
"I'd ask you not to hurt that girl any more — just let her go."
"You're not the same Melisa as on Tuesday."
"Blame the zodiac — I'm a Gemini, what can I say?"
He watched his stepsister go over to the three GOZZE shareholders with the biblical names, who nodded and headed for the door looking weary. As if on cue, Ana and Eva, ADAN's shareholders, replicated the exact same move.
When Mario glanced back at Manuel, he noticed Felisa resting her hand briefly on his shoulder, and his father laughing with genuine ease.
Perhaps the pieces were falling into place without anyone needing to move them.
Hugo looked up and, with a gesture, called Mario and Melisa over.
"I've offered to design your website."
"That's brilliant, Hugo!" Melisa smiled as she sat beside him.
"I think that's a great idea — probably the best news the company's had." Mario relaxed, hands in his pockets.
"Do you know who I'd need to speak to about adding a direct access portal for client and supplier contacts?" Hugo got straight to the point.
"I'm head of sales at GOZZE, and Mario—" Melisa pointed at him "—is the equivalent at ADAN."
"I'm also the HR liaison, as well as head of PR." He added.
"And heir to your father's shares — since you're an only child!" Melisa laughed.
"So you're both still sharing the department?"
Melisa and Mario looked at each other — that was indeed still unresolved.
"My father suggested separating clients from suppliers. What do you think?"
Melisa glanced at her cousin, who was waiting expectantly, and after watching her aunt laugh at one of Manuel's weak jokes, turned back to Mario.
"Since you have more responsibilities in your other roles, it makes sense for you to keep the client side — the company will practically sell itself once Hugo's work is done." Melisa smiled at her cousin with confidence.
The big gentle man gave a small hop on his feet, trying to imitate a soldier's parade step.
"I hope I'm up to it, boss!"
"Oh, please — the boss is my mother." She waved the idea away.
"Or my father!" Mario raised his hand, inserting himself into the equation.
"I think it's about time we all headed home, don't you?" Melisa suggested. "The shareholders left without saying goodbye — honestly!"
She picked up her bag from the chair and her jacket from the coat rack. She waved a hand in farewell and left.
Mario and Hugo stood watching their parents with quiet pride. Manuel and Felisa were talking and laughing, completely oblivious to everything happening around them.
"When do you think they'll notice?" Mario asked.
"Notice what?"
"That they're alone."
"We're here too." Hugo was genuinely innocent.
"Do you think they'd notice if we left?"
"I suppose." He picked up his leather jacket and put it on. "Or maybe not."
Mario stepped out through the door and Hugo followed. Once outside, they checked the time — quarter to nine.
"I'll have to take a photo or my mother will never believe me when I tell her."
The IT man took out his phone and, with his wristwatch in frame, photographed Manuel and Felisa deep in what looked very nearly like a private conversation.
"Will my father still claim he's in love with Marta if I show him this?" Mario laughed.
"Wouldn't it be simpler if people just admitted what they feel?" Hugo put his phone back in his pocket. "My aunt is in love with you — but she won't admit that either."
"Is that so?" He played at being curious.
"Hadn't you noticed you're not alone in this?" He answered with a question.
"Either way, there's a clause in the contract that gives all the power to the wronged party if either of them is unfaithful." Mario decided Hugo was a good person to confide in.
"Is that why my aunt and your father can't get divorced?"
"No — that's not it. That's why they can't fall in love with anyone else." He tried to explain. "Marta can't fall in love with anyone other than him, and Manuel can't fall in love with anyone other than her."