Chapter 2 The Morning After the Moan
de León Mansion
Soledad de León did not raise fools. She raised businesswomen, heartbreakers, and devil in designer. But apparently, she had also raised a scandal.
On the dark mahogany table, the tablet flashed more often than the number of facelifts performed in Dubai. What kind of punishment from the universe had befallen her family?
Perhaps it was a sin she had to pay for because de León had amassed wealth even before their tequila business took off. They were still the richest dynasties in the United States. What’s wrong with being beautiful and rich?
HAMPTONS SCANDAL: MARITZA de León CAUGHT RED-HANDED WITH A MAN WHO IS NOT HER FIANCÉ!
“¡Qué barbaridad!” She exclaimed, throwing her laptop, and her very eager Belgian maid picked it up.
Valentina, her youngest daughter-in-law, fluttered in a lace robe, her son Alejandro nearly spilled his espresso, and poor Stephen, the assistant, poured Soledad’s emergency brandy.
Just like she heard her name being summoned, Maritza appeared, barefoot, and her eyes covered in sunglasses.
She could still feel the trace of Cole Harrison’s lips on her skin. Just thinking about his name made her blush. Like a schoolgirl.
Soledad spotted it at once. “¡Rosa María de León! Are you smiling? You’re trending worldwide, and you smile?”
Maritza froze mid-sip. “It’s the caffeine.”
“Liar. That’s the smile of a woman who enjoyed herself.”
“Maybe a little,” she muttered, too low for anyone but Alejandro to hear.
He grinned. “Spill. Was it good?”
She gave him the side-eye. “Eat your tamal before the priest swallows the communion wafer.”
Alejandro snickered.
Soledad smacked the table with her spoon. “Explain yourself! Why were you kissing a stranger like a telenovela villain with amnesia?”
“It’s not what it looks like,” Maritza sighed. “And he’s not a stranger.”
Stephen cleared his throat. “Technically, ma’am, the gentleman is Cole Harrison. Yale Law. No criminal record.”
Soledad blinked. “Yale Law? ¡Por favor! Can this family ever date someone normal—like a cardiologist?”
Alejandro grinned wider. “At least he’s hot. I’d kiss him too.”
Soledad hurled a napkin at him. “Shut up before I disown you.” She turned back to Maritza, eyes narrowed. “You know who called me this morning? Your parents. I’m from Madrid.”
The grin died on Maritza’s face. “They…what?”
Soledad nodded solemnly, like announcing a death. “They’ve already booked a flight. Your mother cried. Your father threatened to sue the internet.”
Maritza froze, mug halfway to her lips. “They’re coming here?”
“Oh, they are on their way,” Soledad said, crossing herself for effect.
Maritza groaned and sank back in her chair. “Fantastic. They couldn’t fly in. I’m sick, but one public kiss and suddenly they’re crossing the Atlantic to bury me alive.”
Valentina giggled, “Oh my, this is going to be such an exciting weekend-cito, no?’
Maritza groaned as Valentina left kisses for her mother-in-law.
“Please, don’t come back,” Soledad said as Valentina left with her dramatic flair.
“Abuela, you are going to die of a disgusto, and our whole tequila reputation is ruined. My parents are crossing the entire ocean just to kill me. I swear, mamá is bringing the rolling pin! This is a curse. All for one forgettable night.”
Soledad lifted her brandy in a toast, not feeling slightly angry at her. “At least you’ll die famous.”
Alejandro cackled. “And photogenic.”
Maritza peeked through her fingers, half-laughing despite herself. “You’re all demons.”
“Family,” Soledad corrected. “Calling us demons is an insult.”
Worthington Manor
Maritza de León arrived at Tudor-style Worthington Manor in the Hamptons with her over-the-top dress, not this old-money aesthetic people seemed to adore. Real red dress.
Ricardo called her name sharply. “Maritza!”
“Ricky, camere is everywhere.”
“We need to talk. Now!”
“No…”
He grabbed her wrist. “Don’t do this, Ritz, everyone’s watching.”
Maritza smiled, a smile made of sugar and poison. “Good, I love the audience.”
But Ricardo still dragged her behind a thick rose bush. The scent was sickeningly sweet. Maritza swore she now hated roses.
“You humiliated me!” he spat angrily.
“No, you insult yourself,” Maritza replied. “I just stopped covering up your sins.”
Ricardo laughed—a cruel, echoing, deeply cynical laugh. “You think people respect you now? ¡Por favor! You are de León. Pretty face, good pedigree… empty head. That’s all they see. That’s all they will ever see!”
Maritza’s lips parted, but Ricardo wasn’t finished.
“Why?” he continued in a low, venomous voice. “It’s true, you’re just a spoiled girl who doesn’t have…”
“Don’t stop, you bastard. Keep going!” she hissed mercilessly.
He approached, smiling like someone with a sinister plan. “Maybe Harrison already knows. You must have begged him to fuck you last night like the pathetic puta you are. You’re desperate to be wanted by anyone.”
Someone else whispered, “Madre de Dios.”
The slap came from years of control snapped in an instant.
Maritza’s palm stung. Fuck it. She lifted her chin, invisible tears glistening in her eyes. “Well, you were engaged to this little slut you never fucked because you only last for less than 30 minutes,” she said, her voice trembling between anger and victory. “Se acabó. We’re done.”
He staggered, blinking. “Tú…”
“Yes, you’re not my fiancé anymore, Ricky. I don’t care if you fuck your strippers, your porn stars, or someone’s mamá for all I care!”
Without fear, she turned around and walked away, as if the crazy woman’s energy had come from nowhere. Perhaps from this land or her ancestors.
Her mouth opened. “Cole?”
Cole slowly took off his glasses, his green eyes scrutinizing Maritza, then he smiled meaningfully. Maritza realized Cole was holding an ice pack. “You should hold that.”
She took it and held the ice pack. “You think I deserved it?” she asked.
He tilted his head. “No. But I think he did.”
Her lips twitched, and she noticed how everyone watched her.
“Don’t listen to them.”
He reached for her cheek, and the garden exploded in whispers. And kissed her.
Maritza pulled back slowly. “What in God’s name was that for?” she breathed, though the smirk tugging at her mouth betrayed her.
“The only way to shut them up.”
“Well,” she whispered, brushing her thumb over his collar, “congratulations. You’ve just made history.”
“My God!” someone cried, probably Reed’s grandmother, clutching her pearls with both hands. “She’s kissing the Harrison boy again!”
Cole exhaled, half-laughing under his breath. “Guess that’s my cue to disappear before your family declares a holy war.”
“Too late, Harrison,” she said. “You’re already part of the telenovela.”
Soledad’s voice thundered from the terrace: “¡Rosa María de León! Bring that man to lunch immediately! I need to see what kind of sin looks up close!”
Maritza sighed, lips curving. “Welcome to the family drama,” she said softly.
Cole ran a hand through his hair and gave a crooked smile. “I’ve seen worse episodes.”
