Page 40 of LA Reign

“Yes. Everything is great. Mr. Montoya asked me to wait for him in the bar downstairs until he’s finished his meeting. I’m just going to order a glass of wine until they’re done.”

He nods. It sounds so reasonable. “I’ll escort you downstairs, Ma’am,” he replies.

“There’s no need. He’s just asked Hugo and Hank to wait for me at the elevator. I think you should stay here and look out for Alejandro and Mateo. I’m in safe hands, don’t worry.”

He looks at me, his eyes searching my face. All those years working on my father’s political campaigns have stood me in good stead. My acting skills are still intact. The guard nods, calls the elevator, and lets me step inside. Alone.

As soon as I reach the lobby, I walk through the reception, trying to hold it together until I get outside. A security guard stops me, but I smile confidently and tell him that my personal security is waiting for me outside. I know I might be getting these men in trouble, but right now I don’t care. I just need to escape, to get away from the Montoyas and their poison.

I take a deep breath as I step outside into the bright LA sunshine. Looking around the street, I have no idea what I plan to do next. All I know is that I have to get as far away from here as possible.

I see a cab waiting and jump into it. It’s the first time I’ve ever been in a cab in this city, and it makes me realize how small my life has become. How little independence I have. I willingly gave that up to be Mrs. Alejandro Montoya, and it all seemed worth it for a love that was so fierce.

Now? Now I wonder if I made a terrible mistake. “Where to, Miss?” the driver asks me.

I stare at him in the mirror. It’s a good question, and he looks a little impatient as he waits for me to answer. Where do I want to go? The simple answer is, as far away from my husband and his father as possible. I need to get away from the Montoyas, from people who see me as defective and think I’m of no use to them anymore. From my fake family, this fake city, and all of its insanely perfect, insanely fake people.

I need to be with someone who loves me despite all my flaws, someone who would never think I’m defective. “LAX please,” I say as I sit back against the seat. The sense of instant relief I feel tells me that it’s most definitely the right thing to do.

Chapter

Fifteen

ALEJANDRO

Ilook up at the man I have always respected more than anyone else in the world and wonder what the hell has gotten into him. I told him about the news Alana and I received earlier, expecting some words of advice and support. Expecting his sympathy and understanding. Instead, he launched into a diatribe about how useless Alana is to me now. He’s not subtle about it either. I fume silently as he uses words like ‘defective,’ and advises me to get rid of her. To discard her like used goods and look for something better.

I let him talk. That is his way, and it always has been. He talks at people, usually forcing them into submission with his power and conviction. When he finally stops, I stay where I am for a minute, trying to control my disappointment and my fury.

When the silence shows me that he has run out of bile to spew, I finally stand up. “Have you quite finished insulting my wife?” I snarl at him, unable to keep the emotion out of my voice.

He glares up at me, not at all intimidated. “Watch your tone, mi hijo,” he warns sternly.

“No, I will not fucking watch my tone, Papa! How dare you come into my office and talk about my wife like that? She is devastated that she might not be able to get pregnant, and if you can’t be anything but one-hundred-fucking-percent supportive of her right now, then I don’t want you anywhere near either of us.”

“Alejandro!” he snaps. “I am your father.”

I have never spoken back to him like this before, but there is only so much I can take. I will not tolerate anybody badmouthing my wife, not even him.

“No. Right now, you’re just some jackass who is standing in my office, insulting me and the woman I love. So, if there’s nothing else, then get the hell out.”

His gets to his feet, and his nostrils flare as he glares at me, no doubt wondering if he should punch me in the face for daring to speak to him like that. He may be older now, but he is still a strong man, filled with pride. Respect is important to him, and I just offended him. But respect goes both ways. He needs to know that if he insults my wife, then he also insults me.

For a moment I brace myself, expecting the worst. But that moment passes. He stares at me coldly, then turns around and storms out of my office.

I walk out of my hotel suite and into the hallway. I cancelled my final meeting of the day because I want to get home to Alana. I need to make sure she is okay. But more than that, I need her to make me feel okay, too. I held it together earlier at the doctor’s, for her sake. She needed me to be strong. Beneath that, I was also devastated, and I’d hoped that speaking to my dad might help me come to terms with things.

That did not go as planned, and now, I just need to be with her. I need to hold her in my arms, kiss her beautiful face, lose myself in our love. We will get through this together, but only if we’re both honest and we both make the effort. That starts right now, with me prioritizing her over work. Over my father. Over everything.

“Evening, boss,” Lorenzo, says. “Are you heading to the bar?”

“No. Straight home,” I say as I reach the elevator.

“But Mrs. Montoya said you were meeting her in the bar.”

I frown at him in confusion. “What?”

“When she left earlier, she said that you’d told her to wait for you in the bar.” I see his Adam’s apple bob in his throat as he swallows. He’s nervous, and he has every fucking right to be.