Page 14 of The Forbidden Cabrera Brother
‘If my brother was miserable in his job, he should have said something to me. As for being besotted with work... This vast family estate won’t run itself because I’d rather have fun lazing around and going on holiday.’ Dante was annoyed that he couldn’t give it up.
‘That’s not what Alejandro is about!’
‘Duty demands that the business falls to the sons. As it stands, I have my own concerns that occupy much of my time. The family business is now just part of something bigger for me, even though our father no longer busies himself directly in its running. However, it is up to the pair of us to take up where he has left off. Would Alejandro rather abandon his obligations so that he can pursue a life of fun and enjoyment?’
‘Your own concerns?’ Caitlin had latched onto his phrase...Duty demands. It gave her a very clear idea of why Alejandro was so loath to be open about his sexuality.
‘My parents built their company on import and export. I have single-handedly brought it into the twenty-first century and it has become a gold mine, but it is overshadowed by my own computer-software empire.’
‘So you work hard. But you volunteered for that, didn’t you? You weren’t content to just run the family business. You wanted your own, I guess because you enjoy that kind of ruthless, cut-throat lifestyle. Alejandro just isn’t built along the same lines. And the reason he hasn’t said anything...’ she sighed but it was too late to start wondering whether she’d got in over her head with this conversation ‘...is because of this whole duty and tradition thing. He knows he has to join the family business whether he likes it or not but...’
‘He’s never uttered a word of complaint to me,’ Dante said roughly. ‘I could...work this out differently... I have been thinking of taking my computer business into a different area—the leisure industry always has room for improvement.’ He frowned, padded across to a chair and sat down, stretching his legs out to the side. ‘The wheels are in motion for me to take over a couple of boutique hotels in South America. There would certainly be scope for some creative advertising.’
‘He would absolutelyadorethat.’
‘This is something my brother should have brought to my attention. It’s ridiculous that I have only found this out via a third party.’
‘Maybe he was scared of disappointing,’ she murmured. ‘Haven’tyouever been scared of disappointing?’
‘Disappointing who?’
‘I don’t know. Your parents...your girlfriend...’
‘To answer your question, no.’
Such self-assurance, Caitlin thought with a fascinated shiver. Little wonder Alejandro, so full of insecurities and doubts, had never thought to confide in his much more confident younger brother.
What must it be like to go out with a guy like Dante Cabrera? Personally, she had never been drawn to tough Alpha-male types but something feminine quivered inside her just for a moment at the thought of being with someone so absolutely in command. He was born to take charge and she remembered how that had made her feel when she had been frantic with worry earlier on.Safe.
Yet, he was willing to make concessions because, whatever his relationship with his brother, however distant they were from one another and however wildly different their personalities, he cared enough to try to see things from Alejandro’s point of view.
He wasn’t just a man of action. He was a listener. The problem was that Alejandro had never tried talking and Dante did not invite confidences.
‘We were talking about the fact that Alejandro will be in hospital for a while,’ Dante picked up the conversation from where they had left off before they’d gone down various byroads, ‘and I couldn’t help but notice that you travelled over here light.’
Caitlin looked at him with puzzlement because she wasn’t sure where he was going with this.
‘You’re going to need clothes, so we have to decide how we’re going to play this.’
‘What are you talking about?’
‘Well, you won’t be returning to London for a while. Presumably your company will allow you suitable time off?’
‘Time off?’ Caitlin parroted.
‘Alejandro is here and he won’t be going anywhere any time soon.’ He paused, giving her ample opportunity to see where he was heading with this.
How could she abandon her fiancé after the first night when he was lying in hospital, unconscious?
She blanched.
‘I... I hadn’t actually banked on spending much time over here...’Or any at all, for that matter.‘I don’t know what the company policy is on...on time off for...for...’
‘Compassionate leave? That does exist in your company, doesn’t it?’
‘Of course, but you know... I’m a freelance photographer... Yes, I’m employed by them, but I get called on to do various shoots and I’m paid accordingly...’
‘That hardly sounds a satisfactory situation.’
