Page 62 of Through You
“You’ve grown, a lot, Claudia.” I pick up the hint of malice in her tone. “You should use your attributes to accomplish your goals and get ahead. Or do you want to spend the rest of your life as a housekeeper?”
My mouth forms a fake smile. “I will never lower myself to your level. No, thank you.”
She laughs. “Oh really? And here I was thinking you were already screwing the patriarch of the Hidalgos, sinking your hooks into the fattest fish in the pond.”
I keep my fists clenched on my hips.
“Projecting your ways and methods on me? People aren’t all like you.”
“Like me? Or maybe, more like your mother?” She moves closer. “Or are you forgetting how she would trade her body for cheap drugs? I always wondered if she ever prostituted you, simply because, you know . . .”
The sound of the hard slap I give her echoes in the empty hallway.
I speak through clenched teeth. “You can say whatever you like about me but don’t you ever mention my mother.”
“Who do you think you are, laying your hands on me?” She snarls at me and raises her arm ready to strike, but I catch her wrist midair and push away her hand.
“I’m leaving now.”
She gives me one last look with hate-filled eyes before I walk away. I barely make it to catch the last bus. Once on board, I stare out the window as I travel along the route taking me back to the house. I’m happy that my position in the family is secure enough I no longer feel intimidated by Mrs. Hidalgo. I’m not five years old anymore; I’m a grown woman.
Right after the supplementary reading class I’m taking at school, I went back to the Hidalgo house. I entered to find the fireplace lit, which was uncommon in the middle of summer. I was about to head to my room when I noticed Mrs. Hidalgo sitting across from the fireplace.
“Oh. Good evening. I hadn’t seen you there, ma’am.” I tried to limit my interactions with her.
“Claudia, I was waiting for you,” she replied with a forced smile. “Have a seat.” She offered me the chair that she was facing.
I obeyed and sat down across from her. I was about to ask her if she needed something from me when I noticed the small book on her lap. My diary.
“You know, I didn’t expect to find this in your room. I walked in out of mere curiosity and lo and behold, this was in full view right on top of your nightstand.” She shook her head. “You are quite stupid for a fifteen-year-old girl.”
I struggled to swallow.
“You shouldn’t take other people’s private property,” I squeaked out.
“This is my house and I can take whatever I damn please.”
I opened my mouth to reply but she carried on. “Which is something you seem to forget, Claudia. This is my house. And we took you and your mother in despite—” She scowled in disgust. “Despite everything your mother has done out there on the streets.”
“And my mother and I are very grateful, ma’am.”
“Oh really? How grateful are you, Claudia?”
Her question sent shivers down my spine.
“A lot.”
“Very good. That means you’ll do as I say without resistance or objection,” she said as she opened my diary and began to read.
“‘Today, Artemis held my hand again. And my chest felt like it was going to explode. I felt nervous and my palms were sweaty, so I quickly let go, afraid that he would notice.’ Aww, how sweet.”
I put down my head, ashamed. She didn’t stop there, but turned the page.
“‘Artemis invited me to see the fireworks this weekend. He said he has something important to tell me. I hope he is going to ask me to be his girlfriend. Although he’s older than me, and my mom will get mad, I don’t care, my feelings for him make it all worth it. I know we are still too young but what we feel for each other is true love, like you see in the movies.’”
“Ma’am, please.”
“Yes, I think that’s enough. We welcomed you into this house, and you have the nerve to set your sights on our son?” The coldness in her voice frightened me. “Listen to me, Claudia. You’re going to stay away from Artemis. He’s leaving for university at the end of the summer. Then, he will be pursuing a future path that has been decided by his father and me. And you won’t stand in the way. Agreed?”
