‘Did you warn Bobby off donating to the shelter?’
‘Hang on,’ I heard him sigh and then he barked some orders in Spanish. A few seconds later, he spoke to me again. ‘What were you saying?’ he asked, with clear exasperation in his tone now.
‘I asked you if you are responsible for Bobby’s company withdrawing their donation to the shelter?’
‘Yes,’ he snapped. ‘I told you I don’t trust him.’
I wasn’t sure what to say next. I hadn’t expected that to be so easy.
‘Is there anything else, princess? I’m kind of busy.’
‘Yes. Did you offer to fund my post instead?’
‘Yes,’ he replied.
‘Oh,’ I said softly. I knew that he had. And I was kind of mad at him for it. But what could I say? He had made his feelings clear about Bobby. He had made sure that the shelter wouldn’t lose out because he had matched the donation and then some. What the hell did I have to argue with him about really? I knew the kind of man he was, and it was one of the many things I loved about him.
‘I’ll let you get back to your work then,’ I said.
‘Good.’
‘Alejandro! Wait. There is one more thing.’
‘And what’s that?’ he asked, the irritation in his voice clearly audible now.
‘Te quiero.’
I heard a soft sigh this time, not one of exasperation, but perhaps of relief. ‘I love you too, princess.’