‘So Mr Meade has offered to pay for someone to take over your duties in the restaurant. How does that sound?’
She looks at her father. He’s not just taken money for my replacement, she thinks. I know him. My father drives a hard bargain. Even when it comes to selling his daughters.
Sergio speaks up. ‘The whole summer, just for playing, kerida,’ he says. ‘All the way to September. Imagine, Mercedes! What would I have given for a summer of leisure when I was your age? What a lucky girl you are!’
‘What do you think, Mercedes?’ asks Mr Meade, in English. ‘Are you on board?’
She doesn’t really have a choice. Tatiana watches silently through lowered eyelids. It would be amazing, she thinks. No hot days carrying plates and washing up till my hands turn red. Getting to use that snorkel every day. We could visit every beach within walking distance, and maybe the duke would lend us his car if we wanted to go to … I don’t know. The mountains? The temple?
But is this how friendship is, for these people? A transaction? Do I really have the option to say no?
‘Okay,’ she says.
The men sigh with satisfaction. Tatiana jumps and claps her hands. Comes running forward and grabs her by the hand.
‘We’re going to have so much fun!’ she cries. ‘Oh, Mercy, I’m so glad you said yes! We’re going to be best, best friends! Can we go out now, Daddy? Please? There’s this beach I want to see, and it’s not going to get dark for hours!’
‘Of course you can, darling,’ Mr Meade tells Tatiana.
The men turn back to each other. ‘Great,’ says Mr Micaleff. ‘So I’ll have the contract and the non-disclosure agreements ready to sign the day after tomorrow. You’ll all need to sign them, of course. Your wife and your other daughter too.’
Mercedes stares as she turns into a commodity.
‘Yay!’ Tatiana exclaims. Grabs Mercedes’ hand again, and starts to lead her from the restaurant. ‘Come on, Mercy! You’re all mine now!’