“He has.”
Alejandro resisted rolling his eyes. Always an act, always the supportive father in public and his number one critic in private.
“Alejandro, may I have a word?”
He wanted to say no, to tell his father that until the board held their vote at nine o’clock, he had no interest in being within a dozen feet of him.
But with his mother looking on with such pride and exuding pure happiness, he had no choice but to incline his head and follow his father out of the ballroom.
As they walked out, he looked up. Calandra watched him, eyes flitting between them, a frown on her face. He gave her a small smile. Knowing she would be waiting for him gave him a boost, one he desperately needed if he was going to face Javier.
He strode past his father and led the way into an alcove off the grand foyer. He stood off to the side, waited for Javier to follow him inside and then moved in front of the doorway. One wrong word and he was gone. He would not have his night of triumph ruined.
“The board has already informed me of their decision.”
His stomach sank, followed by a swift rush of anger. Based on the emails, the conversations he’d had as he circulated the ballroom, he thought they’d vote in favor. The impulsive part of him wanted to turn around, walk back to the ballroom and demand an explanation for their duplicity. Few of them had seen him at his angriest. Perhaps it was time.
“Seems like you won this round, then.”
Javier blinked. “What do you mean?”
“Getting the board to vote againstLa Reina.” He leaned in, flashing a devil’s smile. “No matter.La Reinawill succeed. All that money you accuse me of wasting has been accumulating a nice bit of interest in a Swiss bank account. More than enough to see her through her first year of operations.”
His father frowned. “There’s been a misunderstanding. The board is voting unanimously to complete the renovation ofLa Reinaand support its opening later this year.”
Triumph zinged through his veins. He raised his chin. “I’m glad they saw sense.”
Javier clasped his hands behind his back and started to pace. “Is that what you truly think? That I was trying to beat my own son, to make him fail?”
Alejandro bit back the first words he wanted to utter. He tucked his hands in his pockets and leaned against one of the pillars.
“When have you ever given me cause to believe otherwise?”
Javier sagged. Suddenly, his father looked very old, his wrinkles deepening as he sank down onto a settee and hung his head. Alejandro never would have guessed himself capable of pity for his sire. But the sight of the patriarch of the Cabrera empire, shoulders drooped, skin gray, inspired just that.
“I’ve been too hard on you.”
He must have misheard.
“What?”
Javier scrubbed a hand over his face. “I was a terrible father to you. To your brothers.” He let out a hoarse laugh. “I don’t even know why your mother stayed with me.”
“I don’t, either. How long did you cheat on her?” Javier’s head snapped up. “Or are you cheating on her still?”
“No!”
His father’s denial echoed down the foyer. Alejandro arched a brow.
“Careful, Padre. Unless you want to draw attention to who you really are.”
“Who I...”
Javier’s voice trailed off as his eyes widened slightly. “Minerva.”
“Minerva?”
“The woman you saw me with in the library.” Javier swallowed. “You’re right. I cheated on your mother.”