Forgot to mention but this book takes place like in the 1960s to 1970s? So they have no technology and the cameras I talk about are the big bulky ones.

——

I wake up wedged in-between Esteban's strong arms and protective arms. I knew he would be waking up soon to train in practice. I had called Mariel as soon as the driver left to tell her where I was so she wouldn't be worried about me.

Esteban's alarm buzzes off and he stretches awake, leaning over to kiss my lips. I look up to him and he chuckled, not knowing I was awake.

"Did I wake you mi amor?" he asks through a scratchy voice.

"No... I couldn't sleep... I never can anymore" I say running my finger against the scar on his chest. He pulled the ends of my fingers into his lips and kissed each one of them softly. We still hadn't talked about...last night and everything the conversation entailed.

"So..." he says, lifting the sheets from his body.

"So?" I sighed looking up to him as he stood from the bed.

"I'm still going to fight. I'll be dammed if I let a stupid man like the Presidente steer my future." he says, opening the curtains on his window to see the peeking sun.

"Esteban ...what about your sponsors?" I sigh, sitting up to lean against the headboard.

"Hector will take care of that Anais" he curses. Just before I could protest again there was a knock on the door.

"Speaking of the devil" he grins walking out the room to open the door.

"Took you long enough." Hector cursed making his way in. "Esteban, look I know you sounded angry last night but this is perfect! Break up with Anais! She sleeps with the Presidente and you keep the sponsors. It is a win win situation!" he claps. I sauntered out Esteban's room and lean against the border of door. "Good morning to you too Hector" I waved sarcastically.

Esteban

"Oh Anais! How lovely you look! It's been so lon--"

"Save it you rato" she rolled her eyes, moving to start making my breakfast. I went to the bathroom to start my grooming but Hector quickly followed after me. "Esteban ...come on. You know how powerful the presidente is. His word is final."

"Well? Esteban La Renta does not fear his power" I explained nonchalantly squeezing a heavy glob of paste onto my brush.

"Anais will still be taken care of and you'll be free. You can date any girl Esteban!" his voice was barely above a whisper, scared to anger Anais once more. I rolled my eyes squeezing the tube onto my toothbrush again to brush my tongue. "Letting her sleep with that rat is not an option Hector" I cursed, rinsing my mouth clean.

"Come on Esteban? He's a playboy? He's no different than you? What's the difference between what he does and what you used to do?"

"I never forced a girl to sleep with me. I'm not a RAPIST. That's the difference Hector!"

"Esteban you're making my hair fall out!"

"Good! Maybe my words will be sent faster to your brain? I teased him washing my face and changing into my practice clothes. I push him out the way and head to the kitchen, hypnotized by the smell of fresh bacon and huevos. Anais cracked three eggs over a frying pan as she poured my juice in a glass.

"Huevos rancheros?" she announces, looking over to me with a smile.

"Si mi armor, gracias" I smile excitedly, rubbing my palms together as she pushes a plate to me. She gave me a hefty serving, kissing my lips with care before turning back to the stove to turn it off. Hector sat next to me eager to join me in my feast, tucking a napkin into his neck.

She got a plate from the cabinet and smiled at Hector. She held the white plate at each corner and dropped it in front of Hector.

I chuckled loudly, finishing my meal as I stared at her with glee. Hector never liked any of the girls I brought home and slept with, so Anais was no different. But one thing that differentiated Anais from the others was her resilience. She wasn't backing down without a fight.

Anais

The phone rang and Hector pushed his chair, running over to pick it up. "Esteban La Renta's residence" he answered, "Oh...hey Mariela..." he laughed awkwardly. "You've been good?....." He nodded and gave the phone over to me. "For you"

I nodded and took the receiver in the bedroom, closing the door behind me give Esteban and Hector some privacy.

Esteban

"So what now?" I ask, tapping my chest to let out a burp.

"I don't know Esteban... the presidente is a powerful man. He can any man's career with a snap."

"Can't we frame him? Or catch him threatening someone? It would compromise his office?"

"But Anais is no one of importance. Even if she tried to get dirt on him the media wouldn't care."

"So what now because if it was up to me I would take a knife and stab him in the--"

"Hey!" Hector halted my speech. I scraped off the last morsels of beans from the plate and looked to Hector as he reflected. "You just focus on practice and the tournament coming up. It's in three days and you need to win the match no matter what. Remember your purpose. I'll figure this out" he reassured me.

I nodded and threw my plate into the dishes. Just before I went to wash my hands Anais comes back out with a smile. "So that was Mariela! She and the girls have been asked to dance at the opening ceremony of the torunment coming up! "

"Really?" I smile drying my hands.

"Yes, so I have only 2 days to memorize and practice with the girls. I'm the headliner."

"That's great mi Amor!" I went over to pick her up and kiss her lips. She looked into my eyes and ran a palm through my curls in admiration. "So how will we do this El Jefe? Us?"

"We do it one day at a time.... if you'll still be mine?"

She looked down to the floor and considered my words eventually pulling my lip to hers. "One day at a time El Jefe" she agreed. I placed her down, pulling her into my arms and hugging her with care. "I love you mi armor" I sighed, kissing her lips with heat.

"I love you too Esteban but I NEED TO GET DRESSED! Practice is in a few minutes. So I have to rush out" she gasped, running to my room to find a loose fitting top and shorts.

"I'll wait for you then." I suggested.

"No Esteban... I'll be fine. By the time you drop me off, you'll be late for practice"

"I mean Hector can drive you...if you want?"

"He will!" Hector yells, his mouth was full of leftover huevos he had picked from the pot.

"Yes, he will!" I whispered, gritting my teeth with rage.

"I rather ride with the President" she grumbled beneath a breath.

"Anais" I snapped, warning her to watch her words.

"Okay..... fine." she sighed sending daggers into his eyes. He had already devoured into the frying pan of her food, gobbling down the last bits of the meal.

"I have to go mi amor but I'll be back by 6 pm. You still have the key to my house right?"

"Yes..." she frowned. Her eyes were begging me to stay. I knew she didn't want to be left alone with Hector but I really needed to go.

"I love you," I said, kissing her forehead with care,

"I love you more" she kissed me back before I looked back at Hector. "If she complains about you to me, your fired my friend" I warned

"Yea right!" he scoffs, bending down to look into the fridge. I rolled my eyes and kiss her one final time before heading out the door to practice.

—-

Anais

Hector and I drive to the other side of town in silence. He turns on his radio to some boring station but of course, I turn it to something different. He lifts his palm to the dial and turns it back.

"What's your deal?" I snapped, turning the radio off altogether.

"I have no deal Anais" he snapped.

"So you are just this bitter to everyone?"

"No, only to the people I don't trust" he explains ever so causally.

"And let me guess, you don't trust me?" I gasped sarcastically.

"Si, muy bein!" he nodded warmly.

"What? Do you think I'm out for Esteban's money or something? You think I'm gonna drain him clean?"

"No... but I think you are in it for the perks?" he explains his stance.

"The perks? Being called a whore on every magazine cover? Having your grandma reject you? Having nowhere to go to just relax?" I yelled. There was an awkward silence in the car as he sped down along the winding roads.

"Anais... I didn't know" he confesses, pulling his sunglasses from his eyes to watch me.

"Of course you didn't know but it's not like you cared enough to ask. I was just another whore in your eyes. Here for a quick f**"

"No Anais... that's not it--" he tries to explain himself.

"Save it. It's funny someone like you looks down at a girl like me when you do the same thing."

"It's not the same with guys" he tries to defend himself.

"It is... which is exactly why you left Mariela. You didn't deserve her. You're a horny rat and she is an angel." I defended my friend.

"...You're right. I didn't deserve her and now... I regret the way I treated her."

"I'm glad you feel bad." I said smugly, collecting my things to get out the car as he pulled closer to my destination. The dance studio was just in the distance.

"Would you tell her...?"

"Tell her what?" I asked, pulling my curly hair into a top bun.

"That...I miss her and..."

"No. You tell her yourself." I nodded, waving Mariela down as he pulled up into the studio lot. She had a tight bun and black tights as she came over to greet me in the car but once she saw Hector in the driver's seat, she did a full 180.

"Mariela! Mariela! WAIT" Hector yelled, hopping out the side of his car. Just before he could catch her, a group of paparazzi surrounds me.

"Hey! HEY! MOVE" I cover my face trying to find my path.

"Anais! Anais!

We heard you and EL Jefe are back on!

Did you make up? We saw the car heading to his place"

Hector wraps his arm around me and guided me through the heavy crowds. "Anais will not be answering any questions or comments. Now move you vultures" he yells, guiding me through the flashes of light.

"Oh come on Hector! The people are eating her up!" one man yells before clicking away.

"Just keep on walking and don't show them your face" he whispered, guiding me to the studio. We finally get in and I sighed, looking out to the curtains to inspect them.

"I suggest you get used to that" Hector hinted, looking back to face me. I sighed, trying not to let my fear show. I snapped my eyes away from him and looked to the girls stretching near the stage.

"I'll tell Esteban to come and get you..." he says awkwardly.

"Thanks" I nodded and walked to join the other girls in the distance.