“You know exactly what I mean,” Carmen said, getting to her feet. “Just because I’ll be working with him doesnotmean that Victor and I will be getting back together. So get that out of your head. Same goes for Mom.”
Her father held up his hands. “Okay, bueno. I believe you.”
“Now call him back in. I know he’s still out there. He onlyleaves when it’s convenient for him.” Carmen came around from her desk and waited with her hands on her hips.
Victor returned, shit-eating grin firmly in place.
“I knew you couldn’t resist me.”
“You’d be surprised what I can resist,” Carmen replied through gritted teeth. “Right now, I’m resisting throwing a paperweight at your head.”
“I’m not worried.” He smirked and gestured at her minimalist desk space.
Carmen raised her chin and lobbed the ball back into his court. “You want to tell me why you canceled aworld tour?”
His expression shuttered, dark eyebrows creasing as his gaze slanted away from hers. “No.”
“Of course not.” Carmen turned to her father. “So what’s the plan? What’s our goal here?”
Victor answered instead. “There’s another tour coming up, with a few other Latinx singers. I want in on it.”
Carmen eyed him up and down. “We have our work cut out for us if you want someone to give you a spot on a tour so soon after you canceled another one.”
Her father spoke up. “Especially since they’re also looking at giving the spot to Dimas del Valle.”
“Dimas?” Carmen’s gaze shot back to Victor. “You hate that guy.”
Victor’s expression turned thunderous and he muttered a string of Spanish insults under his breath.
“Oye.” Carmen snapped her fingers and strode over to Victor, getting all up in his personal space, closer than she would with a typical client. Close enough to catch the heady scent ofhis cologne. She jabbed her finger in his chest to get his attention. His hard, firm chest. “They’re going to make a decision soon, and if you don’t clean up your image and make yourself visible, they’re going to pick Dimas for the tour. Is that what you want?”
Victor scowled, his eyes darkening. “You know it isn’t.”
Carmen gave a cocky little head shake. “Then you need to stay out of trouble. That means no parties, no drinking, and no messing around with your stupid friends. Where are you staying?”
When the corner of his mouth ticked up, Carmen narrowed her eyes. “Whenever you make that face, I know I’m not going to like whatever you say next.”
Victor’s grin turned mocking. “Well, if I have to stay out of trouble, there’s only one place that’s perfect for that.”
Carmen scoffed. “Where, a monastery?”
His smile was slow and devious. “No, even better.” He waited a beat for effect, then said, “Your parents’ house.”
Carmen sucked in a breath. “Ay, puñeta.”
“Cut!”
Chapter 6
Jasmine turned to the director, who wore a big grin.
“That was perfect,” he said from his chair, looking up from the playback screen. “We’ll get the shot of Victor walking in again, but then we’ll go to the next scene.”
Jasmine moved off to the side and gratefully accepted the bottle of water handed to her by a PA.
“Great work, Jas.” Peter Calabasas joined her, trailed by two makeup artists who immediately set about touching up the actors’ faces. “You’re a natural.”
“You make it easy,Dad,” Jasmine said with a grin. “Are you joining us for drinks Friday night?”
