"Of course it is. In Spain such things matter, though I agree it's less than they used to. You care for Ana?"
"Yes, and she's Spanish. You'll be pleased that there's one part of me that delights in a continuing Spanish connection and I think you will approve of Ana in particular. Yet there's another part that delights with Caterina, partly through shared interests in systems but more because I ... I have no words. There's a different, perhaps more cerebral, connection yet accompanied by mutual attraction. Counterbalancing these, with Ana I have to think about the dead hand of Spanish family rigidities with all their weighty impositions, while with Caterina there's her instability, and Australia is a long distance to travel, for I suspect that moving there might be required."
Tío Toño considered before he spoke again. "I agree. You're in a tough place. I'd thought as much. You have my genuine sympathies. I don't know what to suggest."
Davide was touched.
"There's also Inma."
"What? A third lady? What are you up to? Founding a harem, or a brothel?"
"No." Davide explained about Inma, her business and how Ana had recommended him to Inma not knowing that Davide had done the same for Ana.
"Heavens above, Davide! You sure know how to make life complicated. No wonder you can rescue the Vatican and bring down governments." His chuckle was now far friendlier and more uncle-like than minutes before. "Right, here's what we'll do. On Tuesday I'm having a dinner party at my piso for us two, Caterina and Emilia, Ana and this Inma. That makes two old men and four young ladies; hardly fair on them."
"Inma's older than I am, if in fantastic shape."
"That's irrelevant. Who else can we ask? Rafa Garibey? Maybe not. What about Pedro, this policeman?"
"He'd be a good choice. It might be wise to ask Emilia in case she has an escort in mind, although it might not be so good inviting someone who no one else knows."
"I met Emilia. What a ..."
Yet again he was lost for a description.
"Vamp?" offered a voice.
Davide sprang up to introduce Tío Toño and Ana. She bent over, kissing him with gusto, before sitting between them.
Davide's uncle regarded her. There was an uncanny resemblance to somebody he knew. He couldn't work it out. That pronounced jaw line, the nose, those fine features ... But lovely she was. A cheetah to Caterina's gazelle. No wonder Davide was in trouble. He himself would probably have fled already, in despair.
With Davide starting making phone calls to set up the dinner, Tío Toño turned to Ana, "Davide didn't tell me your last names?"
Sunday: Inma
Inma was perplexed. As she had told Davide, Caterina, and separately Ana and Emilia at their lunch, her business needed to grow. She knew that she could not do everything herself. Last week she had received yet another invitation to assist a multi-national wanting new income streams from reinsurance. It seemed she was occupying a sweet spot in the market, although for how long such popularity could continue was always in doubt.
As was usual for her weekends, Inma had driven to Yuste on Friday, to her finca on the southern mountain edges of the Sierra de Gredos. It was her personal pride as well as a retreat.
More importantly it was the place where she had finally broken free of the shackles of Opus Dei, though she still thanked its founder for his genius in wanting to enable people to work, worship and contribute. This was a powerful combination when handled well. But it could be abused, as she had seen though for a long time resisted. With hindsight she acknowledged her past reluctance or inability to accept what was happening smack in front of her eyes. That's what devotion does for you she had since reflected.
Thus, to Inma, it had not been that much of a surprise to find headlines shouting out the sins of the Cardinal Archbishop and Inocencio Fajando, the latter being secular head of Opus in Spain. Inma had never liked Fajando and her patron in Opus had mistrusted him. But no one she knew of thought he was on the take. If the press were right she regretted his demise not a jot, especially if the removal of his malign influence enabled better people to rise to the top and redirect Opus back to Escrivá's original ideals.
Opus was for her, however, history. Also behind her was Miriam. More resigned than accepting, Inma remained profoundly grateful to Miriam for releasing her sexuality – finally permitting escape after years of Opus chastity. Yuste was where she and Miriam had started their 'relationship', though that was a horribly cold word for something producing so much heat, pleasure and satisfaction.
Had it been just sexual? She was still not sure. Sometimes it felt like it was. Most of the time she was convinced it went deeper. Nevertheless, the demands of her increasingly successful business combined with Miriam's sister's cries for help from New Jersey had dealt mortal blows to what might have been.
This weekend was the time to take stock and look forward. Inma was still trying to sort out in her own mind about what Davide recommended about Ana and Ana's talk about Davide. At a business level it was simple. They were both priceless, if in different ways. But she also had to consider the other complications. Intuitively she understood that having Ana and Davide working for her and involved with each other could lead to an unaffordable disaster.
Inma decided on a third long session in her gym. She had needed the short one on Friday and the intense one yesterday. Her exercises were one of those necessities too often sacrificed to business schedules. She must, must, must concentrate, otherwise she'd lose the shape that turned heads and had taken a decade to acquire. She was not getting any younger. The truth was she loved the admiration now lavished on her. The downside meant this required her to work ever harder on herself.
She emerged two long, sweaty but exhilarating hours later. Following a swift shower, for she was not one to dally, she was soon back in her kitchen. She fed the roaring wood-burning stove, which, when lit, kept both it and her salon cosy at any time of day or night, summer or winter. Listening to the rain beating on her windows outside, Inma delighted in her privacy and warmth.
Turning on the radio for the first time in three days, before starting to cook, she received a shock. She knew the Presidente del Gobierno had resigned. According to him his wife was the unfair, persecuted victim of accusations of money laundering.
To Inma, Pastor Nieves was contemptible. She had met him once at an Opus event where he'd smarmed up to all and sundry as if he was their knight in shining armour. She had thought him too good to be true. Clearly her judgement had not been all wrong.
What she learnt now was that Pastor Nieves' wife was a hospital administrator who chaired the purchasing panel of the hospital area where she worked. From the investigations of journalists it was emerging that her brother worked for one of the largest drug wholesalers in Europe and she had been instrumental in steering multi-million euro hospital purchases to his firm without competitive bidding. Unbelievably, she was also a director of two smaller local companies, which she owned in her own name. Her committee had also bought medical services directly from these, no doubt at artificially high prices.
Inma gasped. Such blatant abuse was organised beyond credulity.
The much-acclaimed Juez de Instrucción, Garibey de Williams, clearly had had an impressive week. Wait! Was he not the one that Ana – or Davide or one of the Australians – had mentioned? She was pretty sure he was. Garibey de Williams was an unusual pairing of names.
She started giggling. It was shades of the Vatican and its HolyPhone all over again, though, thank goodness, without her own involvement this time. Davide was in the middle, making the unlikely occur. Intriguing. Things happened around him. Why, she had never worked out. But they did.
Then there was Ana. For as long as she could remember, Ana had disdained Inma, not that Inma could blame her. In her Opus days Inma was hardly the family prize. Yet, apart from her own sisters, Ana was the one person in the family who had most immediately accepted the 'new Inma' without question or doubt. She was perceptive as well as able, which was only
what Davide and her own family had always said.
Inma made a decision. Whilst exercising it had occurred to her that Davide was at heart a free agent. He probably would not want to be an employee and she could probably retain him when or if needed. That way she could have access to his abilities and insights when necessary. If this was so, she must step-up her efforts to ensure Ana joined her, perhaps accelerating the prospect of her becoming a partner.
She smiled, deciding this felt right. She hoped Davide would cooperate. She had liked him the first time they met and even more so now. In one sense Inma wished he and Ana could be together, but where would that leave Caterina?
Caterina and Inma had eventually warmed to each other. The dinner they shared with Davide had been good, even if Inma's hangover had been royal the morning after. But Caterina was so ... a good word did not come to mind. Always living on an emotional ridge, yet so clever.
Emilia was another source of bewilderment. Inma had already come to the conclusion that she was fascinated by Emilia. She had such energy and overt sexuality. Should she make a pass at Emilia? Or Caterina? Or even Davide? Thank goodness Ana was out of bounds as family, as Davide probably was too.
But even if she did, what would that do to any business prospects? It was all so wonderfully puzzling.
Her mobile rang as she opened an Alion, one of her best Ribera del Duero red wines. This was well-deserved. Having tracked down her phone, right at the bottom of her handbag, its ring tones had ceased. Checking the log, Inma saw it was Davide. She touched the screen to return the call.
Davide picked up to say "Can you come to dinner on Tuesday in Malasaña? My tío Toño is here. I want you both to meet. I think you'll like him."
"Tuesday? That should work. I'll look forward to it. Is it just you and your uncle?"
"Of course not. The other three Amazons will be there too."
"Am I also an Amazon in your eyes? Don't bother to answer. I can guess for myself. Acid to the last. You're a glutton for punishment, Davide. It will be a pleasure to watch your evisceration by four single-breasted ferocities. Ciao."
She giggled. 'Amazons' was an accurate description for Caterina, Emilia and Ana – especially if you were in Davide's shoes. As for herself, Inma would contemplate that in bed when she reconsidered Emilia. At least Tuesday gave them an opportunity to meet again, though she would have to think about calling Emilia beforehand. That could have advantages.
Monday: Emilia
Emilia felt ashamed, which was unusual for her. Yesterday had been a disaster. She had returned to Malasaña at around eleven wondering how to creep back into the piso without being seen. She had seen herself in a glass window. Dishevelled was being kind, especially compared to her appearance when tío Toño had suddenly appeared on Saturday evening.
Emilia was not certain but thought that it had been him she had seen whilst lurching down the street back towards the piso. There was nowhere to hide. Luckily, or possibly because he had seen her and did not wish to cause embarrassment, he'd turned in the opposite direction. This allowed her to slip back into the building only to receive disapproving looks from a middle-aged couple with two twee young daughters heading to Mass. Of their comments, 'slut' was the least worst.
In the elevator's mirror she saw herself more clearly. Emilia looked like she had been mugged or fallen out of bed several times. It was the latter.
Entering the apartment she met Caterina coming out of her bedroom. They looked each other up and down before Caterina spoke.
"You look like shit; a drunken slut!"
Twice in one morning, thought Emilia, though coming from Caterina the description hurt.
"And you Caterina, look like you need screwing, which at least I have been and thoroughly at that!"
Emilia immediately wished she had not said this because of the mix of hurt and envy on Caterina's face.
Unfortunately, Emilia compounded the situation by adding, "You really should've come with me last night, in both senses."
At that Caterina fled back to her room without another word.
After showering and making herself decent Emilia tried apologising but Caterina would not open her door. Later, when she finally emerged, she still would not say anything to Emilia until tío Toño reappeared.
He had taken charge of a late lunch, on the terraza. He had devoted half his attentions to Caterina, finally inducing her to become companionable to some degree and capable of addressing a few words to Emilia.
When tío Toño focused on Emilia, she found him excellent company. She enjoyed his account of the meeting with Juez Garibey whilst his descriptions of the anticipated changes in government proved fascinating. She'd had no idea of the impact of their researches. The same applied to Caterina.
According to tío Toño, the changes coming were big, particularly regarding the constitution, to the civil service and the justice system. If all went as he described these were each to be depoliticised, taking advantage of the deluge of resignations. Furthermore, the press was speculating that 50 per cent of the ill-gotten corruption gains, if returned, would be enough significantly to improve the nation's precarious financial position, even opening doors to investment and leading to real jobs. On the other hand, mused tío Toño, there were going to be a lot of properties for sale, which might depress both markets and values. The King might have miscalculated.
When Caterina asked about the constitutional changes and whether this would lead to elected officials becoming more accountable to their electorates rather than party lists, tío Toño raised his eyebrows in surprise. Caterina explained what Davide had told them. Tío Toño agreed with Davide's analysis. Whether the new changes would actually occur remained to be seen. Yet he regarded the traditionalists hate of these ideas as being almost the guaranteed of delivery, through popular demand.
After lunch, tío Toño broke the news of the dinner party on Tuesday, hoping they would be there, adding Davide would be too. Before they could respond he added that Inma, Pedro and Ana were also invited.
Emilia rejoiced at the prospect of seeing Inma again, who had been preying on her hormones, which she could feel twitching. Emilia had wanted to call Inma to meet up but had not dared, despite them having stayed together through Inma's eye problems. She was too nervous to do so, especially after effectively telling Inma, though not in these words, that she was too old for Emilia. While Inma had not seemed to mind at the time, Emilia now regretted another poor turn of phrase.
Caterina did not appear enthusiastic about any dinner party, including Ana or even Davide, but she couldn't refuse.
After lunch, when tío Toño took himself off for his siesta, Emilia seized the opportunity to apologise. To her surprise, Caterina apologised as well.
Their cloud of mutual ill-will evaporated. They discussed what to do next. Caterina wanted to move on though both had been warned by Pedro that they might be needed for some time soon. Control was not yet back in their hands.
Both disappeared for their own siestas, which in Emilia's case was much needed through being too busy enjoying herself the previous night on that big bed and other places besides. She slept the sleep of one well and truly sated.
Waking early this Monday morning, for her Sunday evening had been lost to sleep, Emilia acknowledged to herself that she had behaved inconsiderately, even if Caterina had been forgiving and eventually friendly. This did not help.
Guilt was an uncomfortable and rare sensation for her. Nor could she see any way to help Caterina with Davide – or whatever Caterina really wanted for herself.
Monday: Ana
Ana was lonely. Davide had returned late the previous evening to Malasaña, though in trepidation. The meeting with tío Toño had not gone as expected. In fact it had been disastrous, for her and for Davide. They had tried to recover but failed. It was with a heavy heart that she had let him leave for Malasaña. Neither could see an immediate alternative and the dinner on Tuesday now felt like a double burden.
She had
talked with tío Toño as Davide made the invitation calls for the dinner to Inma and Pedro, for tío Toño promised to speak with Emilia and Caterina as well as with Ángela about the menu. Suddenly tío Toño turned serious with them both. He announced that, though they clearly did not know it, she and Davide were closely related.
They'd pressed him for more. Eventually he had said both the law and any idea of children were the issues. Of these two he thought the former would probably not matter today, though it definitely would have less than fifty years before. But too many shared genes were quite a different issue if children might appear. He accepted he was jumping the gun yet he had to say something before matters went too far.
Eventually tío Toño acknowledged that there was nothing more he could add and left. Ana remained sitting with Davide in shocked silence. They were both already confused enough and here was tío Toño upending everything.
Now it was Monday. Ana was back where she started: alone, on the shelf (she quietly laughed to herself when remembering how Davide explained that 'on the bench' in football meant waiting to be a substitute) and still with no future. Well, it was no different to three months earlier, before Felipe permitted Davide to bring in Caterina and Emilia.
Her phone rang. She answered it without looking.
"Dime," she answered despondently.
"Ana? Are you all right?"
"Oh, it's you Inma. Sorry, I'm not at my best today. I had bad news yesterday."
"What was it? No, don't tell me now. Meet me for lunch at 2 at my office. No, no arguments. Make whatever excuses you need. A ladylike headache will do fine."
Ana winced and said, "Emotionally I have that already. It wouldn't need invention."
Unwillingly, she dressed and dragged herself to Inma's. Fortunately, it was only a bus ride away. Inma opened the door and took one look at Ana before wrapping her in a cousinly hug.
Corruption's Price: A Spanish Deceit Page 36
