Egoísta

(  — ♔ starter for @martywrites​. )

        Working for the ever renown Salazar family came with its tests and tolls, no ordeal ever enough, however, to completely push him away. The cartel had become something of a priority in his life, or so his mind believed, though his heart differed. A particular brunette had reigned him in many years ago, making it difficult for him to ever consider leaving and being unable to fathom risking her safety. Not that she couldn’t look after herself. After all, she was a Salazar. There he sat, inside the bar of a club; one that, despite his hatred of Manhattan, he still frequented outside of Genesis. It was as though her presence was magnetising, as though he was glued to her on some subconscious level, as he turned to face what could only be Regina Salazar several feet away. 

Over two months had passed since the masquerade. Two months since the world had become privy to Maya’s involvement in The Gazette as the renowned and infamous S. Two months since Regina had turned on Abel amidst their tentative reunion, believing him to have been involved in the blogger’s attempts to tear apart her legacy and world. Yet they would never truly be apart, would they? Somehow always returning to one another’s orbit, the gravitational pull between them almost more than Regina could bear. Two pairs of dark hues linked from across the room and she made a point to excuse herself from a conversation, approaching rather casually considering their last encounter until she took pause beside him. Fingertips drummed along the mahogany surface of the bar top, her only tell of uncertainty beneath the façade of confidence she perpetually exuded. "Drinking alone tonight?” Raising an index finger, she commanded her usual from the bartender without a word. “This isn’t your scene. What are you doing here? My father put you on babysitting duty again?”

“A fight? You and Milo? What am I, in an alternate universe?“ Kian started through a light chuckle, hoping that it would make the situation a little lighter though probably failed. She cleared her throat and moved her gaze towards the food at the mention of her brothers. “That ones more believable.” another joke. “You’ll always be good with me.” she pointed out. Instead of throwing any more of her attempts to make her friend feel better, Kian sat up straight in her chair and gave her her undivided attention. “What happened?”

“Good. So you must still know me too well, Regina.” Elliot knew she’d pick up exactly what he was hinting at. Yes, it was Abel and her’s business, yet he’d always vouch for his best friend. And in this city where deceit thrived, Elliot knew the guy was stand-up. Not like most Hollywood men where he wouldn’t be caught dead setting Regina up with. “I’m honored, as always. You really want me to spoil it for you right now?” He mused. 

"And you know better than to waste your breath on trying to convince me, I see. Smart man.” Elliot had seen their relationship bounce around over the years and while offering his input every so often, he never actively pushed Regina in any one direction. For that she was grateful. “I never was a patient person, but you don’t have to give me the nitty gritty. Just... A summary. What you might say on a press tour.”

       Abel couldn’t help but notice the duplicity in her words, the slightest of smirks tugging at his lips as he maintained her gaze. “Alright then, make that two,” he stated, holding two fingers up to the bartender before leaning his hand against the counter, never once breaking his gaze on her. She was beautiful, so much so he wished to tell her that. Beautiful even in the morning, when she was free of makeup and her hair was a mess, at least by her standards. Beautiful now, as she stood before him, mischievous eyes staring back at him undoubtedly. And on his own part, confidence. “—You know, I spotted you when you first entered. And decided then and there you were the most striking person in the room.” 

"Mm. Flattery will get you everywhere with me.” He must have known as much, however. Their relationship spanned a near decade and a half, there was little to Regina that he hadn’t yet comprehended. Other than her reasoning for cutting ties as fervently as she did, nor did he have any inkling of the cowardice which coursed through her veins at the mere thought of him. “You remind me of someone I once knew. Have I mentioned that yet?” Not quite eager enough to end their little charade, she pressed forward. “He never thought much of himself, but to me... He was the most captivating man I’d ever known.” A sliver of honesty as she finally broke their gazes to accept her drink, oh how these masks made removing the one she donned everyday so much simpler. “You must think I’m a sap for admitting that.”

          Louisa slowly shook her head as she looked over at Regina, pressing her lips into a thin line. “No. You never told me. And he still hasn’t gotten over that today?” It sounded almost impossible. In the perfect world Louisa had been raised in, everyone ended up loving their kids, whether they wanted them or not. “Distance. Yeah. I’m starting to learn that day by day.”

“Not with that attitude, it won’t fix anything. Raw fish? Sushi is a work of art! Paper thin slices of fish, disguising the aroma of the sea with…ingredients. Some wasabi on the side. I don’t really know what you’re complaining about.” Finally producing the chopsticks out of the bag with a flourish, he handed one to Regina. “Knew I should have just picked up some Chipotle or Five Guys for you, instead.” Alejandro dropped his own facade, reverting to his usual, scowling but not really face, as he sat down opposite to his sister. “Mija…Life sucks, get over it. A lot of people out in this world sit with knives behind their backs, waiting to plunge it into you. I’ve known a few…and while I would tell you to go fight this woman, I don’t think Matteo Hendrix would exactly approve of that.” Maybe the reason Ale didn’t seem as phased by this as Gina was because he didn’t leave through the torment with her; or because in his mind, this was nothing. Words didn’t hurt, not as much broken bones did. “Maybe some food in your stomach might help you think clearly. After all, I’ve met a Salazar who’s just taken a blow lying down.” 

"You sound like Mami.” Always attempting to cover the reality with surface level bullshit, though Ale’s efforts were far more genuine in nature and she could at least appreciate that for what it was worth. “Do you honestly believe I’m not aware of that fact?” Her cadence reverberated softly, almost icy in nature with its quiet regard for her brother’s words. “I’ve managed to surround myself with two people who are trustworthy: Milo and Selene. She nearly took the latter from me and now that her little game has been revealed, the former is threatening to break away, too. Do you understand that? I’ve almost lost two of the most important people in my lifetime thanks to the ridiculous little game she’s been playing.” Granted, her own behavior could be considered the star catalyst behind the current tension with Milo, however Regina wasn’t quite at the place to acknowledge as much just yet. “To hell with Matteo Hendrix.” He didn’t frighten her, not in the midst of her own seething rage. “Oh, if you think I’m taking this lying down, you are sadly mistaken. That little puta is getting precisely what’s coming to her. I’ll make sure of it.” 

His new receptionist had warned him about an ‘unruly’ client barging into his office while he was in a meeting, knowing exactly who it was before she even got a chance to describe her. It wasn’t out of character, the two of them coming face to face in this way, so he figured it out rather quick before opening the door. “She just started. Nice girl,” Wyatt replied, closing the door behind him. “To what do I owe the pleasure, Regina? I imagine you’re not just here to tell me how handsome I look in a suit.”

"On the contrary, I’ve always been particularly surprised by what a suit can do for a man...” Features canted to the side for a moment as if she were considering him before Regina adjusted herself on the desk and rested a hand in her lap. “---No, I’m here for curiosity’s sake. Tell me, after this saboteur thing has gone live, what legal grounds do I have to sue the ever living hell out of Maya Hendrix?”

Kai might have been too nice for his own good. He was sure it came across weird sometimes. Or that was how he felt at least. All he wanted was to make sure people were okay. That was all. “You know I do consider people friends and don’t always hang out with Kian, right?” After all, they were taking things slow. Well, whatever slow meant for them anyway. “I just decided to stop by, see how things were. What’s going on? What’s up? They have a Mean Girls musical. Fun fact.”

“You just don’t often come by here, that’s all.” Perhaps this was precisely what she required, a friendly, nonjudgmental face amidst the calamity of recent events. "Just overlooking the city from my tower, contemplating revenge and vindication. The usual activities of everyone’s favorite super villain.” As mild a joke as she could make, fingertips tracing along the curtains surrounding her floor to ceiling windows. “Have you been to see it? The musical, I mean.”

“Honestly, it’s the magic of sushi. I’ve never met a person who’s eaten fish angry.” Ale was setting up the scene; pouring wine into two glasses from his sister’s kitchen, presenting sushi on plates and making it presentable. Maybe a mistake or two would take Gina’s attention off her own troubles, even for a bit. “Et voila! Dinner is served. Shall we, mija? I would say it’s piping hot, but that would be a lie.” @rcginasalazar

"And raw fish is supposed to... what? Make me forget that the stepmother of my closest confidante is the saboteur? Erase the months of torment plagued upon me by that little---” An exasperated sigh escaped her as Regina glanced downwards to the plates of sushi that her brother had painstakingly organized. “Thank you, hermano. This was very sweet.” Though the smile which graced her lips didn’t quite meet chocolate hues identical to his own.