Jimena entered the office gracefully, while Ariadna followed her with downcast eyes. After Ariadna updated her on her pending tasks, she went to fetch the coffee and documents Jimena had requested.

“Here’s your coffee, Mrs. Gutiérrez,” she said, glowering. “Hope you enjoy it.”

Jimena eyed the cup suspiciously. There was no way she was drinking anything delivered by Ariadna—at the very least, it might be laced with acid or rat poison.

“You know what? Keep it. I don’t want it anymore,” Jimena replied disdainfully, without even looking at her.

Ariadna wanted to kill her, and her fury blazed in her eyes. She stomped out of the office, grumbling—not only because Jimena had made a mockery of her, but also because her plan to slip something into the coffee had been thwarted.

***

Ariadna watched the office door where Jimena worked, her gaze cautious and eager. Anxiety made her tremble, and she drank more coffee than necessary. Concentrating on her own work was difficult, though she didn’t rea