“Oh Lucia, don’t exaggerate. Some important relatives of Mau have arrived and need an oceanfront view room for their stay.””You said you weren’t picky. He didn’t even glance at me. ‘Don’t start a scene. It’s your sister’s weekend.’ Mom leaned in and said, ‘And look at you. You look like a hotel employee in that dress. We won’t embarrass Mauricio’s family because of you.” Those words would have crushed me years ago. Not that morning. “I paid for this trip,” I said slowly. “I paid more than all of you combined.” Sofía raised her eyebrow, “You paid for what you wanted. No one made you pay.” “So, where am I going to sleep?” Mom smiled, “There are lots of inexpensive hostels in the downtown area. Or you could fly back to CDMX, then everyone would be able to relax.” Dad sighed, “Lucia, stop being a victim.” They wanted me to cry. So I pulled out my phone. Mom laughed, “Who are you calling? The tourist police?” I ignored her and called the number my grandma left for my mother in her Bible. “Ms. Morales, this is Lucia Ramirez. Please execute my grandma’s order to suspend all privileges for the Ramirez family at the Mar de Jade hotel: Room, food, drink, VIP Lounge, and all other areas.” Sofía burst out laughing. “She has gone crazy!” But two minutes later, my father’s credit cards stopped working. Father rushed towards me with a red face, “What the hell did you just do?” I stored my phone in my pocket.”No one has authorized this.”
He looked at the receptionist, took the gold card out of his as he always does at dinner.
“Forget about what my daughter just said. Give me the family suite.”
The receptionist ran the card through the machine.
It beeped.
She ran it through again.
It beeped again.
“Mr. Ramirez, I am sorry to inform you that there is a hold on your account.”
My mother laughed uneasily.
“That can’t be right. Carlos, tell her who you are.”
My dad slammed down his palm onto the counter.
“I co-founded this hotel chain. My mother built this establishment.”
At that moment, the General Manager came in dressed in a navy suit. He didn’t address my father.
He looked at me.
“Miss Lucia Ramirez, your master suite awaits.”
Sofia drops her mouth.
“That is for her?”
The manager turned slightly.
“Due to legal issues, Mr. Carlos Ramirez has lost all corporate rights of every Mar de Jade location, and the new primary owner of the shares of Mar de Jade Group is Miss Lucia Ramirez.”
At this point, my mom went white.
“Primary owner?”
I took a deep breath.
“My grandma changed her will. I was awarded 51% of the shares.”
My dad shook his head.
“That cannot be true.”
“No, it’s true,” I said. “I believe she had made the correct decision.”
Sofia scoffed.
“You’re a teacher, and you don’t know how to run a business.”
“Maybe not,” I said. “But I can read bank statements.”
The silence hung thick.
Mauricio looked at my dad differently now. The way a person looks when they are doing calculations in their head.