To be honest, I think I stayed around as long as I did because I knew it pissed her off.” MacKenzie concluded with a wry smile.
“I thought I knew Carlos. I can’t understand why he’s allowing her to behave like this. When the truth comes out, he’s going to look like a bloody fool; not to mention what it’s going to do to his career and credibility.”
“Vee, the man you know is a part of his public persona. Carlos is weak, and he’s a fully-fledged member of his hype thanks mainly to his mother.”
The sound of the door opening brought their conversation to an abrupt end. Delphine came into the room as though a strong wind was blowing behind her.
“You should have your little girl back in a few hours. By all means celebrate the anticipation of getting her back. But from the sounds of things this is only the beginning. I don’t know what those people want more, you out of their lives or publicity. I say we accept the first and watch how the latter unfolds. Something isn’t right in Ernesto land. He has to return the baby but by all accounts he’s going to fight you.”
Before MacKenzie could question her meaning, Jake spoke for the first time in a long while.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, from what I can gather Carlos’ mother does not like MacKenzie. In fact, I’m going to stretch my neck out and say that Mrs. Ernesto hates MacKenzie.”
Chapter 17
All the arrangements were made as to when and who should collect, Noelle. It seemed he was banned from the pick-up, and that the Ernesto family wanted MacKenzie to come alone. Like that was going to happen, Jake thought.
He didn’t know what game Carlos and his mother were playing, and he didn’t care. He was going with her. He had been implicated in the whole media debacle, and he intended to be up front and personal with Carlos. He had something to say, and he would be heard.
It still rankled how vehemently MacKenzie had denied a relationship with him. His annoyance at the current situation had only grown in the hours that followed.
Both his brothers, as well as Aviva, had wanted to accompany them to the Ernesto home. Jake was sure MacKenzie would have liked Aviva to accompany them, but it was clear for all to see that she still hadn’t recovered from her accident. In the end, they all agreed; Josh would go with them.
Getting out the gate had been a farce. Newspaper vans and the paparazzi had taken up residence outside, and Jake nearly lost his temper at the sight of them. As he drove, he was conscious that they were being followed. He was just grateful that MacKenzie was in the back seat and hidden behind the tinted windows of the vehicle.
When he reached the Ernesto home, he had to use caution to ensure he didn’t collide with the throng of yet more reporters. Inching his way forward, he opened the window and identified himself at the gate only to be denied immediate entrance.
Before he knew what was happening, Josh was out of the SUV and had placed himself as a barrier between the car and any fool that thought to take photos through the window.
Camera after camera clicked in his face, but Josh held on to his temper for longer than Jake thought possible. Through the crack in the window, they all heard Josh’s deep rumble of anger. “If those people inside that house don’t hurry up and open the gate, I’m about to make one of these idiots eat metal.”
“Josh don’t do anything we’re all going to regret!” Jake warned.
“Oh, I won’t regret it!”
“Joshua!”
“Calm down, Jake, I’ve got this!” Came a good humored chuckle.
When the gates began to open. Josh jumped back into the car, and Jake took off towards the house.
The door was opened by a large man who resembled Carlos Ernesto enough for Jake to recognize Curtis. The fact that he and Josh stood beside MacKenzie didn’t seem to bother him, and Jake wondered why. They had blatantly disregarded the instruction that MacKenzie come alone, yet the giant showed no reaction. On closer inspection, it was almost as though his expression was saying that, in their place, he would have done the same.
Their party of three was led into a lavish room that looked as though it had been snatched off the pages of an upscale interior design magazine. Without a doubt, the room was beautiful, and Jake couldn’t have cared less, it had no soul.
Left alone to wait for another fifteen minutes, Jake’s rage was nearly at breaking point. Looking over at MacKenzie, he knew she couldn’t take much more of this waiting game.
“I was wondering how long you were going to sit there and wait on these people,” Josh said as he joined his brother who was angrily striding towards the door.
“Jake, where are you going?” MacKenzie asked as she jumped to her feet.