A Spanish Inheritance

‘All right, I’m coming,’ she yelled as the thunderous attack continued.

Flinging open the door, she gasped, ‘Ramon!’ and tried to shut it in his face.

But he was too quick for her and held it firm with the heel of his fist. Hoisting her half off the ground, he slammed the door shut behind them.

‘What do you think you’re doing?’ she demanded, squirming frantically as she struggled to free herself.

‘What do I think I’m doing?’ Ramon grated, backing her up against the wall. ‘What the hell do you think you’re doing, don’t you mean?’

The look on his face was enough to send anyone running for cover, but after seeing him with Margarita, Annalisa was determined to stand her ground. ‘Get out!’ she raged, with every bit of venom she could muster.

‘I can see that would suit you,’ he snapped, holding her upper arms fast. ‘But I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what’s going on.’

‘Meaning?’

‘Meaning I received a very interesting phone call when I got back home.’

‘Really?’ she said, turning her face away from a pair of blazing eyes.

‘Yes,’ he snarled, snatching hold of her chin and turning her back to face him. ‘An agent in town tried to sell me finca Fuego Montoya.’

Annalisa made a bitter sound. ‘Well, excuse me, Ramon! But wasn’t that exactly what you wanted?’ She saw a muscle in his jaw work as he held his temper in check.

‘What?’ he rapped incredulously. ‘You think I want some random salesman calling to tell me that you want to sell the finca? Are you mad? You didn’t think to speak to me about it first?’

‘It’s my property,’ she pointed out sharply. ‘I can do what I like with it.’

His glare lanced through her. ‘I’m really sorry you feel like that,’ he said steadily. ‘And I’m also disappointed that it doesn’t seem to matter to you that I had to learn about this from a complete stranger.’

Suddenly she felt sick and uncertain. He sounded sincere. A host of doubts battered her mind. But still she made a dismissive sound. ‘Surely it came as a pleasant surprise for you.’

‘What does this mean, Annalisa?’ Ramon demanded, staring deep into her eyes as if trying to root out her deepest thoughts.

‘What does it mean?’ She could feel her face heating up and she couldn’t stop now. ‘Surely that’s obvious?’

A cold anger was brewing in his eyes. ‘Well, not to me,’ he grated.

She squared her shoulders. She had to force closure. End it now. ‘It means that I have had enough of Menorca. I am going back home.’

‘This is your home!’ Ramon exploded.

‘No,’ Annalisa argued, fighting to keep her voice steady. ‘This was my home. For a few foolish, misguided weeks.’

Ramon shook his head slowly with an obvious lack of comprehension. ‘You were doing so well—’

‘Oh, thank you.’ Tolerating the fact that you’re a married man, do you mean? she wondered, frantically fighting to put her thoughts into words. ‘Considering all the obstacles you put in my path—’

‘Obstacles?’ Ramon exclaimed incredulously, swiping a hand over the back of his neck. ‘What the hell are you talking about. If you want obstacles, I’ll—’

‘Fortunately I won’t be staying long enough,’ Annalisa cut in coldly.

‘Fortunate indeed,’ he agreed.

They stood facing each other tensely until Ramon broke the angry silence. ‘So why didn’t you sell the place as soon as you arrived on the island?’

‘Because I really thought I could make a go of it,’ she flared. ‘And I would have done if you hadn’t stooped to using tactics—’

‘I stooped? I’m not going to allow you to get away with that, Annalisa.’

‘OK,’ she said holding up her hands. ‘So let’s go through the facts one by one: you carry out building works at the finca without my consent, knowing that I have no money to pay you back, you insist that I accept clothes, from Margarita and from yourself, knowing that I have no money to pay you back, you employ a vandal called Enrique to chop down my orange groves, the only possible source of income I might ever have to pay you back—’

‘I do what?’

‘Don’t come the innocent with me, Ramon.’

His face radiated anger, but his voice was tightly controlled. ‘I’m sorry. I was under the misapprehension that I was helping you.’

Her stomach clenched as she hardened her eyes. ‘I’d like you to leave.’