For a terrible moment, he imagined accepting.
Then he lowered his eyes.
“I’m sorry, ma’am. I can’t do that.”
Raquel’s smile disappeared.
“Why not? Are you afraid of me?”
“No.”
“Then what is the problem?”
“It’s not about you. I just don’t want to begin something this way.”
She studied him with an expression he couldn’t read.
“Would you refuse even if I could save your mother?”
The question struck him exactly where she intended.
His fingers tightened around the handle of his toolbox.
“Please don’t use my mother to convince me.”
For the first time, Raquel seemed genuinely surprised.
Raúl bowed his head politely.
Thank you for the work, ma’am. And thank you for the bonus. But I can’t accept that offer.”
He walked out of the villa without looking back.
Raquel remained seated long after the front door closed.
