As N spoke, she couldn''t help but notice the expression on Josefina''s face. It was as if a lightbulb had gone off in her head, and she quickly rified, "I''m not betraying Lena. It''s just that, after what


    happened, I''ve realized that she''s out to get me!"


    Alma chimed in, "We''re telling you this as a sort of ''scratch my back, and I''ll scratch yours.'' We want you to be cautious around her."


    Josefina''s cool voice slowly inquired, "What happened?"


    N spilled the beans, "I found out Lena has a boyfriend."


    This revtion genuinely shocked Josefina. Wasn''t Lena head over heels for Oliver? She fancied Oliver while secretly dating someone else-what was Lena ying at?


    "How did youe to know this?" Josefina pressed for answers.


    N whispered, "Well, we were out having lunch, and Lena''s phone started to ring. She looked a bit panicky. Just then, Alma had gone to thedies'' and overheard Lena. Her tone was all sweet and coaxing as if she were scared of upsetting the guy on the other end. Even though Alma couldn''t make out what he was saying, she heard a man''s voice, and he sounded pretty steamed. Lena was trying to calm him down."This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    "That doesn''t necessarily prove that he''s Lena''s boyfriend," Josefina pointed out.


    "At the equestrian center that day," N continued, "the way Oliver looked at you-his gaze was full of affection and adoration, and it struck me. I''ve never seen Lena look at Oliver that way." Alma agreed, "Yeah, Oliver''s gaze was full of tenderness and devotion as if you were the only one for him. There was something unmistakably intimate in the way he looked at you." Josefina sighed. The gossip had hit too close to home. "Let''s leave it at that. You can head back," she decided. She nned to investigate this herself and wouldn''t take anyone''s word for it. N and Alma exchanged a nce before standing up. N said, "Please ept these gifts as a small token of our appreciation."


    Alma added, "Josie, just take them. We''re off now. Let''s hang out when things cool down, okay?"


    As if afraid that Josefina would return the gifts, they made a quick exit. Josefina looked at the gifts with no intention of keeping them.


    "Stop right there." Josefina''s voice


    halted


    in their tracks. N


    Able to flee, reluctantleet


    turned around and faced her.


    N stammered, "Josie, if you don''t like the gifts, we can go shopping for something else!"


    Alma chimed in, "Yeah, we''ll get you anything, no matter the cost."


    Josefina sat back, her featuresposed, exuding an air of


    aloofness and pride. N and Alma stood together as if they were


    children who had been catel.not


    misbehaving, barely daring


    breathe. ;


    Pointing at the gifts, Josefina stated, "Take them back. I don''t want them. As far as I''m concerned, this matter is closed."


    Alma looked troubled. "Ms. Josefina, if you don''t ept these, Oliver''s going to have our heads."


    It hadn''t urred to Josefina that Oliver was involved in this mess. "He''s been in touch with your family?"


    Alma nodded. "He has. My dad said if I couldn''t smooth things over with you, he''d disown me and force me into an arranged marriage."


    N wore a helpless look. "My dad said the same. If I don''t fix this, I''ll be exiled to the boondocks and never return."


    It seemed Oliver''s influence was the greater concern.


    "Alright, I get it. You can go back. I''ll speak to him."


    The girls'' faces lit up with relief as they profusely thanked Josefina for her generosity and understanding.


    After Alma and N had departed, Josefina dialed Luke''s number and instructed him to look into the matter. Her intuition told her there was more to this story, and she was determined to uncover the truth.