"So what..?" || Kevin Álvarez

||8|| Mindset.

    I take in a deep breath and look at Riya. After a long time in silence, I finally respond. "You're right."
    Riya nods in approval.
    I'm starting to feel more angry than helpless. I'm furious.

    I sit up straighter now. "But, where do I even begin to change? Most things are already set in stone."
    Riya shakes her head. "Nub uh. Stop talkin nonsense, Y/n. You are going to get Kevin" I wait for her to elaborate.     "He is literally very married" I sigh. "I told you earlier too- things at work aren't
    the same."
    "And why is that?" She asks like she already knows the answer.
    "Because I set boundaries with him..?" This stating the obvious stuff is starting to feel like a waste of time.
    "Y/n! You're driving me insane!" She raises her voice and widens her eyes. Then she laughs and sits back. "You are too nice."
    I scrunch up my face. "Too nice? I kissed a married man! It's making me feel horrible-"
    "Exactly! Stop feeling bad for people. You're never going to change anything unless you focus on what you want and change yourself first." She starts the car and I assume she's taking me to her place. This is okay with me only because I used an Uber to get to the cafe.
    "That's a bit harsh." I wince slightly at the bluntness but she was right. I was too nice. An automatic people pleaser for everyone. Even my appearance was influenced by what my parents wanted. I needed to break out of this stupid shell my parent crammed me in when I was little.
    "Yeah, well, I need you to be more harsh." She's smiling now, satisfied with her advice. "You need to think about this hard. Think; what would the perfect scenario be where I come out on top?"
    I don't respond right away. I get to thinking.
The problem is my parents are depending on me for the company's success. Dad said it was a desperate situation. Is the company really doing that bad? Can't we provide our own funds? If not then the first thing I have to do is make sure that we reach the point where we are completely independent. Maybe already being an
employee there will end up helping out.
    "For starters, I'd have to secure the company so that nothing holds me back." I finally reply.
"Okay.. still a little too considerate but we're getting there. I guess it is your family's company we are talking about." She glances at the car's mirrors. We enter the freeway, which has a beautiful view of the sun rays peeking through the dark clouds. I continue my fake scenario as I look out the window.
    'Then there's Alejandro and the fact I'm engaged. In the perfect world, Alejandro would be in jail. Knowing him he'll either make my life hell or some other girl's life miserable. The only way to finally put an end to him is to lock him up. Once in jail, his credibility will be also taken from him and he won't be able to spread lies.
Which, would help comfort the slight anxiety he will try to defame my family name. When and how I'll get him in jail; I don't know. One thing I do know is that this has to be before I break off the engagement, if I try to break it off now; he'll just lock me up in his stupid mansion until the wedding day.
The way I want this to play out is a bit shocking even to myself. My voice was a bit quieter now. "I need to send Alejandro to jail. Specifically before the wedding.."
    Riya squeals. "Ouuu girl speak up because I'm starting to like this... But most importantly you have to think about Kevin!"
    I bite my lip and sigh. "Divorce. I have to drive him to divorce his wife after I fix things between me and him."
    "That was quick-" She gets off the freeway and I can see her apartment building in the distance. They were hard to miss because they were hot pink.
    "Probably because it's the scenario i think about the most"
    Riya nods and hums. "Okay so now you make it a reality. Not just a little scenario of success."
    I press my lips together and I feel my eyes twitch. "I'd have to secure a business, send a man to jail, and provoke a divorce. That's probably just half of it" I complain and slump down in my seat as Riya pulls into her driveway.
    "So? I'm sure you're capable of that and so much more." She gets out of the car and I follow her up to her apartment.
    I'm mostly lost in thought on my way there. If I was going to do this, which I was doubtful I could at all, I
needed to fix my mindset and start as soon as possible.
    Riya opens the door to her apartment and lets me in. "I have something to give you."
    This stops me in my tracks. "Oh Riya- I told you not to"
    She goes into a small closet and comes back to the living room dragging a heavy, large suitcase. "It's just a little
something from Europe.
    I gasp and kneel to open the suitcase. I open it and it's full of clothes and snacks. I look up at Riya in disbelief.     "Oh my god! You're the best!" I stand up and give her a hug.
    "It's nothing- I knew you hate the clothes Alejandro has you wear." I smile. She was the only person who knew Alejandro and made me throw away all my old clothes before I moved in with him. Currently, my closet consists of
dull colors, to-the-knee skirts, turtlenecks, and everything uncomfortable.
    I drop back down to look through the items. After a bit of organizing it was a total of 16 outfits. All name brands
and my style. There were a few accessories and then I saw a box at the bottom. I raise an eyebrow at her and she giggles.
"Oh, that." She covers her mouth as she laughs. "I thought, oh why not, she'll never use it but it'll be funny."
    I reach for it and open it. My face feels hot and I let out a laugh. "Riya!" It was a dark navy blue lingerie. A two-piece that had specks of gold. It's beautiful honestly.
    "That's real gold by the way," She says barely holding in her laugh. Given we've been friends for so long and with her personality, this is one of the more normal gifts she's given me.
    "But I'm sure you'd never want me to wear this for Alejandro." I joke admiring the delicate lace.
    "Oh of course not." She takes a seat on the couch. "I bought it with the intention of you having a lil something nice for yourself." She has to stop herself from laughing and more. "But on second thought- you should use it to seduce Kevin or something."
    My face heats up again. Even more than before. "Riya! That's ridiculous!" I throw the lid of the box at her but she dodges it.
    "I'm kidding! I know your virgin ass would never have the guts." She teases and I just roll my eyes.
    "I just don't want to do it with the wrong person"
    "There ya go, even more motivation not to get married; your parents are going to want grandchildren like this"
She snaps her fingers in my face to prove her point.
    The thought of it shakes me to my core. Kids with Alejandro? That would be child abuse in and of itself. I
groan.
    "That is never going to happen." I declare quietly to myself.