His Perfect Wife Strikes Back

200 We Chose You

A week later, the trip to Mexico didn't go well. Mexicans were angry at Mickle's claims that the wall had been expanded. The Mexican president and Mickle met in secret for three hours. I don't know what they talked about.

After the meeting, he got on a plane and left Mexico. But he left me behind, and I knew exactly what he was doing.

I was not surprised to see Daley in front of me as the representative of Mexico. Instead, I had the urge to punch him, but I held back.

During my stay in Mexico, Daley was responsible for receiving me as the Mexican representative. The night we met, he took me to a fancy restaurant in Mexico City.

"I had no idea that the famous Daley was already a member of council."

I looked across at Daley. The last time we parted, he looked pale. But now, beneath his mask of calm lies a kind of ineffable pride.

"Do you have to talk to me like that?" Daley smiled at me, "It's been a long time since we were alone together and I miss you so much. I think we should celebrate this encounter first!"

He raised his glass of wine for me . I took my glass from the table, and he reached over and touched it gently. Two glasses clinked.

"Cheers!" He glanced at me and drank the wine.

Not to be rude, I took a sip. He set his glass down and looked at me. I knew it was time to negotiate. After all, I didn't come here for Mexican food.

"The tape, you must give it back to me," I said as if I were a negotiator. "After all, it doesn't belong to you."

"Do we have to get into it so quickly?" Daley said. "I have so much more to say to you."

"I don't think I need to say anything more personal," I said bluntly. "Emma's fine. Frade took her back to Italy."

"Emma!" A flash of joy flashed across Daley's face, but it melted when he heard Frade.

"Why did you let him take my daughter to Italy?" Daley said unhappily. "You should have brought her to me."

"It's all because of you," I reproached him, "If you hadn't taken that tape, I wouldn't have been threatened by Mickle. Do you think I want to be separated from my daughter? I don't want to waste my time arguing with you about this. Now, give me back that tape. It's for the best."

"I can't give it to you. Not now," Daley said calmly.

"Then we have nothing more to talk about." I tore off the napkin at my collar and threw it on the table, pretending to leave.

"Wait." Daley grabbed my wrist. "I'm not finished yet."

"I'm sorry. I'm not interested." I shook his hand off. "Maybe next time I talk to you, I should have a gun ready. When you refuse me, I can shoot you in the head."

"You're cruel to your ex-husband." Daley sneered. "Is that how you treat Frade?"

"I'm gonna ask you again. Are you going to give me that tape or not?"

"Let me ask you a question," Daley said, "If I give you this recording, will you give it to your father or the Congress? Are you going to cover up your father's crimes, or will you choose to put him on trial?"

"I have no authority to judge the President."

"You're avoiding my question," Daley said. "Would you have given him that tape if Mickle hadn't threatened you?"

No, I won't. I won't forget that he killed my mother.

"Sit down and let's talk," Daley said.

I sat back down and Daley went on, "Eva, I know you. I know you had to stay with Mickle, and I know how much that tape meant to you. But how do you know that when you give it to Mickle, he'll leave you alone? After all, you know the truth."