Never Too Real Read Online Free

videographer.
    “Okay . . . Magdalena?”
    Magda gave him a look that set his back straight. There were many ways in which she was absolutely untraditional, but when it came to addressing someone, someone older and accomplished, she’d never shake what her mama taught her.
    He corrected himself. “ Señora Soto . Can you tell us why this meeting of minority small business leaders is so important?”
    Magda switched into “on” mode, a function of years of pageant training. She also had the rare ability to fuse conviction and concision. The few within earshot hushed to listen, then stifled the urge to applaud when she was done.
    Magda’s Spanish wasn’t perfect, but it was authoritative. The greatest gift her parents had given her was neither her swimmer’s body nor her gorgeous face, computer-like brain, or work ethic, but the superpower of being multilingual. Multilingual meant global. And global meant powerful. Global meant money.
    “ Muchisimas gracias, Señora Soto . So happy you could be here and help us!”
    Magda nodded a good-bye and looked around to note where everyone else was headed. Like cattle to feed, most were moving toward the door that opened on lunch. Magda’s stomach commanded her to follow.
    “Excuse me, Ms. Soto?” called a dulcet voice.
    “Yessss.” With polite exasperation, Magda turned around, then looked a bit downward, toward the much smaller person speaking to her.
    “Hi, I’m Paloma Sala.”
    It was the fortieth hand of the day offered in greeting. Magda took it while she also drew in the woman before her with her eyes. Beautiful skin. Umber. Her mouth could be in a toothpaste ad. This had to be the most attractive woman here, well, to her taste—and she was in a red dress. Magda’s groin awoke, silencing her hungry stomach.
    “Paloma.” She rolled the name in her mouth. “That’s my tía ’s name.”
    A quiet three seconds moved like glue as their hands remained together as Magda took Paloma in and Paloma lay in her gaze, hypnotized by her striking figure and noted power.
    “Hey, kids! You’ve met.” It was Kristina. “Paloma, this is Magda. Magda, Paloma.”
    “Yeah, hon, we just got that done.” Magda snickered gently while continuing to gaze into Paloma’s full, blushed face.
    Kristina caught on as Paloma looked away, suddenly a bit shy. “Good! Okay, so . . . Paloma runs an amaaazing education firm that specializes in financial curriculum for schools.”
    This mention of her work, her passion, woke Paloma up and she chimed in. “Yes, and we’re doing great so far. But we’re always in need of more funding, so . . .”
    Magda let go of her hand and snapped back into business mode. “Listen, I’ve gotta nab the CTO during this break, but are you in town for the night?” she asked her new acquaintance in the fitted red dress.
    Kristina put on a knowing smile as she watched the two women.
    “ Yes .” Paloma nearly jumped on Magda, most likely excited about the source of “funding” she was about to spend time with, mildly unaware of Magda’s possible intentions. “I’m staying just a few blocks down. Here’s my card—feel free to text me. And can I have yours?”
    “Sure.” Magda handed it over like something precious. “Just keep it close, okay?”
    “Absolutely. See you soon.” Paloma bowed slightly and made her way to the door with her fellow lingering networkers.
    Kristina followed Magda’s covetous gaze. “Maaagdaaa . . .” Her head tilted in a here-you-go-again.
    “She wants to talk. So, we’ll talk!” We’ll do a lot of talking, Magda thought as she ran her fingers through the front flop of her blond do.
    “Shit, girl . . . coño . Listen, she’s straight. Coming out of a bad marriage—husband cheated, yada yada—so the last thing she needs is for you to screw her over.”
    “Sounds like what she needs is some lovin’, ya heard?” Magda threw on her urban-vanilla persona when she could, for fun. She was no crasser than her