Anana inclined her head in distinctly Latin fashion. 'Yes, but when you think of its components in terms of good, sound investments, doesn't that make it easier to understand? You know? Take it in small bites, like the things that go into a meal, without considering the overall meal itself.'
'Yes, but one does not serve sherbet on calamari or stuff baked apples with shrimp and cloves,' Kara rejoined. 'Like cooking, one has to keep an eye on the overall picture.
'But the Castellans' business methods are so different from my father's as to be almost exactly opposite! My father always goes for gain and expansion. The Castellans don't seem to do that at all! Many of their businesses are very old, and rely solely on a conservative, old-fashioned-loving clientele.
'And the buildings are always of the highest quality- indestructible wood-beam, stone and brickwork- and like the real estate they reside upon are always paid for in full. And the Castellans do not believe in paper wealth! They have small stockpiles, scattered across the four corners of the earth, of precious metals, that in themselves are worth a fortune- but the Castellans don't view such things as wealth. They have another view entirely . . . one that I do not comprehend as yet.'
Anana quirked an eyebrow. 'Well, one thing is certain: you speak as a Castellan!'
Kara looked surprised. 'How do you mean?'
'I mean,' Anana told her, 'all your philosophising and introspection. Until I met you, I thought that only the Señora Castellan and Roman were like that!' She laughed suddenly. 'It's a good thing Roman found you, else some poor girl might now be facing the daunting task of figuring out how to fit into the Castellan household.'
'What, you're saying that I came ready-made?' Kara said with mock ire.
'You know you did, so don't be silly about it,' Anana told her. She took a deep breath and surveyed the vista before them. 'Nice place you have, Mrs Castellan. You and Roman should really begin thinking about making children, to make the place appear more lived-in. And you can look directly at me instead of being dumb-struck. Seriously, when are you going to fully embrace being a wife?'
'When this business with my father is over and done with,' Kara told her, 'and not before.'
Anana gave her a look. 'The business you refer to with your father might very well not soon be over. It might never be over, do you realise that? Are you going to let it ruin your life if that turns out to be the case? You can't escape who and what you are, Kara, no more than you can escape being related to your own family.'