“What are you trying to insinuate?”
“I’m not insinuating anything. I’mtellingyou what he did.”
“James is a good man, he comes from a good family. I’m sure he was only trying to talk some sense into you.”
Unbelievable. No wonder the two of them get along so well, they are cut from the same hypocritical, gaslighting cloth. I’m so angry, I don’t know whether I want to scream or cry. The lump now lodged in my throat decides for me, forcing me into silence.
“It’s not too late, you know. My offer still stands for the time being. Though if you keep testing me, I won’t be so generous. Your brothers, as you know, declined, but Harper didn’t, and now that she and Chloe are set to be married, they both will have a stake in the business. You can too. That is, if you get over this phase you’re in. All your problems will go away if you marry James, then you both would be more than taken care of.” There’s a sadistic glee in his voice. One that he doesn’t bother to hide. The worst part is that he’s right. Things would be easier if I bend to his will and marry who he wants. For men like my father, they love what they can control. If I marry James, we are both let into his NDA-armored circle he’s created through his business. But easier doesn’t mean better. I’ve already lived my life controlled by this man; going along with this would be the end of any chance I have of creating distance between us.
“I refuse to marry someone I don’t love,” I say in protest, leaving out the part that I don’t think I’ll ever get married. There’s no point in telling him that. It’ll only give him more ammo to lecture with me.
“Love? Please, you can’t be that naive. I thought I raised you to be smarter than that. You’ll be much happier when you stop feeding into the illusion that marriage is more than a contractual business agreement. Besides, think of how you’re letting your grandmother down. She wanted nothing more than for you to settle down and get married.”
I’m not doing this. I hate when he brings my grandma into our arguments as a guilt tactic. “I doubt that.”
“Yeah, well, her will says otherwise. Your little rebellion isn’t just earning you a lifetime of loneliness, but you aren’t getting anything from her estate until you fulfill her wishes.”
“Dad, really, but I have to go,” I say, fighting back tears.
“Wait!” I hear another voice chime in. My mother.
Great.
Out of obligation, I acknowledge her. “Hi, Ma.”
“Hi,mija, really quick, we’re going over the guest list and making the seating arrangement for Harper’s wedding, and since you’re nowsingle.” I love how my mom says the word with such pity. That in and of itself is what’s truly pitiful. Not that I would expect my mom to understand. She has every monetary thing that she could ever ask for, and apparently, it’s enough to have her go along with how my dad runs things.
I don’t know what has overcome me. Perhaps it’s the years of bottled-up resentment and anger that I’ve kept at bay. Or maybe it’s this sick need that I have to appease my parents to gain their acceptance. But whatever it is, it has my mouth moving faster than my brain can process. “Actually, I’ll be bringing someone.”
My dad mutters to my mom to give him the phone, and he doesn’t resume speaking until I hear the clacking of my mom’s heels fade as she walks away.
“Cut the shit. You and I both know there’s no way you moved on from James that fast.”
“Moving on implies I cared in the first place,” I correct him.
“So, this date of yours, what’s their name?”
I pace back and forth as panic ensues. My gaze darts around my apartment as if a name will magically appear out of thin air.
Why am I making this more difficult than it has to be? This is already made-up. What’s another lie?Just pull a name out of your ass, who cares?
My dad’s voice blares through the phone again, sounding increasingly agitated. “I’m not getting any younger here.”
How is it I can’t think of a single fucking name to say? Fuck. Now I wish I had Mr. Armani’s name. I mean, I could say Armani and drop the Mr., but as much as my dad can be a dick, he’s not an idiot. He wouldn’t buy it.
“Earth to Sarina,” he chides. “What’s the matter? I don’t see why this is so difficult. I mean, if youreallyhave a date…”
“Tomás!” I blurt the first name that comes to mind.
Lorena’s brother… who I haven’t met yet and who has no fucking idea who I am, but that’s neither here nor there. It’s a name and it’s what I needed to shut my dad up.
“There you go. Jesus Christ, was that so fucking difficult? I look forward to meeting whoever thisTomásis then.” There’s excitement in his voice, and I know it has nothing to do with the fact that I found someone. Which I haven’t. But he doesn’t need to know that. He’s eagerly anticipating me showing up solo. All so he can say‘I told you so’.
I refuse to give my dad any more fuel than he already has to make my life a living hell.
I don’t know how I’m going to do it, but I know one thing for sure, I’m not going to that wedding alone.
CHAPTER 10
