Emotionless, my dad glares at me, not bothering to look at Tomás. “If this is how it’s going to be and you leave here with this disrespectful piece of shit, I hope you know that when I die you won’t get a fucking dime of my money. I hope he’s worth it,” he sneers.
“More than you’ll ever know,” I say, no longer holding back my tears.
CHAPTER 34
TOMÁS
It’s been a week since the wedding, and life has been interesting, to say the least. As soon as we landed back in New York, I turned my phone off airplane mode to multiple voicemails and emails from Ralph ordering me into the office immediately.
I already knew what it was pertaining to. Power-hungry douchebags with fragile egos like Michael Tesoro don’t take kindly to being confronted with the truth. I knew the second I went off on Sarina’s dad, I killed any chance Tesoro Development Group had on working with Turner & Vize. And I couldn’t care less.
Ralph was, of course, furious, and when he suggested I take a week to regroup so I can come back to work focused, I didn’t fight him on it. Truthfully, I’ve spent so long focusing on work that right now the only thing I care about is figuring out where me and Sarina stand.
My speech in front to her dad, in front of everyone listening, wasn’t for show.
It was the truth.
My truth.
And as she went directly to her apartment and hasn’t been responding to my texts or calls, I’m afraid I scared her away with it.
“So did Sarina get fired?” Tino asks mid-plating.
I feel bad for bothering him at work on one of the busiest nights of the week at his restaurant, but I needed to talk to him, and since work rules both of our lives, sometimes it requires you to multitask.
“No, she quit.”
Lorena, who has been clearly eavesdropping, rounds the corner. “Have you seen her?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I need to give her space.”
Lorena scoffs.
“What? You disagree?”
“Umm, yeah,” Tino and Lorena say in unison, exchanging a look.
“But she said she needed to clear her head.”
Lorena sets down the clipboard in her hand and walks us over to a less hectic part of the kitchen so we can talk without shouting over the ruckus of pots and pans clanging.
“Dad did good with you. He really taught you how to be responsible and respectful.”
“Thank you?” I know my sister. I feel an insult or a “but” coming on.
“But, you are too much of a rule follower.”
“Is that a bad thing?”
“In life, no. Mostly. But in love? Eh.”
“Eh?”
“Yes, Tomás.Eh. As in, not so much. From what Sarina has told me, albeit way more than what I wish I knew. But as much as you are all about consent, which is amazing, I think you’rewaiting for her permission or the perfect timing, or I don’t know what, to find out how she feels about you. Am I right?”
