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I heard my phone ringing beside me and reached for it wearily. When I saw that it was Rosie, I smiled and answered it, stunned by her angry voice.
31
Rosie
I dialed Sterling’s number with shaking hands, barely able to control my tears. When he answered, I took a deep breath.
“When were you going to tell me that you’ll be working at my father’s first business?” I screamed as I walked further into the trees.
“What are you talking about?” Sterling asked with confusion in his voice.
“Your father bought the first business my family ever bought. Dad built it from the ground up and loved it. He might have turned into an asshole later, but he loved that building. Your dad knew who owned it and he bought it to hurt us.” I knew my words came out quick and sloppy, hoping that he understood me.
“What the fuck?” Sterling asked in shock. “He hasn’t shown me the building yet. I know nothing about it. I swear to that, Rosie.”
I started crying. I spent time there as a kid while he renovated the building into the banking firm that became the most successful in Washington. I had hope for my family in that building and dreams of what was to be. They all fell apart, but I still looked at the building as a good place. It was so beautiful with the elegant brick and charming architecture from the late nineteen hundreds. I loved it but now it was gone.
“It’s done. He bought it and it’s done. Do you see why we can never be anything and this baby won’t be a part of either family. Do you see?” I cried out as my heart broke again. I saw Violet walk into the trees, staring at me.
“I’ll walk. I’ll walk away and leave it all behind. I didn’t know, Rosie.” Sterling was pleading with me as I ended the call. I was so sick of the fighting over business between the families. I was tired of someone always trying to be better than the other. I hated them for splitting up people that cared about each other and grew up together.
“I’m done. I want to go to Texas as soon as possible and get away from this shit.” I looked at Violet as she moved forward to hug me.
“It will be okay, Rosie. I promise.” My phone rang, and I powered it down before slipping it into my pocket. I hugged Violet tightly, and she soothed me with soft words. She was going to raise this baby with me and he or she would never know who they were related to.
“I should have never told him. Sterling won’t let this go,” I told her as she sighed.
“He’s not the bad guy here, Rosie. His dad is. Sterling never knew that the building was yours. He wouldn’t do that to you.” Violet spoke, and I nodded. She was right. I was just stunned by my mother’s tearful call about the sale of the building. I didn’t want this baby to have any contact with his parents or even mine. I was willing to go to Texas and start completely over away from so much pain.
Violet walked me back to my dorm, both of us knowing that he’d be there. Sterling wasn’t the type to give up.
It took one day for him to be knocking at the door. I opened it and Sterling hurried by me.
“You turned off your phone,” he said, facing me with an angry expression.
“I know. I was upset and just needed a break. I’m sick of our families and their shit.” I told him as he stared down at the floor.
“I talked to Dad. The business was failing, Rosie. Your father wasn’t running it anymore and the firm that was in the red. He does his research and swears that it wasn’t personal. He wanted to save it and make it a strong business again.” Sterling told me gently as he walked forward to clasp my hands.
“It’s sentimental on my part, Sterling. That and the years of useless pain caused by both. I just boiled over, I guess. Hormones make me crazy sometimes and my emotions are all over the place.” I smiled weakly. “What a mess this is.”
“I want you to stay here. I went home and spoke to my parents. I told them about the baby, Rosie.” I stared at him in shock.
“What did they say?” I asked as he pulled me against him.
“He was angry, and Mom cried. I think that she always lov
ed you and missed you, Rosie. She’s happy about another baby in the family.” I gasped. “It’s not going to be perfect, Rosie. There’s a lot of pain to get over and that will take time. But you don’t have to run off to Texas. We can do this here.” Sterling kissed my hair. “I love you, Rosie. I think I always have but all of this made me realize how much. Stay with me.”
“Sterling,” I said softly as I looked at him.
“You’re moving in with me. They know it and accept it. I’m going to go to your dad and ask for your hand in marriage. I’m going to make him proud of the business, Rosie. We’re going to do all of this right.” He promised me as my eyes widened.
“I have to tell my parents?” I asked as he laughed.
“We’re together. We can’t lie, and we can’t hide it. With a baby coming, we really can’t hide it. They need the chance to accept it be happy if that’s their choice.” Sterling lowered his mouth to mine.
“I love you,” I whispered before he kissed me.
