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Her father sighed. “I don’t think you’ve thought this through, honey. Are you sure about this? I mean. . . what could you possibly have in common with her or her low-life family?”
The question was so absurd, Sylvie replied with a shriek of laughter. “Papi, are you kidding? Lauren and I have literally had nearly identical lives!” Her heart filled as she thought of Lauren. “She’s the only person who gets it. Who gets me. Who doesn’t want to change me.”
Sylvie shook her head as she took another long, deep breath. She was done seeking their approval. “You know . . . I have never done anything for myself.” She gathered strength and conviction as she looked up from the marble floor. “Everything I’ve ever done has been for the business and this family. There hasn’t been a single thing I haven’t been willing to sacrifice, and believe me, there’s been a lot to give up. I’m not selfish, but I am choosing myself right now. I’m going with what my heart wants and that’s Lauren.” She stood, her thighs trembling as they held her up. “So, yes Papi. I’m sure about this. About her. And if it means that you don’t trust me with the business and are giving it to Junior, then so be it.”
Her father’s face flashed like he’d seen a ghost hovering above Sylvie’s head. “Junior? What makes you think he’s taking over?”
“Honey,” Sylvie’s mother reached out and took her hand. “We don’t trust him to water the plants when we’re away for a long weekend. He’s not getting the business.”
“But you always say how we have to share—”
“He likes to feel included,” her mother explained. “But I’m not sure he even knows how to turn on an oven.”
Sylvie’s father crossed the cavernous bathroom and pulled her into a hug. His soft body, only a few inches taller than hers, was instantly soothing. “We see how hard you work, mi vida. We have always been so proud of you.”
“Then why haven’t you made it official and turned the company over to me? I’ve been doing everything on my own for years now.”
Her parents looked at each other.
“We’ve talked about it quite a few times,” her mother admitted.
“Is it that you think I’m not ready?” Sylvie’s attention bounced between them. “What’s the problem?”
Sylvie’s mother winced. “Vanity, if I’m honest. I haven’t been ready to officially retire. That hasn’t been very fair to you, has it?”
Sylvie sat next to her again. “You guys don’t have to retire. You can stay on. It’s not like I won’t always need your advice.”
Her father put his hand on Sylvie’s shoulder. “You’ve been steering the ship for quite some time now. I think it’s time you got the credit for being the captain.”
“You’re a better businesswoman than I’ll ever be,” her mother said softly, her artificially blue eyes watering. “I’m so very proud of you.”
Overwhelmed by the flood of validation, Sylvie found herself sandwiched in a three-way hug. She couldn’t believe that after so long of trying to win her place at the top, all she had to do was ask for it.
“I’ll call the lawyers in the morning.” Her mother cleaned up the mascara running under her eyes. “We’ll get things moving.”
“Thank you. I don’t know what else to say,” Sylvie admitted.
“Say that you’re going to forget about the Machado girl and settle down with a nice accountant that can crunch all your numbers for free,” her dad joked.
“You’re going to have to get used to her,” Sylvie demanded. “She’s not going anywhere any time soon.”
“It’s that father of hers I really can’t stand,” he replied. “He’s such an insufferable know-it-all. As if knowing how to hammer two pieces of wood together makes you Adonis.”
“Oh, please. I’ll take him over Carla any day of the week. She has the most punchable face in history.”
Sylvie rolled her eyes. This was going to take longer than she hoped.
When Sylvie emerged from her parents’ master bedroom, she didn’t expect to find Junior still splayed out on the couch. His dirty sneakers on the coffee table. Deciding that he was not going to ruin what had turned out to be a pretty amazing day, she went straight for her purse and car keys.
“Lauren Machado, huh?”
She ignored him.
He sucked air through his teeth. “She’s hot AF.”
Sylvie’s body temperature spiked, but she slung her bag over her shoulder and turned away from him.
“I can’t believe an ass that thick is wasted on you. Like you’d have any idea what to do with that.” He jumped to his feet and started humping the couch. “Give me one night with her and she’d learn what a body like that is really for.”
Sylvie whirled around, her pulse kicking up like a battle drum. She fixed her brother in her sights. A sniper setting a target in their cross-hairs.
Rage was a springboard ready to vault her forward and claw his eyes out. She was ready to humiliate him. To remind him that he was such a loser he’d been cut out of the business. To let him know that the first thing she meant to do was to stop cutting him checks.
But the more she watched him, the more she realized how pathetic he was. Instead of retaliating, she laughed in his face, turned toward the front door, and left.
She had more important things to do than be baited. She had Lauren and she couldn’t wait to see her again.
