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“Emily. Emily, come on. I know you’re in there. I haven’t seen you since you left yesterday. You didn’t even eat dinner last night. Just open the door.”
How does he know I’m in here? Shit. I quickly turn off the side lamp and remain quiet.
But Felix is persistent. “Emily, please. Can we talk?” he says, his voice muffled through the door.
I stare at the door, unsure of what to do.
Part of me wants to open the door and let him in, while the other part wants to pretend I’m not here.
I eventually give in and open the door.
“What do you want?” I say, trying to keep my voice neutral.
“I want to talk to you,” he says, pushing past me and into the room.
“And I brought you some breakfast.” I eye the plate he leaves on the study desk near the door. A few sandwiches and fruits.
I close the door behind us and turn to face him. He looks at me, his eyes searching mine.
“I’m sorry,” he says finally. “I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that yesterday. I was out of line.”
“Yes, you were,” I say, crossing my arms over my chest.
“I’m not some damsel in distress that needs your protection, Felix. I can take care of myself.”
“I know that,” he says.
“So stay out of it. If I say this plan will work, it will work.”
“Emily, it’s my operation. That’s my team in there, and you’re a part of my team. I call the shots, not you. When I say your plan is brilliant, it is. When I say it will be executed by someone else, it will.”
“But whoever else you hire, how can you trust them?” I screech.
“She could betray you for some extra bucks? Get caught! I do not understand the dynamics at play here. I know everyone from the mafia families inside out.”
There’s a momentary silence that lasts a little too long. “How?” he asks. “How do you know everyone?”
Fuck. I said too much.
“From my days at The White Rabbit. From work. From Angelo and the team. They scour photos all the time.” I try to cover up. I pretend I haven’t met most of these men at some point or the other in New York at fleeting dinner
parties, sometimes at my own home.
“That’s even more of a reason why I can’t let you do this, Emily,” says Felix.
“Felix,” I say, now in anger, “Why are you so intent on controlling me?”
His eyes close shut, and he takes a deep breath.
I notice him clench his fists and then release them.
After giving serious thought to whatever he’s giving serious thought to, he speaks.
“I am not trying to control you. I am being responsible. Not every piece of advice coming your way is from a place of control, Emily. Sometimes, people just want to do good by those around them, and that’s what I’m trying to
do here.”
“By telling me what to do?” I ask through gritted teeth.
