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“You might have some modern ideas,” I say calmly, “but when push comes to shove, you lean on the old ways. You’re no different from my father. Maybe worse. At least he knows exactly what he is, and he doesn’t pretend otherwise.”
I’m done. Done. There’s nothing left to say. I gather my things off the counter.
“I’m leaving for the US tonight.” His voice has a dangerous calm to it that puts me on alert. “With the time changes, I’ll be gone a couple days.”
“I won’t be here when you get back.”
Rafael takes a step toward me, and I see a flicker of regret in his face. It lasts just a second before the fury is back, swirling in his eyes. He puts a firm hand on my arm and starts to say something, but he stops and drops his arm.
“Where are you going?” he asks.
“London.”
“It’s for the best,” he mutters under his breath. “You can take the small plane, and Giana and Sabio can travel with you.”
He’s all business now. The big fucking boss.
“I promised that I would provide security regardless of our relationship, and I will. Zé can work it out. He’ll be your connection going forward.”
Not a fucking chance. “My family has planes and security. I don’t need yours.” I’m not above spewing a little venom either.
“Whatever you decide,” he replies, striding toward the bedroom.
The kitchen reeks of rage and love lost. My love for him. I’m not sure he ever got beyond liking my pussy.
I wander into the living room to get away from the stench, pretending to look at something on my laptop, while he rustles around the bedroom. The anger is beginning to retreat, and I’m left with a gaping hole in my heart. A hole that I’m not sure will ever heal. Not this time.
A few minutes later, he walks by with a leather duffel slung over his shoulder. He doesn’t spare me a glance. When the apartment door shuts, I start to cry.
I always knew it would end badly for me. But I never expected this.
50
ALEXIS
After Rafael leaves, and I have a giant pity party for myself, I fall asleep on the couch wrapped in a soft quilt. It’s not exactly comfortable, but I can’t bear to sleep in his bed and I’m too exhausted to make up the one in the guestroom.
I sleep in fits and spurts. Every noise startles me awake, and I lie there wondering if it’s him coming back to apologize. I’m a foolish, foolish woman. He’s not coming back, and I know in my heart that it’s for the best. But still, it hurts.
When I finally decide I’ve had enough, I get up and take a shower, before puttering around and accomplishing nothing until early afternoon. I need to call my father so that he can send a plane, but I’ve been dragging my feet. Not because I plan on staying, but because I haven’t figured out how to approach him.
When I can’t stand being in the apartment any longer, I open the door to face a guard who surely overheard us arguing yesterday.
“I’m going down to the executive offices to see Antonio,” I inform Sabio.
I’ve been thinking about Antonio off and on all day. I’m sure Valentina’s anger yesterday just added to his sorrow.
“Antonio?” he repeats, like I’m insane. “You have an appointment?”
“I don’t need one. I checked with his office, and Cecelia said I could drop by whenever I wanted.”
She also told me that Rafael’s out of the country. Good. I won’t have to worry about running into him. Not that it’s any of his business if I visit Antonio.
Sabio gives me a wary nod and follows me to the elevator.
I have to figure out how to get my father to buy into the same security arrangement I have—had—with Rafael. Antonio and my father aren’t exactly the same, but they know each other well, and more importantly, they understand one another. While it’s not my main reason for wanting to see him today, he can help me think it through.
While we wait for the elevator, Zé appears. It’s not exactly out of nowhere. He and Tamar share an apartment on this floor. Although he’s the next-to-last person I want to bump into.
