Page 53 of Broken Deal

“Couldn’t you have been here in person for this meeting? This is the third time in a row you have met with us through a webcam,” James Smith, the treasurer of the board, says, annoyed.

“Well, considering I have a business to run, no. I could not have been,” I reply through gritted teeth.

James Smith has always had it out for me. The fact I’m the youngest vice president they’ve ever had, and that he’s not a particular fan of my way of living, means we butt heads more often than not. These people are so old school, it bores the hell out of me. In the beginning, when I took over the vice presidency, I was so eager to make changes, but they kept getting shut down to the point I started to let things go. To be fair, some of the rules are plainstupid. For example, you need to have a minimum net worth of five hundred million dollars to be a part of this club. We’re losing so much revenue due to this rule. I ran the numbers and the logistics of things and made a whole presentation about it.

But did they care? No.

Stuck-up, old-ass sons of bitches.

“We need to do something about Julian Molina. He got arrested,again. I know any sort of press is good press, but this is getting out of hand,” Amos says.

“I say we ban him,” James suggests.

I roll my eyes, even though I know I’m on a big screen and everyone can see what I’m doing. “Julian Molina spends millions of dollars a year in the casino. He practically livesthere these days. Something you, as the treasurer of the club, should know,” I snap.

“No reason to take that hasty tone with me, young man,” James spits.

“I’ll take whatever tone I want to take when I have to point out obvious things. We’re not getting rid of him,period,” I say sharply, not leaving room for argument.

Amos rubs his eyes with his thumb and index finger, letting out a resigned sigh. “Those in favor of banning Julian Molina, raise your hand.”

Only James raises his hand. At least the rest of the group has some common sense. That should bring me some sort of peace.

“Idiota?1,” I murmur.

The whole board glares at the screen, and I shrug with a shit-eating grin on my face. I have nothing to lose with these people. They can’t get rid of me, even when I know they’re dying to. I’m not too happy about being here either, so at least we have that in common.

“Alright, then. We’ll give him a warning instead,” Amos says, dropping his folder on the table. “Thank you for your time, gentlemen. We’ll meet in two weeks, same time.” He looks at the screen. “And try to be here next time, Lorenzo, yeah? You already know how important that meeting is.”

I leave the meeting and snap the laptop shut without a reply. I’m so sick of these people. I’ve grown angry and so resentful at the life my father left me behind, I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to hold on.

Sophia’s words echo in the back of my head.Don’t let others dictate your life, Lorenzo. It’s up to you to shape your own future and find your ownhappiness.

Maybe she’s right. Maybe it’s time for me to…let go.

That’s a crazy idea. You can’t do that. This is what your father wanted.

Yeah, but when is it my turn to be happy? When is it my turn to follow my dreams and my passions?

I glance at my watch, noticing it’s already dinnertime and I have yet to see or hear Sophia roaming around the house. Opening the crystal doors to the back patio, I find her sitting in one of the deck pool chairs, watching the sunset. Her hair moves with the air flawlessly, in a perfect movie slow-motion type of way. Her body is slightly shivering with the constant breeze, so I turn around and run to my bedroom to grab one of my hoodies. Once I find it, I head back out and shut the doors, causing her to startle and look over her shoulder. Her eyes lack their usual spark and are slightly puffy. Inexplicable fury rushes through my body as my eyes take her in. My first instinct is to run to her and hug her, but I hold back. My second instinct is to ask who did this to her so I can go take care of it, knowing I have no right.

You need to take a chill pill right now. She is not your problem to deal with.

Maybe I want to make her my problem. Would that be so bad?

I hand her my hoodie without a word. I’m ready to fight her on it, but she doesn’t hesitate and puts it on. I stifle a satisfactory groan at the sight of her wearing something of mine. The hoodie looks ridiculously big on her, fitting her like an oversize dress and making her even more beautiful, if that’s even a possibility. I never understood why men love to see their girls wearing something of theirs. But seeing her like this, something primal takes a hold of me. She looksvery much like mine right now, even when I know it’s not real.

“Thank you,” she whispers.

I simply nod, sitting next to her and looking over the horizon, admiring how the sun slowly dips, casting a warm, orange glow over the ocean. My fingers itch to touch her, to caress her cheek, maybe even her hair. But the rejection that would inevitably follow would sting. So I keep myself in check, even when I’m dying to do nothing more than to be there for her and to take care of her.

1 Idiot.

Idon’t show weakness to people. It’s a craft I’ve mastered over the years. One I started learning when I was just a kid.

Being weak means you have to rely on someone to feel or be better. That’s something I can’t afford. I have to be the strong one, even if it kills me. But today, I couldn’t anymore after speaking with my sister. I knew she was planning something when I stopped hearing from her. And I’ve been so busy, I kept pushing off the inevitable. Then I got a call from Mom’s nurse today. Apparently, Amelia visited her, and she was not alone. She was withMiles. After I hung up, I was so furious I called Amelia right away, and we got into a screaming match.

It’s not surprising she got back together with him. What pissed me off is she went home when I specifically told her not to. This may seem controlling of me and like I’m being a bitch, but the tornado Amelia always brings with her is one I can’t deal with anymore. Her presence affects Mom, and in extension, it affects me. She storms in, destroys everything in her path, and walks away unscathed. It’shard to handle the situation from so far away. I’ve considered moving back home, but that would mean quitting the job that allows me to take care of Mom. I’m so tired of it all. Exhausted from trying to protect Mom from Amelia and make her believe something completely different. She doesn’t truly know her daughter. If she did, it would destroy her.

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