Page 12 of The Ring Thief
“Don’t presume to talk to me about my employees, Silvia,” I retort, just sharp enough that her head jerks towards me, eyes wide.
I know it’s a consequence of how we grew up, but I’ve never liked the way she treats people she believes are beneath her, and I’ve made no bones about it.
She reaches out to touch my arm, a reconciling smile on her face. “I didn’t mean anything by it. I’m a little hangry, I guess.” She giggles, the sound at odds with her usual countenance. “You know how I get.”
Her fingers linger on my arm, and I look at her in bemusement before shaking it off, mind firing back to some of the conversations I’d been having throughout the day.
My father thought he was being subtle in his attempts to sabotage Hi-Tech, but all he’s done is brought attention to the divide between usand how we do things, especially when the board was already fully aware of my proposal to purchase the company.
I feel like I’m trying to play chess blind, about to move pieces when I can’t see what move my opponent has just made.
Silvia seems to sense my distraction because she doesn’t break the silence until we take our seats at a small table next to the front window and the server has taken our order.
She sips her water, watching me over the rim. “Daddy wanted me to ask you to come for dinner next week.”
My mouth twitches, unable to imagine anything worse. “Why?”
“What do you mean, why?” She laughs again, but a divot appears between her brows.
“Silvia, I don’t even like going to my family dinners. So, why does your father want me at one of yours?”
She purses her lips, eyes flicking around the cafe. “I don’t know, Dec. You’d have to ask him. I’m just the messenger.”
I hum thoughtfully, my instincts flaring. “Is my wife invited?” I ask, watching her closely and catching the flinch I would’ve missed otherwise. She covers it up by flashing me a bright smile, but it falls flat, not reaching her eyes.
“Of course she’s invited. Lily’s family, isn’t she?” Her tone is too forced to feel genuine. “Declan, I’m worried about you. Every time we talk, it feels like you’re getting more and more involved with Lily.” Her expression is drawn, her eyes sad. “It feels like you’re forgetting why you started this in the first place.”
Fuck.
I shift in my seat, thinking my words through carefully, knowing I’m walking a tightrope of what I can say to her and what I need to protect. “I know what I’m doing. Leave it alone, Silvia.”
She shakes her head, a strand of blond hair flying free. “Talk to me,” she pleads, reaching out and gripping my arm firmly. “You know I’m here for you, right? I always have been. But you need to let me in.” Her smile is tremulous, eyes overly bright, and guilt surges.
I don’t want to lie to her, but I also can’t tell her the truth.
“The other day you told me to trust you, right?” she continuesdoggedly. “And I do… but you’re back now, so you and her… it should be over, right? Your dad said it would be.”
And there it was.
“Silvia—”
“This isn’t going to end well,” she predicts, tone hardening from a plea to something brittle, her mouth pressing into a firm line. “Lily has been so unkind to me, even when I welcomed her into our circle with open arms. Every time I told you about it, you brushed me off, reminding me this was all temporary. But you’re married, Declan. It doesn’t feel temporary now!” Her face falls, a lone tear streaking down her cheek, and my stomach drops. “I don’t understand why you had to take it all this far.”
“This has nothing to do with you, Silvia,” I gently remind her.
She leans across the table, her nails digging into my arm even through my suit jacket. “I thought we were family,” she whispers, her words harsh and damning. “You’re treating me like some kind of outsider.”
My mouth drops open, confused about how she can go from appearing heartbroken to angry so quickly. “What’re you talking about?”
“You’ve been with Lily for a year.” There’s the slightest sneer to her mouth when she says my wife’s name. “A year, Declan. And she’s used that time wisely, pushing me further and further out. And you never see it.” I shake my head, ready to refute what she’s saying, but she’s not done.
“She’s horrible to me as soon as your back’s turned.” The anger falls away back into sadness. “She was gloating before the wedding that I was going to be cut out of your life permanently.” It doesn’t sound like something Lily would say, but Silvia’s mouth trembles, another tear escaping and I falter. “We’ve been friends our whole lives, Declan, and you’ve let her come between us. You’ve let her ruin us.” She sniffs delicately, looking out the window, whispering brokenly, “I don’t have anyone else.”
“That’s not true, Silvia. None of it.” Her hand is still on my arm, and I place mine over top of hers, squeezing reassuringly.
She glances down at them, before looking up at me through spikywet lashes. “We’re reaching a breaking point,” she says. “A point I don’t think we can ever come back from.”
I frown. “What are you saying?”
