Page 10 of The Sicilian's Obsession
Katima
Icouldn't concentrate. I was feeling something that I couldn't explain, a burning in my gut, an anger in my soul. It all started with my slutty PA talking to Arturo. As soon as we came in, she jumped on him, figuratively speaking. She barely gave me a glance before her sights were set on him. I couldn't stand there and hear about their weekend plans when I heard her ask. So, I fled. Then I was mortified that I ran away to my lab without hearing the rest of the conversation. Arturo came inside and tried to talk with me, but I ignored him. My mind was whirling at the possibilities. Were Rebecca and he deciding on a date night? Would he have to bring in extra security personnel? Should I ask my dad if that was something in their contract? I was so confused and spinning in circles. I was so deep into my mind that I dropped a test tube, spilling the contents on my jeans and shattering the tube on the floor. That hasn't happened to me since I was in school. I'm usually so precise. Nothing can break my concentration. Luckily, there were no chemicals in this tube, just some ingredients I wanted to see together for a recipe that was working in my mind.
"Are you all right?" Arturo was kneeling at my feet. I hadn't even realized he'd left the office. He was trying to check my leg, but I pulled away from him and went to grab cleaning supplies to get rid of my mess.
He grabbed my arm. "I've got it."
The moment his hand touched me, I felt an electrical current run through my body. I have never felt something so strong before and through clothes to boot. This was something completely out of my element. Before I could even dwell on the feeling, Arturo was back at the spill site, cleaning up the broken glass. It wasn't even that much. There would've been more glass if it were a petri dish, that was for sure. I shook my head to clear my wayward thoughts and tried to grab the cleaning supplies from Arturo to finish.
He barked, "It's dangerous. I've got it."
I sat back on my haunches, shocked. No one had ever spoken to me like that. In fact, most people would just tear me down for being stupid enough to make such a juvenile mistake. It was one of the reasons Rebecca is outside of my lab rather than in it. A long time ago, she was an integral part of my research, but when my dad heard the way she spoke to me, he moved her out. I don't think she ever really got over it, mainly because working at Sweet Incorporated was something huge for her resume, but working alongside of me meant that her name could be put on a recipe or even an idea. I always gave my research assistants their dues. I hadn't had a new one since Rebecca, which was why she sometimes moonlights to help me, but I don't like it, because she always speaks so callously to me and I didn't have the nerve to tell my dad. He would fire her on the spot, which would make her even angrier with me. Instead, I just bear it. Yesterday was a fluke. I was out of sorts; otherwise I would have never sicced my dad on Rebecca.
Katima: I'm sorry
Arturo looked at his phone and sighed. "It was an accident. Nothing to be sorry for."
Katima: Still, I should have been paying more attention. I shouldn't have dropped the tube.
I could feel tears welling in my eyes. I hated making mistakes. There was just something about perfection that was beautiful, and I strove to hit it every day of my life. I wasn't much of a daughter and I had no other real relationships to speak of, so the best I could do was be perfect in as much as I could, especially my work.
Arturo finished cleaning up and grabbed my hand as I went to pass him to the bench in my lab. He stared deeply into my eyes and I felt a flutter low in my belly. I frowned, trying to place the feeling. It was another one I had never felt before. Maybe it was nervousness. That would make sense. Normally, when I felt nervous, I felt nauseous and dizzy. I wasn't really feeling that, but the flutters must have been an extension of how I normally felt, maybe an evolution.
He murmured, "I'll let you get back to work." He had a weird look in his eyes.
A flash of something niggled in the back of my mind, but I brushed it off. Watching him walk back into my office, I went back to my research. One part of my brain was on the new recipe, the other part thinking about Arturo Cruz. The man was attractive. That was irrefutable. He also seemed much nicer to me than before. I wasn't sure if that was because he had seen me break down or if it was because he was normally a nice person. I wouldn't want to think he was being nice because of pity. One thing I learned early on was that I wanted honesty from people. My dad preferred everyone treated me like I was fragile, but that was not how I liked to live my life. I would rather hear their harsh words, their ridicule, their disdain. It kept me on my toes and made me grow a thick skin. It also helped me build a self-defense mechanism so I wouldn't trust people easily.
I checked my ratios. My beta testing was ending, and I wanted to inject the concoction I made into the fudge, but I first needed to test it on its own for taste. If the heat ratio was high enough, then I might be able to come out with a sweet and spicy fudge. I let myself drift off with my work, letting my thoughts of Arturo and Rebecca fall to the wayside.
The hours passed fast, and before I knew it, it was ten o'clock. Arturo had come back into the lab after stepping out for a second. I thought he went to flirt more with Rebecca, but he came back shortly with a paper bag. When he opened it, there was an intoxicating aroma coming from the bag. Arturo pulled out two big rolls wrapped in foil and motioned me into the office.
"You didn't eat any breakfast, so I thought we could have brunch together."
Arturo was setting drinks on the desk and I figured out what we were eating quickly. Breakfast burritos, and how he knew this was my favorite brunch item, I had no idea. I smiled big and took a huge bite of my burrito, groaning when an explosion of flavor hit my taste buds. Arturo was focused on my mouth. He was staring so hard, I almost freaked out. His gaze was intense, penetrating me deeply. I squirmed in my seat, wondering why he was looking so intently. Unless?
Katima: Do I have something on my face?
Arturo had to shake himself before he looked at my message. He shook his head no and glowered down at his food. I was officially confused. Why was he staring at me? Feeling self-conscious, I took a smaller bite of my burrito, my moan quieter because there was less of an explosion. I glanced up at Arturo and noticed that he was wearing an expression of disappointment.
Katima: Are you not liking your burrito?
He groaned, "No, it's good. I just had a thought."
Now I was the one staring at him like he was a snack I wanted to unwrap and eat.
Katima: Want to talk about it?
* * *
I had no idea what I was doing. I had no experience with friends. How do people talk to one another? For once, I wished that I could just speak to Arturo. I mean, he knew I stuttered, so maybe I wouldn't embarrass myself. If I could keep calm, then I wouldn't have any outbursts or tripping over my words. Right?
"It's not important," Arturo was saying, and for some reason, I felt like my window of opportunity was closing.
I took a deep breath. "Are you sure?" I asked, speaking slowly and concisely. Arturo looked completely taken aback at the sound of my voice. I wanted to grin in victory, but I also wanted to know what was bothering him.
His eyes were smiling as he replied, "I don't want to ruin lunch with this."
I calmed my racing heart. We were having a conversation, a real one, something I hadn't done with anyone but my father in a long time.
