Page 24 of Romeo
I shook my head.
“So, this is serious?” my father spoke up.
I looked down at the table then back up at him. “I think so.”
Dante glanced over at our father then looked back at me and whistled. “Ok now, I feel bad for you, brother.”
Our father stared at him. “Why? What is so wrong with them being a couple, figlio?”
“I suppose I wouldn’t say it was wrong,” Dante replied. “But this woman isn’t a pushover, Papa. She has a lot of class and self-respect. She’s smart and capable.”
“Si, I know. “Our father nodded at him. “Why do you think I hired her?”
“But that’s why she won’t give me the chance,” I told him. “I can’t blame her either. It would look bad for her if…” I shook my head. “It was pretty selfish of me to have even brought it up.”
“Selfish?” our father asked. “Because you want to be with her? That is a definite compliment. We are Descalias after all.”
“Papa,” Dante said. “I know you aren'tthatold school. She is a woman attorney and she dates your son. Her client’s son?” He pointed out. “That would impact her reputation.”
Our father paused, then slowly nodded. “So, I could fire her?”
“Oh, wow!” Dante and I both exclaimed.
“Never mind, you ARE too old school.” Dante scoffed in disgust.
“Don’t even think about it, Papa!” I glared at him. “If you actually did that? Then you could count me out too.”
Raising his hands at me, he exclaimed, “Calmati! I wasn’t serious.” He chuckled. “I wouldn’t do that anyway. I mean no disrespect to you, but his lady lawyer is worth two of your kind, son.”
Feeling a bit insulted, I tucked my head back and replied, “Gee thanks, Papa.”
“Scusa…Sorry, but she excels in the three C’s of law our organization needs. Corporate, Criminal and Civil.”
I nodded. “I realize that. No one can beat her in skills and expertise as an essential litigator. I very well know she would be a prize attorney for any client she lands.”
“So what are you going to do?” Dante asked me.
I shrugged. “I will apologize and try to…” I paused as I considered what I could do that would make a difference after I opened my big mouth like that. “I don’t know, maybe we could have one of our junior lawyers work with her instead of me. I will bow out and perhaps head over to the Dallas office. They could use an experienced attorney there.”
“Sei pazzo…Are you nuts?” my father exclaimed.
I stood from my chair and said, “No, I made a mistake. I need to correct it.”
“I do not want you to leave here,” my father said. “You need to think this over first, Romeo.”
I shrugged. “I’m unsure if I can correct this. But I have to try.”
Dante sighed and said, “Good luck, brother.” All jokes aside, he actually looked like he meant it too.
I nodded and headed out. Seeing my aunt at the end of the table, I paused and said, “Dinner and dessert was fabuloso as always, Zia Maria.”
She smiled at me then leaned in close to say, “Remember that some things are worth fighting for, Romeo.”
I stared at her. Ok, so she knew all about my problem. Of course, she did. She had practically raised me and my brothers like her own. The woman also had uncanny instincts. That was why our father allowed her to be as she was. Sassy and opinionated. “Any advice?” I asked, deciding to take advantage of any wisdom she might impart.
“Si, Romeo. If it is vero amore, do not give up on it.”
True love.Was it that? Maybe it was because I’d never felt like this for a woman before. I also never tried so hard to hide my feelings before either. In the past, if I saw a woman and wantedher, I went right after her. I just never allowed myself to get interested in any that existed in my father’s business. Lucky for me, it had never happened. Now that it had? I was in big trouble. I gave her a kiss on the cheek and said, “Grazie, Zia.”
