Page 208 of Most Eligible Billionaire CEO

“Esteban is coming all the way from Australia with his Aussie wife and their three kids. They’re going to be exhausted after such a long trip—even with the forty-eight-hour stopover in LA. Going to a grocery store at this time of the year—with an infant and cranky kids—is taking your life into your own hands. I want to make sure they have everything they need.”

Our cousin—from Mom’s side—will take over the baton. Ciara could’ve rented the house at market value, but she’s giving our cousin the family discount since he was laid off after five years of diligent work, and him and his orphaned wife have a year-old baby. Our grandparents’ home remains in the family. Just like it should.

“You sure about that?” Ciara asks. “Is this really about them being comfortable or you having a hard time letting go of the house.”

“A bit of both.”

“You’re living with your obscenely rich boyfriend in a penthouse that stretches the equivalent of a New York block.” She’s exaggerating, but not by much. My new home is a palace in the sky compared to this Bronx brownstone. “What more do you want?”

“I know, I know. It’s just that this house has seen me through so much.”

“That house has seen you turn into a phoenix rising from the ashes. You went from having a good life, to living a nightmare, and now, it’s all sunshine and rainbows. Given the temperature, I should say, it’s all fat snowflakes and snowmen.”

“Speaking of fairytales,” she says, “when is your billionaire boyfriend coming back from London again?”

“Two more days!” I air fist pump. He’s been only gone for ten days, but it feels like a year. “And I’m counting the minutes.”

“Fools in love.” I can see her shaking her head. “I’ll make sure to never drink that Kool-Aid.”

“You mean you’ll never drink that Kool-Aid ever again. Back in the day, you drank it straight out of the pitcher—”

“What’s the first rule of Fight Club?”

“If—”

“And what’s rule number two?”

I snicker. “If you don’t want me to bring him up, don’t make fun of me.”

“In my defense, I was young and dumb. I’m much wiser now. I know better. Men should be used for one thing and one thing only.”

“Just because I’m a romantic and believe in happy ever after, I shouldn’t be subject to your ridicule—”

“Yada yada yada.” She can be so stubborn when she puts her mind to it. “I didn’t call you to talk. When are you getting your ass at my house? Mom and Dad are already here.”

“Give me—”

“Sofia, everything is perfect. You hired a cleaning crew and a crew to decorate the house, you bought a grocery store out of business, and knowing you, there are poinsettias throughout the house. Just get here!”

Since my cousin is arriving tomorrow, we decided to move Sunday dinner on Saturday night, so it’s the four of us. Tomorrow, we’ll celebrate Esteban’s arrival.

“Okay, okay. Hold your horses. Or I should say, hold your reindeers—”

“Don’t quit your day job, sis.”

“Noted,” I say. “I’m going to put on my boots and coat. I’ll be there soon.”

“See you in ten. Not half an hour from now.”

“So bossy for a baby sister.”

She cackles.

Like the old school Tasmanian devil cartoon, I whirlwind throughout the house, turning off lights and the sound system. I get dressed, grab my hand bag, and step outside.

I lock the door and for the last time, I bring my fingers to my lips, kiss them, touch the wooden frame, and say goodbye to the house that’s kept me safe when my world mirrored the ending of the Titanic movie.

Emotions engulf me as I descend the stairs and walk away without peering over my shoulder.

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