Page 72 of I Promise You
“Excuse me? What’s a woman like me?” I narrow my eyes, seething inwardly, and can already tell this conversation will be atrocious.
He doesn’t answer. Instead, he smiles sardonically.
“I've been made aware that Danny was to be a father but unfortunately, the fetus passed away.”
He did not just call my babya fetus.
“Fetus?!” I shout, appalled. I hold my stomach, protecting my baby’s honor.
“You meanyour grandchild,” I spit, holding back tears fueled by venomous wrath. I look around to see if anyone can hear this man’s ridiculous, outrageous words, but the door is closed and we’re far from the nurses’ station.
“He doesn’t need to be distracted by unplanned or rather premeditated pregnancies to trap him.”
Is he really accusing me of this?
“What? Do you think I tried to trap Danny?” This is my first time meeting anyone from my boyfriend’s family, and I never thought it would go this way. “You don't know me. You don’t know our relationship. I love your son with all of my heart. I would do anything for him.”
“How do you know about our billion-dollar fortune? My businesses? Who told you? That must be why the relationship started and went so fast.”
My mouth gawks open. Each word that leaves this man’s mouth has me concerned.
“My son has a reputation to withhold, and you threaten that, Ms. Alvarez.”
“My name is Ari,” I interject.
“I don’t think I need to learn how to say your name since you won’t be a part of my son’s life anymore. I don’t need to bother with minor details.”
“I don’t need this. I don’t need to be belittled by you. I love Danny, and I don’t need to explain what we have together with you.”
“My son has a couple of years left to give from completing his twenty years of a polished military record and career, and I’ll be damned to see him throw it away over you, over a fucking nurse.”
Yup, and that’s my cue to walk out of here.
“Goodbye, Damian.”
He snaps his teeth.
“I'm not finished.”
“But I am,” I spit, turning around to leave.
“You step out of that door, Ari, and I’ll be making some calls regarding your position at this hospital. I was a SEAL once, just like Danny, a highly respected veteran,” he drawls, his jaw twitching with stipulation. I grab the doorknob, just slightly about to flee the sapping energy he radiates through me like a drain.
I stop when the threat of losing my job rings loud and makes me hesitate.
“Unfortunately, my son isn't quite just like me.” His large, veiny hand enters my personal space when he clenches the door right underneath his fingertips, gripping it harshly. I step away from him, retreating to the other side of the room.
“I blame my wife for that. She makes room for weakness and I don’t have time for that.I can separate my love life from what needs to get done. I’ve taught him that, you know, work will always come first. Devote your life to work and that’s what makes a successful man.” He readjusts the collar at his neck, looking down at me with a fake façade. His body is collected and composed, but his eyes scream at me with disgust.
“Do you want him to throw away all of his hard work? If you say you love him, show him that you love him by putting him first before your own needs, Ms. Alvarez. Don’t let him throw away his career after all his hard work and sacrifice. It seems to me you can’t handle this military spouse life, anyway. He deploys a lot. He already had to take a long leave of absence to be by your side when he had never done that before.”
“We lost our child! I died in his arms! I can’t believe I have to justify this for you.”
Still, he holds his ground, stony-faced.
“How sad. I pity you,” I blurt out.
“Why’s that?”
