If the gaze of someone were used as a knife, Eduardo’s eyes would be sharp enough to cut the air.
Neither was Dad’s intention to offend him, nor to insult.
That was just a generous gesture for doing his job right.
God, Eduardo’s dignity was like another person in the room; it was that sharp.
How could Dad not see something like that?
He didn’t even bother to lean down and pick the keys up.
“I appreciate your generous offer, Sir Arquette,” he said with a responsive tone, but I could sense the mild flavor of his anger hidden underneath.
“Please don’t take me wrong, but I didn’t help an abused woman in exchange for anything. Now, if you’ll please excuse me…” he said and walked back to his room.
“What did I do wrong?” Dad questioned himself.
“You didn’t mean to offend him, I know, Daddy.
However, he is too strict with his pride.”
“I have never met anyone like that before,” he said.
“Miranda would have thrilled, for example.”
“Miranda is a greedy person, Dad.
All she wants is someone’s money to rely on, unlike Uncle James.”
“Yes, my brother is too proud, and he relies only on his own potential and work.
You are like him, though.
That’s why you understood what Garcia meant.”
My dad was a good man; he was my rock, but his looking-down-on-other-people kind of behavior was hitting my nerves like Miranda’s.
“You shouldn’t underestimate your brother, Tim,” Mom said.
“He might not be as good as you are, but he is not doing badly himself at all.
You aimed for luxury, but he was fine with the basic needs. Follow the newest chapters on g.com.
Nobody is suffering, nobody is in danger, and everybody is happy on their own.”
“It’s easy for you to speak like that; I gave you the world.”
“Yes, you did.
You gave me the world when you said you loved me.
You gave me the world when I got pregnant with our baby girl.
You give me the world every morning you wake up next to me, healthy.”
Oh, Mom’s dedicated love for Dad… How I wish to find such love.
Speaking of which, where was Eduardo?
“I’d better pack my things and get ready.
Did you ask them to set the jet, Dad?”
“Honey, stay for a few days since you are here.”
“I’m sorry, I can’t.
Everything is messed up back in Mexico now.
We were about to sign a contract with a company that is currently under investigation for money laundering.
I heard the bombshell before you called yesterday.”
“I should have beaten that trash to death.” His tone was filled with rage.
“Do you need my help?
I can talk to our lawyers for you, if you need me to.”
“I can handle it myself; don’t worry.”
“You are Daddy’s girl, I’d never…” He hugged me tightly.
Then he put one arm around my shoulders and the other around Mom’s waist as we went inside.
I immediately went to Eduardo’s room, excusing myself to go to my room.
I found him on the phone.
He must have been talking to his folks because he was speaking Spanish.
His tone gave away that there was a problem.
I wanted to wrap my arms around him and put my head to his chest like we did in the morning, but he took a step back to prevent me from doing so as he hung up the call.
“What’s wrong, honey?” I asked.
“Our affair is wrong.”
“Are we back on this again? What kind of habit is this: making love that wouldn’t even compare to the wildest dreams on earth through the night, like there’s no morning coming, and then talking about it as a mistake in the morning? What are you, some kind of werewolf? Do you forget and regret your affairs of the night before?”
He took a deep sigh.
“Your dad just made it clear what I mean in your world, Emily.
I am not at your level.
It’s not even about the money.
I cannot be with a woman whose family treats me that way.”
“If he knew about us—”
“About what, Emily?
Just sneaky affairs that began two nights ago?
Is this what you want to tell your dad?
Do you want him to treat your boy toy better and nicer, as if he is your equal?”
“You are overreacting, Eduardo.
Plus, I don’t need a boy toy.
I can share my bed with whomever I desire.
If I want to be with you, that would mean some—”
“NOTHING!” Eduardo said sharply.
“That meant nothing. You are my employer, and I am your employee. That’s the deal!”
I clenched my fist not to hit him.
“Fine…” I kept my voice steady, sharp, and most importantly, cold.
“If you see yourself as a doormat, then you will be treated like a doormat.’’ I was about to leave his room before I said, ‘‘You will be rewarded with an extra paycheck for your services over the past two nights. You deserved it.”
And then I left his room without letting him talk back.
It was all my fault; I allowed him to treat me like that.
Nor was it my purpose to help someone so insecure value themselves; neither did I have time for that kind of drama.
Yet that did not mean I would let him walk away without regretting this morning.