by Lucy Robin
I have an uneasy feeling that Tiffany orchestrated the whole fiasco regarding the contract, not Mike.
I have the urge to call and tell Keith to warn him about the bitch, but then I don’t. Why should I care about what happened to him? I want nothing to do with him from now on. I sink deeper under the water.
Chapter 28
Keith
I shut myself in my office for the rest of the morning. I replay the conversation between me and Elena, Ricky’s phone call, everything that happened in Vegas, and the awards party twelve years ago.
I have the impulse to call Elena and to see her. I want to apologize for what I did to her, but I know she won’t answer my calls or agree to see me. She would never forgive me. I can’t even forgive myself, either.
What I did was beyond redemption. I not only messed up her life for twelve fucking years, but I’m doing it again. She’ll for sure quit working for me, and have to start all over again.
I’m confused and angry at the same time. How did things take such a dramatic turn so quickly? It was going well between Elena and me, we put our past behind us and work together, and we went beyond that. I remember wishing the moment in the jetted tub to last forever, and I was planning to take her to my house after we sign the contract with Ricky. I guess it’s not going to happen now. Fuck. She’s never going to forgive me. Why on earth was I so sure the woman with dad that night was Elena? I didn’t even see her face! I close my eyes. Dad went into the hall, and then I saw Elena going in the same direction. But it didn’t mean they were there together. There could be, and most certainly now, was a third person. Shit. Why was I such a fucking idiot?
I force myself to put Elena out of my mind and concentrate on business. I think about the deal I lost.
Everything was going smoothly until Dad showed up. That selfish bastard. He destroyed Mom’s life, and now he wants to do the same to me. Why did he attend the conference? It isn’t his favorite activity, at least not in recent years. And why did he show up at the same restaurant we were at? He doesn’t even like seafood. It feels as if he was stalking me, or Ricky. Wait, maybe he was. He came for a purpose. He came to steal the deal from me. That could be the only reason for his appearance. But how did he know where we were?
It wasn’t impossible to find out, but it shouldn’t be easy either—unless he has the right informant. Fuck. I don’t believe it. Suddenly everything makes sense. I’m hit by a bolt of lightning. Tiffany. Tiffany called Thursday and asked whether I would like to go to a movie on Saturday, and I told her about Vegas. At Vegas, she texted me, asking me where I would go dinner, and again I told her. This explains the two coincidences. But I can’t believe it because Tiffany is supposed to be helping me. She’s my spy. Am I wrong again? Could she be a double agent? Or could she be working for Dad all along?
I dial Tiffany’s number, but she doesn’t answer my call.
I spring to my feet, rushes out of the office, and head straight to my car.
I drive to Brook’s Real Estate, not seeing Tiffany’s car, I drive to her house. I’m about to park and knock on her door when I see her garage door opens and her red Porsche backing out.
Instead of honking the horn to notify her, I’m suddenly possessed by suspicion and decide to follow her instead. When she gets on I-210 East, I’m even more determined to follow.
While driving, I think about Tiffany. I’ve known her since we were teenagers. Her dad was a mortgage officer at Wells Fargo Bank, and he and Dad had a business relationship. She was an intern at Dad’s office right before Elena quit, and then she became an agent. She was ambitious, although as far as I know, she’s never done anything impressive. But she seems to have her way to climb up the ladder. I always thought Dad hired her because of her dad, but now I think I was wrong. Damn. I hope what I suspect isn’t true. Tiffany has been my close friend ever since my mom passed away. She knows I hate my dad, and she loves my mom the way I do. In fact, Mom had the wish to get the two of us together. I’ve also given it some thoughts.
When the Porsche changes lane to highway 57, heading toward the direction of Yorba Linda, my heart hammers against my chest. Holy shit. She’s heading to Dad’s house. What the hell is she doing? Is she playing games with me? Even though Tiffany and I remained in close contact since mother’s death, I didn’t discuss Brook’s Estate with her when we were together, not until two years ago, after my company had made a ten-million-dollar sales record. I had lunch with Tiffany, and she told me my dad’s business was going downhill, and she provided a detailed gossip about the reasons. Since then, hearing about Brook’s business became my purpose in seeing her. More than once, I asked her to become an associate at Kelly and offered her a better commission rate. She seemed to be interested in it, but never accepted the offer. She said she couldn’t do it to my dad, and I admired her loyalty. But now, I wonder, is there something else between Mike and her?
I park my car as she pulls into the driveway. As soon as she gets out of her car, I go up to confront her.
She gasps when she sees me, her eyes dilated with fear. “Hi, Keith. Are you coming to see your dad?”
I don’t answer her question. “What are you doing here?”
“I… err, I need to discuss something with your dad.” She avoids looking into my eyes.
I scoff. “Why did you do this to me, Tiffany? I thought we were friends.”
“What’re you talking about?” she searches her purse for her cellphone.
Before she starts to dial it, I grab her wrist. “You are working for him all along. You pretend to help me, but in fact, you are his spy. It’s why he followed me to Vegas and ran into us again at Catch.”
Tiffany struggles to break free, but I don’t loosen my grip. “I did help you. But you only used me, and you leave me no choice. I have to plan for my own future,” she says.
“What’re you talking about? I’ll hire you whenever you’re ready. I promised me you that.”
“It’s just a promise. You promised me we would go to a movie last time, and you cancelled it.”
A movie? It takes me a moment to understand what she refers to. We were supposed to go to a movie the afternoon I met Elena at her open house. It was supposed to be our first movie date. I canceled it because seeing Elena distressed me. “Are you serious? What does it have to do with anything?”
Tiffany says with a bitter laugh. “Listen, Keith. I want to help you. I love you, but you never care for me, no matter what I do for you. I thought you just needed time, but that day when you chased Elena at Charlie’s Bistro, I gave up on you.”
I feel nauseated. Shit. She was jealous of Elena, and she took revenge. “Stop it. Leave Elena out of this! Why the hell did you sell me out?”
“What’s going on?” I look up when I hear Mike’s voice. “What do you want, Keith? I hope you’re not here to pick a fight because you lost the deal?”
I let go of Tiffany and glare at him. “I haven’t lost it yet. I’m here to make sure what role Tiffany plays.”
“You still haven’t figured it out?” he chuckles as he pulls Tiffany to him and kisses her. “Well, son, you are supposed to be a genius who graduated from college at seventeen. But you’ve still got a lot to learn regarding women!”
Even though I saw it coming, my jaw still drops. My gut clenches, and I want to throw up. “Are you saying…that…you’ve been fucking her?”
Mike scoffs, shaking his head. “Son. You’re so crass. Tiffany has been my girlfriend for many years.”
I look at Tiffany, and she avoids my eyes, but her face is red.
“Since when?” I ask, despite my rage.
Tiffany gives me a guilty look but looks away promptly. “It was a while ago. I’m sorry, Keith.”
A revelation strikes my head. “No way. It was you, Tiffany. At the party twelve years ago. You were with him at the library.”
Tiffany doesn’t speak, with confirms my guess.
“You asshole!” I shout at Mike, who’s still smirking. �
��You cheated on Mom right in front of her, and you fucked your friend’s daughter!”
“Stop shouting,” Mike says with an eye-roll. “Someone will call the cops if you don’t. This is a respectful neighborhood.”
“I don’t fucking care!” I say as I grab his collars.
“What are you doing? Let go of me,” he says as he pushes me.
I punch my fist at his face without a moment’s hesitation. Blood spurts out of his nose, and Tiffany screams.
He swings his arm, and I dodge, but his fist lands on my shoulder.
The next minute we are both on the ground. To my surprise, Dad isn’t a frail old man and is in good shape. One minute I’m on top of him, punching him in the face, and the next, he has his hands on my neck, trying to strangle me. When a wail of siren breaks the peace of the neighborhood, we’re both puffing and panting.
Chapter 29
Keith
Since the police officer couldn’t decide who started the fight, and neither Dad and I wanted to go to jail, he left without filing any report. I drive off feeling worse than ever, mentally, and physically. My jaw probably broke, but that’s the least of my concern. I hate myself for being so stupid for so long.
I drive straight to Elena’s house. Even though I’ve never been there, I know the address and know the neighborhood well. I ring the bell for the third time. Elena still won’t answer the door. “Please, Elena,” I shout. “I know you’re home. I see your car.”
Finally, I hear the click of the bolt. The door opens, and Mia stands behind it. She isn’t smiling. “Hi, Keith. What do you want?”
“Hi, Mia. I, err, want to apologize to Elena. Please let me in.”
“She doesn’t want to see you. You broke her heart, young man! Just leave her alone.”
She’s about to close the door, but I put an arm through the slit and stop her. “Please, Mia, give me a chance. I didn’t mean to hurt her. I was foolish twelve years ago. I wish I could take it all back.”
“Yeah. Don’t we all wish we did things differently? But life isn’t like that.”
“Could you at least deliver a message for me?” I ask her, and when she nods, I continue, “Tell her it wasn’t totally out of revenge. I, uh, I was smitten by her that night. My eyes never left her since the moment I saw her. I was jealous. And I never forgot her. I’ve missed her.”
Mia looks at me with pity, and her eyes are no longer cold. “Wait here. I’ll let her know.”
I wait with hope: a minute passes, and another. Mia doesn’t come back. My heart sinks, and my confidence leaves me. Elena won’t forgive me. She hates me.
The door opens again. Mia shakes her head. “I’m sorry, Keith. She says it’s better you forget her.”
I open my mouth to speak, but she closes the door.
Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! I clench my fist and curse my way to my car. Instead of going home, I drive aimlessly around the block, hoping to see Elena getting out of her house. Finally, it’s dark, and I give up the attempt.
I’m driving toward Prestige when I see the sign of Antonio’s Bar, a place I visit occasionally. I’m on my third shot of vodka when I hear a woman’s soft voice calling my name from behind. My heart jumps. Elena? I whip my head around to look at her, only to be greeted by disappointment. It’s Tiffany.
I narrow my eyes. “What do you want?”
“I’m sorry, Keith. I went to your house, but you weren’t there, and you wouldn’t answer my calls. I figured you were here,” she says as she sits down on the stool next to me. “Can we talk?”
“I’ve nothing to talk to you. Leave me alone.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to hear me out? I have a proposal for you.” Before I refuse her, she goes on. “Listen. I have a plan to help you win back the deal.”
I scoff. “Why would you help me? You’re Mike’s woman.”
She pauses. “I’m not, at least, no longer am. Actually, he dumped me a long time ago. He didn’t tell you the truth to make you mad.”
I don’t know what the truth is anymore, and I don’t care. “Then why are you still seeing him?”
“I don’t anymore. We’re purely business partners. Earlier I was going to speak to him about getting a share of his company’s stocks. But you sort of ruined my plan. He didn’t know about our connection prior to that.”
“You asked for it,” I say. “That’s what you get being a double-agent.”
She gives me an angry look. “Fine. Go ahead to blame me, but I’m offering you a chance to turn things around and beat your dad. Isn’t it what you want?”
I waver at the suggestion. As much as I loathe her presence, I can’t resist the temptation of beating my dad. “Shoot,” I say as I take another gulp out of my glass.
“I’m going to tell Mr. Rizzo and his mom the truth about your dad, including how he screwed around and made your mom miserable. This will for sure damage Mike’s reputation.”
I consider. “How would it help redeem their trust in me? It doesn’t change what I did with Elena twelve years ago.”
“No, it doesn’t,” she says. “And that’s why you have to draw a line between you and her.”
“What the fuck are you suggesting?”
“You’ll have to tell them that she seduced you then, and she seduced you again in Vegas. But you realize you’ve made the same mistake twice, and you fired her.”
“Out of the question!” I put out a hand. “I would be a complete asshole if I did that.”
“Come on,” she doesn’t give up. “I’m only trying to help, Keith.”
“Why are you being nice all of a sudden? What do you get out of it? Don’t tell me you simply want to get back at my dad.”
“That is a reason, although I wish for monetary compensation, which we can talk about later. Or you’ll hire me once you defeat your dad, just as you promised.”
I roll my eyes. She has the nerve to bring it up! “I don’t think that’s possible anymore.”
“Why not? What do you have to lose?” she presses on. “Elena is not going to come back to you. I saw you waiting outside her house earlier.”
“You were stalking me?” No wonder she knew I was here.
She shrugged. “Just returning you the favor.”
“Unbelievable!” I gesture the bar-tender and pay my tab.
Before I storm out of the bar, she calls behind me, “Ricky is going to meet with Mike tomorrow at ten at Ricky’s office to finalize the deal, and I’ll be there just in case you change your mind.”
Chapter 30
Elena
From my bedroom window, I watch Keith’s car rolling away, and then I return to bed. I’ve been lying there all day sulking. I refused to go out of my room, not even when Nonna told me Keith was outside of her house, begging to see me.
Now he’s gone, and I feel sad. I turn on the TV, hoping it’ll distract me, but it doesn’t work. The truth is, I miss him, even though I still can’t forgive him.
Nonna comes back, bringing me a cup of hot chocolate. “Drink this, Elena. It’ll cheer you up.”
Her kindness only draws tears into my eyes. “Thank you, Nonna!” I take the warm cup from her hands.
She shakes her head. “Muffin, I know you’re mad, but I think you’re making a mistake letting him go.”
“I feel the same, Nonna,” I say. “But I don’t know. I just can’t let him in and hurt me again. He’s already done it twice.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry.” She sits down next to me and pulls me to her. “The two of you look so right together. The sizzling chemistry and the crackling electricity. Oh, boy. I’ve only seen it in movies.”
“Stop it, Nonna,” I chide. “You’re not helping.”
“Okay, sorry. I thought he was a fine young man. And yet he turned out to be so devious, fooling you twice. And he has the nerve to declare love to you even now…”
“Declare love? What do you mean?” I blurt.
“Well, he was jealous of his dad when he thought you were his dad
’s mistress. He made that silly mistake not because he wanted to hurt you, but because he was smitten by you. It was love at first sight, honey.”
I hear a buzz in my ear. Is Nonna saying that Keith didn’t kiss me out of revenge, after all? Can I believe him? “Did he actually say that? Are these his exact words?” I ask, remembering Nonna is skillful at twisting people’s words.
“Come on, Elena,” Nonna says in a soft voice as she holds my hands in hers. “Give the poor lad a chance. He’s a great guy. If he really hated you, he would’ve fired you in the beginning, right? Needing you to work for him was just an excuse. You knew that, didn’t you?”
“Oh, Nonna.” I put my head against her shoulder. “What am I supposed to do?”
She pats my back. “There, muffin. It’s not too late. You could still call him.”
I consider her suggestion and shake my head. “No. I’m not going to do that. I can’t face him, not after what happened. He just lost a major business deal because of what we did…because of me. I would never feel good about us.”
Nonna presses her lips together. “I’m going to officially kick Paola out of our mahjong club. That witch. How dare she judge my granddaughter? Who does she think she is? Queen of England? Just because her son owns a construction company doesn’t mean she can decide other people’s life!”
“Thanks, Nonna,” I say. “But there’s no need to exclude her from your social circle. Stella would be mad, too, losing a member so soon.”
“I don’t care she likes it or not. Susan and I started the club. I own the mahjong set. If Stella has a problem with my decision, then she can kiss her ass goodbye.”