Chapter 33
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
ELENA
Orion drove to the shopping center in his Rivian SUV, an electric truck I hadn’t seen or heard of until now. Apparently, he had stock in this brand of high-tech cars that were better for the environment, and they gave him a prototype to drive.
He pulled into the shopping center, parked, and squeezed my hand. “What kind of flowers does your mom like? What about pastries? Cookies? Macaroons?”
“You don’t have to bring her anything,” I said.
He scrunched up his face. “First impressions matter. I’m dating her daughter, so I want to make sure she approves. Besides, my mother would be disappointed if I brought nothing. She taught me manners, you know.”
“Are you saying I should buy your family flowers and pastries when I meet them?”
He let out a laugh. “My father wouldn’t appreciate them. But if you offer him finance or political books, he’d appreciate those.”
“You and your father are different.”
“I like those too.” He lifted my hand to his lips. “But I like you more, so I’ll take whatever you give me.”
We browsed the plant section, and I helped him choose the right gift.
“Are you sure she’ll like this hibiscus plant more than a bouquet?” he asked, putting it in the trunk. He’d gotten a decorative ivory pot for it as well.
“Yes, because the plant will keep growing, unlike a bouquet that will last about a week.”
“What about you? Do you prefer plants over bouquets?”
“That depends. Sometimes I don’t mind a beautiful bouquet. But I can see why a long-lasting flower or plant would be more practical.”
After picking up a box filled with a variety of pastries, we drove over to my mother’s house. I checked my phone, and the reminder to pay Uncle Carlos popped.
I huffed out a stressed sigh. “Almost done,” I muttered to myself.
“What’s almost done?” Orion turned to me.
“Debt to my uncle,” I said, not wanting to discuss it.
“You never sent me the contract to review.”
“You have a lot going on. It can wait.”
“I’ll always have a lot going on. Send it.” He reached for my hand and intertwined his fingers with mine. “I’ll make time for my girlfriend.”
“Okay, I’ll send it later today.” My lips twisted into a smile. I had to inform the girls of what had transpired. They’d want details.
Though we were now an official couple, it still felt strange to me. Fear settled in the back of my mind, thinking that this relationship would end soon. I wasn’t being negative. I was being practical, seeing things from all sides. Orion and I didn’t live in the same world. Our differences would catch up to us eventually. When that day arrived, would he still choose me?
Like those dandelion seeds you send out into the world, you need to give them a chance to grow. See what happens.
Orion approached my mom’s cape-style home, and nerves wrenched in my stomach as I spotted the black Mercedes.
“Oh no.” Sweat formed on my palms.
“What’s wrong?” Orion stared at me.
“He’s here.” I inhaled deeply.
“Who?”
“Uncle Carlos,” I muttered. Orion already knew Sam was my uncle’s business partner.
“Why is he here?”
“My mom doesn’t know about the debt. I hope he’s not coming to collect. The news would devastate her. The payment isn’t due until next week.”
“How much do you owe him?”
“I don’t want to burden you.”
“You’re not.” He touched my chin.
“It’s a lot.”
“How much, Elena?” His jaw tightened. “You’re my girlfriend now and if someone is cheating you out of money, I need to know.” His eyes flickered. “Most loan sharks will slap on a heavy fine just because they can. That’s deception. That’s playing with someone’s vulnerability.”
“I have three hundred thousand dollars left,” I muttered. “But my dad only borrowed one hundred thousand on the initial contract. He was late on several payments, and the fees piled up.”
He scoffed, and ice formed in his eyes. “Sounds like a classic case of a ruthless loan shark.”
I sat in the seat, feeling ashamed that I couldn’t do anything about my situation. “I had a feeling he was ripping me off, but I didn’t have the funds to get a lawyer.” He squeezed my hand, and I looked at him. “What if he sent someone to hurt me or my mom? He’d do it.” My shoulders sagged. “I thought if I could pay off the debt, he’d leave me and my mom alone.”
“Getting a lawyer won’t help. These people need to be dealt with differently. You’re not doing this alone now. Let’s go.” He got out of the car.
“This is my issue. I don’t want it to burden you.”
“Elena, part of being in a relationship is making sure the other person is safe and happy. I’m happy to take on your burden. Besides, I can’t stand people like your uncle.” He smiled. “It’s fun for me to toy with them.”
His comment about being a vigilante against the villains came to mind. Was this what he meant?
I tried my best to contain the nerves inside me. Uncle Carlos probably possessed an energy my body didn’t like. Grandma used to tell me to pay attention to my intuition and my body’s reaction to things. That they always told the truth.
The unease my body felt could be from all the negative energy Uncle Carlos had collected over the years from screwing other people. How many lives had he ruined?
I forgot to mention to Orion about my suspicion of Uncle Carlos and Sam regarding the life insurance scam.
Orion carried the hibiscus plant, and I held the box of pastries. I used my key to open the door. Kicking off my shoes, I placed them on the mat and didn’t see Uncle Carlos’s shoes. He had removed his shoes when my father was alive, but now he didn’t even bother. Orion placed his shoes next to mine.
“ Mamá , we’re here,” I said, walking into the living room where Mom sat in her new massage chair.
Uncle Carlos turned to me and his gaze slid over to Orion, where it remained.
I prayed my mom didn’t know about the debt. She didn’t need the burden. I wanted her to have wonderful memories of my father. Not of a man who gambled and got into immense debt.
“Elena!” Mom pushed herself out of the massage chair, which seemed almost too large for her now that I could see her in it. She embraced me and gave me a kiss on the cheek.
“You must be Orion.” She studied him with curious brown eyes, holding back her friendliness. Mom was a friendly person, but after Liam had shoved me aside, she was careful of who deserved her affection.
“I am. It’s very nice to meet you.” He placed the plant on the floor. “I hope you like hibiscus.”
She walked to the plant and smiled. “I do. Thank you.” She turned to my uncle, who continued to study Orion. “This is Carlos, my brother-in-law. He’s here visiting. This is Elena’s boyfriend, Orion,” she told Uncle Carlos.
“Nice to meet you,” he said.
“Likewise,” Orion replied.
Uncle Carlos never visited us unless he wanted something.
“ Mamá , Orion also got this for you.” I placed the box in her hand. “He insisted, even when I told him he didn’t have to.”
“Thank you. Let me get some plates for us. Have a seat. Make yourself at home. Would you like anything to drink?”
“No thank you.” Orion sat on the loveseat.
“I’m good too,” I said.
When my mother walked into the kitchen, I turned to my uncle. “What’s the special occasion, Uncle Carlos?”
“I was in the neighborhood and just wanted to see how my sister-in-law is doing. Checking in on family, you know?”
I wanted to roll my eyes, but I didn’t want him to have a reason to add another fine to my debt.
“I’ll stop by to pay you next week before the due date.”
“I know you will.” Uncle Carlos smiled.
“Why do you need to drop it off?” Orion asked. “You can wire directly to his account. That’s more efficient for everyone.” He looked at Uncle Carlos. “Every legitimate business understands this, correct?”
Orion’s comment surprised me.
“We have our way of keeping data,” Uncle Carlos replied.
“I’m helping Elena with the payment because the late fees are extraordinarily high. It makes me question the legality of it. But since you’re her uncle, I’ll dismiss that.” Orion looked at me. “You’re going to wire it to his account. If he doesn’t want that, you write a check and use a certified mail service. Okay?”
I nodded and looked over at Uncle Carlos. “What would you like? Wire transfer or certified mail?”
I could see the anger behind his eyes, but I also saw the restraint. Orion made an excellent case. Uncle Carlos knew Orion saw his scam and would call him out on it. He had two options to get his money.
For a moment I considered what he’d do if I stopped payment all together. He’d probably send someone to kill me, my mom, and Orion when we least expected it.
“Certified mail is fine,” said Uncle Carlos, who turned to Orion. “Who are you?’
“A business executive who understands an insubstantial business contract.”
When my mom brought out plates for the pastries, the conversation changed to mundane things. Uncle Carlos didn’t stay long after eating one pastry.
“What did Uncle Carlos want?” I asked my mom when he left.
“He asked if I needed a new washer and dryer.” She shrugged. “I guess someone gave him a new set, and he didn’t have a place for them. He offered to install the new machines, but I declined.”
Orion and I exchanged a suspicious look.
Generosity wasn’t in his vocabulary. I’d believe that he wanted to sell my mom a new washer and dryer for double its price rather than him offering it to her for free.
What was the real reason Uncle Carlos visited my mom?
Before we left my mom’s house, she pulled me into her bedroom and gave me a thumbs up. “He passed the test, sweetie. I really like him.”
On our way home, I relayed the message to Orion and he replied, “What’s there not to like?”
That earned an eye roll and a grin from me.