Chapter 34 #2
Maybe he was starting to regret this thing between us. Maybe we crossed too many lines, broke too many rules, and now he had second thoughts.
I tried not to dwell on the stinging pain of rejection, the fragile wounds of my heart barely remaining intact, and instead forced myself to a completely different form of torture for the night.
But I sure as shit knew a way to make things better—getting blacked out drunk.
Slamming back a shot, I ignored my mother’s disapproving side-eye.
After polishing off their latest round, Kitty and Daphne dragged my sister and Ginny to the dance floor.
“Calm it with the booze,” my mother said once we were alone. “It’s unladylike, not to mention we don’t need you hungover during the photoshoot tomorrow.”
Without missing a beat, I sank another shot.
The sweet burn of the caramel-flavored vodka scorched my throat.
“Olivia,” she warned. “For once in your life, will you think of Maya’s feelings. I won’t have you ruining your sister’s photos by looking like you’re about to vomit.”
Did she hear the words coming out of her mouth? For once in my life, think of my sister? Ha-fucking-ha.
Screw it, another shot down the hatch.
“Senor, dame fuerza. What did I do to deserve such a selfish child?”
Vodka burned my nose as I laughed.
No way she was serious right now, because for her to call me selfish? Well, that was a fucking joke and a half.
“Speaking of selfish,” she continued, her pearl-tipped fingernails drumming the table, “that little job you are doing for Ursula, remind me again how much we’re making from that.”
Acidic caramel swirled violently in my stomach.
I should’ve never left the ranch. I should’ve stayed with Elliott.
Freaking hell, I should’ve never left New York.
“Oh, that’s right, I remember one million dollars,” her lips curved into a lethal smile. “Odd thing though, because I found the final invoice in your desk and strangely the numbers didn’t match.”
“What the hell? Have you been snooping in my office?!”
“It’s not your office,” she snapped. “It’s mine. Don’t forget who paid for that building and who paid for your business.”
“Fernando paid for it, not you.”
She closed her hand into a tight fist, her eyes burning with such rage I fought the urge to recoil.
If we were anywhere else, somewhere with fewer eyes to witness, she’d have slapped me.
“You may be the face of the company, carino, but it’s my name on the legal papers, therefore it’s my business. I own seventy percent, and you’d do well to remember that.”
I told—willed myself to stay calm.
I refused to give her the satisfaction of seeing me crumble.
“The second Ursula’s cheque clears; I expect eighty percent of the 5.5 million dollars to be in my account.”
“You can’t be serious?”
“Deadly,” she smiled coldly. “Seventy percent, as it states in the contract you signed when you took the money. And consider the extra ten percent an incentive not to hide things from me again.”
Fuck fuck fucccck!
Without that money, I’d remain stuck under her thumb.
Looking, really looking at the woman who birthed me, seeing not only her sheer lack of warmth or care for her own daughter but also her complete lack of respect, I suddenly realized something.
Something I should have realized long ago.
Even if I got one hundred percent of the money from Ursula, it wouldn’t be enough. My mother would never release the control she has on my company, not for all the money in the universe.
I could break myself into pieces, work until my last breath to repay the loan, and she’d still refuse to relinquish her control.
Because that’s what it was about, what it’s always been about—control over me.
I love my job, but loving something shouldn’t come with such a steep price.
A lesson I had Elliott to thank for. He showed me that loving something, someone, shouldn’t cost more than it rewarded.
“I quit.”
“Excuse me?”
“I quit,” I repeated firmly. “The second we land back in New York, I’m done.”
My mother scoffed in disbelief. “Stop being so overdramatic, Olivia. It’s not like you can rely on that boyfriend of yours financially. You need this job.”
“The only thing I need is freedom from you,” I stated. “You can have my business, my clients, everything I built, you can have it all.”
Her eyes widened. “You’re serious?”
“I’ve never been more serious before in my life.”
“You realize there is a clause in your contract that says if you quit, you cannot start a competing company. Ever. Or I will be forced to sue you.”
“Honestly? I couldn’t give a flying monkey’s testicle.” I stood from my seat. “I’m done working for you. I’m done acting like everything this family does is okay. I’m done with all your backhanded comments—”
“Olivia…”
“Listen to me for once in your life. I’m your daughter, mamá,” I cut her off. “You’re meant to love and protect me. You’re the one person who is meant to help me flourish, not tear me down at every chance you get.” Sighing, I gave her one last look. “I’m done with it all.”
Without another word, I walked away from my speechless mother—a miracle by all accounts—and grabbed a cab back to the ranch.
Sitting in the back of the cab, I waited for the dread to come.
But all I felt was relief, as if a dark cloud looming over my head finally vanished and the sun embraced me for the first time in years.
I was free.
Free! Holy shit.
And now it was time to build the life I wanted, and I knew exactly where to start.
Or rather, who wanted to start it with.