Chapter 10 Rosa
Friday December 7, 3:40 p.m.
A full week of subbing was over. The classroom was finally empty, and Rosa had an entire weekend of freedom ahead of her–including a group hike she had signed up for through the Bavarian Boots website. She hadn’t seen Hunter since signing up, so she hadn’t gotten the chance to tell him yet, but she was looking forward to a safe, guided hike on Saturday.
She reached for her purse and pulled out her phone, looking for a quick escape from the business of the day. Teaching third grade had been intense; she had zero downtime during the day.
Play practice was going well, and it was working. Emily loved being the star, and it helped regulate her emotions the rest of the day. Plus, according to the music teacher, her third graders knew the songs well.
Her third graders. Was Rosa really thinking like that? She had grown fond of them more quickly than she anticipated. Each one of them had a special place in her heart already. Despite how much she enjoyed the students, Rosa was so exhausted after school each day that she would head straight home, walk the neighborhood, eat dinner, fall into bed.
Rosa walked over to the reading nook and collapsed in one of the bean bag chairs. She held up her phone. Three more missed texts from Brad. Ugh.
She had listened to his voicemail a few more times since she’d first played it. His declaration had been odd to say the least. He loved her? Really? He certainly had a strange way of showing it the past seven years or s. Their relationship was interesting to say the least.
Rosa met Brad at a recruiting fair right out of college. She let out a small laugh at the thought of the fresh-out-of-college version of herself. It felt like so long ago. Even though Rosa had originally considered teaching, she saw how her teachers struggled financially. She didn’t want to struggle like her parents.
She wanted a better paying job. Plus, who was going to help them as they got older and couldn’t work anymore? They hadn’t saved any money for retirement. They had given so much to her–couldn’t she give this to them?
Excelling in math, Rosa’s high school math teacher encouraged her to pursue accounting. She considered taking a few classes. Then, when a college in Seattle offered her a full-ride to major in accounting, her path was set.
Teaching had lingered at the back of her mind ever since. Maybe she could be a professor at the college later once she had paid off her parents’ house and set some money aside for them. One day, Rosa had promised herself.
But now her parents were gone. Their house was sold, the money left to Rosa and her brother. Rosa had felt so guilty inheriting anything from her parents, she gave her portion to her brother, who used it to buy his own place a few miles from her in Seattle.
With her parents gone, and such a bad experience with Brad, why had she stayed in the corporate world as long as she had?
Rosa knew the answer. It was because of Brad. He taken a chance hiring her, with only her tiny resume and an internship to her name. Brad told her he had a feeling about her–that she had potential. But now she questioned his true motives. Had she been truly qualified, or had Brad just wanted her because he liked her?
She shook her head, reading his texts.
brAD: You can’t avoid me forever.
brAD: What are you doing this weekend? What if we met up somewhere?
brAD: Rosa. Rosa. Please. We need to talk.
Rosa closed her eyes and let her head fall back onto the bean bag chair. She did not want to talk to Brad right now. A major reason she had run away to Leavenworth was to leave her demanding job behind, and that included Brad. Micromanaging her every task. Piling on more and more work. Bringing her along to non-work functions.
She had joked they had a relationship like Hugh Grant and Sandra Bullock on Two Weeks Notice , where the CEO needed the company lawyer’s opinion on everything from money to belts. But Rosa didn’t think hers and Brad’s relationship went beyond that, even though Hugh and Sandra did end up together in the end.
She slapped her hand to her forehead . Rosa did not feel that way about him. She didn't know how to turn him down nicely, and if she did, was she out of a job? Even if she wasn't, could she even go back to working for him knowing that he may be harboring hope that her feelings would change.
“I should have seen it coming.” The late nights. The weekends. Did they really need to get that report done right that second? Or had that been Brad wanting to spend time with her in his own CEO-type of way?
Rosa knew she couldn’t put Brad off forever. Maybe she could call him on the way home, then spend the evening relaxing. She’d need as much rest as possible for the big adventure hike the next day. With Hunter. It was a group hike, but still.
She smiled as she stood and gathered her things. Tuesday night, after Hunter had shown her his vision for the play, she had gone home with a warm feeling. She was still physically attracted to him–that hadn’t left since the moment they met on the mountain–but something had changed on that stage. Another layer of Hunter Parks had surfaced.
Hunter was willing to give Rosa space, yet he was still there at the same time. He let her go at her own pace, and go in her own direction. And that meant a lot. So when she got home that night, she signed up for his Saturday group hike. Rosa had already wanted to do it, though after her outburst Monday, she wondered if it was a good idea. But then, Tuesday on the stage with him had confirmed it. Hunter and Rosa were on the same page about things. She was going .
Had Hunter seen her name on the list? Or would he be surprised to see her in the morning? Rosa smirked. She couldn’t wait to see his face. Her heart still panged knowing that Megan had been his wife, but Hunter had told Rosa he still wanted to spend time together. So apparently it didn’t bother him.
Her mom’s phrase came to mind: “No hay mal que por bien no venga.” There is no bad from which good does not come.
As he had left the school Tuesday night, he had told her he’d need at least a week to get the set built. So, there was a promise of seeing him in the future. Over the following three days, thought, Rosa missed seeing him. On the way home from school, she’d drive by Bavarian Boots, one time noticing him through the window with a customer. But no, they were just friends. Rosa needed to keep her distance.
But her heart fluttered as she anticipated the Saturday hike. And seeing him again when he delivered the set pieces. Plus, he’d said he’d help backstage, so he’d need to be at the school for practices.
While she still didn’t think a relationship with Hunter was a good idea, Rosa couldn’t deny how he made her feel . Tingly all over. Safe. Worth rescuing. She turned off the lights and locked the classroom door, then headed down the hall, reaching the front office.
“Big plans this weekend?” Taylor asked.
“Going on a group hike tomorrow, actually,” Rosa said, trying to keep her smile normal.
“I see.” Taylor nodded, a grin on her face.
“What does that mean?” Rosa asked.
Taylor moved her computer mouse around. “Is Hunter leading the group?”
“Yes.”
Tyalor shrugged. “It’s nice is all. That you two are spending time together outside of school.”
Rosa shook her head. “Hunter’s a nice guy.”
“He sure is. And you’re nice, too.”
“All right then. Good night, Taylor.”
“Good night, Miss Flores.”
Rosa rolled her eyes as she exited, though inside she wasn’t as aloof as she had pretended. She was excited to see him, and so what if people like Taylor noticed?
Peering down into her purse, she dug for her keys. Would Hunter wear his boots that matched hers on the hike? The thought made her smile as she pulled out her keys. But when she looked up, her smile vanished. Instead, her mouth fell open at the sight before her.
"Brad! What are you doing here?"
He was leaning against the driver’s side door with his arms folded, dressed in a blue button-up tucked into his fitted slacks, a classy long wool coat over top. Brad could practically be a model, get any girl he w anted. So why was he here, and apparently believed he was in love with her?
“You didn’t call. You didn’t text. I had to come check up on you.” He didn't move from where he stood.
“I’ve been busy.” Rosa sighed.
“I see that. I thought you were taking the month off. What are you doing at a school ?”
“I’m subbing third grade.” Rosa held her purse to her chest like a shield.
Brad laughed. “You’re teaching? For reals? Rosa, why are you wasting your time doing that? Come back to Seattle.”
She willed him to move out of the way so she could get into her car. “How did you know I was here?”
He held up his phone. “You let me track your phone, remember ?”
She grunted. Let him? Not really. He had talked her into it when they were on a work trip, but then she must have forgotten to remove his name from her permissions.
“This is way out of line. You’re like a…like a…stalker.” Rosa pushed past him and opened her car door.
Brad scoffed as he stepped away and held out his hands. “No, no, listen. I was worried about you. I leave you a voicemail and texts, and you don’t answer? Obviously, I need to check on my number one girl.”
Rosa moved to get into her car but stopped. “I’m not your girl, Brad. Never have been. Never will be. Even me being your employee is a little shaky right now.”
She had finally said it. Working her way up to asking for a sabbatical had taken a lot of guts, because she knew anything else would hurt his feelings. But after being in Leavenworth for nearly a week, for the first time she saw how different life could be—without Brad or her job.
How much better life could be. Even if Rosa and Hunter didn’t work out, even if teaching didn’t work out. The more time she spent away from Brad, the more she realized how toxic he was. He was the reason she was stressed out all the time. She couldn’t blame him for cancer, but he didn’t make treatment easier, either.
“I’m sorry, Rosa. About everything. But I thought working was what you wanted and needed. You were worried about your parents, so I gave you a raise. You wanted to help them more, so I allowed you more hours. Don’t you see, I was doing it for you? Because I love you.”
Rosa threw her purse into her car and turned around. “Quit saying that.”
“But it’s true. I’ve loved you for a long time. I didn’t want to risk messing up our work relationship. I didn’t want you to run away. So when you did run away, I figured I’d better tell you now before I lost you forever.”
Leaning against her car, Rosa folded her arms. “I don’t have feelings for you, Brad, beyond our relationship as boss and employee. So now what?”
She couldn’t believe she was giving him the time of day, but he was her boss. And her friend. No matter how demanding he had been , she was grateful for all he had done for her the past five years. No one else would have given her the opportunities Brad had, especially on someone as young and inexperienced as Rosa had been.
“Let me take you to dinner. Then, we can go from there. Deal?”
She studied him, Brad’s clean-shaven face, perfect hair, and angled jaw a true masterpiece of DNA. There had been a time she was attracted to him, but it didn’t last long before his personality squashed that idea. He was so serious, so one-dimensional. Only wanted one thing out of life–money.
He wouldn’t be a good partner. He was always trying to get Rosa to act differently than her real self. But as she looked at him, Rosa remembered all the gift cards he’d given her, the round-trip tickets for her parents to go to Mexico to visit family. He had been really thoughtful. Or maybe he had been buying her love all this time.
“Fine. Dinner in Leavenworth.”
He smiled. “Great. Is there anywhere worth eating in this backwards little town?”
Frustration built inside. Rosa was already regretting this. But she knew he wouldn’t take no for an answer, especially after coming all this way.
He followed her to a local Bavarian restaurant Taylor had recommended earlier that week. Besides eating a gingerbread cookie with Hunter the other day, Rosa hadn’t tried any of the local faire quite yet.
So, if she had to spend dinner with Brad, at least she could try something new. And he’d pay for anything she wanted . Although she shouldn’t let him–just another thing that meant Rosa “owed” him. So she’d try to pay her own bill, but he’d see it was a huge slap in the face. Which she was realizing was his way of manipulating her.
And she had fallen for it. For years.
It was still early for dinner, but Rosa wanted to get this over with. They drove on Front Street, passing Bavarian Boots on the way, Hunter no doubt inside. A few blocks down the street, they parked near the gazebo and got out. The sun had dipped low over the mountains in the distance, and the Christmas lights in the village started coming on.
“Quaint little place, I guess,” Brad said. “Not sure why anyone would live here, though.”
He held the front door of the restaurant open for Rosa to pass through. “Some people like a slower pace. I think it’s nice.”
Brad shook his head. “No excitement? Come on.” They approached the hostess, who quickly got them seated by a window with a view of the gazebo outside.
“Just wait. The alpine horn players will be playing there later,” Rosa said as she pointed out the window.
Brad ordered drinks for them. “Hmm? What was that? Something about horns?”
Rosa sighed. “Nevermind.” He wouldn’t understand, anyway. He never stopped to appreciate the good things in life. And she had become like him. “So, how’s work?” Not that she cared, but she didn’t want to talk about the alternative–his feelings for her.
“Busy as ever. Wish you were there. No one can crunch numbers or put together proposals as quickly as you, Rosa.” He smiled over the menu, his eyes lingering on her much too long. Rosa lifted up her own menu to avoid his gaze. The server returned with drinks and took their order.
Rosa drummed her nails on the table while looking outside. After work, Hunter would probably go home and work on the set for the play. Rosa wondered how it was coming along.
Brad grabbed her hand and she flinched.
“Rosa, listen. I’m not very good at this. Before you came along, I started this company and promised myself I wouldn’t get distracted until I made the Seattle Top 10 CEO list. Guess what?” He stared up at the ceiling, like he was in another world. “I made it. I can’t even believe it.”
“Wow. That’s great, Brad. I’m happy for you.” Rosa pulled her hand away to take a drink. “Why hadn’t you mentioned the top ten thing before?”
He shrugged. “In case it didn’t happen. I didn’t want to jinx it. But don’t you see? I’ve made it. With your help, I built this company from nothing. And now I can finally relax a little. Focus more on my personal life.”
He squeezed her hand and looked in her eyes. But she felt nothing for him. Which she had already told him at the school parking lot, but he apparently had a plan for them. Rosa’s heart thudded with anxiety. Hopefully he’d let her go, physically and emotionally. The thing was, Brad usually got what he wanted.
Relief washed over her as the server approached with their food. The sun had disappeared, and the crowds of tourists grew larger outside as people enjoyed the lights up and down the main street.
Brad and Rosa talked about food and Seattle and work while they ate, thankfully avoiding the relationship subject for the time being. Rosa took a bite of bratwurst and took a drink, movement from outside catching the corner of her eye.
She knew that movement, that figure. Hunter was walking up the sidewalk toward them.
“What are you doing tomorrow?” Brad asked, taking a bite of his food.
“Hmm?” Rosa’s eyes followed Hunter, who got closer and closer. Her heart beat faster. Should she hide?
“Tomorrow? Do you have plans? I have to leave by noon, so I was hoping to join you for the morning.”
Maybe Rosa should get up and head to the bathroom? Too late. Brad grabbed her hand again.
“Rosa. Over here.”
Her eyes darted toward Brad, then back at Hunter, who glanced inside and locked eyes with Rosa.
Hunter saw her. With Brad. Holding hands.
Crap.