Chapter 30 Scarlett #2
“You’re the girl from the hospital lobby.” He looks almost proud for figuring it out. “On the night of Carmen’s accident.”
I didn’t think I’d made enough of an impression to be remembered from that night. Apparently, I was wrong.
“Yes,” I say, quietly. “I was there. Supporting Brendan and Carmen.”
“I thought so.” He nods slowly. “Brendan had a crush on you back then, a pretty serious one.” He looks at me and there’s something conclusive on his face. “You’d think after all these years apart, feelings would fade. But they don’t always, do they?”
I don’t know what to say to that or why he’s bringing up the night of Carmen’s accident, since it has nothing to do with the vendor contract.
“I sent you home that night,” he continues, his tone matter-of-fact, “we needed to focus on Carmen, and you were a distraction Brendan didn’t need right then.”
Excuse me? I was a distraction?
“And you think the same thing now,” I say, hoping I’m wrong. “That I’m still a distraction.”
“I think the timing is interesting. You submit a vendor application, and suddenly you’re inserting yourself into the family, making yourself—” He pauses, studying me. “—one of us. Imagine how that looks from my perspective.”
“It’s not like that.” I set my drink down. “I really do love him. I don’t know what I can say to convince you of that.”
“I’m sure you do.” His brow furrows. “But I also know your family’s situation with your father’s medical bills.
It’s no secret that your cafe is struggling.
I heard about the unfortunate timing of the lease increase.
These are expensive problems, Miss Rossi—issues that a vendor contract would solve. But not at the expense of my nephew.”
I blink at his bold assumption of our situation. Yes, things are bad. But not so bad that I would use Brendan. I thought the contract was a way out of our dire situation.
“I don’t have anything against you personally,” he goes on, keeping his voice measured, like I’m just another employee of his. “But I’ve learned to protect my family. And your family has given me reason to be…cautious.”
That word snags my attention. “What do you mean, cautious?”
“Your brother, Eli,” he answers. “Brendan helped him with some business venture after he returned to town. Gave him a substantial loan.”
Brendan gave Eli money? Why didn’t anyone tell me?
I stare at the bubbles in my club soda, wondering how in the world my brother let this happen. “I had no idea.”
“I assumed not.” He takes another sip. “I imagine your brother was embarrassed after the business went under. He never could repay the money. And while Brendan is generous to a fault and probably let it go, it does establish a pattern.”
I stare at him. “If that’s your opinion of my family, then I think this conversation is over.” I rise from the stool, humiliation burning up my throat.
He holds up a hand. “Listen, I’m just making you aware of my hesitation about the contract. But I’m not an unreasonable man.” He takes another sip. “I’ve thought about this situation, and I believe I have a solution that could benefit everyone.”
I narrow my eyes. “I thought you said you already had an applicant with more experience.”
“I do.” He stirs the ice in his drink. “But I could offer you the vendor contract instead, if you agree to my terms.”
“What?”
“The contract,” he repeats, as if I didn’t hear him correctly the first time. “And I’ll forgive your brother’s debt if you take it.”
This is everything my family needs right now. But for some reason, it doesn’t sit right with me. He’s just shared all his evidence against me, and now he’s offering me the job?
“Why would you change your mind after everything you just said?”
“Because I think it solves everyone’s problems.” He leans back against the bar, holding his drink. “Your father recovers and your family gains the financial security you need.” He casts an appraising look at me. “If you’re smart enough to take it.”
Something doesn’t add up here. Not after he accused me of dating Brendan only for the money and then made my family look unscrupulous.
“What about Brendan—what does he get?”
Rafael straightens to his full height. “Brendan gets to focus on his career without any distractions. He’s under a great deal of stress, including some unfair accusations. If you get the vendor contract, he can focus on what truly matters. Does this make sense?”
I look right at him. And that’s when I realize he’s negotiating with me.
“You want me to walk away,” I say bluntly.
“Not walk away, exactly. More like doing what’s best for someone you love.”
My throat feels tight, like the words are stuck there. “You’re asking me to choose between him and my family.”
Part of me wants to tell him off, to prove to him he can’t force me to choose. If he doesn’t want to give me the contract, so be it. But I will not let him drive me away from Brendan.
“I’m giving you what you originally agreed to when you set up this arrangement,” Rafael says as if he’s trying to approach this logically.
“The only thing I’m asking in return is that you let this relationship run its natural course.
After that, you can go back to being friends. Or whatever it was between you two.”
Little does he know, there’s no going back now. I can’t turn off my feelings now that he’s become a part of me.
I shake my head. “It’s impossible for me to do that.”
“It did start as an arrangement, didn’t it?” His eyes level with mine, and what’s behind them is an uncomfortable truth. “A mutually beneficial agreement that would end after the wedding? I’m only suggesting you let it end the way it began—as an agreement that has served its purpose.”
“But it’s not like that anymore,” I say, shaking my head. “I love Brendan and that won’t change after the wedding is over.”
“If you really love him,” he says with a glint of challenge. “You’ll do what’s best for everyone. Then his family won’t have to know the truth.”
I feel like someone just knocked the wind out of me. I narrow my gaze. “You’re going to tell everyone?”
“It’s my responsibility to. They have a right to know why Brendan is dating you.”
That jerk is going to make me look like some kind of gold digger, out to take their money. Since Eli already has one strike against our family, I’m screwed. Even if I don’t take the contract, there’s no way they’ll see me as someone they could accept into their family.
I glance back to the dance floor and see the hockey team and their girlfriends doing the cupid shuffle. Behind them are Isabella, Aunt Elana, and Grandma Rosa, laughing as they try to follow along.
Just when I think things couldn’t get worse, I imagine the disappointment in their eyes, when Rafael tells them Brendan and I engineered a pretend relationship.
My stomach churns.
Rafael sets his glass down on a napkin. “I’m not asking you to decide tonight. Just think about it for a few days.” He pushes a business card across the bar. “When you’ve made your decision, call me. If you decide to accept the contract, the terms will be generous.”
I stare at the business card. “And if I don’t?”
Rafael’s mouth is a tight line. “Then I’ll assume you’ve chosen to pursue Brendan, which would leave me no choice but to be honest with my family.
They have a right to know the truth.” He buttons his jacket, preparing to leave.
“Think about it, Miss Rossi. You’re a smart woman. You know what the right choice is.”
Then he’s gone, and I’m left sitting at the bar with his business card and what feels like the most terrible decision ever.
Take the contract—which saves my family—and let Brendan go.
Or stay with Brendan, watch his family learn the truth—that I agreed to date him because I needed something from them—and forfeit the chance to save our coffee shop.
Either way, I lose.
It’s just like Taylor said in the dressing room: I’ll never be one of them.
Across the patio, Brendan is laughing with his mom as she finishes the dance. She kisses his face, and he beams at her.
Even if I tried to explain things, would they believe me? Or would they side with Rafael Marco, who’s been the foundation of this family for decades? Who supported them through Carmen’s accident and gave Brendan his career?
My world spins, and I slam my eyes shut.
That’s when my phone vibrates in my clutch. I pull it out and see the call is from Mom.
She wouldn’t contact me unless it was an emergency. I grab the business card and walk into the house, away from the music and crowd.
I slump into an armchair. “Hey, Mom, what’s wrong?”
“Scarlett, honey, I’m sorry to bother you.” Dad has a coughing fit somewhere in the background. “Dad’s not getting better. His breathing has gotten worse and I’m taking him to the hospital now.”
“How bad is it?”
“I don’t know. The doctor said to come in right away.”
“Is Eli with you?”
“No. I haven’t seen him tonight. Tried to call, but he’s not picking up.”
Of course he’s not.
“I didn’t know who else to call.” She sounds apologetic now.
“It’s okay. I’m on my way,” I say, fumbling with my clutch.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t want to make you miss the reception.”
I look out the window, like an outsider looking into a world where they don’t belong. “I’m not missing anything. Just take care of Dad until I get there.”
Then I hang up and send Brendan a text: Dad’s in the hospital. I need to leave.
I’m halfway to my car when his text comes through: Do you want me to come with you?
I stare at the screen, a lump building in my throat.
I want to say yes. That’s what people do when they love each other—they show up, just like I did when his sister was in an accident.
But Rafael’s words are still in my head.
My fingers hover over the screen. No. Stay for your sister’s wedding. And tell your family I’m sorry.
Because I really am. More than they could ever know.
Three dots appear immediately, like he’s typing a response.
I turn off my phone before his response can come through.