Chapter 17
Rosalina
“Ok big brother. You invited Kateri to mommy’s party.” I stopped by Cairo’s office on the way to my own in the building. There was one secretary on the floor but we all had assistants as well.
“Felix got a big ass mouth.” He spoke staring at the C-Span channel. He invested a lot in stocks and checked them daily and hourly.
He had four televisions in his huge office along with a mini bar, a sectional with a stereo sound system installed and his own private bathroom.
The office overlooked the river and I have to say, it was beautiful to look out of at night.
Mine was down from him but his view was the best in the entire building for some reason.
“He didn’t tell me, Josie did when I stopped by to drop off the stuff you asked for.” Cairo ordered some jewelry for my mother’s birthday and had it delivered to my house. It needed a signature and the date it was coming Josie wouldn’t be around.
Her mom passed and she was away for the services. We weren’t able to make it to the funeral but me, Cairo and some of the other family members went to see them. Josie had been around us for years and we knew her mom well.
My parents insisted on paying for everything and wanted to go to the funeral home and take care of the bill. That way it would be less for them to worry about.
“Why did she tell you that?” He muted the tv to focus on me.
“She asked who Kateri was in order to make a place setting for her at the party.” He nodded his head and walked over to the mini bar.
My dad wanted the best party ever because in his mind, my mother could be dead tomorrow so every day he tried to be up under her just in case.
My mom complained all the time about him invading her space but he didn’t care.
He refused to miss any time with her and what’s crazy was she’s as healthy as ever.
“Do you like her?” I made my way over to grab a drink myself.
Ever since that shit happened in the Islands with him and someone being inside his home, I’ve been paranoid as hell. I even had security go through my house again to make sure no cameras were installed that weren’t supposed to be.
“Like her? What are we in the middle of school?” I poured a shot of Patron. It wasn’t my drink of choice but it would do to relax me.
“What do you think she’ll do when she finds out who you are?” He shrugged. I told him to let Kateri know but he refused and said it didn’t matter.
“Well, I think you’re good for one another.” I gulped down another shot and put the glass down.
“How is that? We haven’t even had a real conversation yet.” I smiled.
“Sure you did. When you broke her hand, saved her from drowning, showed up at her house unannounced and sent food to her job.” Sariah told me about him showing up to her house and the food he sent.
“That’s not talking.” I opened the office door because someone was knocking. His substitute secretary was standing there with hearts in her eyes. She was in love with Cairo and the feeling was not mutual.
“Excuse us for a minute.” I closed the door in her face. I didn’t slam it because she’s always been very nice and respectful. It was more for privacy than anything.
“Mommy always said, “A girl can always tell when a boy likes her because he’ll beat her up or be mean to her. If they find themselves around one another afterwards, then they like one another because who would stick around after.” I quoted my mother.
He shook his head laughing and said we’re grown and not kids.
I told him it was the same at a different age.
“As far as your secretary goes, you better get a handle on her because not only did she have love in her eyes for you, she will most likely kill you for not choosing her.” He was bent over laughing.
He could take me as a joke all he wanted but Nicole has expressed to me plenty of times about how much she loved Cairo and would do anything necessary to keep him around. I didn’t understand why either since to my knowledge he had never been with her intimately in any way.
“You can go in Nicole.” I told her stepping out Cairo’s office.
“Thanks and there’s a woman here for you in the waiting area.” She pointed up to the outside camera. Looking at the woman, I waited for her to turn around and had no idea who she was.
“Did she say what her name was?” I’m usually on point when having appointments so to see this lady was throwing me off.
“No and to be honest, her attitude was a tad bit rude. I had to tell her nicely to get it together or she’d be escorted out.” Like I said, she was a very nice person but it didn’t mean she wouldn’t give back the same energy given to her.
“Ok. I’ll handle it.” She went into Cairo’s office and I walked to mine. Dropping my things on the desk, I made my way back down to the waiting room. She wasn’t coming in my office when I had no clue who she was.
“Hi, I’m Rosalina Romano. How can I help you?” I extended my hand to shake hers. She turned her nose up which made me pull my hand away.
“I should’ve known you’d be beautiful.” Her demeanor was nasty.
“I beg your pardon.” Now I’m really confused because what was that about.
“Why couldn’t you find your own man? Why did you have to take mine?” Flabbergasted by her words, I had to take a few breaths before speaking. There were two other people waiting and both of them lifted their heads. Trying to remain professional, I kept a smile on my face.
“I’m not sure what you’re talking about but what’s not going to happen is you bringing some man drama to my place of business. Whatever issue you have with your man, take that up with him.” I turned to leave and stopped when she said his name.
“Felix. Felix Sanchez. You know him right? The man you fucked in the Cayman Islands and since you’ve been back. You know him?” One of the women gasped and the other shook her head.
“Again, whatever man issues you have, take it up with him.” Opening the door, I felt a push to my back and turned to see photos of me and Felix hugged up in the Islands and recently.
“You’re a whore and a homewrecker. How dare you sleep with a married man?” Snatching the photos out her hand, I had to stop myself from reminiscing. Me and Felix had an amazing time and have been ever since.
I was sad to see a few photos of Felix at the alter with her dressed in a tuxedo with quite a bit of guests. When did this happen? I was never invited to any wedding he had and I’m sure Cairo would’ve told me. Better yet, he wouldn’t have been ok with us being together.
WHAP! She smacked the shit out of me and I lost it on her.
I understood she was upset and irate but how dare her put hands on me.
I punched her dead in the face and kept swinging.
Swiping her leg in order to make her fall, I started banging her head on the ground and didn’t stop until someone lifted me off.
“Don’t ever bring your ass here again and I dare you to try and sue. I’ll take everything you fucking own.” I stomped on her face one last time and I’m pretty sure her nose cracked.
“What the fuck happened?” Cairo had me hemmed up against the wall.
“Get this bitch the fuck outta here and I want every bit of information on her in the next twenty minutes.” Cairo barked. Security drug the woman out by her legs and the two ladies who were there, started telling Cairo what happened.
“Married? Felix ain’t married.” He spoke loud enough for me to hear but I could care less at that point. A woman came to my job and violated. She had to be dealt with so if Felix was with her, I’m sure he knew that she’d be done by the end of the day.
“Nicole take her to my office.” She walked with me and I went into his bathroom to check my face. It was a little red from the smack and my hair was all over the place from her pulling it. Pissed wasn’t the word for how I was feeling.
“Your phone.” Nicole handed it to me and sure enough Felix was calling. I hit end because right now, it was best for me not to speak to him. I’d probably say things I didn’t mean and he didn’t deserve that especially since he hadn’t been given a chance to explain.
“Thanks.” Putting the phone on the sink, I grabbed one of the washcloths from underneath and washed my face with warm water.
“Here.” Cairo was standing there with a water bottle and the phone to his ear.
“Nah, she good.” He finished his conversation and ended the call. I knew it was Felix by the way he was talking.
“Cairo be honest, was he married.”
“Hell no. Do you really think that low of me? Why would I allow my sister to fuck with someone who had a wife?” He lifted my head and wiped the few tears coming down. I had already fallen for Felix and it would crush me to know he had another woman since we’ve been together.
“We’ve known him all our life, Sis. Don’t you think he would’ve invited us to his wedding?” I didn’t know what to think.
“What if he married her for citizenship or something?” He started laughing which made me laugh.
“He had plenty of women before you, Rosalina.” I sucked my teeth.
“But I promise you, he hasn’t been or even spoken to any chicks but you, not even the ones he used to sleep with on a regular.” Rolling my eyes at his response, I moved past him to get out the bathroom.
“Go home and talk to your man.” Stopping at his door, I smiled hearing him call Felix my man.
“I’ll do that and make sure you handle Nicole because if you and Kateri end up as a couple, I see a fight happening.
” Once again he laughed. I was serious though.
Nicole was in love whether Cairo wanted to believe me or not.
She won’t be happy with him choosing Kateri over her; especially when she most likely assumed he would’ve chose her after Victoria.
“Why did she say you two were married?” I questioned Felix. He stopped by and made me talk to him.
“I have no idea but my question is, why would you believe her. You’ve known me long enough to know that no woman had my last name or made me meet her at the altar.
” Staring out the window as he spoke, I had to laugh at myself for allowing a woman, that woman to take me out of character.
I’m better than that and should’ve conducted myself differently.
Then again, I tried and once her hand connected to my face all bets were off.
“Lina.” I turned around to see him standing at the door. He wasn’t even here ten minutes and was already about to leave.
“I’ve waited a very long time to be with you.” I blushed and put my head down. Everyone who knew him, knew about his crush. They were happy that we finally got together.
“But what I’m not gonna do is be with a woman who would accuse me of cheating off another chick’s word.”
“It wasn’t like that Felix. She had photos of you and her standing at the altar. What was I supposed to say?” Walking away from the window to go by him, he opened the door.
“You were supposed to ask me. We both know that woman wasn’t gonna make it for lying but you allowed doubt and I’m not tryna be with a woman like that. You didn’t answer my calls for two days and if I didn’t have a key to your house, I wouldn’t be in here now.”
“Felix.”
“I wanted a strong woman who wouldn’t even bat an eye over some bullshit another chick said.
She’d trust her man enough to know there was no need to step out.
She’d be that confident in how she loved me to know it was strong enough for me not to cheat.
” Tears started streaming down my face because he was ending us and it was my fault for falling into a trap.
I could blame Ed for his infidelities but my mother always told us never to make a new man or woman suffer for what happened in the past and I did just that. My insecurities put me right where we are.
“I’m sorry Felix and it’s not because I don’t want you to leave. It’s because you’re right and I should’ve trusted what we had.” I hugged him around the waist and backed away. I’ll be upset that we weren’t together but I’m not begging any man to stay either. He lifted my head to look at him.
“Never allow a person to cause doubt or trouble in your relationship. It makes them believe they have a chance or for them to find a way to try and destroy you or me.” I nodded.
“I love you, Lina.” He kissed my lips and walked out the door. Falling to my knees crying, all I could do was blame myself. How did I find the man of my dreams and lose him that fast?