Chapter 7 #2
I bite my lip, recalling the moment when Elias told me how much he loves to dive.
Now that I’m thinking about it, he never did say the words diving academy, did he?
That would also explain the humongous mansion with a view of his humble kingdom.
I shake my head incredulously. If that map I spotted on my way in is any indication of how much property they already own, their awful treatment of Abuelo and Abuela is obviously motivated by pure greed.
I toss the sugar into my coffee and take a delicate sip while I give Elias a calculating glare.
I seem to catch a brief flash of disappointment in his eyes while he lets my hostile energy wash over him.
And then it’s like a switch is flipped. All emotion disappears from his face as a strictly-business expression takes its place.
He leans forward, tents his fingers, and gives us an inquiring look.
I don’t imagine you’re here today to ask me about my diving academy, he states, getting straight to the point.
I take a deep inhale and slam my hand down on the desk.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Mia startle out of her seat a little.
I have to admit, the hand slamming makes me seem a lot more aggressive than I’m used to.
I’m just so angry that Los Castillos uses these completely unethical contracts and that Elias really had me looking forward to our date.
That he and his stupid charisma, absurdly long lashes, and washboard abs that could grate Parmesan cheese, have forced me to think about him way too often these past few days.
Asshole. I look at the hand I couldn’t stop myself from smacking down on the desk and decide my tone needs to match my resolute actions.
That’s right. We are here to demand a deferral. It’s absolutely ridiculous that you think you can just change the interest rate every year.
Elias’s eyebrows slowly creep up his forehead in surprise, but he keeps still as my voice gets louder and louder.
I’m pretty sure that’s not even legal, I continue.
My heart rate is speeding up and I’m getting increasingly furious.
If you won’t agree to a deferred payment plan, I will be taking you to court.
The way things are going right now, the restaurant doesn’t stand a chance.
I stand up and lean forward. The pendant I always wear dangles free and Elias is briefly distracted by the sparkling silver. I slam my hand down again.
Elias’s gaze shifts back to my face, his eyes wide.
My grandparents and my cousin work their asses off for that business every day and I won’t let a bunch of real estate assholes in overpriced dress shoes rip it away from them, I continue as I gesture at Mia and toss her a quick glance.
She is loving this. The only thing missing is a bucket of popcorn for her to snack on while she watches my rant.
Elias has stayed pretty calm so far, but now he rises to his feet. He has a look in his eyes that makes my breath catch. I doubt calling him a real estate asshole was the greatest idea considering I really need this meeting to go my way.
So what’s your plan, Eva?
He almost spits out my name. The hair on the back of my neck stands up as his voice gets louder and his eyes shoot red hot flames my way. Shit. Calling him an asshole was such a bad move.
How much more money are you willing to toss down that well before you realize the restaurant can’t be saved?
I plant my fists into my sides combatively. Sure, we need to make some changes, but I have a plan, I reply swiftly.
His nostrils flare as he throws his hands up in a new-day-same-bullshit kind of gesture. You think I haven’t heard that line before? he scoffs.
Just because you’ve heard it before, doesn’t mean it’s any less true in this case, I reply through clenched teeth.
Why not have a heart and give someone else the opportunity to succeed for once.
Are you scared that the restaurant could become successful again?
Is that how power-hungry you are? Is that how greedy you are?
Elias plows a hand through his hair a few times.
Seeming truly angry now, he pounds his fist down on the desk.
You want to try this? he challenges me. I can definitely think of better places to put your money, but if you insist on flushing it down the toilet, be my guest. His expression is teetering between pure rage and an emotion I can’t quite place.
He takes a few deep breaths and manages to compose himself.
Sit down, he orders. I open my mouth to spit out a reply, but he cuts me off with a stern look. If you really want that deferral, you’ll sit down right now. He turns on the monitor that’s on his desk and starts to type.
For ten tense minutes, Mia and I watch his eyes flit across the screen until we finally hear the printer grind into action. Elias stands up, grabs the document from the printer tray and places it in front of me.
Here you go, deferral of payment, he snarks as he somewhat aggressively smacks down a pen next to the piece of paper.
He bends over—so close to me now that I can smell his aftershave.
For a moment, I close my eyes and let the subtle scent of musk drift into my nostrils.
He picks up the pen and adds his elegant signature to the line just above ‘E.P. Castillo.’ You can sign here, he says, using the pen to point out the right spot on the document.
I stare at him, incredulous. Mind if I read this thing first?
Elias gives me a surly nod and walks over to the window. Crossing his arms, he stares outside, his jaw muscles twitching incessantly.
What the payment deferral boils down to, is that the next payment won’t be due for another six months, but there’s no mention of a full loan repayment timeline.
Once I’ve read through the document without encountering any small print or other misleading clauses, I smoothly sign my name below ‘E. Martens, acting on behalf of P. Peréz en C. Peréz-Santos.’ I repeat the action on the second copy of the document and slide it toward Elias before tucking my own copy into my purse.
Thank you, I say.
Elias glances over his shoulder for a moment, gives me another gruff nod and gestures toward the door, indicating that we can see ourselves out now.
Once we’re outside again with the sun lighting up our faces, Mia looks to me, beaming with pride. That was a level of fierceness beyond anything I could have mustered.