His Secret

41. Adrian

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

ADRIAN

In my bedroom, I lift my suitcase to the bed and start unpacking. The shower is on in the connected en-suite, so I have a few minutes to prepare myself for seeing Charlotte after this weekend. The guilt will likely be written across my face.

I do feel bad, but at the same time, I finally feel like I did something for me. For my happiness.

I’m here in this house, with a ring on my finger, for her. It started because of our parents, but for a while, she’s been telling me she needs me. She’s heard it from her father for way too long. She doesn’t think she’s capable of being on her own—of being strong enough to fight through her addiction and be in recovery without me. And while I don’t mind being that pillar of strength for her, it feels like I’m being used. Resentment grows inside me.

As I’m taking out the last remaining toiletry items, the bathroom door opens, and she jolts.

“Oh, god.” She laughs. “You’re home.”

“Sorry,” I say. “Didn’t mean to scare you. ”

She touches her hair. “No, it’s fine. I guess I lost track of time.” Charlotte walks over and wraps her arms around me.

I return the hug and kiss the top of her head. “I’m gonna finish up and go make something to eat. Are you hungry?”

“No, I ate not that long ago. I’ll just finish getting ready, and I’ll meet you down there so you can tell me all about your trip.”

“Okay.”

I remove the small toiletry bag and put it on the bed before I zip up the suitcase and store it in the closet.

Charlotte goes back into the bathroom, and I head downstairs to start looking for something to eat.

I hesitate at the window, looking through the blinds at Matías’s house across the way, wishing things could be different.

By the time I’m sitting down to eat my chicken and cheese quesadilla, Charlotte comes downstairs.

“Hey. Did you talk to your dad?”

I groan, rolling my eyes. “No. Why?”

“He told me he’d been trying to get in touch with you.”

“You talked to him?”

“Yeah, he called me.”

She sits across from me at the dining room table.

“What did you say?”

“That you were on a work trip.”

“That’s it?”

She looks confused. “I mean, we talked a little about the area and the house. He was just asking how things were going, Adrian.”

I fight the scoff that threatens to come out. “What else did he ask about?”

“Just how you were liking your job.” She plays with the place mat. “Oh, I told him how your boss is our neighbor, and how that’s a crazy coincidence.”

“What?” I exclaim, putting my food down. “Why are you telling him about my life, Charlotte? I moved so he wouldn’t be so heavily involved, and now he has a little spy in you.”

“I’m not spying,” she shouts, standing up. “He cares about you. He’s just checking on you.”

“I don’t need him to. You should know we don’t have a strong relationship.”

“Yeah, well you don’t seem capable of having strong relationships with anyone,” she spits before turning and fleeing upstairs.

I sigh and rub my head, wishing I was still back in Vegas.

At work the next day, I find myself scanning the room for Matías. Right before lunch, my phone rings on my desk.

“Hello?”

“Adrian.”

“Mr. Cruz,” I say, a smile on my lips.

“Can you meet me in my office, please?”

“Yes, sir.”

He clears his throat before hanging up.

Instead of sprinting across the floor like I want to, I take my time and casually make my way to his door, giving it two knocks before turning the knob.

“Yes, sir?” I say before stepping in.

He grins at me from behind his desk. “Please, come in.”

I close the door behind me and walk toward him.

He has lunch on his desk. Enough for two.

“Thought we could go over some paperwork,” he says with a small grin .

“Oh, of course.” I sit in the chair on the opposite side of his desk. “We mustn’t get behind on paperwork.”

He hands me a Styrofoam container with a crooked smile on his face. “How are you?”

“Good. You?”

I open it up and find a turkey club inside.

“Pretty good. I was going to text you last night, but…”

He lets the sentence end there, because he doesn’t need to finish in order for me to understand what he’s getting at.

“Oh. Well, I always have my phone on me.” I look him in the eye. “So you can text whenever.”

“Good to know.”

I take a few bites of my sandwich as he stabs a fork through his salad. After a few minutes, I say, “My dad knows I’m working for you now. And that you’re my neighbor.”

His brows go up slightly. “And what does that mean for you?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t talked to him. He’s been trying to get me to answer the phone, but…” I shrug.

“He can be unhappy about that, but what does he expect from you? To quit your job and move? You just did that.”

“No, I’m definitely not catering to him anymore. He’s unpredictable, though, so I expect he could just show up at any time to lecture me.”

“Have you ever thought about telling him to fuck off?” he asks right before taking a bite.

My snort turns into laughter. “Yes. Many times.”

After a minute of silence, he speaks up. “I don't know why parents think they can keep their kids from being who they are. He’s bullying you and threatening you simply to keep you from being happy. And all for the sake of his company?” He takes a breath. “Sorry. It’s just?— ”

“No, you’re fine. I get it. He’s just always been that way. My mom, too, but she’s less vocal about it. She’s not really concerned with my every move, especially now. Dad has this hatred in him. I don’t know why. You’d think gay people did something to him personally, because it’s almost as if he’s holding a grudge.”

Matías shakes his head. “Well, I don’t know. Hopefully he leaves you alone.”

I roll my eyes as I take another bite, doubtful that’ll ever happen. And then a thought hits me, and I just say the words without even thinking about them.

“He’d probably only leave me alone if I came out.”

Matías stares at me as I register what I’m saying. Now that the initial thought is out there, more keep coming, and the words fall from my lips.

“He’d be so angry or embarrassed, that he’d likely just disown me and never speak to me again.” I pause, putting my food down as I sit back. “That thought bothered me when I was younger and needed him, but I don’t need his money anymore. I don’t care about running his company. And it’s not as if I’d be missing out on an incredible family dynamic.”

Matías continues to watch me as I talk, but he doesn’t say anything. It’s almost as if he’s holding his breath, afraid to break this train of thought I’m having.

A phone call interrupts everything.

Matías answers. “Hello? Oh, hi, Mr. Wright. Of course. Yes. I’ll be there. Okay, goodbye.”

When he hangs up the phone, he looks at me. “I have to go talk to the boss.”

“Oh, okay,” I say, getting up from the chair.

“I’ll text you later.”

He stands and walks around the desk, grabbing me by the tie. Pulling me closer, he plants his mouth on mine. The kiss is quick, but it sends a jolt of electricity through me.

“Okay.” I swipe some random papers from his desk. “I’ll get these back to you.” I walk to the door, opening it while saying, “I’ll get right on it, sir.”

He fights his grin, shaking his head at me.