“I’m here now, so what’s the difference?” He opened the chocolates and popped one in his mouth.
His arrogant attitude made me sick, and I wanted to flick his forehead. “What’s the difference? Are you kidding?”
He’d changed from the man I once knew. Or did I ever really know him?
“Penny, calm down. You’re getting worked up over nothing. I was with your father the whole time. Do you think I would cheat on you with your father looming off in the distance?”
I thought back to his “maybe” phone call with Theo and couldn’t keep quiet on it. “Why did you call the Lopa today?”
“Excuse me?” He stepped back, suddenly seeming very out of place in my kitchen with his crisp-button down blue shirt and black pants pressed by a professional. I was sure even Dex’s socks were cleaned and pressed by an expert. Why was this guy my boyfriend? He was so charming when we first met. What happened?
“The Lopa, you spoke to Theo Sullivan?”
“I know you work there, Penny,” he said, crossing around the countertop to me, his expensive shoes barely making a whisper on the hardwood floors. “Your father and I are trying to acquire it. But, it’s none of your concern.”
“Acquire?”
He braced his hand on the countertop next to me. “Come on Penny, you’re a smart girl. Figure it out.”
My heart sank as I gazed at him. What did I ever find attractive about this man?
“Dex, it’s over between us.” Fed up, I walked away from him.
“What?” The word fell from his lips, and it almost sounded like he breathed it more than anything.
I turned to face him. “Did you really think I would stand for this?”
After an intense stare down, he snapped his eyes closed and then shook his head. When his eyes opened, his demeanor changed instantly, cold and calculating, as he stalked closer. “Don’t think for one second I will stand for this. You’re upset, so I will give you some time to really think about what you’re saying.”
“Of course I’m upset, but that’s not why I’m doing this.” My voice, devoid of emotion, drove my point home, “I’m doing this because I no longer care for you in the way you want me to.”
He played with the button on his cuff as he smirked. “Fine Penny, I’m leaving now.” His eyes swept over me. “Take some time to think. I’ll be in touch.”
Laughing to myself as he grabbed the box of chocolates from the counter, I watched him stalk off to his Mercedes. He peeled out of the driveway and sped off down the road.
I locked the door after he left and called him a few choice curses before heading into the bathroom to shower.
My mind drifted to Theo and how bad this was for him. My father and Dex would stop at nothing until they had the Lopa out of business so they could buy up the land.
I needed to speak with my father myself. It was past due we had a sit down.
I stepped into the shower and let the hot water work out the tense muscles in my shoulders.
Tomorrow morning, I would visit my father, first thing. But, for now there was only one person I wanted to see—Theo.
I phoned him, got his address, and raced to his house.
After he let me inside his swanky two-bedroom condo, I was met with beautiful floor-to-ceiling windows, overlooking Miami. His contemporary styled décor, with deep blues and soft greens, had a relaxing effect on my nerves. The place had a touch of class, yet it still felt lived in—a mahogany curio cabinet near the television caught my eye and I stepped closer.
“Are those dolls?” I peered at a Batman doll on the top shelf.
“Dolls?” His appalled voice sounded behind me. “No, these are action figures. Way manlier than a doll.” He ran his hand over the box holding the Batman figurine inside.
“Oh, of course. I didn’t mean to offend…”
“No, it’s ok,” he said, cutting me off, his eyes darting over the collection and unable to meet mine. “It’s silly, really. But, I’m kind of a collector.”
“It’s not silly,” I said, smiling. “It’s actually kind of cool. So do you play with them?” I asked.