Chapter 79
A R I A N A
The moment I got home, I sent the kids to their room to play with strict instructions not to come out I couldn’t let them see me like this.
Then, I practically ran down the hall to Sarah’s apartment. I didn’t even knock, I just walked in and collapsed on her sofa, bursting into tears.
Sarah rushed over. “Ariana! What in the world happened? Did you lose your job p>
I shook my head, sobbing so hard I could barely speak. “Worse,” I choked out. “So much worse p>
I told her everything about walking into the conference room, about seeing him, the cold, hard look in his eyes that felt like a physical blow.
“It’s Dante, Sarah,” I cried, my voice muffled by her sweater. “The new CEO… it’s Dante after all these years, he found me… I’m so fucked”
Sarah gasped, her arms tightening around me. “Oh my god! No p>
“And he hates me so much” I continued, the words pouring out in a torrent of misery. “I could see it deep in his eyes, he looked at me like I was something he’d scraped off his shoe, I knew he’d never forgive me, but seeing it… it hurt so much p>
I pulled back, wiping my wet face with my hands. “And he’s not going to take it easy on me, Sarah, I know Dante so well that he’d make me suffer so much, I was late for work today, he told me he hates incompetence and practically crushed my hand when we shook hands. It was almost like a warning. He’s going to make me pay I’m so screwed, I am completely and utterly screwed Sarah I don’t know what to do, I’m freaked out p>
I laid my head back on the couch, feeling utterly defeated. “This job… it’s our stability, It pays for this apartment, It pays for the twins’ preschool if I lose it I don’t know what I’d do”
Sarah cut me off, “No! You’re not losing it “
I shake my head vigorously cause she wasn’t getting my point, “What if he gets me fired? What if he tells Mr. Davies to fire me? He could destroy my life here with one phone call just like I did with his even though he has gotten the hang of it and fixed things”
I was so scared, the fear was a cold heavy stone in my stomach.
All the safety I had carefully built over five years felt like it was made of glass, and Dante had just thrown a rock at it.
“I have to work with him every day,” I whispered, fresh tears falling. “How am I supposed to do that? How can I sit in a room with him, knowing how much he despises me? Knowing that I deserve it p>
Sarah didn’t have any easy answers she just held me and let me cry, her presence a small comfort in the middle of my complete and total panic.
My worst nightmare had come true, and I had no idea how I was going to survive it.
“Shh… you’re going to be fine” Sarah console and before I could respond, my phone rang.
The sound was loud and sharp in the quiet room.
My whole body flinched.
I pulled the phone out of my pocket with a shaking hand I didn’t recognize the number, but it had an American area code.
My heart started pounding again hoping it’s not who I think it is.
I answered it, my voice shaky. “H-hello p>
“Ariana Melendez.” The voice on the other end was cold, smooth, and full of hate It was a voice I remembered.
Jessica.
Dante’s assistant.
My mouth went dry as I couldn’t speak.
“Did you really think you could hide forever?” she hissed. “Did you think you could betray a man like Dante Russo and just get away with it p>
Tears welled up in my eyes again as my heart hammered against its ribcage.
“I… I don’t I stammered.
“Save it,” Jessica snapped. “You’re going to pay for what you did to him, you broke him and betrayed his trust. Do you know that? It took him years to rebuild everything you helped him lose due to the scandal you and your greedy ass father created and now, you’re going to get exactly what you deserve p>
Her words were like knives, each one twisting deeper, she was clearly enjoying this, happy to torment me.
“He wanted me to call you himself,” she continued, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. “But he said he couldn’t stand the sound of your voice so he told me to do it, he wants you to know his schedule. I just forwarded it to your email, read it, memorize it. He expects you to be available for every single meeting, at any time he demands don’t you dare be late again p>
She didn’t wait for me to respond.
“Welcome back to hell, Ariana,” she said, and then the line went dead.
I held the phone to my ear, listening to the silence.
Then, a new, broken sob escaped my lips as I dropped the phone on the couch and buried my face in my hands, crying harder than before.
What have I done?
Dante wasn’t even doing it himself; he had his assistant do it to show me how little I meant to him.
“Who was that p>
“Dante’s assistant”
Sarah rubbed my back, but there was nothing she could say or do that would make me feel better at the moment, the reality of my situation was crashing down on me.