Page 22 of A Good Girl's Guide to Dominance
“It has been months, Rome,” Nikola begins. “I stopped trying to call two months ago because I got tired of being sent to voicemail and never getting a call back. I’ve sent you dozens of messages since the funeral, which was six months ago, by the way.”
“I know full-well how long it’s been,” I reply curtly. I don't mean for my words to be as sharp as dagger tips, but they poke Nikola anyway. I even see it when he winces.
He sighs and adjusts in his seat like I’ve already made him uncomfortable. “I know you do. I didn't mean it as a reminder of how long it’s been since he passed. I'm just saying I've been trying to reach out, but you've evaded me. I’ve known you my entire life,mio amico. Isabella and I have both been worried, but it’s good to see you back up and running. I even hear you’ve gone into business for yourself.” As I nod, Nikola mirrors me and does the same. “That’s incredible, man. Well, tell me about it.”
It took me this long to return to Nikola’s house because I knew we would be having this conversation. It is one I’ve been wanting to avoid, which is why I’ve been operating on my own since my father died half a year ago. After the funeral, I became a recluse until enough time had passed for me to be better. When someone you love dies, even the simple task of talking to people feels like the heaviest of burdens.
“Shortly after the funeral,” I begin, hating this conversation and needing it at the same time. “Dad’s lawyer contacted me about the inheritance and will. There was a lot to go over, which fucking sucked, but as his only child I ended up with everything—the house, the store, the restaurant, and all of the money.”
“Well, it’s not like he was going to give it to someone else. You were everything to him,” Nikola reminds me.
I nod and am shocked that it feels painful. “I know. I’m not sure what I expected, but when it was all said and done, the total for everything wasa lot. Dad took great care of himself and his businesses, and I finally understood why he was always on me to do the same. Everything he'd worked for was now mine, and I didn't know how to feel about that. That’s why I dodged you and everyone else. Losing Mom at nineteen, Natalia at thirty, and now Dad at thirty-five was just too much to bear. You're the only person I love who hasn’t fucking died on me, yet I couldn't bring myself to talk to you. I was just in a dark place.
“I practically drank and fucked my way through the first four months after the funeral and handing down of his assets. I was at a new club every night and with a new woman every week, making sure to never commit to anything or anyone. I just wanted to drift without any sense of direction, and that’s exactly what I did. But eventually I hit land—woke up one morning and found some random chick next to me, and thought about how disappointed Dad would've been to see me that way. That’s really all it took for me to get up and start trying to figure out how to get my shit together and navigate my way through a world in which he no longer exists. It was fucking tough, but I eventually got up, stopped drinking, started exercising, stopped fucking random women, and started making moves. I sold the house and both of his stores.”
Nikola’s eyebrows jump up. “Really? Wow.”
“I know,” I say with a raised hand. “I know how much he loved his convenience store and the restaurant, but there was no way I was ever going to heal if I had to spend my life managing the places I practically grew up watching him own and operate. That was his thing, not mine. I got my degree in marketing for myself, not just because Dad wanted me to help grow his businesses. They had to go, just like the house. I took out everything I wanted to keep, but that was all I needed. With the three of them sold, the money skyrocketed even higher and I felt a little better. It was good to say goodbye, as much as it hurt.”
“What made you decide to go into business for yourself?” Nikola asks. The look on his face lets me know that he’s listening intently and really cares. Time hasn’t dissolved our friendship in the slightest. I’m happy about that. Six months shouldn't be able to compete with thirty years.
“A combination of what he wanted for me and what I needed for myself,” I answer. “It just so happened that as I was looking for something to purchase for myself, the owner of a marketingand advertising agency was indicted for money laundering. I guess he was a gambler who started working with some sketchy people and got himself caught up. He was forced to separate from his company, and I was more than willing to swoop in and take it off his hands.”
“Advertising and marketing,” Nikola says with a nod of his head. “Nice, bro.”
“Yeah, it’s called Sandcastle, and I officially took over a few days ago. Got the lay of the land from the VP and have had a couple of meetings regarding the direction I want the company to go. I may have ruffled a few feathers with my ambition, but that's no surprise.”
He laughs. “Definitely not. It’s good to see that your time at Bell Liberty wasn't wasted. You went from being a director there to running the show for their competition. Well played.”
“Thank you. It really was just perfecting timing. Now all I have to do is not burn the place down. I’m really motivated now that it’s all said and done. It took me a long time to get back to a good place, and now that I’m mostly there, I want it to be as successful as possible. I feel like Mom and Dad are watching me, so it has to go well.”
Nikola reaches over and slaps me on top of my hand. “That’s great, bro. I’m fucking proud of you. You're really doing it.”
“Yeah, I guess I am. I mean, I’m not one of the biggest stock brokers in Philly likesomebodyI know, but I’m doing alright.”
“Well, we can't all be perfect,” he says with a playful laugh.
As the two of us share a happy moment, the back door slides open as Nikola’s wife, Isabella, comes out to join us. She looks beautiful as always in a loose red dress. Her long brown hair flows behind her as she comes out, her eyes landing on me and immediately misting over.
“Where have you been, you fucker?” she greets me. I stand up to meet her embrace, and we hug for a moment before she stepsback and punches me in the arm. “You had us worried to death, you know that?”
“I’m sorry,” I reply, smiling. “I didn't mean to leave you guys hanging. I just needed some time to myself to recover from it all. You two are all I have left in this world, and as much as I love and need you both, it’s also really sad and took some time to get used to. I know everybody dies, but it has really felt like death has been hungriest for the people I love most. It was hard, but I’m doing a lot better now.”
“That’s so good to hear, Rome,” she says. “I’m thrilled to see you back on your feet.”
“It’s good to be back,” I say as I sit down. “And it’s good to see you both. I love that you two are still going strong after ten years of marriage.”
“Uh-oh,” Nikola chirps loudly. “It sounds like someone is ready to settle down after their brief departure from the rest of the world.”
Isabella doesn't hesitate to jump right on that bandwagon. “Oh, my god. Yes! Please tell me you're finally dating someone seriously, and that I can expect an invitation to your wedding sometime very soon.”
I nearly tip my chair backward from leaning back so far, trying to get away from the idea of marriage.
“What the hell just happened?” I joke. “A wedding invitation? I love you, Isabella, but no way. Notanytimesoon. I’m not even dating anybody right now. After Dad’s heart attack, I just messed around and had flings.A lotof flings.”
“Jesus, Rome, that’s all you’ve ever done since … Natalia,” Isabella says, her voice full of exasperation. “Aren’t you tired of that life?”
“She was my wife,” I shoot back. “It may have been for only two years, and she may have died from that fucking aneurysm four years ago, but Natalia was my wife, and getting over herhas been impossible. I’ve gotten to the point where I can enjoy someone else’s company for a short period of time, but love has been tragic for me, so I’ve been dancing around that shit.”
