Page 274 of One More Kiss

His words landed like a hammer. There it was. The agenda on full display. The Rossbergs were one of the only families richer than us on the East Coast. Airline industry moguls with blatant aspirations to cultivate an active space travel program. And the eldest Rossberg son, Eli, was in my MBA program at Stanford. One of many families that commuted between NY and CA.

“You want to merge companies?” The words stuck to my throat. There was no way in hell my father could plan for a merger on this end if he didn’t have a bargaining chip. I swallowed hard, studying the blank squares of my weekend. Eli had made it clear that he was interested in me. But I had made it even clearer that I was taken.

“I’d like to merge more than that.”

I squeezed my eyes shut. I’m the bargaining chip. “Like what?”

“Merge families.”

A bitter laugh escaped me. “If you’re planning an arranged marriage, just say so.”

“Oh, come on. Don’t be vulgar. This is the twenty-first century, Cora.”

“Right. So what would you call it? In twenty-first century terms.”

“This is a business opportunity. One that will translate into a life opportunity. That’s all it is. You don’t need to be so goddamn dramatic.”

Tears pricked at my eyes, but they didn’t fall. They never fell anymore. I had learned long ago how to school my responses, but even so, the vitriol in his voice tugged me into the past. Back to childhood, when both my brother and I received too many of those verbal slaps to count. I was always too goddamn dramatic because I dared show emotion and was quick to cry. My brother had been too goddamn queer because he loved theater and had a secret love for all things performance arts. Little did we know then, emotion and creative outlets had no place in the Margulis dynasty.

“I’m not being dramatic. In fact, I think I’m being rather direct. Tell me what you want from me before I decide whether to go for it.”

“This is your decision, Cora. You know I’d never make you do something you don’t want to do. I’m just handing you an opportunity to do big things with your life. Like I’ve always done. Because I’m your father.”

My throat tightened, and I looked back at the blank squares. They were the only anchor I had in the tumultuous waters. This was a hurricane that always brewed with my parents. Control under the guise of helping me out.

“What happens if I don’t want a merger with Eli?” I ask, unable to keep the emotion out of my voice. I didn’t even want to mention Axel now, even though my father was more than aware I had a boyfriend.

“I’d say it’s too early to make a decision. Why don’t you assess all the facts before shutting the door on it? You don’t want your emotions to cloud your judgment. Some doors can’t be reopened once they’re closed.”

A familiar cocktail of emotions gripped me. White-hot frustration, alongside an inexpressible rage that simply boiled behind my ribs. A tear escaped my eye, and I wiped it away as though my father could somehow sense it.

“I’ll send the meeting details,” my father went on, his all-business tone grating against me. “They want to meet in New York this weekend. I’ll set the flight plan if you give me the green light.”

Excitement prickled to life amid the conflict. “Why New York?”

“They live here, you know that.”

“Right, but Eli and I are out west.”

“I told you. This is a business opportunity that will translate into a life opportunity. They want the meeting, so we do it on their terms.”

I wasn’t sure how else I’d get to see Axel any time soon if not for this sanctioned trip. It would save me the hassle of concocting various excuses until I landed on one my father found acceptable.

I didn’t want to, but…if I agreed to the meeting, I could smother my man with enough kisses to last a few more weeks. We’d missed our third anniversary because of this constant logistical challenge. We had some celebrating to make up for.

“I’ll come,” I blurted, before I could think better of it.

“You will?” Even my father sounded surprised.

“Yeah.” I swallowed a knot in my throat. Seeing Axel for a full night and part of a day was worth suffering through this meeting. I’d figure out how to play the “merger”angle later. After I could tell my boyfriend I loved him in person, and that we’d figure out some way to make our future work. “I’d like the latest flight out on Thursday night, please.”

“Excellent. I’ll arrange for a driver to pick you up at the airport.”

Panic snaked through me as I realized what that meant. If Vince, my father’s driver, intersected me at the private jet side of the airport, my chances at escaping to meet with Axel fell to zero. The private jets we used to ferry ourselves back and forth between CA and NY were always available within a few days’ notice. But not so much at the last minute.

“Actually, wait,” I blurted. “That won’t work. Let me check my schedule and I’ll figure out the flight plan. I might want to come sooner.”

“Won’t you miss class?”

“It’s group stuff this week, so I have some flexibility.” My heart hammered in my chest. I needed to figure out a way to weasel my way into a commercial first-class ticket. That was Plan B, when the private jet schedule didn’t jive with our own. My father hated sending me commercial, but I didn’t mind. I think he hated the loss of control more than anything. But that was precisely why I needed it for this trip.

“If you wait until Friday, you can attend class and make it in time for the meeting,” my father said.

But that wouldn’t work either. I needed Friday with Axel. No matter what. “I just want to get to New York with time to prepare for the meeting. This is a big deal. A big opportunity.” My tongue met dry lips. I prayed he bought the bullshit I fed him. “I’ll consult my schedule and figure out some things with my group, and then I can handle the flight plan. Don’t worry about it.”

I snapped my mouth shut before I could say anything else. Because my father didn’t need to hear what rattled around inside my head.

Nothing will prevent me from seeing Axel.

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