Chapter 130
Natalia squeezed Olivia's hand and took a deep breath before opening the office door and stepping inside. Louis's head whipped around as he heard the door open and a look of disappointment passed over his features before he schooled them into a look of indifference as he study the child turned woman he hadn't seen in two decades.
Ignoring the fact that her father was so displeased with seeing her, Natalia walked to the far side of the desk and took a seat in Olivia's chair with Olivia standing behind her, a hand on her shoulder in support. "Papa." She said, more as a statement then as a greeting.
"Natalia." The man replied as if he were bored.
Natalia looked down at her hands folded on the desk for a moment. Summoning the courage to tell the man across from her what she needed to say. She closed her eyes and allowed the image of a pregnant sixteen-year-old stepping from the family car without so much as a goodbye from her father to wash over her and bring forth the hurt and anger she would need to get through this.
"I hold no delusions about what this meeting will bring. I know you have no desire to see me and wish to continue on as if I don't exist, as if I never was your daughter." She began, buying herself just a little more time and hoping maybe she was wrong and he might actually hold even the slightest of interest in her.
"Then why are we here?" He growled. "I see no point in this meeting other than getting Isabel back home where she belongs."
Betrayal, that was all Natalia could think as she glared at the man who used to be her father. He had betrayed her all those years ago and the way he dismissed her as if she meant nothing, as if she wasn't a child of his own seed hurt, and it felt very much like he was betraying her all over again. White hot rage washed over her as she realized that she really did mean nothing to the man. A look of utter distain painted her features as words began to pour from her mouth without thought.
"We are here Louis" Her words dripped with venom as they spilled from her lips, "because I have a few things I wish to say to you. You think you did the right thing all those years ago, that you honored your god by betraying and abandoning your own child, but you didn't. You forsake him. The god I know, the god I believe in, he would never condone a father banishing his own child from the only home she had ever known. He would never see fit for a parent to condemn his own child to a life of loneliness and misery just because she made a mistake."
Pausing for a breath, she let the pain she felt all those years ago continue to fuel her. "You thought my own child would be better off with someone else, but he wouldn't have. I am his mother and I am always what is best for him. Unlike you, I would do and give anything for my children. I would gladly go without to provide for them, which I did. I went without a family, without friends, without love, without food at times, without whatever was necessary to care and provide him with the things he needed."
"You think I didn't make those same sacrifices for you." Louis screamed.
"I know you didn't." She hollered back. "All you ever cared about was yourself and your image. You molded Javier, Isabel, and me into the people you wanted us to be. You didn't care a lick for what we wanted, for what would make us happy. All you cared about was what you wanted, what you thought was right. You didn't even care about what mama wanted. You made her obedient by fear. She was afraid of what you would do should she ever speak out against you. So, she never did, not even when you took her daughter from her.
You thought you could break me by casting me out of your house, out of your family. Well, you didn't. All you did was make me more determined to stand on my own and fight for what I believed to be true and right. Maybe I really should be thanking you. Without your self-righteous act of kicking me out because I wouldn't give up my child, I wouldn't be where I am today. You thought I would be nothing more than a poor, welfare mom for the rest of my life, well, let me set the record straight for you."
As her body shook with rage, Olivia's hand tightened on her shoulder. Bending to be level with her ear, Olivia whispered to her. "You don't have to do this sweetheart. He's not worth you getting so upset."
Shaking her head, Natalia turned to meet her wife's loving gaze. "No. I do need to do this. I never once stood up to him, I didn't say a single word that day, and I have regretted it ever since." Turning back to face her father, Natalia continued in a much calmer voice then before. "I never once took charity of any kind. I never accepted a single hand out, and I never even thought to apply for welfare of any kind. I worked hard to provide for my son. I worked two and sometimes three jobs to make sure he had everything he needed. That is how I took care of my child. I waitressed and I bar tended. I cleaned rooms and I never once complained, never acted as if the work I was doing was beneath me, because it wasn't. I took pride in every job I ever had and I gave one hundred percent at each and every one. When I moved here, to Springfield, I started with the same old jobs, waitressing, bar tending, housekeeping. It didn't bother me, not a bit. I found Rafe's father and I married him." At the look of surprise on her father's face, she couldn't help but smile.
"That's right, I married that, what was it you liked to call him, no good street rat of a man. I married him and he was a wonderful father, not only to Rafe, but to children that were not his own. That amazing selfless man did everything he could for the people around him. He gave everything he had, including his heart, to make certain the people he cared for were taken care of…."
Before she could say anything more, Louis interrupted. "Well, he must have been smarter than I thought since he had the good sense to leave you. I'm sure it didn't take him long to figure out you were not a worthy wife."
"Hey!" Olivia shouted. "You have no idea what you are talking about. I would tread lightly Mr. Rivera; you are speaking of things you know nothing about."
"I know he isn't here defending my daughter, instead a lousy whore is."
Olivia growled as she let her old self come forth with a vengeance. However, before she could even utter a word, Natalia spoke over her. "That is enough." She bellowed. "You can say whatever you like about me, but I'll be damned if I allow you to sit here and disrespect my wife, the woman I love in such a manner. You have no idea of the woman she is, of what she's lived through and just how much a miracle it is that she turned out as great as she is."
"Tell me Natalia, if your Nicky was such an amazing man, then where is he now? Hmm? Why is he not sat beside you?"
Sadness flashed in her eyes for a mere second before she pushed it away, now was not the time. "Not that it's any of your business, but he died. And as much as I miss him, his death saved the woman who would become my everything, and I cannot regret that."
At that statement, all of the anger drained from Olivia as she peered at her wife with a look of pure adoration. "He's here baby." She said quietly, tapping a finger to her chest above her heart.
Natalia gave her wife a sad smile. "No, that's all you, but I do believe he is somewhere, watching over us, and smiling at how much things have changed between us."
For a moment Olivia forgot where they were and who was sat across from them as she leaned in and connected their lips in a brief kiss. "I love you." She whispered as they pulled apart, a single tear escaping from her eye.
"I love you too." Natalia replied, wiping the tear from her loves cheek with the pad of her thumb.
"Touching as this is, could we get back to why I'm here?" Louis asked, disgust lacing his every word.
"Right, you want Isabel to go back to Chicago with you, forget about me all over again."
"As she should. You are not someone she needs to associate with. Living your life in sin the way you do. No daughter of mine should ever be exposed to the filth that you are. Have you learned nothing over the past twenty years Natalia? It was bad enough you chose to have sex outside of the confines of marriage, but to keep that child, to deny him a proper life with proper parents is appalling, and now, now you have the audacity to live your life bound to another women. Forsaking God and turning your back on the church. What kind of role model are you to that child, or to the young girl you held in your arms earlier?"
The door to the office swung open as another voice sounded over Louis Rivera's. "Stop it!" Isabel yelled. Having been listening from the hall and fed up with her father and his warped view of the world. She could handle his throwing insults at Natalia, she knew what she was getting into going toe to toe with the man, but Emma, she would not stand for him to make wild accusations about who that sweet child would become. "Do not say another word papa."
Louis stood from his seat and stalked toward his daughter. "How dare you speak against me."
Leaning towards him, she met his gaze without any fear. "Because I am not a child anymore papa. You think you can come in here and hurt Natalia all over again by looking down at her, acting as if she is worthless. Well look around you papa. She is so much more then you ever thought she could be. So much more then you are." She said with distain.
"Do you not see the life she has made for herself, with zero help from you or anyone else. This is her hotel, as well as the one in Chicago, and another in St. Louis. She has done what you swore she never would, she has made a successful happy life for herself, and for her son. You preached to me for years after you kicked her out. Told me I couldn't travel the same worthless path that she had, made me think that any mistakes I made would result in my being thrown out into the street as she was, but open your eyes papa. She is not some homeless street rat suffering and begging for money and food as you claimed she was. No one took her child from her as you swore would happen. She raised him, on her own, and he is an amazing man. She built herself up and has an amazing life." She took a step back from her father and went on.
"She is married to a spectacular woman with more talent in both the kitchen and in business then I have ever seen. She has three beautiful children, an outstanding career, and a partner who backs her one hundred percent. I would do anything to have even half of what she has, and not the money or the hotels, but the pure joy that fills her life.
That baby you swore would become nothing if left with Natalia as a mother, he is the executive assistant at a five-star hotel and working his way up. Her other daughter is the general manager of that same hotel. And that little girl you speak of, the one Natalia was holding this morning when she arrived, she is the sweetest and most caring child I have ever met. From the moment she laid eyes on me she accepted me as her aunt, as her family, simply because I am Natalia's sister. You think that Natalia keeping her baby all those years ago, that her marrying a woman is some sin against God and against nature, but, how can that be? How is it possible for those things to be such horrible sins if this is the result?" She gestured all around them and to the pictures on Olivia's desk.
"Children who respect her and would do anything for her, not out of fear, but out of the vast love she surrounds them with. A wife who would literally do anything for her, that women, the whore as you claim, would lay down her life for Natalia in an instant. She would give up everything she has for her. Can you say that about yourself? Would you give up everything for mama, would you stand in front of a bullet for her? Better yet, would you allow her to do what makes her happy even if you didn't agree? Because I can guarantee that Olivia would. If Natalia chose to walk away from her right now, to bend to your will and come home to atone for her supposed sins, Olivia would not only pack her bags, but she would do it with a smile on her face so Natalia didn't feel an ounce of guilt. You won't even let mama call her own daughter. You insist that she pretend Natalia never existed like you and Javi, but she can't.
Does it even bother you that she has cried every single night for the past twenty years? Do you even care that for twenty years her heart has broken over and over again? When Natalia fist left she could barely function. She did as you expected of her out of fear that you would do something worse if she didn't, but she was only going through the motions. She begged you to go and fetch Natalia, to bring her home, and every time you refused her heart broke a little more until eventually she turned off all emotion. You didn't just rob me of a sister, you stole my mother as well, because the women I've known for the past twenty years is not her. She cooks for you and cleans for you, she does your laundry and stands at your side, but she is not Clara Rivera anymore. That woman, my mother, she died twenty years ago when you took her child from her, and you don't even care. If your way is the way of the lord and Natalia's way is that of the devil, then I'll take the trip to hell." She finished with a huff.
Natalia was on her feet and wrapping her arms around he sister in an instant. Thoughts and feelings swirling around inside her. She was more than grateful for how her sister had just stood up to their father, but more than that, she was astonished to hear about her mother. She had no clue of how her mother had felt back then, she always assumed she shared her father's view, but now, to know that she was and is heartbroken over the loss, she can't even begin to describe how she feels about that.
Olivia approached the two women, her glare at Louis making it clear he best keep his mouth shut. "Natalia, honey, why don't you and Isabel go on up to our suit. I'll see your father out and join you shortly."
Pulling back from her sister but keeping a hand on her, Natalia looked to her wife. "No, I can handle him."
"I know you can, however, I have a few things I need to make clear to him. Take Isabel upstairs, I think you two could use some time alone before the kids bombard you with questions. I know Emma is completely confused, and I'm sure Rafe is seething. I'll finish up with Mr. Rivera, check on the kids, clam Rafe down most likely, and then I'll come and join the two of you."
Natalia glared at her father and then glanced at Isabel, who nodded slightly, before returning her gaze to the loving face of the woman who owned her heart. "Okay. Thank you."
Olivia leaned in and gave her a chaste kiss. "Anything for you my love. Now go." She motioned with her hands for the two of them to exit her office.
"Where do you think you are going Isabel? You will not walk away from me." Louis growled.
Without even turning around Isabel answered him casually, not a morsel of regret in her voice. "No papa, it is you who chooses to walk away from us. Good luck explaining to mama why she has now lost another daughter." Without another word she walked out the door, Natalia holding tightly to her hand as she followed.
When Louis made to follow them, Olivia slammed the door shut and shot daggers at the man. "Sit." She commanded. When he made no move to do so, she lowered her voice to a deep growl, hatred dripping from her tongue. "I said sit!" She hollered. "I am not someone you want to test Mr. Rivera. I have brought down men bigger, stronger, and with more money then you could ever dream of, trying my patience would be ill advised."
Whether it was pure curiosity or the fire in her eyes, one may never know, but the man who had always had control, especially over the women her conversed with, decided to obey the command, and sat back in his seat without a word.
Olivia had done enough research on the Rivera's over the past few days to know exactly what she needed to say to hit that man where it would hurt. Although most of what she was about to say would be a bluff, she had no doubt that he would heed her warning.
Taking her seat behind her desk, she folder her hands in front of her and gave a predatory smile. "You, Mr. Rivera, are going to listen to me and listen well. You will make no further attempts to speak with either Natalia or Isabel unless they reach out you. You will…"
"I will do no such thing. I do not take commands from women, least of all you. Those are my daughters and I will do as I please where they are concerned." He shouted.
"Oh, I believe you will leave them be Mr. Rivera." She stated calmly. "You see, I have known many men like you. Those who think women are beneath them, think they have absolute control, and, I have proven a fair many of them to be wrong on that front. See, the thing is, everyone has a weakness, something that will no doubt drive them to see reason. You are no different, and in this case, you will see my reason."
"Nothing in this world would make me bow to the command of a worthless whore like you."
"We'll see about that." She gave another wicked smile as she opened the folder on her desk as if inspecting it. "You have no idea how high up my connections go."
"And I do not care."
She raised an eyebrow at that. "Perhaps you should. You worked hard to build a home for your family. Long nights and weekends to remove yourself and your wife from a small one-bedroom apartment and into a nice rental home when she became pregnant with Natalia and also needed to move her mother in so she could care for her. You knew you needed more space as your mother-in-law became permanent in your home and you added a second child to your family."
"What of it?"
"I've spoken to the son of your deceased landlord, and, it would seem he really has no desire to be a landlord, in fact, he only allowed you to stay after his parents died because you took care of any problems yourself and he couldn't get much money from that old house anyway." Louis seemed to figure out where she was going with this and shook with anger before the words even left her lips. "It seems with an offer well above market value he is more than willing to sell." She gave him a Cheshire cat grin.
"You cannot do that, where would me and my wife go?"
"Oh, believe me Mr. Rivera, I can, and I will. It matters very little to me what happens to you, and, if what Isabel says is correct, I believe your wife wouldn't mind escaping your clutches once and for all and being reunited with not one, but both of her daughters. Now that her mother has passed."
"You dare suggest you would take my wife from me." He seethed.
"Oh, make no mistake, I'm not suggesting anything, my wife can attest to the fact that I do exactly what I say I will and feel little to no guilt about who gets hurt in the process. Especially when it's disgusting filth like you who ends up in the gutter where you prayed your own daughter would end up if for no other reason than for you to be able to say you were right." The man said nothing as he saw the truth of the statement written clear upon her face. With a smile to herself at the victory, she continued, knowing she already had him where she wanted him but wanting to drive the knife in just a little deeper before she twisted. "You are quite proud of you son. Javier is it?"
"What does he have to do with anything?"
She flipped open the folder once more. "Let me see. Specialist Javier Louis Rivera. Ranked third in his class, four medals for his tours in Iraqi and Afghanistan, said to be well on his way to becoming Sergeant." She glanced up from the file with a smirk on her lips.
"What of him?"
"Stay away from my wife and her sister and he may very well achieve that goal. Disobey me and he will find himself dishonorably discharged from the military and you will find yourself without a home and out on the same streets you through your daughter into. You think your boss at the machine shop you work in won't hesitate to fire your ass when I'm handing him more money than he could ever dream of to do so. As I've stated Mr. Rivera, I have connections you haven't even thought of yet. With nothing more than a few phone calls I can take everything you've ever valued or worked for away from you. You think you're some big man, treating your wife like a slave and your children like possessions, you are nothing more than a measly little man who can't get respect and love by giving it like a real man would and instead has to demand it by inflicting fear on those you dare to call family.
You will leave this office, walk out of my hotel, and never even think of setting foot inside this town again. Isabel and Natalia are grown women who can not only think for themselves but can also take care of themselves. Neither of them need a lowlife like you interfering with their lives. Now get the hell out of my office and off of my property in the next five minutes or so help me losing your job and home will be the least of your problems." With that she swept from the room, holding her phone to her ear as she called Scott and Daniel to ensure her father-in-law saw his way out as she headed up to check on her children.
Before going back into Isabel's suit to check on Emma, Olivia leaned against the wall and pulled up her contacts, clicking on the one she needed and bringing the phone to her ear.
"Well, hello there my favorite ex-wife." The man said cheerfully.
"Hello Phillip." She replied, trying to force at least a small amount happiness into her voice.
"What might I ask are you calling for this afternoon?" He asked, knowing she needed something simply by the tone in which she spoke.
Biting her lip, Olivia responded as he knew she would. "I need a favor."
"I figured. No one is going to end up dead if I help you are they?"
"Not at my hand no." She said with a small laugh.
"At someone else's hand?" He inquired.
"Death is not part of what I have planned, no. I do need the jet ready to go as soon as possible though."
"Oh, and where pray tell might my jet be taking you?"
"It's not for me. Look, I need to get into Emma, we had a little upset at the hotel this morning and she's a bit distraught. Can I use the jet or not?"
"Is Emma okay?" he asked slightly panicked.
"She's fine Phillip. We had an unexpected visitor that's all. I promise to fill you in later. Can I use the damn jet?"
"Of course, you can. Text me the details and I'll have it ready in half an hour."
"Thank you Phillip. I promise to explain everything later, I just need to check on Emma and Natalia first."
"I understand, just please call me so I know what's going on."
"I will. Thank you Phillip."
Once she hung up with Phillip and ensured Emma was still okay watching movies and eating far too much junk food with Jane, she checked on Ava who had escaped to her office to distract herself. Walking in, she smiled at her eldest, bent over the projections for the following month and highlighting certain columns. "Whatcha doing?" She asked, knowing she hadn't been noticed and amused as her daughter jumped in her seat.
"Jesus mom, really." Ava half laughed half scolded.
Olivia shrugged. "I needed a good laugh after the past couple of hours. Sorry it happened to be at your expense."
Ava chuckled. "Yeah, sure you are." She gestured to the seat across from her. "Come in, sit down. How did it go? Are Ma and Isabel okay? Is he still here?"
Olivia held up a hand to stop her daughters rapid fire questions and shook her head at just how much her two daughters were alike. "Slow down honey. Natalia and Isabel are both fine. They are up in my suit for the moment. I think they both needed some time to digest everything that happened. Louis is no longer here, at least he better not be if Scott and Daniel value their jobs."
Ava chuckled. "I'm sure if you told them to escort him out, then that's exactly what they did. I swear, I think Scott was more pissed then Rafe at what happened in the lobby. I mean, we heard he was in your face and he grabbed Ma. Is that true?"
Olivia sighed. "Yes, it is. I swear, I don't know why the hell men like to grip my wife to the point of bruising, but the next one that does won't live to see another day."
"I have no doubt about that. So, what happened in there?"
"Entirely too much for me to explain right now. I need to find your brother, what I will say is that Louis Rivera was none too pleased when not one but three women laid into him. He's the kind of man who thinks women should cower at his feet, especially when two of the said women are his own daughters. He was in for a rude awakening when face to face with a fiery south side of Chicago Mrs. Spencer-Rivera stood before him. I've seen your Ma livid before, usually aimed at me, but I have never seen her pissed the fuck off like she was when she told him exactly what was what."
Ava chuckled again. "I can only imagine. I remember the stories you told me from back when you and Ma could barely stand to be in the same room. I'm still amazed and a little shocked you admitted she got the best of you a time or two."
Olivia shrugged her shoulder and shook her head. "Yes well, what I can say, that woman is a targeted missal when she's challenged. She very rarely doesn't get what she wants when she drops the sweet and innocent act and lets out her fiery side. A side I can't say doesn't just turn me the hell on."
"Mom!"
"What? You're the one who likes to tease me about my sex life."
"Yeah, before I saw the woman as another parent, I haven't made a single crack about your sex life since the day I started calling her Ma."
"Oh, and what was it you said just the other night? Oh yes, keep the noise level down cause some of us don't need to be plagued with nightmares from your ecstasy induced screams. Is that not a crack at my sex life?"
"Touché mother. You win."
"As always my darling daughter." Olivia cooed. "Now, could you point me in the direction of your brother? I'd like to speak with him before I go up to check on Natalia."
"Last I spoke with him he was headed to the gym to work off some steam. I'd be careful approaching him, he was pissed that you wouldn't let him go with you. Says he has a right to tell that old man exactly where he can shove it."
"He need not worry, I told the old man for him, and I have a special job for him. Something I'm sure he'll enjoy just as much if not more than laying into Mr. Rivera with mere words."
The predatory smile on her mother's lips gave Ava pause. "What are you planning?"
"Nothing you need to worry that beautiful head of yours about."
"Mom." Ava chided.
Olivia stood and walked around the desk, kissing her daughter on the cheek. "Don't worry my darling daughter, it's nothing as shady as calling in a hit, just, something to make Mr. Rivera truly understand who he's messing with."
"Please don't do anything stupid mom. Ma would never forgive you if you did something the old Olivia would do."
"I know, and I promise it's nothing like what you are thinking so you can stop worrying. What you can do, is go on up to my suit and make sure your ma and aunt don't need anything before I get up there."
Ava sighed as she stood from her seat. "Fine, but if you get in trouble with ma you're on your own."
"Of course, now scoot, and don't pound them with questions. They have enough going on in their heads."
"I won't, I promise. Love you mom." She kissed her mother's cheek and headed for the door.
"I love you too." Olivia hollered after her, making her way down to the hotel gym in search of her son. Once standing at the door, she watched as Rafe did several reps on the power tower. Lowering himself into perfect dips before pushing himself back up. She silently signaled to the rest of the room to leave them and shut the door as the last guest walked out. Walking over, she stood beside him and waited for him to notice her.
Rafe did four more dips before his eyes opened and he started as he took in the sight of his mom. Dropping from the machine, he pulled out his ear buds and wiped his brow with a rag before taking a swig from his water bottle and finally facing the women who stood against the wall, arms crossed, waiting for him to break the uneasy silence.
"What do you want?" He asked, making it clear that he was still upset with her for not allowing him to accompany her to see his grandfather and instead making him deal with unhappy guest after the shouting that took place in the lobby.
"It's nice to see you too bub. I'd ask if you're feeling better, but your attitude speaks for itself."
Embarrassed, he dropped his chin to his chest and looked at the ground. "I know. I'm sorry mom, it's just, I was the reason he kicked her out, I'm the reason she had to work so hard for so many years, I just, I felt like I had the right to say something to him just as much as she did and you treated me like I didn't. Made me go make nice with hotel guest as if what happened to Ma had nothing to do with me."
Olivia walked over and placed a hand on his sweaty back. "I didn't mean to make you feel that way son. I know you have every bit a right to be angry with him as your ma does. I didn't not allow you to come because I didn't feel you belonged there, or that you didn't have the right to be upset with him. I did it because Natalia needed to do this, for herself. To be honest, I didn't say a whole lot to him. Your ma and Isabel did most of the talking. I was more there as moral support. Bub, I know you've worked very hard to learn to control your anger, but I just couldn't trust that you wouldn't explode at him and take the chance for your mother to say her piece away from her."
"I know." Rafe admitted dejectedly.
"I know you just wanted to be there for her and protect her, but sometimes we have to let her fight her own battles. And she is more than capable, look at how many fights she won against me."
That drew a chuckle from the young man and most of his anger dispersed. "You're right. I know she needed to do this, I just, I want to make him pay ya know? Even if only with words. I want to put the fear of God into him the way only a Spencer can." He said with a smirk and a wink.
"Oh, believe me, the Spencer fear of god was definitely cast upon him, by more than one Spencer I might add." She smiled at her son. "And, I do have a Spencer job for you, if you're interested. One that will most definitely make the man pay for his crimes." She raised an eyebrow while she waited for his response.
Interest peaked; he raised a brow right back. "What kind of job?"
She gave an evil smile as she explained exactly what she wanted him to do. Excitement grew with every passing word as he listened intently, knowing his mom was right. What she had planned far surpassed simply yelling at the man who caused his mother so much pain and suffering.
When she finished explaining, she brought him into her arms for a tight hug and a kiss to his forehead before she sent him to shower and change and went to check on her wife and sister-in-law. This kiss was for all the luck in the world and her love to travel with him as he set out on his mission to bring his grandfather down a few pegs and hopefully bring a bright smile back to his mother's face.