Chapter 10: Stephanie's POV (Tues., Sept. 6th)
When we arrive home, we try to keep things as much to our routine as possible. I can tell that Julie is upset about what happened today in school. It is also clear that she's not ready to talk about it yet. I know that Carlos is biting at the bit to discuss it, but I was able to let him know at the office that it wasn't a good time to do so. When he told me that he wanted to try to talk while I gave Tommy his bath, I informed him that it was a good idea. Hopefully, by then, she'll be ready to share her feelings.
I can tell that something is bothering Carlos. He's hiding it pretty well, but I can see it in his eyes. Since we've been in Miami, I've gotten better at reading Carlos, even when he has his blank face on. I find it hard to believe that I used to say I couldn't determine what he was thinking. I guess this is what happens when you decide to let someone else fully into your life. As soon as we get the kitchen cleaned up, I know it's time to give Carlos and Julie their alone time.
"Come on, Tommy. How about a bubble bath?"
"I get a bubble bath on a school night? Yay! Let's go, Steph." Tommy goes bounding up the stairs, grateful for this school night treat. I give Carlos a reassuring nod before following Tommy upstairs.
"What pajamas do you want to wear tonight?"
"Can I wear my red Thomas ones?"
"Yes, that's fine. Do you want me to get them out for you?"
"No, I got it."
While Tommy retrieves his pajamas, I grab the overnight from the box. Tommy started wetting the bed at night about a week after moving here. I was concerned at first, but Dr. Karen told me that he might be having some nightmares in his sleep that he is not consciously aware of when he wakes up. She said it's not unusual for that to happen. So, to be safe, Tommy's been wearing pull-ups to bed. He's gotten better, but I'd rather not chance it. Nothing is worse than changing and washing sheets in the middle of the night.
I start running the water in the bath, ensuring the temperature is perfect. I add the bubble bath mix and a few of Tommy's bath toys. A few moments later, Tommy takes off his clothes in the bathroom. I help him get in the tub, then watch as he plays.
"Is Julie crazy?"
"What?" I was confused by the question that Tommy asked me out of the blue.
"Is Julie crazy? One of the boys in my class said that she was crazy and a bad person. He said that he not allowed to be my friend. Is he right?"
I sigh. In some cases, it seems like Miami is just like the Burg. "No, Tommy, Julie is not crazy. She is a wonderful young lady who had something horrible happen to her like you did."
"Then why are they saying that? I don't like it when they talk mean about Julie. I love Julie. She my sister."
"Sometimes, people talk about others because they are jealous or feel better when they make someone else feel bad. There is no one reason why people are mean. In your classmate's case, he might just be repeating what he heard his parents say."
"Oh. It's okay, because I no like Bryan anyway. I'm ready to get out. The water is getting cold."
I drain the tub, then turn on the shower. Tommy rinses off before I take him out of the bath. I dry him off and help him dress for bed before I brush his teeth. Once those tasks are completed, Tommy runs downstairs to say goodnight to Carlos and Julie. Three minutes later, he's back in his room.
"What do you want me to read?"
"The messy book."
I go to his bookshelf and take out "Edward Gets Messy." It's a cute book about a pig who dislikes getting messy. I read it to Tommy before tucking him into bed with his Thomas the Train doll. I kissed him goodnight, turned on his lights and music, and left his room.
I hear Julie moving around in her room. I pause in her doorway. She looks better than she did earlier, so her talk with Carlos went well. "Julie, do you need help with anything?"
"No, Steph, I'm good. Thank you for telling Papi to wait to talk to me. It was easier talking about it now than it was earlier."
"No problem. I understand how difficult things must be for you right now. No matter how terrific you are, there will always be those waiting in the wings to take you down. Don't let them destroy your self-esteem and confidence. You are an intelligent, caring, loving, kind, and beautiful young lady. Remember that."
"Thank you. Good night, Steph." I kiss Julie on her forehead and hug her. I leave her room, knowing she'll sleep in a little while. I head downstairs, ready to have some banana bread that Maggie made for us.
When I entered the kitchen, I saw Carlos talking to Lester, with Hector periodically adding pieces of information. I feel a pit in my stomach, knowing that whatever they discuss will be problematic. When I reach the table, all the talking ceases.
"Babe, we need to talk to you. You need to be aware of an issue that came up today, sooner rather than later."
"Let's head to the office to discuss it. Let me just get a piece of banana bread first. I can't take any more bad news without dessert."
"Babe."
"It's made from bananas; bananas are a fruit. It is a fruit bread. Give me a break."
I see Lester and Hector trying to hold back a laugh while Carlos tips up the corners of his lips in an attempt to smile. I cut a generous slice, offering a piece to Hector and Lester, who declined. I spread the cream cheese icing on the bread before placing it in the microwave for fifteen seconds. When it's ready, I carry my plate to the office, with the guys following behind me. I sit on one of the oversized chairs with my left leg under me. I start eating while Hector's doing something on the computer. I watch as the large television screen turns on, and I see an image of the inside of Marco's office. Shit.
"Babe, when we went to Julie's school today, Marco held an impromptu meeting in his office. The subject of that meeting was you. Hector planted a few bugs in his office, so we have video and audio. Let me know if you want me to stop the video at any point."
I nod my head. Then Hector presses play. Marco's voice fills the room, getting increasingly nauseous as the meeting continues. When the video is over, I'm on the verge of tears.
"Beautiful, are you okay?"
"I am in shock. I can't believe that Marco would want to do that to me. What did I ever do to him? Why does he hate me so much? I don't understand how the other guys could go along with his vial plan."
"I'm sorry, Babe. I never expected Marco to be like this. I thought he shared our core values and beliefs. We were wrong."
I sigh. "So, now what?"
"Now, we wait, Babe."
"We wait?"
"Yes. We wait. I don't want you to meet with anyone on your own. Hector will set up video and audio in your office so we'll know if anyone tries to corner you. We will also install a panic button on your desk. We will monitor the players and try to set them up. I don't think we should move too quickly, though. Some of them will get fired before they can enact the plan."
"I understand the desire to control the situation, to force Marco to move when we're ready, but what happens if a real emergency takes you all out of the building?" I ask, trying to keep the fear out of my voice.
"It's simple, Babe, you'll come with us, or one of us will stay with you. We can always send you out on another errand somewhere safe. I mean, in all honesty, there is no reason for Lester and me to go to any alarm together. Hector would be likelier to go, as his area of expertise is electronics."
I feel better knowing that none of these men sitting with me would allow anything to happen to me. I also am resolved to step up my training, especially my hand-to-hand. Maybe Hector will be willing to show me how to use a knife.
"Beautiful, it is even more important for you to increase your self-defense training. I know you despise guns, but would you be open to learning how to use a knife? It's messier, and you need to be closer to your assailant, but it is not necessarily as lethal as a gun."
"I was thinking about asking Hector to show me a few moves. Over the last couple of weeks, I realized that many of my debacle bounty hunting was caused by my refusal to train. If I had known some of these self-defense moves, if I maybe was more willing and able to use a gun, I might have avoided getting thrown off that bridge or getting kidnapped by Stiva. I don't want to continue to make those same mistakes. I want to be a stronger person, for myself and also as a positive role model to Julie. I'm embarrassed that she is much more proficient in the martial arts than I am."
"Proud of you, Babe."
"Estefania, I look forward to showing you some skills."
"You need to start running again. Cardio is just as important. Running will help you build a better tolerance to work in high-adrenaline situations. You won't get so winded, and you can outlast most opponents. It will also give you a better chance at running away to safety."
"I did feel better when I was running with you. We need to figure out how to add that into the morning routine now that we need to get Julie and Tommy off to school."
"Do we know why Marco is adamant about going after Steph?"
"From what Slick has told me, Marco hates working with women. He also thinks he knows what is best for the company, and he thinks that since we are based in Trenton, we don't know what the clients need here in Miami. Only Marco knows what is best."
"Can we trust Slick?" Hector asks.
"Yes. I read Slick's evaluations and personnel file. He initially received rave reviews, with full support from Marco and Philip. Then, Slick started to push the idea of hiring women to help in the sales departments. Marco outright refused. Then, as Marco started instituting his new rules, Slick pushed back. Marco has begun to give Slick negative evaluations. He has enough in his file now that the next one will warrant him to be on probation." Carlos responds.
"This is seriously fucked-up, Carlos. How did we miss the signs?"
"There's so much going on in Trenton, especially with the FA side, that none of us pay much attention to the day-to-day running of Boston or Miami. We look at the overall numbers, and based on how much each branch is making, we either sign off or visit them. I have been getting concerned about the less-than-stellar profit margin here, and even if I wasn't here for Julie, I had planned on taking a trip here this fall to see what was going on. Julie just made that visit more urgent."
"Do you think we need to look more closely at Boston?"
"I don't think it would hurt, but I doubt it's necessary. I think Marco is the only weasel."
Hector says, "I think it's time to discover Marco's secrets."
"Hector, I'll help you go through the data."
"Gracias, Estefania."
"What do you want us to do regarding the bond for Fernando Consuelo? I doubt the FA team will follow our plan, especially since we want to wait for him." Les asks.
"We presented it and let them burn themselves. I will be on-site to ensure the team follows protocol, and anyone who doesn't will answer me. If Steph thinks that's our best chance at taking him in, I'm all for it."
Switching gears, I ask Carlos, "What will we do about Rita? I doubt that we've heard the last of her."
"Sadly, I agree with you. Hector, can you get some trackers on her car? Also, if we could get some ears in her personal spaces, that would be great."
"Si, I can. I'll take care of it tomorrow. Do you want eyes, too?"
"Only if you can make it unobtrusive."
"Got it, jefe."
With that, Lester and Hector retreat to their rooms. Carlos and I ensure the kitchen is tidy, then head upstairs. Carlos assures me the alarm is set while I check on Tommy and Julie. I run into our room, beginning to undress, when I feel two strong arms wrap around my waist.
"I'm sorry, Babe."
"For what?"
"For you not being safe in my building. I never thought that any of my men would try to hurt you."
"Carlos, it's okay. There was no way to know that Marco is fucked up. I didn't pick up on any bad vibes. He's good at hiding his ulterior motives. I'm glad that Hector was able to get this recording. At least we can plan."
"I don't understand why he'd think I would sell him my interest in Miami. While I would be willing to sell Boston down the line, Trenton and Miami will always be under my control."
"Why's that?"
"My family is in Miami and Jersey. It's a way to protect them when I can't be near them. We chose Miami for our first location for Julie and Abuela. Then, it became even more essential as my siblings moved down here, either permanently or part-time. Boston was opened second, simply because there was too great a need in the market, and there was an established company for sale. It was a good investment; we could open a second location without building from scratch. The company had a stellar reputation, but the owner was an older gentleman. His kids moved away from Boston. His daughter recently purchased a large home in North Carolina and wanted her parents to live with her. They decided to move. So, I swooped in to buy the business. We added to their services and made a profit after only six months of taking over.
"Atlanta and Trenton were opened simultaneously. Tank and I set up Trenton while Lester and Bobby opened Atlanta. Atlanta was also a takeover, so we didn't need long to get it up and running. Once Lester, Bobby, and Max, the former SIC in Miami, were set, Lester and Bobby came up to New Jersey. I was getting ready to head back to Miami when we met. When I stayed in Jersey, Marco started to believe that Miami would be his and his only someday."
"Still, Carlos, that's no reason for running the company into the ground. He'd have a better chance of you selling to him if he were to keep up your standards or improve upon them. Unless he figured that by becoming less profitable, you'd sell to him for a lesser amount than the company is worth."
"That's it. That's his mindset. With the number of clients currently serviced in Miami, the valuation of this branch is down. We sold Atlanta for two million. He's hoping to buy Miami for less. Proud of you, Babe."
I smile, glad that I can see something that Ranger, no Carlos, can't, that I can help him in some way. While talking, we moved to the balcony, where I sat in Carlos's lap on the lounge. I tilt my head so I can kiss Carlos. Our kiss is gentle and loving. No other man had ever made me feel so valued or worthy. I rest my head on Carlos's shoulder, looking at the ocean waves crashing against the shore. Carlos is rubbing small circles on my arm. Between both sensations, I'm lulled into a restful slumber.
