They can’t take it from you.
I am not a cowering little girl. And it was about time my father learned that.
With some barely restrained rage, I land two hands on the stack of papers my father is busy perusing and swipe them from the table. I watch in delight as my father’s face slowly turns red, his eyes finding mine and locking in with enough intensity, I’d usually cower. But not anymore.
I smile. With menace and power and everything he has taken from me brimming to the surface. “I said, we have things to discuss.” I speak each word quietly and deliberately. Never once blinking. “Why don’t you take a seat, Antonio.” I take a moment to send Mickey a smile and gesture for him to also have a seat.
I stand straight then, ensuring I have both of their attention, which it seems I do. Although my father is seething and almost bursting at the seams with how hard he is controlling his anger right now.
“I’ve come to let you know that I will not be going ahead with the engagement. Mickey and I will not be getting married and I will not be moving in with him or associating myself with him in any way.”
There.
I said it.
And would you believe I was perfectly civil and diplomatic about it?
My father sighs deeply, his finger and thumb pinching the bridge of his nose as he scrunches his eyes closed, and I wait for the inevitable dismissal. “Rosita. I do not have the time and patience for your childish games.” He looks up at me and it’s exhaustion that rests within his face. “If you’re done with the dramatics, we have actual business to attend to. As I said, we will see you at the party.”
“You’re not listening?—”
“No, it is you who is not listening.” He grumbles as his hands slap down on his desk, pushing him to stand. The movement is designed to make me back down, but it only infuriates me.
“I can hear just fine, and I’m telling you no.” I don’t blink. I stare right into the depths of his soul, ensuring he finally sees just how serious I am.
“No?” He breathes the word, never once losing eye contact.
“No.”
“Oh Rosita, your dramatics never cease to amaze me.” Mickey’s whiny little voice feels like hearing nails on a chalkboard, but I continue to ignore him and focus on the man in front of me.
“Nothing dramatic about this, actually, and I won’t be at the party. What I will be doing is publicly denying the news articles about the engagement and confirming that I am romantically involved with someone else. You don’t seem to have heard me over the years, and I am here to set you both straight. I will notplay your games, I will not play by your rules any longer. My life is mine and mine alone. I will decide how to live it. I’m done taking orders.”
“These are not orders, Rosita. It is simply your duty.”
“I owe you nothing.” I spit the words back in my father’s face, and it seems he’s done with playing nice as he forms little fists with his hands. I don’t let him see a single second of apprehension.
“After everything I’ve?—”
“Taken away from me? Everything you’ve held over my head my entire life?”
“You have had everything you wanted your entire life.”
“Yeah, except freedom and the power to choose my own path in life.”
“People like us?—”
“See, that is where you’re wrong. There is no ‘people like us.’ There are people like you, and then there is me. People like you think they own everything and that simply because you have deep pockets you can buy people’s lives. That you can control everyone and everything around you. Well, I’m officially your wake-up call, because I’m done letting you control me. You have nothing I want and I refuse to be belittled and bullied by you any longer. From here on out every decision, everything I choose to do with my life will be because it is what I want.”
“You’re being childish. You’re throwing away your legacy.”
A slow, humorless laugh works its way up my throat. “Oh, on the contrary, father. I am throwing awayyourlegacy. It was never mine and never will be. I don’t want any part ofyourlegacy.”
“Rosita, why don’t you just take a moment before you make such rash decisions.” Mickey chooses this moment to spit his stupid words, his loathing of me clear with his dismissive tone.
“For the love of God, my name is Rosie! And none of my decisions are rash, I don’t need to take a moment.”
“This isn’t just about you. You think you’re the only one that has something at stake with this deal.”
