Your lasagna tastes like rubber covered in cheap ketchup.
“There’s nothing to explain, Ria. You’ve stolen nearly a million dollars out from underneath me, and for what? Is your seven-figure salary not enough for you? Did you not inherit enough money from your father’s estate?”
“I knew this would happen, Jorge. Say no more. I’m hopping on the next flight to Miami so we can straighten out this whole ordeal.”
The sound of Ginger moving around in bed caught my attention until I peeked in and saw that she’d just switched positions.
“There’s no reason for you to come to Miami, Ria. Just know that you and I are done, both personally and professionally!”
“Screw you, Jorge Stein! None of this would be happening if we were married, and you know why? Because all of the accounts would be jointly owned!”
“Have you lost your damn mind? You actually think that I’d want to marry you? Look, I’ve moved on, and you need to as well. I’m going to buy you out of your partnership.” The sound of Ria zipping up a suitcase was all I could hear for a few minutes. “Were you planning on coming here anyway?”
“Of course, darling. You didn’t think you’d get rid of me that quickly, did you? I’ve spent the best years of my life waiting on a proposal, and I intend to get one.”
“You are insane, Ria! I’m buying you out of your partnership, not asking you to be my wife, and that’s final. Or else I’ll go straight to my lawyers.”
“You’re not buying me out of anything, and do you realize how long and drawn out that process would be? And remember that I have just as much leverage in the diamond industry as you, if not more.”
Beads of sweat formed on my forehead as I realized she was right. Of course, she was right. That was probably why she knew she could steal so much money from me too.
“What are you suggesting, Ria?”
She chuckled into the phone. “You know damn well what I’m suggesting, Jorge. I can make it so that no diamond-mine union wants anything to do with you. Maybe I’ll start my own company and offer them three times what you’re paying them right now, or maybe I’ll steal all of your employees out from underneath you.”
Ria needed to be out of my life as soon as possible.
“It’ll only be a waste of your time and money, Ria, because I’m in love with another woman.” I heard her gasp, and only wish I’d seen her look of horror in person.
“You are not, Jorge! You’ve never loved any woman besides me.”
“For the record, I’ve never loved you. And not only am I in love, but we’re getting married next week!”
Ria started tapping her long nails against a hard surface. “I don’t believe you, Jorge. You’re not a guy who will ever get married. Don’t you know that by now? You’re a lifelong bachelor who can’t commit to anyone! And with me, you could have had it all. I would have married you and looked the other way when you fooled around with other women. Better yet, I might have even joined you.”
A year ago, those last words would have given me a massive erection. But all I wanted to do was vomit. I wanted to tell her that I never even enjoyed our sex that much to begin with, and it was only out of convenience that we’d slept together.
“You don’t believe me, huh? Then why am I having a small, private wedding ceremony next week, Ria? Because I’m in love, and it sure as hell isn’t with you!” Once again, she went silent, but I knew she wasn’t crying. Ria didn’t have it in her to cry over a man. “I swear to God, Ria, don’t you dare get on that plane and come to Miami. You and I couldn’t be more over, do you hear me? And I don’t know how, but I’ll be getting all of the money you embezzled back! Perhaps you’ve forgotten that I have the best lawyers in all of Miami!”
Ria hung up, and just as I was about to throw my phone into the living room, Ginger walked into the kitchen.
“Is everything all right? I thought I was dreaming that you were yelling, but I guess it wasn’t a dream.”
I quietly set down the phone and poured her a cup of coffee. Ginger sat across from me, holding her head up with one hand. She was exhausted.
“Well, I’m sorry it woke you up, but I called Ria out on her lies. I told her that I know she’s stolen nearly a million dollars from the company.”
Ginger’s head shot up. “How did she take it?”
“Not well, but that’s to be expected. I’m sure Ria didn’t think I’d find out about the missing money, especially since we had a thing going on.”
Ginger nodded while sipping her coffee. “It’s good that you confronted her, Jorge. You don’t need someone like that working for you. Or, in your case, with you. She was your partner.”
My body tensed as I realized the predicament I had just gotten myself into. When Ria shows up and sees that I’m not getting married, it’ll be harder to get rid of her.
“I offered to buy her out of her partnership, but—”
“What? Why aren’t you letting your lawyers handle this? That’s what you pay them for!”
