He chuckles, the sound vibrating through his chest. "First time doing anything like that?"
"Yeah." I turn in his arms to face him. His hair is messed up, there's stubble covering his jaw, and his eyes are still heavy with sleep. He's never looked more handsome. "Was it... was I okay?"
His expression grows serious. "Vi, you were incredible. More than okay. You were perfect."
Heat spreads through me at his words, but it's quickly replaced by anxiety as my phone buzzes on the nightstand. I lean over Santiago to check it, and my stomach drops when I see the time.
"Shit, I'm supposed to be at work in two hours," I mutter, sitting up and immediately missing the warmth of his body.
"You're not going in today," Santiago says firmly.
I look at him, kind of surprised. "What? I can't just not show up. I have responsibilities, projects that need?—"
"Violet." His voice has that commanding tone that makes my stomach flutter, but I push down the reaction. This is about my job, my life.
"I know you're trying to protect me, but I can't just disappear from work indefinitely. I have a career, Santiago. One I've workedreallyhard for."
He sits up, running a hand through his hair. "Look at your face, baby. You think you can walk into that office looking like that without everyone asking questions?"
I get up and walk to his bathroom mirror, really looking at myself for the first time since yesterday. The bruise has darkened overnight, a sickly purple-yellow that makeup can only do so much to cover. The swelling has gone down, but it's still obvious that someone hit me.
My throat tightens as I imagine walking into Season like this. The stares, the whispers that would start when I enter a room. Jessie's concerned questions. And God, if Victorio saw me like this...
"I can't go in looking like this," I mumble to myself.
He appears behind me in the mirror, his hands settling on my shoulders. "So don't."
"But what do I tell them? I can't just say I'm sick. What if this takes weeks to heal completely? What if Derek... what if he escalates and I can't go back for even longer?"
The thought of Derek showing up at my workplace makes my blood run cold. He knows where I work. What if he decides to confront me there? What if he hurts my coworkers?
"Baby, breathe," Santiago says, noticing how freaked out I am. "We're going to handle Derek. But right now, you need to take care of yourself first."
I lean back against him, drawing strength from his presence. "I've worked so hard to build my reputation at Season. I don't want them to see me as... as a victim. As someone who gets hit by her boyfriend. That's not who I am there."
"That's not who you are anywhere," Santiago says fiercely. "What Derek did to you doesn't define you."
"I know that," I say, turning in his arms. "But other people don't always see it that way. They see a woman with a black eye and they make assumptions. They pity you, or worse, they blame you. They wonder what you did to deserve it."
Santiago's jaw tightens. "Anyone who thinks that way isn't worth your time."
"Maybe not, but these are people I work with every day. And Victorio..." I trail off, not ready to explain that particular complication.
"What about your boss?"
I shake my head. "Nothing. Just... he's very image-conscious. The whole company is. We represent a lifestyle brand, and showing up looking like I've been in a fight doesn't exactly fit that image."
It's a partial truth. The reality is more complicated—that Victorio might be my father, that I've been planning to tell himon my birthday next week, that seeing me bruised and battered might completely change how that conversation goes.
Santiago studies my face, and I wonder if he can see through my deflections.. "Okay. So you call in. Say you have a family emergency or something. Buy yourself a few days to let the worst of the bruising fade."
"A few days might not be enough."
"Then we'll figure it out. One day at a time." He cups my face gently, thumb tracing my uninjured cheek. "Right now, you need to focus on healing. Physically and emotionally."
I nod, knowing he's right but still feeling anxious about it. "I should call soon. Before my boss gets in."
"Good idea. I'll make coffee while you handle that."
