The question was in her gaze, so strong, so powerful, so in tune with what he was thinking that he wondered if it were even possible.
And, of course,thatwas when the universe decided to answer.
Maria’s phone vibrated in her purse, the sound on silent. She wanted to ignore it. Unwilling to break the moment between them. It was so precious, these glimpses of what things could be like between them. Almost like when they had been younger, but better somehow. More mature.
But the phone didn’t stop ringing, so she checked the screen and her heart thudded painfully in her chest.
Papa.
He never called. Which was why she knew, instinctively, whatever he was calling about couldn’t be good.
She smiled up at Micha.
‘Excuse me for a moment?’
‘Of course,’ he said, as she stood up and made her way towards the bathroom she knew Micha had believed had been her intended destination.
Out of sight from the table, she pulled the phone from her bag and answered.
‘What do you want?’ she asked without preamble.
‘You need to come back,’ her father commanded.
‘Why?’ she asked, instead of sayingNo. It’s my honeymoon, I don’t want—
‘We’re calling a no-confidence vote against Rufina.’
‘What?’ she asked, her world seesawing, as her mind scrabbled to keep up. ‘We’ being the family, theboard. Any one of whom could call such a vote.
They were trying to oust Micha.
‘Tomorrow. Be there. And if you vote withus, when he’s gone we’ll vote you in.’
The buzzing in her ears wasn’t enough to drown out what her father was saying.
‘He’s my husband, Papa.’
‘He’s a trumped-up street thug who got my daughter pregnant and will ruin this company.’
‘But we got Peterson on board,’ she tried to explain.
‘The paperwork hasn’t been filed yet. That’s why the vote is tomorrow.’
‘Papa, this isn’t right.’
‘It doesn’t have to be right. The company should be run by a Gallo. That Rufina is at the helm is unacceptable.’
‘But I am?’ she asked. ‘Acceptable?’
‘You’re better thanhim,’ her father spat. ‘So, get back here for then, and cast your vote with us and we’ll put you in as CEO.’
Maria clenched her jaw.
‘It’s everything you ever wanted,’ her father dangled. ‘Gallo Group will be yours.’
Maria stared unseeing at the cafe wall for long after the call ended.
What should she do? She had to tell him about the vote, but…
