I stood there for a long time after he left and watched the restaurant through the window. Greg came out with a box of his things, his face still purple with rage.
He looked at me like I’d ruined his life. Right. Because I was the one who grabbed people and screamed about theft over trash-bound food.
I just lost my restaurant job because of him too, but sure, shoot me that death glare. Because I’m obviously the villain here.
CHAPTER 5
Hector
I watchedSarah disappear down the street, her shoulders rigid with anger, and told myself I didn’t care.
I’d only come to Aurelio’s for a quick takeout order. Something for Lily since she’d barely touched dinner. The odds of running into Sarah at her second job should have been astronomical. Manhattan had thousands of restaurants. But there she was, and there was her boss—and I’d stepped in before my brain could stop me.
I ran my hand through my hair and turned back toward the restaurant. Through the window, I could see the manager who had gotten his hands on her emerging with a box of his belongings, face still mottled with rage. The staff clustered near the bar, whispering and pointing. By morning, this would be the story everyone told. The night Hector Valdez bought a restaurant because a waitress gave away leftovers. I was still furious, recalling the way he’d violently yanked her.
I’d been sitting in the corner booth for five minutes before the incident, waiting for my order and trying not to notice Sarah talking to that woman. But I noticed anyway.
She’d been a wreck during Lily’s session this morning—distracted, unfocused, making mistakes she didn’t usually make.
I should have fired her then. I would have fired anyone else.
But Lily had smiled when Sarah walked in. So I’d said nothing and watched from my office, noting every error and telling myself tomorrow I’d address it.
Then I’d seen her here, looking even worse. Her problems weren’t my concern. Until that manager grabbed her arm. Until I’d watched him drag her across the dining room like she was property.
And I’d moved.
Bought the restaurant, fired the manager, extracted Sarah from the situation. It was the practical solution. The logical one. Sarah was Lily’s therapist. I couldn’t have her traumatized or unemployed or spiraling into whatever crisis was making her hands shake.
That’s what I told myself as I watched her disappear into the night.
For a moment, the memory of her looking at me like I’d done something good lingered—right before I’d made it clear I only cared about Lily.
My phone buzzed. Robert, confirming the restaurant purchase had been finalized.
I headed home, the penthouse quiet when I arrived. Mrs. Pearson met me in the entryway, already in her robe, clearly awake despite the late hour.
“She’s asleep,” she said before I could ask.
“Thank you.”
She studied me with a warm look. After fifteen years of employment, I considered her family. Joana had too, before her death.
“Long night?”
“You could say that.”
Her eyebrows rose slightly but she said nothing. Just nodded and headed toward her quarters.
I made my way to Lily’s room, pushing open the door as quietly as possible. She was curled on her side, arms wrapped around the stuffed elephant Joana had given her for her fifth birthday. Her dark hair spread across the pillow, face peaceful in sleep the way it never was while awake.
She looked exactly like her mother.
The resemblance was getting stronger as she grew older. Same delicate features, same spray of freckles across her nose, same stubborn chin. Sometimes I caught her in profile and forgot how to breathe, because for a second I saw Joana instead.
I sat on the edge of her bed, careful not to wake her. Reached out and brushed hair from her forehead.
“Daddy loves you,” I whispered. I knew she couldn’t hear me. I said it anyway because the words felt stuck in my throat during the day when she was awake and watching me with those careful eyes.
