Spinning on her heel, she zips back and picks it up. "And this is going to Libby."
"Rosy."
"Got it," she says, already halfway out the door. "Have a great night!"
As soon as she leaves, I pull my compact and lipstick out of my purse, checking to make sure I'm not too shiny, then touching up my lips. I smack them together, check my teeth for errant lipstick, then throw my beauty supplies back into my purse just as the doors slide open, revealing Paz. Today he's dressed in flip-flops, board-shorts, and a fitted white tank top that affords anyone who looks his way the treat of seeing his muscly torso.
Flashing me his gorgeous smile, he says, "Hey, beautiful. Should we do this?"
Yes. Yes, we should.My entire body heats up as I open the top desk drawer and grab the master card key and head for the ballroom. I’m feeling a little self-conscious until he catches up with me, wondering if maybe he was checking me out in this form-fitting skirt (or worse—wasn’t checking me out). Just as we pass the bank of elevators, one of them opens, and Theo Rojas strides out, dressed in yet another boring suit. He sees me and a smile crosses his face before he glances at who I'm walking with. Immediately the smile is replaced with a look of utter contempt, and my curiosity to know what that's all about pops back into my mind.
Nodding at me, he says, "Ms. Cooper, I trust you're having a good day."
"Very," I say a little coldly.
Without bothering to acknowledge Paz, Theo jams his hands into the front pockets of his dress slacks and makes for the exit.
Paz and I continue down the hall, and when we are safely out of Theo's earshot, he says, "Have you had the misfortune of working closely with Rojas?"
"Not too closely, but definitely too much already. I take it you know each other."
"Unfortunately, I know him very well, which is probably surprising to you, based on how he greeted me just now."
"Or didn't greet you." I give him a pointed look, as I hold up the card key. I push the door open and flick on the lights, then lead Paz over to the bar area.
"I grew up with him," he says. The look of astonishment on my face has him adding, "It's more accurate to say grew uparoundhim. My father worked for his father. He was an accountant, and the two of them were good friends. Mr. Rojas Senior invited my family to their beach house on holidays and for any large family gatherings. I spent more time with their family than mine." He moves behind the bar and picks up a full rum bottle, which has been filled with water, flips it high into the air, then deftly catches it.
“Wow!” I plant myself on one of the stools at the bar.
"Wow about what I just did, or wow that I grew up with Rojas?"
“Both. I can't imagine why he would be so rude to you. After having spent time with him, I understand why anyone would want to steer clear ofhim, but seriously, who wouldn't likeyou?"
"Theo, that's who." He lines up eight shot glasses and fills them all without stopping or spilling a drop on the counter. "When I was fifteen, my dad suffered a massive heart attack. He died in Mr. Rojas's office. Mr. Rojas took me under his wing. He even offered to pay for my university education, only he passed away before I graduated high school."
"So Theo refused to honor his dad's wishes?" Anger bubbles up inside me.
"He told me I was mistaken and that his father never intended to help me out that way."
"That’s just awful. What would it have been to him?" I ask.
"Nothing, whereas for me, it would've meant everything." He pauses, then gives me a level look. "You know how mechanics rarely service their own cars?"
"I've heard that before, yes," I say, finding myself leaning towards him.
"Turns out my father, the accountant, didn't bother getting life insurance. Instead of going off to school and becoming a lawyer, which is what I really wanted to do, I had to support my mother and younger sister." He picks up the bottle again, flips it into the air, spins around, then catches it.
"So, that's when you got into tending bar?"
Nodding, he says, "It hasn't been all bad."
Fury builds inside me as I digest his story. Who could be so cruel? "That's only because you've managed to turn it into something really incredible through hard work and determination."
"I always say, whatever you’re going to do in life, be the best at it. Does that sound silly to you? I do know I'm only a bartender."
"That doesn't sound silly to me at all," I say, shaking my head. "It's not like my job would be considered very important by a lot of people, but I agree. There's no sense in doing anything unless you're going to do the best you can and move up in your field. I'm actually being considered for a big promotion."
"Really?" he asks, pouring out the shots of water into the sink and creating a pyramid out of the glasses.
