There’s a moment of unease and then he speaks again.
“To all three of you.”
I exhale slowly through my nose.
“Victoria,” he says, turning toward her, “I’d like you to handle the funding and investing bit.”
She blinks, processing it.
She wasn’t expecting it and neither were we.
His gaze shifts to my brother. “Elias as usual, you’ll continue to monitor construction and marketing.”
Then finally, Tom looks at me.
“Dominic, you’d have the option to step in and help on either side if you ever decide to leave your current career. But since you’re doing well where you are, I’ll make sure you’re listed as a shareholder for now.”
I sit there as all of the information processes.
Not the offer. That part’s easy.
I’ll stay where I am for now since I was just promoted to director of the local mental institution.
What’s harder is keeping my focus where it’s supposed to be.
Because it keeps drifting back to her.
I drag my gaze back to Tom and give a small nod. “Yeah,” I reply. “I’ll think about it.”
But even as I say it, my attention slips again.
Right back to Victoria.
She turns her body to face Tom’s, trying her best to avoid catching my eyes.
“Well, I think it’s a wonderful opportunity,” Mom says, filling the silence. “All of you working together, building something as a family.”
Elias clears his throat beside me. “It’s something that will definitely take some getting used to.”
The serverapproaches with a tray of water glasses, setting them down carefully before asking if we’d like to order drinks. Everyone requests something; margaritas for Mom, Cora and her wife Irene, beer for Tom and Elias, and a glass of white wine for Victoria.
“Two shots of tequila for me,” I say when the server turns my way.
Victoria’s eyebrow raises slightly at this, her first acknowledgment of my presence since sitting down.
“It’s not a party without Dom.” She says with a light laugh.
The conversation shifts to small talk as we wait for our drinks. I lean back in my chair, creating space between Elias and myself. The tension between us is subtle but there, like static electricity.
“How’s the mental health center doing, Dom?” Victoria’s mom, Cora, asks, leaning forward with genuine interest. “Are you enjoying your new position?”
“It’s challenging,” I reply, choosing my words carefully. “But rewarding. We’ve implemented some new programsthat are showing promising results.”
“That’s wonderful,” she beams.
Our drinks arrive, and Tom raises his glass. “To the most supportive family a guy could be blessed with.”
Everyone lifts their glasses, the clink of them meeting creates a brief moment of unity before we all retreat back into ourselves.
