I glance at the calendar on my desk hidden amongst the papers scattered all over. Between back-to-back meetings and on-going projects with deadlines approaching, this Sunday will be the third in a row that I won’t be able to make dinner. I know my mom will understand, but the guilt eats at me as I text my sister back.
I can’t this week. I’m swamped with work. Next week I’ll be there. I promise.
Three dots appear as Lorena types what I’m sure will be a snarky response, though I’m distracted by the voices on the other side of my office door. As soon as I hear my secretary, Grace, say to what I can make out is Ralph, that I’m in my office, I close my personal phone and set it on my desk. Ralph’s voice grows louder as he approaches my office. So does the sound of heels clicking on the marble floor, reminding me that I will be meeting my temporary paralegal, with some connection to the client we’ve been trying to secure.
“You’ll enjoy working for Mr. Ramos,” I hear Ralph say as he does his signature three-tap knock.
“Come in,” I call out, rising from my desk to meet the two of them.
A sultry andfamiliarvoice emerges just as the door swings open. And for some reason beyond my own understanding an abrupt sense of déjà vu has my eyes drifting to the ground instead of forward, where they should be.
Ralph’s throat clears for my attention, but my head remains lowered as my gaze works upward in slow motion, taking in the very set of legs that were wrapped around my neck over a week prior.
This can’t be happening.
I hoped – fantasized even – that our paths would somehow cross again.
But not like this.
Ralph seems increasingly annoyed with me. I can only imagine how foolish I look right now. “Tomás,” he says my name with a reprimanding tone, as if he’s trying to get me to snap out of it. “I want to introduce you to?—”
My heart is beating overtime, causing my pulse to flood my eardrums.
This is the moment I’ve waited for. I finally get to put a name to my mystery woman. Even if the circumstances are less than ideal.
“Sarina…”
Sarina, I recite her name in my head, loving the way it flows off my tongue, even in silence.
“…Tesoro,” he adds, with glee that I can’t match.
Not only is this not how I imagined that I would see her again, but now I’m reminded of my phone conversation with Ralph earlier this morning, and the connections he was hinting at.
“Tesoro,” I repeat just as my stomach drops.
I wish I could share in the clear bliss Ralph has smeared all over his goddamn face, since he’s in scheming mode. But I can’t. This has disaster written all over it.
Ralph swoops in. “Yes, that’s right. Sarina is Michael Tesoro of Tesoro Development Group’s daughter.”
Fuck.
I look away from Ralph, and the moment her ocean eyes meet mine, I can’t help but notice the disappointment glossing over them.
Attempting to maintain some professionalism in these less than ideal circumstances, I do what I do best, push through and ignore the storm surging inside of me, as I offer her my hand.
I don’t know what was going through Ralph’s head when he thought this would be the best way to get Tesoro Development Group as a client, but here we are. And since Ralph is a Vize, and the eldest son to Ralph Vize Sr., the co-founder of the firm, and considering what her and I have done, I’m in no position to say anything, so my opinion on the matter is null and void.
Ralph introduces me, only getting my first name out before she finishes his sentence for him.
“Ramos,” she breathes, breaking our eye contact.
Ralph claps, clueless as can be. “Yes! That’s right.” He points to the nameplate on my desk where she’s staring. “This is one of our Junior Partnerswho works here in the real estate group, Tomás Ramos.”
Our hands flee from each other’s and Ralph steps closer to me, slapping his hand on my shoulder. “Looks like Ms. Tesoro will fit right in here. We hardly ever call anyone by their first name. Ramos, Tesoro. Tesoro, Ramos.”
The more he says our names, the more she looks like she’s seen a damn ghost, and it’s throwing me off.
Ralph lets go of my shoulder and heads to the door. “Unfortunately, Ramos is all business all the time,” he says to Sarina, “so the stoic personality you see is what you’ll always get with him. But don’t worry, I think you’ll handle him just fine. You two have a lot of ground to cover, so I’ll let you get started.” This time he’s talking to me, reminding me the angle he wants me to go with this. “Good luck.” Ralph slams the door, leaving us alone, and the silence that falls over us makes the air feel thick.
