Page 8
“Actually, I know him. And you do, too…”
“Honey?” my mother blurts out, as if she suspects what’s coming next.
“It’s Vadim.”
Complete silence.
“Vadim Arcadi.”
I drop this bombshell before they have the chance to ask too many questions. Four different versions of “What?!” echo around the room, each in a different tone.
“But his name is King!” my sister points out.
“I was as surprised as you all are.”
“That guy became CEO? Of a multinational? He’s… a millionaire?!” my brother cries out, a hint of jealousy in his voice.
“Maybe a billionaire,” my father corrects him, putting down his silverware.
“He didn’t exactly seem like the type. It just goes to show, anything is possible,” my mother says.
“It doesn’t show anything at all!”
Just as I expected, the patriarch loses his temper.
“Alma, be careful with this man. No doubt he has ulterior motives. If he’s hired you after everything that happened between the two of you, it’s for a reason, if you ask me.”
I didn’t ask you, but anyway…
“He didn’t know I was working at the French subsidiary. It’s all a coincidence. No need to get paranoid.”
“I don’t believe a word of it!”
“Calm down, Edward. Your daughter is capable of handling the situation. What are you going to do, Alma?”
“Fall back into his arms, what else?” Lily blurts out, ignoring my death glare.
“If he tries anything, you call me right away!” growls Basile.
“Oh yeah, because you’d really stand a chance against his bodyguards,” my sister quips.
“Stop! I don’t want to talk about it anymore. I should have kept it to myself.”
I stab my fork into the defenseless chicken thigh on my plate, angry at myself for telling them the truth. Nothing has changed. With the exception of Lily, my family never gave Vadim the slightest chance. And just like before, the Lancasters have outdone themselves when it comes to intolerance. Just like before, they are quick to warn me of an imaginary threat. Just like before, they only see the bad in him. Because Vadim doesn’t come from the same background, because he hasn’t always made the right choices, because he risks dragging me down, and because he represents everything we are not.
Back then, I was influenced by their prejudices and their need to control everything. Faced with such immense pressure, I eventually gave in. I chose the side of reason. And by giving up the greatest love of my life, I ended up betraying the guy I loved.
It was my decision, but I still hold them responsible, at least in part. I was nineteen. I should have had more strength of character and followed my heart, instead of letting them separate us. Who knows? If I had resisted, Vadim might still be in my life twelve years later. Not as a vindictive boss clinging to his grudge like a dog with a bone. But as…
Stop!
There’s no point making up movies in my mind. This isn’t the script life’s higher-ups have written for me.
5
Alma
Irony.
