Eliana
My hand trembles as I hold my cell phone to my ear. There’s a moment I think I’ll lose my breath before I press end the call. I sit on my bed, and I feel my eyes tear up. I take a deep breath, then open my email and look at the message they’d sent me. I had to call and hear it from the horse’s mouth. I fling myself on the bed and shriek into a pillow.
I got it. I got the job.
I was officially assistant to Petra Bailey, one of the senior publicists at CJJ. I flip onto my back, close my eyes and let my mind come to terms with it. What seemed near impossible for someone like me with very little experience has happened. I am so glad I decided to take the internship at Compass.
The pay is more than decent, sufficient for me to get an apartment in the city without having to ask my father for money.
I sit up, excitement dissipating into irritation. My father.
“I’m going to tell him,” I resolve out loud to myself. “Tonight,” I continue with conviction. Standing, I turn and look at my image in the full-length mirror, my hands fisted at my side. I am not dumb enough to believe this is going to be easy. Nothing ever is when it comes to my family.
I once tried to explain to him that the family business is not something I want to be a part of. That my brother will soon be old enough to fill my father’s shoes. Zev is not just ready for it. He wants it.
My father refused to acknowledge it, completely shutting me down. My parents like to treat me like I’m their sole heir because Zev is a product of one of my father’s scandalous affairs. My brother is hardly acknowledged as part of the family, except by me.
I can’t stop the squeal that falls from my lips anyway.
I want to call Zev right away, but I figure I’ll keep it a surprise until later. If there is one person who is constantly rooting for me, it’s him.
* * *
I wear a conservative navy-blue dress to dinner. It’s far too formal, but it feels appropriate. I even iron my wavy brown hair the way my mother likes. Scoring points with the ice queen won’t hurt.
“Good evening, Father. Mother,” I say as I take my seat.
“It’s good of you to join us early, Eliana,” my mother says, barely glancing my way. The fact that she doesn’t say anything else is an indication that she approves. She has always tried to mold me into a mini version of herself, so my rebellion has always been a hard pill for her to swallow.
“Eliana. You look beautiful,” my father tells me with a small smile. His eyes which are usually cold and aloof look at me appraisingly. He sits at the head of the table, every bit the tycoon he is, commanding the attention of the room. I notice for the first time how much he’s aged over the years, gray peeking through his ebony hair. I barely see him, so it’s no surprise.
“Thank you, Father,” I reply, taking a seat to his left.
Sergio, one of the two waiters in my family’s employ, offers me a bowl with warm water and lemon to wash my hands in. I hate this, the pretentious way we live our lives. This family has always lacked warmth in our interactions, every dinner feeling like a business meeting. Sergio smiles at me, and I roll my eyes but comply all the same.
“Will Zev be joining us tonight?” I ask. I don’t miss the clench of my mother’s jaw or the way my father sighs in annoyance. As if saying the name of his own son is a crime.
“He-” my father starts.
“Familia,” my brother interrupts as he takes the seat across me, offering me a wink. I grin back at him. He’s every bit as handsome as my father, the same gray eyes and jet-black hair, but completely opposite in nature. Zev is laidback where my father is unyielding. He’s funny and kind and doesn’t let the family dynamics change who he is.
“Good of you to finally join us,” my mother remarks stiffly. “I was starting to think you’d never make it, what with your nightly escapades.” I know she’s lying, just trying to be a bitch toward him, making my father think he’s some reckless party animal. I’m probably far worse than Zev. He’s always been the quiet, broody sort, not easily influenced or willing to lose sleep after a binge drinking spree.
He doesn’t bother responding, but by the way his jaw stiffens, I know he’s mad. He doesn’t respond to my mother’s accusations because he’s used to them. I sometimes wonder why he tolerates her at all. He knows he isn’t welcome, but still he’s here. Despite the things my mother tries to convince my father about Zev, he’s nothing like what she portrays him to be. If anyone cared, they’d know he’s an honor roll student, but I’m the only family member who bothers asking him about his studies. And when Zev graduates, I know I’ll be the only one there to cheer him on.
“Hello, Father,” he greets cordially.
My father looks over at him. “Zev.”
We try not to snicker at the expression on my mother’s face. Zev and I have always been close, despite my mother trying to keep us apart since we were kids. I love my brother, and I know that he is more than capable of taking over my father’s business, even more so than me.
During the soup course, I decide there is no time like the present. I look around the table then clear my throat.
My father looks up at me, hard eyes almost looking through me. “I’d like to share some news with you all.”
Zev quirks a brow.
“Go on, Eliana.” My father’s voice is gruff, almost annoyed. He wants me to get to the point without any sugar coating.
