Rallenti Page 13

  “I was wrong. To hit him. To scare you,” he brushed her cheek with his thumb. “I’d never hurt you, shoe maker.”

  She smiled up at him. “My interview went well. I think it did. They said they would let me know by the end of the day. If I get the job we should go out and celebrate.”

  Renaldo’s hand fell away from her face. “I can not.”

  “Okay, then when?”

  “My boss will arrive tonight. I wanted to apologize. And say goodbye,” he said.

  “Goodbye? Why are you saying goodbye?” Kyra took a step toward him. “You’ve got another week here, at least.”

  “It doesn’t matter. If I stay a week or a day, I will have to go. And you… you and I won’t see each other.”

  The truth burned in the pit of her stomach. Yes, it was a temporary fling. But it hadn’t even begun. He was pulling back too soon. “So that’s why you didn’t bother to come last night? Call me back? You figured you had your fun so no need to bother.”

  “No.” Renaldo said. “I was ashamed of my temper. I couldn’t face you.”

  “Whatever. You’re dumping me, plain and simple. Trust me I know what this is, I’ve been the girl to love them and leave them. Guess what comes around goes around.”

  “Kyra…”

  “Well it was nice knowing you, Renaldo.” She walked around him toward the door. There she paused. She looked back. “You’re more than a soldier for those people you know. You’re a father, a man with feelings. You should try harder to be both.”

  Renaldo gave her a nod.

  She gave him a sad smile and walked out. To her dismay goodbye really hurt. She’d never met a man who made her head spin and body pulse with need like Renaldo. Kyra sat down at her desk and pulled her chair in. She put her head in her hand and tried to collect herself. Until she heard someone give a slow clap.

  Kyra looked up.

  Mr. Tate stood before her and clapped his hands once more. “Well played. So you get the interview through the Battaglia Neanderthal? I saw you two go in the conference room.”

  “Mr. Tate… I can explain.”

  “No need. After all, look at them,” he nodded to those in the hall hurrying about. “Scurrying like rats on a sinking ship.” His eyes flashed angry and his face turned red hot. He glared back at Kyra. “I hope you get the job, Kyra, because today is your last day. Clean out your desk this afternoon and don’t come back.” He turned and marched off. Her gaze shifted and she saw Renaldo had been witness to her dismissal. She couldn’t look at him. She couldn’t face anyone. Kyra leapt from her seat and hurried off to the bathroom. She rushed into the first stall and closed the door. Alone she burst into tears. She silently prayed. If this didn’t work out then she had little faith that any of her foolish dreams ever would.

  ***

  “Kyra?”

  Glancing up at the sound of her name she looked into the eyes of Marietta Battaglia. She smiled. “Yes?”

  “Come with me please,” Marietta said.

  She waited to be summoned all day. It was close to three in the afternoon. Besides the brief twenty-minute lunch she ate alone in the break room Kyra remained at her desk. The longer time took to progress the deeper her agony. Her stomach kept doing belly flops. Now Marietta Battaglia wanted to deliver the news.

  Kyra pushed back from her desk and followed the woman down the hall. Catalina sat at the same conference table shuffling through a stack of papers. She looked up and smiled. That had to be a good sign.

  “Have a seat, Kyra,” Catalina said.

  Kyra did as she was told. Marietta closed the door. She walked down to the other end of the conference table and retrieved Kyra’s portfolio case. She brought it to Kyra and placed the zipped leather bag on top of the table in front of her. She then stepped back and stared at Kyra.

  “First we want to tell you that we respect your talent. We spoke to Mirabella and she too was impressed to hear what you’ve accomplished,” Catalina said.

  Kyra smiled. Mirabella was her idol. A fierce fashion designer whose clothes were worn by the most famous people in the world.

  “Thank you,” Kyra gushed.

  “Truthfully I have considered starting a shoe line for Fabiana’s. Have you heard of it?”

  “Yes. It’s the new fashion house under House of Mirabella’s. In Milan?”

  “Right,” Marietta chimed in. Kyra looked up into the face of Mirabella’s sister. She was mostly a silent observer during her interview and even now she didn’t look as pleased as Catalina was with her. “But that project is at least two years away. Right now we are focusing on getting Carole Montague out of the company.”

  “Marietta!” Catalina admonished.

  “Oh? Okay,” Kyra frowned.

  “Kyra,” Catalina said with a smile. “We can’t accept your application at this time. I’m sorry, sweetheart. But I will keep your file and maybe when we move forward with Fabiana’s we will consider you again.”

  The news speared her. Rejection was the last thing she expected to hear. “But… you said Mirabella was impressed.”

  “Oh she is. We all are. But we have only a few slots for Paris and no openings in Milan. I will make sure you get a compensation package.”

  “I’m a temporary employee, I can’t get a package.” Kyra said, her eyes welling with tears. The women looked at her unimpressed by the emotional response. Kyra blinked away her tears.

  “I’m going to have to be honest here,” Marietta began.

  “Marietta, stop!” Catalina said.

  Kyra looked into Marietta’s eyes wondering what could’ve changed their minds. “I saw you the other night at Renaldo’s suite. Didn’t I?”

  “I…” Kyra swallowed. “Yes.”

  “I knew it. And you had him come and ask for the interview. You think sleeping with him is what got you through the door, kid? Well it wasn’t. It was your talent. I liked your shoes from the first time I saw them. I think you’re talented. If you had relied on your talent instead of seducing our bodyguard we might have considered it,” Marietta said. “I told my sister to pass on your shoe line. I’m teaching you a lesson here, Kyra. One I wished I had learned when I was your age. Come see us in a few years.”

  The news crushed Kyra. She could try to explain away her actions but it would only make her sound more pathetic. There was no point in discussing it further. She had hit another dead end in life. It was time to accept it. “Thank you both for your time,” she mumbled. She grabbed her portfolio jacket and walked out of the room. By the time she reached her desk was she was in full tears. Bette walked up behind her as Kyra collected her things.

  “I take it things didn’t go well? Or are those tears of joy?”

  “Go to hell, Bette!” Kyra fired off on her. “You talk about all these principles and how I should have some. When you could give a damn about them yourself when it comes to your career.”

  Bette glared at her. “I hear Tate fired you, I think that’s for the best too.”

  Kyra gave a snort of disgust. “What you think stopped mattering to me when I saw your resume in the reject pile next to mine.”

  Bette blanched. Kyra had no idea if Bette would keep her job, but it felt good deflating her balloon of superiority. Kyra snatched her jacket and the small box with her pictures and her little cactus she kept on her desk. She stormed around the desk and marched out. She wouldn’t let them see her cry. Anymore.

  ***

  Renaldo opened the door for Dominic Battaglia. His boss exited the back of the vehicle. As soon as he closed it he looked up into Kyra’s eyes as she left the building in tears. She carried her things in her arms. Conflicted by the sight of her distress he froze. Kyra would not hold his stare. She looked away.

  “Kyra?” Renaldo said. She hurried on the sidewalk to keep him from saying anything. Renaldo wanted to run after her, but he glanced back to his boss who waited at the door with his men staring curiously. Renaldo had no choice but to follow the men in.

  Quic
k and assuredly he fell in line with Dominic and walked toward the elevator. “Who was she?” Dominic asked with dry disinterest.

  “A… friend. She had an interview with the ladies today. To save her job,” he replied.

  He could feel Dominic’s eyes on him as they stepped on to the elevator. The men were regulated to waiting for them in the lobby. The elevator climbed the floors and they rode it in silence. Renaldo never brought personal issues to work. Never asked a favor from any of the Battaglias. Not that they didn’t treat him as family, but because he was keen on propriety. However, Kyra’s tears were a game changer. Last night he had to fight against his own nature to succumb and return to see her. Her reaction to his behavior had hurt and sobered him. She was a sweet kid, a beautiful woman, and she didn’t deserve a bastard like him.

  The elevator stopped. The doors opened. Renaldo stepped out ahead of Dominic and held the glass door to Mirabella’s open for his boss. Dominic entered. He wore a dark trench coat over his broad shoulders and a critical scowl creased his brow. Catalina was the first to greet him.

  She walked over and kissed him. “How was your flight?”

  Dominic nodded. “Where is Tate?”

  “In his office. I think,” Catalina glanced back to Renaldo and then again to Dominic. “What is it? Why did you insist on coming? We were going to be done by the end of the week.”

  “Plans change. I expect you both to be ready to leave tomorrow morning.” Dominic replied. The shock on Catalina’s face matched Renaldo’s. He had no idea they would leave so soon.

  “Renaldo, tell Teddy that Dominic and I want to meet with him,” Catalina said.

  He nodded. Renaldo clenched his fist. Earlier he witnessed Tate fire Kyra. Whatever lie in store for the scumbag he deserved it. The boss hadn’t forgotten the lies from Theodore Tate and his connection with the Mancinis, a rival crime family. He’d gladly administer justice. Renaldo opened the door without knocking. He caught Tate snorting a line of cocaine up through a straw into his nose off a mirrored plate. Tate sat back and rubbed the powder traces from his nose.

  “Dominic would like a meeting.”

  “Dominic? He’s here?” Tate asked as he picked up the plate and put it in the drawer of his desk. He stood up rubbing his red and inflamed nose. Renaldo seethed silently. His jaw was so rigid and tight he feared his teeth would crack inside of his mouth. He glared at the man before him.

  Tate fixed his tie and held his head up high as he passed out of the door Renaldo held for him. He walked a few paces behind Tate and followed him inside the conference room where Dominic, Catalina, and Marietta waited. Renaldo was the only one not invited to the meeting who stayed. He closed the door and stood by it, observing the scene.

  “Dominic! Good to see you!” Tate walked around and extended his hand. Dominic stared at him. Tate lowered his hand. He then glanced to the women who stared up at him. “I wish I had known you were coming. I could have arranged a car, made dinner plans.”

  “Have a seat,” Dominic replied.

  Tate pulled back his chair. He flopped down in the seat. And again he fidgeted with wiping at his nose.

  “Catalina tells me you didn’t take the news well that we will be closing the New York company. Is that true?” Dominic asked.

  “Ah, well. I had hoped that I could speak with Mirabella. Her connection to America, her vision was to keep things based here. It’s not just New York. We have factories in Virginia. People will lose their jobs.”

  “You’re fired,” Dominic said.

  Tate doubled back. He blinked as if he misunderstood.

  Dominic narrowed his eyes on the stammering man. “Your contract will be paid. Legal will be in contact with you about any additional negotiations. Effective immediately you are to leave these premises.”

  “You can’t fire me! Did Mirabella agree to this? Does she know?” Tate asked. “I want to speak with her.”

  Dominic gave Renaldo a look. He stepped forward and put a hand on Tate’s shoulder. The man fell silent. He glanced back into Renaldo’s eyes. “Please, I have given my life to this company. I’ve been here from the ground up. At the very least can I speak to Mirabella?”

  The answering silence was all Renaldo needed. He grabbed Tate’s arm and forced him to walk to the door. He had to resist the urge to throw him out on his ass. He shoved him a little abruptly and Tate stumbled. The man shot him a glare and marched down the hall in a huff. A few of the staff members walked out of their offices to watch their boss storm out of their lives. Renaldo would have gone after Tate to ensure decorum but his heart and mind was on Kyra. He walked back into the conference room.

  Catalina explained the list before Dominic while Marietta removed more documents for his review.

  “Scusi,” Renaldo spoke and cleared his throat.

  The three went silent and looked up at him. Renaldo rarely spoke unless spoken to. “About Kyra Okeeno’s interview. Did she get the job?”

  Marietta smiled. “You like her huh? Well that was her downfall, playboy.”

  Renaldo didn’t find the humor in her reply. Dominic’s disapproval was evident in his scowl. His boss didn’t appreciate any moonlighting when the job of guarding the Battaglia women was to be his top enforcer’s priority.

  “Who is this Kyra?” Dominic asked. “The one who left here in tears?”

  “Tears?” Catalina said. “Awww, that’s terrible. We shouldn’t have discouraged her. Marietta you were too hard on her.” Catalina touched Dominic’s hand. “The girl makes shoes. She wanted a job in Paris. Marietta was upset that she seduced Renaldo to gain an interview instead of coming to us.” Catalina smiled at Renaldo. “I’m sorry about it. But no she didn’t get the job. Marietta talked to Mirabella and she said no.”

  Renaldo nodded respectfully.

  Dominic dismissed the matter and lowered his gaze to the documents. Renaldo cleared his throat. “I wanted to know. To ask. If it would be okay if I took the rest of the evening off?”

  “Off? What does that mean?” Dominic’s critical gaze lifted and leveled on him. “To do what?”

  “To chase after his girlfriend,” Marietta snickered. “She was just using you, Renaldo. Trust me. I know girls like her. I was a girl like her.”

  “No. She wasn’t using me. I want to make sure she is okay and say goodbye,” Renaldo clarified.

  Dominic looked over to Catalina and then to Marietta. His gaze eventually swung back to Renaldo. “After we conclude business today, and I take the ladies to dinner. You can have the rest of the evening, to say your goodbye.”

  Disappointed but respectful Renaldo nodded and left the conference room. He wasn’t sure how long that would take. He dreaded the wait. With no other choice he resigned himself to his fate.

  ***

  “Here, sweetie pie, stop your tears,” Jamie brought over a box of tissues. Kyra couldn’t help the flow. She cried all the way home on the train. Kyra accepted the tissues and blew her nose while trying to compose herself. She was upstairs in Jamie’s apartment. She had little choice or options left to her now.

  “We’ll figure something out. I’ve already asked some of the girls down at the beauty shop if they want to make orders. We go old school and sell the shoes ourselves. Get it off the ground our way.”

  “No,” Kyra said. She wiped at her tears. “It’s over. I’ll call my mother tomorrow. I give up. I can’t do this anymore,” she sat upright.

  “You talking, crazy girl. You plan to crawl back to your family on bended knee. You’re twenty-three not twelve. Take your licks. Dust yourself off.”

  “Take my licks!” Kyra stood. “What have I been doing these past six months? Working as a receptionist, peddling shoes down the street to anyone who would buy a pair. Eating out of your kitchen until payday. And sleeping with…” Kyra sighed. She couldn’t think of Renaldo. All of it combined made her sick with self-loathing. Marietta was right. She used Renaldo, just like she used Cezar. This was on her.

  “Did you s
ee him? Talk to him about yesterday?”

  “He’s over it. Trust me. He told me it was fun while it lasted but he was done. Funny, I tossed Cezar aside and didn’t care about his feelings. Now I can’t stop wondering why Renaldo didn’t care enough about mine. I thought I was in control. Breaking rules. Doing things the Kyra way. I’ve been a fool. I should go back to school and focus.”

  Jamie shook her head. “You’re a fool if you give up on a dream after only six months. Nothing in this life comes easy, Kyra. We all have to pay a price. I’ve paid them. Your parents paid them. What price are you willing to pay?”

  Kyra sighed. “I want to be alone. I love you, Jamie, but I don’t want to talk anymore.”

  Her friend walked over and gave her a tight hug. “Sleep on it, sweetie. Then decide.”

  “Okay. Will do.”

  ***

  Renaldo found a parking spot on the street. The temperature had dropped to the point of frost covering his windows. Even with the heat on full blast the crystals continued to form. He turned off the engine and checked his watch. It was after ten. Arriving at her place at this late hour was very presumptuous on his part.

  He opened the door and slipped out into the night. Out of his mouth plumes of his breath blew. He hunkered down and hurried up the snow and ice covered sidewalk with his gloved hands shoved deep in his pockets. On the front step Renaldo scanned the names listed. Kyra’s was on the third row. He hit the button and heard the intercom buzz.

  He glanced around. The street was quiet. There was no one outside but him.

  He pushed the button again.

  “Who is it?” a soft voice answered.

  Renaldo cleared his throat and spoke into the intercom. “Cara, it’s me. Renaldo. I must see you,” he said.

  Silence.

  Renaldo waited. He hoped. The silence troubled him. What if she wanted nothing to do with him? What if he never got a chance to explain himself? All these questions and fears drained his courage.

  “Why?” she asked. “Why now?”

  “I… I want to apologize.”