Chapter 70 Family Feud
THEODORE
Felix barged into my office with no warning at all, interrupting my train of thought. He strode in with a small smile on his lips, and I recognized the look on his face. It was the one he had every time he successfully annoyed me.
"You know, Felix," I began, sitting back in my chair and glaring at him through narrowed eyes, "sometimes, I'm convinced that you just want to catch me with my dick in my hand."
"Whoa, whoa," he laughed, pulling out the chair across from mine. "Take it easy there, cousin. I don't see why you'd have your dick in your hand when you know that's not appropriate workplace behavior."
"You know what else isn't? Invasion of privacy, asshole."
"How the hell am I invading your privacy?" he questioned with a stupid head tilt. "This company belongs to all of us. This office could very well be mine one day."
Anger coursed through me and I shook my head at him. Felix put his hands up, acting all innocent. "What? That's the truth, isn't it? That's why I'm here. You have other things to manage and—"
"I get to decide what I can handle and what I can't," I reminded him. "You're here to help out. You're not here in any capacity as an owner. So, you knock before entering, Felix. I fucking mean it."
Though he was still smiling, I could see rage in his eyes. He hated it when I reminded him of his place here. Yes, Mom wanted him around so we could have someone we could trust in our midst, and for the time being, Felix was the one acting as a sort of executive assistant, but honestly? I was sick of having him around.
I never got along with my cousin and it sure as hell wouldn't happen now that we were adults.
"You're so pressed, Theo," Felix commented. "I don't know what I said to offend you to this extent." He leaned forward. "Maybe you're just irritated because you know I'd run this company better than you ever could."
"Is that what you think?"
"It's what I know."
Usually, I ignored his little bullshit, but today? Oh, I wasn't in the mood. I still had thoughts of Alice swirling in my mind, my balls were blue because I couldn't stand to touch Carmella anymore, and it just wasn't a good day for me. I regretted not saying a word, but at the same time, could I stand crushing her with the truth? I wasn't sure how I managed to walk out of that apartment without making a mistake that would make her hate me even more.
I would just have to trust that my action was the right one.
So, I pointed at the door and gritted out, "You can take that knowledge with you out of here, Felix. Get out!"
Felix's nostrils flared and he rose from the chair as quickly as lightning. I watched him the whole time, not caring that he'd run to my mother with the news.
I'd just about lost my patience with both of them.
He pointed a finger at me and spat, "You're really fucking ungrateful, you know that? I'm here for you. I keep your fucking secrets, and this is how you treat me?"
I tilted my head. It was almost impossible for me to keep my voice down, but I succeeded. "Yeah? And what secrets are those?"
"What if word got around that you and your secretary had an affair?" he retorted. "Are you forgetting about that? The press didn't know that you weren't with Carmella at the time, or that you never valued her the way you should have. What would people think of you then? You broke your own fucking laws. You're a hypocrite!"
My brows shot up because I had no idea where this came from. "Is that what you want to do, Felix? You wanna sabotage me?"
He grinned, but hatred was still written all over his face. "Good thing we're family and I'd never do that to you, eh cousin?"
Before I could even think of a response—honestly I wouldn't have bothered—he turned on his heel and stormed out of my office.
I was just glad that he was gone.
Mom called me ten minutes later. No, it couldn't be. Felix went yapping to her already? I answered the call, but the first thing she asked me was, "Theodore, have you gotten your grandmother a gift yet?"
I rubbed my forehead. "No. Not yet. I'll get one today."
"Don't forget. You know how Francesca is. She gets all offended when people forget about her." Her words were followed by a sigh. It was no secret to anyone that Mom and Granny didn't get along, from the very start. Granny had a lot of respect for her, though, and never spoke a word against her.
It was Mom who was always full of complaints concerning her.
"Yeah, I won't forget."
"Carmella and I did a great job with the party organizer. It'll be a party we won't forget."
I simply nodded. I had no idea why she thought I would care about that. All the parties looked the same. They had the same people. The food was the same. Everyone was dressed the same.
The only thing that would make it stand out was the fact that it would be Granny's birthday, nothing else.
"Who knows," she remarked, and I could hear the smirk in her words. "Maybe one of these days, it'll be a baby shower."
Her words sank to the very pit of my stomach.
"Why not?" she questioned after it became clear that I wasn't going to say anything. "You're getting married soon and Carmella is so excited to start a family with you. Oh, son. There's nothing quite like having a family of your own. You'll understand when the time comes."
"I've gotta go, Mom."
She sighed. She knew me well, but right now, I wasn't in the mood to hide. "You did the right thing by choosing to marry her. In time, you'll realize it."
I clutched the phone in my hand tightly. I was already regretting it, but what other choice did I have?
I couldn't live in a fantasy world forever.
And Alice Rhodes...she was a fantasy, one that I'd only ever be able to revisit in my fucking dreams.