Page 93 of Play for Power (Central Sparks #3)

I smile. With menace and power and everything he has taken from me brimming to the surface.

“I said, we have things to discuss.” I speak each word quietly and deliberately.

Never once blinking. “Why don’t you take a seat, Antonio.

” I take a moment to send Mickey a smile and gesture for him to also have a seat.

I stand straight then, ensuring I have both of their attention, which it seems I do. Although my father is seething and almost bursting at the seams with how hard he is controlling his anger right now.

“I’ve come to let you know that I will not be going ahead with the engagement. Mickey and I will not be getting married and I will not be moving in with him or associating myself with him in any way.”

There.

I said it.

And would you believe I was perfectly civil and diplomatic about it?

My father sighs deeply, his finger and thumb pinching the bridge of his nose as he scrunches his eyes closed, and I wait for the inevitable dismissal.

“Rosita. I do not have the time and patience for your childish games.” He looks up at me and it’s exhaustion that rests within his face.

“If you’re done with the dramatics, we have actual business to attend to.

As I said, we will see you at the party. ”

“You’re not listening?—”

“No, it is you who is not listening.” He grumbles as his hands slap down on his desk, pushing him to stand. The movement is designed to make me back down, but it only infuriates me.

“I can hear just fine, and I’m telling you no.” I don’t blink. I stare right into the depths of his soul, ensuring he finally sees just how serious I am.

“No?” He breathes the word, never once losing eye contact.

“No.”

“Oh Rosita, your dramatics never cease to amaze me.” Mickey’s whiny little voice feels like hearing nails on a chalkboard, but I continue to ignore him and focus on the man in front of me.

“Nothing dramatic about this, actually, and I won’t be at the party.

What I will be doing is publicly denying the news articles about the engagement and confirming that I am romantically involved with someone else.

You don’t seem to have heard me over the years, and I am here to set you both straight.

I will not play your games, I will not play by your rules any longer.

My life is mine and mine alone. I will decide how to live it. I’m done taking orders.”

“These are not orders, Rosita. It is simply your duty.”

“I owe you nothing.” I spit the words back in my father’s face, and it seems he’s done with playing nice as he forms little fists with his hands. I don’t let him see a single second of apprehension.

“After everything I’ve?—”

“Taken away from me? Everything you’ve held over my head my entire life?”

“You have had everything you wanted your entire life.”

“Yeah, except freedom and the power to choose my own path in life.”

“People like us?—”

“See, that is where you’re wrong. There is no ‘people like us.’ There are people like you, and then there is me.

People like you think they own everything and that simply because you have deep pockets you can buy people’s lives.

That you can control everyone and everything around you.

Well, I’m officially your wake-up call, because I’m done letting you control me.

You have nothing I want and I refuse to be belittled and bullied by you any longer.

From here on out every decision, everything I choose to do with my life will be because it is what I want. ”

“You’re being childish. You’re throwing away your legacy.”

A slow, humorless laugh works its way up my throat. “Oh, on the contrary, father. I am throwing away your legacy. It was never mine and never will be. I don’t want any part of your legacy.”

“Rosita, why don’t you just take a moment before you make such rash decisions.” Mickey chooses this moment to spit his stupid words, his loathing of me clear with his dismissive tone.

“For the love of God, my name is Rosie! And none of my decisions are rash, I don’t need to take a moment.”

“This isn’t just about you. You think you’re the only one that has something at stake with this deal.”

“You poor pathetic boy,” I laugh, properly this time at his ridiculous accusation as I give barely a glance from where he now stands from his seat, his hands firmly pressed to his hips, “The only thing I have at stake is sanity and joy, and I stand to lose them both if I continue to play by your rules.”

“Rosit— Rosie, if you do this, if you don’t go ahead with the deal, I lose my father’s company.” Mickey speaks quietly, looking toward the ground, only flicking his attention back to me when he’s done. Nothing but embarrassment written clear across his face.

“What do you mean?”

“My father has promised me a share in his company, a controlling interest, but I have to follow through on the deal. Our two families together can create a really powerful legacy. Can you imagine the life our children could have?—”

“Let me stop you right there.” I raise a hand to pause his monologue.

“You have made the incorrect assumption that I give a damn about you, your father’s company, or this imaginary legacy you seem to think I would willingly be a part of.

You seem to be having trouble understanding me here.

Both of you.” I make a point to look them both in the eyes, “My answer is no. I’m not doing it, and there isn’t a single thing you could say to make me change my mind. ”

“Rosie, you can’t do this to me!” Mickey reaches forward, gripping both my arms and shaking my body until I’m forced to look up at his eyes.

“Get your hands off me!” I pull to dislodge his grip, though it’s no use, so instead, I let go of the restraint I’ve had in the past and stamp my foot, heel first, as hard as I can into the toe of his shoe. If only I actually had my lucky Jimmys on for this .

“Ouch, fuck! You bitch!”

“That’s enough!” My father roars and Mickey hops with a hand on his foot before straightening next to me. His seething burns me where I stand. Smoothing my hands down my arms in the place he had gripped them, I let my attention once again find my father.

“You understand what you’re doing then, Rosita?

” His menacing stare forms into a bone-chilling smile, and for the first time since I walked in here, I lose a little bit of my strength.

And apparently, also my words. I dip my chin, firm and confident, being sure to raise my head again to show him just how sure, how certain, I am about my decisions.

“You walk out that door, and you’re dead to me, to this family. You leave here making your foolish decision to leave everything behind and you will lose it all.”

“What else is there to possibly lose after you’ve already taken everything,” I spit back at him, burying the slight sting I feel at his callous words.

That he could cut me off, like I don’t exist, just like that.

Without a second thought. I cross my arms over my chest, shielding the way my heart races when my father straightens, his shoulders relaxing and his smile turning all the more intimidating.

“The apartment you live rent-free in? The black card and trust fund you use to fund your overly expensive shopping sprees and whatever else you girls waste my money on? You walk out that door and all of it will be gone.” The way he relaxes back into his chair with his head tilted in calculating assessment of me makes my lip curl in disgust.

“You truly think so little of me, that I would give up my life, my freedom, and my dignity for things as materialistic as clothes and a fancy apartment? You truly think so small of me that you don’t think I would have been ready to give that up, that I wouldn’t already have backup plans?”

“And you don’t think I could control and dismantle this little life you think you’re going to build?

” He raises a brow at me. I take a moment, a tiny little breath of fear invading my heart before I blow it out and settle my nerves.

There is no way he could possibly get access and ruin Caleb’s finance, nor take a single thing away from him or any of my friends.

He’s bluffing. A brilliant move, I’ll give him that.

But he’s just trying to manipulate me. Again.

So I smile once more, leaning forward with my hands resting on his desk. I don’t blink, not once, as I finish this once and for all. “Go on then, Antonio. Pull the trigger, I dare you.”

His left eye twitches, the man who never falters, for a split second, let his fear of losing control shine right through, and it gives me all the confidence I need to walk out of here knowing I won’t ever have to face this man in my life again.

“I’ll see myself out then.” I straighten, not dropping my smile.

I give him a beat to say something else, to deliver another empty threat or to try another dramatic way of stopping me, but he doesn’t.

He simply rises from his seat, buttons his suit jacket, and quietly places his hands in his pockets.

His eyes bounce between mine, his face hardened into an unreadable expression. That’s when Mickey explodes.

“You can’t let her do this! Antonio, you will regret this!

My father will stop construction and you’ll never have another one of the Castillo’s casinos in a Garcia building ever again!

” he shouts at my father and me, the two of us remaining locked in a death stare.

I do have to force my lips to stay closed and not laugh at his little tantrum.

I only flinch when Mickey picks up the office chair he’d been seated on and throws it against the wall with a squeal I could have blamed on a six-year-old.