Chapter Four
“Itoldyouwho she was. I don’t understand why you are making such a big deal about this.”
“It’s a big deal because of who she is. Geez, Oscar, I thought at this point in your life you would have learned how important an excellent reputation is for people like us.”
“Ma, I’m not people like you. Whatever strange shit you and Dad do to keep in everyone’s favor isn’t for me.”
“Yes, but what you do reflects on us and your father’s business. You can’t be shacking up with a Corsetti. That’s social suicide.”
Ozzie was pacing the hotel room he had grown to hate over the last seven days. The only good thing going for him right now was that his flight would leave in a couple of hours and he could go back to ignoring his parents for the foreseeable future.
“We wouldn’t even be having a conversation if Monica hadn’t gone through my phone and came running to tell you.”
“Monica has every right to know what her fiancée is up to, Oscar.”
“We are not engaged!”
“That’s only because you haven’t given her the ring yet.”
“I’m not giving her gram’s ring, Ma. We’ve talked about this. I have no desire to marry Monica. She is a truly awful person. Why would you ever want me tied to that woman for the rest of my life?”
“Oscar, marriage isn’t for love. You know that. This is a business deal. Now, your father and Mr. Donaldson decided long ago that the two companies would merge when you and Monica married. Your father is ready for retirement. It’s time for the two of you to move things along and take the reins.”
Ozzie was going to be sick. Conversations like these were the reason he never visited his parents. He couldn’t stand all the talk of obligation and marriage for money. It all made his stomach turn. He loved his mother, but she had been so brainwashed over the years that she was a shell of a human being. It was sad, really. She had no idea how to function without direction from her husband, and she expected him to do the same to his wife one day. That would never happen. He never desired money the way his parents did.
“I’m done with this conversation. The front desk called, and my replacement phone arrived. I’m going down to pick it up, then I’m heading to the airport. My flight leaves in a couple of hours. I’m going to just head there early.”
“Does your father know you aren’t flying back with us on the jet?”
“I don’t care if he knows or not. I’m leaving, so say your goodbyes now.”
He gave his mother a hug and made promises he never intended to keep, like coming by for dinner next week and to call more often. The series of events the week had entailed were enough to drive anyone mad. Add to it his mother’s insistent matchmaking and the she-devil herself showing up, he was over everything. When Monica reached for his phone at breakfast like a small child, then proceed to read his messages aloud to his mother, he felt like they were children again. In the struggle to get it back from her, it smashed to the ground right in the middle of texting Sofia. She probably thought he ghosted her and there was nothing he could do about it until the phone company mailed a replacement to the hotel.
Now, with his phone in hand and his luggage safely stowed away in the trunk of a hired car, he was finally alone and on his way to the airport. He wouldn’t feel like he could take a deep breath until he was home and away from the insanity that was his family.
“It’s done. I have no date for the wedding and now I know there is this perfect man out in the world who will never talk to me again. I blame you.”
“Oh please, you are just being dramatic. I’m sure there is a valid reason you haven’t heard from Mr. Perfect.”
“Like what? Give me one valid reason.”
“Maybe he has the flu and his fingers are broken.”
“Yep, you’re right. I’m sure that’s it. Ten broken fingers and the flu. It has nothing to do with the fact that a woman he met less than a week ago asked him to go to a family wedding in another state. Even saying it allowed makes me sound insane.”
“You’re not insane. If you remember correctly, the entire purpose of the dating service was to find a date for the wedding.”
“Which I still don’t have. A lot of good that did me. What about your cousin, the cute one?”
“Brandon? I don’t think his husband would appreciate you taking him to New York for a wedding.”
“Ugh! How do we not know anyone that could do me a favor and come with me to this thing?”
“Why don’t I just go with you? We can be lesbian lovers. It’s not like this family of yours knows you that well, anyway.”
“Right, and starting off with them by lying is a grand plan. I’m just going to call Micah and tell him I’m not going. I’m sure he’ll understand.”
“You have to go. I’m currently living vicariously through your new, fabulous life.”