By the time I made it to the sunroom, I paused at the threshold, captivated by the breathtaking view. Tall glass panes stretched from floor to ceiling, allowing the golden morning sunlight to flood the space. Tropical greenery swayed just outside, the breeze gentle, peaceful. The table was elegantly set for just two with fresh flowers arranged in crystal vases, silverware polished to a shine that caught my reflection, and plates already artfully arranged with colorful fruit, delicate pastries, and perfectly cooked eggs, all looking pristine and untouched. At the head of the table sat Alejandro, his posture relaxed yet commanding. He held a steaming cup of coffee in one hand, a small smile playing on his lips as he caught my eye.
“Morning,” he greeted, offering a short but genuine smile that momentarily softened the tension in the air.
“Good morning,” I returned, politely.
“Sit, please,” he gestured to the other chair.
I approached slowly, taking my seat across from him as one of the staff members poured my tea and set a plate of fruit, pastries, and eggs that smelled like they came straight from heaven’s kitchen.
“Thank you,” I murmured automatically.
Once she stepped away, the subsequent silence settled heavily around us until Alejandro finally spoke.
“I know last night was… a lot, but I didn’t want to wait any longer to talk to you. Just you and me."
I lifted my head, studying him carefully, trying to figure out the layers beneath his calm exterior, understand our relationship and where I stood with all of that.
“Alright,” I finally replied, leaning back slightly, feeling a mix of anticipation and apprehension. “So talk.”
“Ajori, I had enemies; the kind that don’t just come for me, they come for anything connected to me. And the easiest way to hurt a man like me is through his child.”
I stared at him, my jaw tightening in response to his confession.
“I stayed away to protect you,” he continued, an almost pleading tone in his voice. “I couldn’t risk bringing you into my world… not then, at least.”
My lips pressed into a thin line.
“You don’t get to act like that was noble,” I said, holding my ground. “You still left.”
“I did,” he admitted, taking full accountability, meeting my gaze with a seriousness that felt raw and real, “but I never neglected you in my heart. Every move I made was to keep you safe.” He paused for a heartbeat before adding, “I sent money when you were younger… consistently. More than enough to make sure you and your mother were taken care of.”
I maintained my stoic expression, resisting the urge to show the turmoil inside me.
“But as you got older,” he went on, his voice tinged with remorse, “it became more of a risk. Transfers, patterns, and people started asking questions, so I had to pull back. I promise you, I didn’t disappear out of selfishness. I truly thought Vanessa was in a position to provide. Based on what I sent her, you both should’ve been secured foryears.”
A bitter breath slipped out of me. “Yeah… about that.”
His eyes narrowed slightly. “How is your mother doing these days, anyway?”
I rolled my eyes sharply; my voice laced with sarcasm. “How is she doing? Well, let’s see… she’s out partying half the time, barely home, and I’ve been working two jobs just to make sure the lights stay on.”
His expression hardened at that, a flicker of anger flashing in his eyes.
“So I’ll have you know,” I added, my voice rising with indignation, “your precious safety plan didn’t stop Vanessa from stealing from me.”
His head tilted slightly, surprise etched across his features, a mixture of shock and confusion. “Stealing?”
“Yeah,” I fired back. “She stole the money from my runs. And before you assume I was doing those jobs for just some extra cash to go shopping with or play house, I wasn’t. I needed that money for my brother’s surgery.”
Alejandro straightened just a fraction. “Domino mentioned your brother needing surgery. What exactly is wrong with him?”
My voice trembled, but it didn’t break. “He has a congenital heart defect. He’s been on the donor list for years now. That last run was supposed to be the final stretch of money I needed to get him on a private list… one that could actually save his life.”
My fingers curled slightly against the table.
“She took it and disappeared,” I included. “Now she won’t answer my calls or anything.”
For the first time since I’d met “my father,” his composure cracked… just a little.