Broken Pieces (Riverdale #2) (34 page)

“So how long has this been going on?” Nick asked, and he kept his eyes on Erica. The bitch would have to look at him eventually. She flew across the country and disrupted his life for what? To get ahead with his father, that didn’t seem right, all she had to do was spread her legs for him.

“This doesn’t change anything.” His father said.

“Oh, it changes everything.” Nick said and didn’t divert his gaze from Erica. Slowly she lifted her head and looked him in the eye.

“I’m sorry.” She murmured and he took a quick step towards her, holding her gaze before she looked away again.

“What’re you sorry for?” He asked. “Because I could care less who you fuck Erica, even if it is my old man.” His icy gaze transfixed on her. “The only thing you should be sorry for is showing up at my apartment.” He laughed in her face. “I’m an asshole for actually feeling sorry for a woman like you.”

“He made me go to New York!” She said as she pointed an accusing finger towards Mr. Foti.

He cleared his throat and cut her down with a stare. “That’s enough from you.”

“Like fuck it is!” She spat back at him. “Tell your son the truth!”
      

Nick looked back and forth between the two of them, not sure what to make of their interaction with one another.  He was quickly realizing he didn’t care.

“I’m warning you Erica.” Mr. Foti barked through gritted teeth.

She snarled at him and turned towards Nick. “The investors won’t back your father. They specifically requested you on this deal. You were a bargaining chip. If you’re not part of the deal, they walk. They want you to oversee everything which ultimately means if those papers are signed, you are bound to this project. Whether you agree or not the minute that deal is signed you are legally tied to seeing it through.”

“Don’t listen to her, she’s nothing and she knows nothing. Good for only one thing.”

Erica grabbed her pocketbook and turned back to Nick. “I’m sorry I mislead you.”

Nick didn’t give much time to process her words. He grabbed her arm as she brushed passed him to leave. She looked at him, her eyes full of unshed tears.

“You don’t even seem like you like him. Why’d you do it?” He asked her.

She tilted her head and studied him for a moment. “I’m not a good person.” She said honestly. “I’m the girl who bailed on her best friend and then slept with the love of her life. I’m the girl that does twisted things, just to get ahead.” She said as she pointed a thumb towards his father. “Exhibit A.” She sighed and leaned into Nick, her lips just a breath away from his ear. “Take him for all he’s worth, he’s a miserable prick.” She whispered and then patted his arm before she headed out the door.

She was halfway out the door when Nick’s father hurled a decanter of scotch towards the door. She laughed in her wake, when she heard him curse and the glass shatter against the wall.

“I could strangle you for bringing that two-bit whore into this office.” Mr. Foti growled towards his son.

Nick looked at his father disbelievingly. The whole situation was mind boggling. “Ten minutes ago, it looked as if you were thanking your lucky stars I brought Erica into this office.”

“Everything she said is a lie.” He countered.

“I highly doubt that.” Nick said as he crossed his arms against his chest. “You’re the only one who has proven time and time again that you can’t be trusted. Did you really think you could blindside me into working here again?” Anger boiled in Nick’s veins as he realized the severity of the situation. Had he not walked in on his father and Erica, he would’ve brought his father down to that boardroom and they would’ve signed the deal and in the process Nick’s life would’ve been signed away too. “You think you can play God with my life.” Nick said as he clenched his fists at his sides, wanting nothing more than for his fist to collide with his father’s smug face.

“I think you’re acting rather dramatically, just like your mother always overreacting playing the victim.” He rolled his eyes and then focused on his son. “You make it sound like I’m selling your soul to the devil.”

“You almost did!” Nick shouted. “I don’t want your life. I don’t want to be bound to you by any means! I have a life.”

“Selling cars in the middle of nowhere is a life?! You’re acting ridiculous. If this is about a woman, snap the fuck out of it. There is plenty of pussy to go around.”

“Right, this coming from the man who was just fucking his son’s leftovers.” Nick shook his head in disgust. “I don’t give a damn what you think of me or my choices. I may not be rolling in the dough, but I’m happy. I live a comfortable life and I have a woman back home that I’m crazy about.” He thought about his words and they didn’t seem sufficient enough. “A woman I love.” He amended. “Riverdale may not have been enough for you. And maybe my mother and I weren’t enough to keep you there, but that was your choice, and this is mine.” He watched his father roll his eyes again as if what he had just said was the most absurd thing he had ever heard. Nick pitied his father. The man would likely live the rest of his life alone, and when he died, he’d die alone as well.

Nick turned around and silently headed out of his father’s office.

“Where are you going, boy? You have a deal to close!” Nick heard his father roar but he kept walking. He didn’t look back as he walked towards the elevators. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. He stared down at it while he waited for the doors to open. He debated with himself whether or not he should call Sam. He wanted to and not because he wanted to tell her what had gone down, but because of what he had realized. He wanted her to know how much he loved her. He ran his free hand over his head and when the elevator doors opened, he slid the phone back into his pocket.

He stepped into the elevator, turning around just as the doors were closing, catching a glimpse of his father running towards the elevator. God, he thought as the doors closed, he had almost ruined everything. The worse part of it all was that he wouldn’t have known until it was too late. He loathed his father for the lengths he would go to for the all mighty dollar. He would sacrifice his own son. It shouldn’t bother him, he told himself. He shouldn’t even be surprised by his father’s tactics. He was a cruel self-absorbed man.

His mind traveled then to his mother, and how distraught she was when his father had left them. He had done her a favor, he would’ve stripped her of everything and she would’ve never been able to find herself again. He had lost his mother throughout the most important years of his life because his father was a selfish greedy bastard.

He made his way to the boardroom and silence filtered the room when he entered. His confident presence diminished and he stood before the men wounded and defeated.

One of the gentlemen pushed back in his chair and stood. “We’ve reached a decision.” He said with the slightest hint of pleasure shining through his eyes.

Nick lifted his gaze and looked at the man for a moment before nodding. He worked the knot of his tie until it hung loosely around his neck. He caught the curious stares, but chose to ignore them. He removed his suit jacket and pulled his dress shirt out of his pants before he rolled up his sleeves to his elbows. He spread his arms wide when he was done, knowing very well his appearance looked a bit disheveled. He looked at the men that gathered around the large table.

“Now that I have your attention, let me introduce myself. I am Nick Foti. I own an auto repair shop in upstate New York, with my best friend. I restore classic cars and the ones I don’t keep I sell. This…” He pointed around the room. “Is not me.” He cocked his head to the side as he saw the men scrutinize him. “I may be good at it, I am pretty sure when I stepped back into this room you were all eager to sign on that dotted line, hanging on my every word. What I didn’t know was that I was part of the deal. I will not be on board with this project if that is the pretense in which you sign, and then I advise you not to sign these papers.”

Nick Foti Senior stormed into the boardroom, breathing heavy and clutching his chest, eyes wide with rage. “Don’t pay any attention to my son. He is rebelling.” He straightened his suit and properly poised himself so that his appearance looked precise. “I assure you all that everything that Nick has proposed will happen.”

“Maybe, but it will happen without me.” Nick added and turned back to face the men. “Don’t let him assure you of anything. His word is as good as dirt.”

“You will not demean me and my name in my own office.” Mr. Foti shouted, emphasizing his words with his pointer finger.

Nick laughed. “No problem. I have a plane to catch.” Nick tipped his head towards the boardroom in a silent salute to the men that respected him as a business associate
and headed towards the door. He didn’t spare another glance towards his father, the bastard wasn’t worth it. When he stepped outside of the room, he felt free, much like he had when he boarded the plane back to Riverdale over a year ago. He couldn’t wait to get back home.  He couldn’t wait to get Sam back into his arms.
 

Chapter Twenty One

Nick had felt exhausted by the time the taxi pulled up to Rudy’s the following day. It had taken nearly twenty-four hours for him to travel home from Seattle. The direct flights to New York were booked solid, so the only way for him to get home sooner than he had originally expected was to first fly to Chicago. In Chicago he had a layover and didn’t board the plane to New York for another five hours. He didn’t bother calling Sam, even though he wanted to hear her voice. He just wanted to surprise her more.

He paid the cab driver as the man placed his suitcase on the curb. He thanked him and turned around to walk towards his apartment. He planned to drop off his suitcase and grab something he had been holding onto before he headed straight to his girl. He’d shower at her place, he just needed to see her. He scratched at the day’s growth that outlined his jaw as he searched his pockets for his keys. Once he found them, he grabbed the suitcase and started for the stairs, taking them two at a time. Suddenly he was graced with a second wind, a newfound energy. He pushed open the door, dropping
his suitcase to the floor.  He kicked the door closed and traveled into the bedroom to grab a change of clothes. He was still in his suit and couldn’t wait to peel it off. He considered burning the damn thing, but he might need it for special
occasions, so he talked himself out of that.

He threw some clean, comfortable clothes in a duffel bag before he reached for the lock box he kept on the shelf in his closet. He walked towards his bed, setting the
box down beside him.  He took a deep breath and ran his hands over his hair. The entire flight or should he say two flights home, he thought of a half a dozen ways to execute his question. Nothing seemed good enough and he cursed himself. He sighed as he opened the metal lid and lifted the small velvet box, holding it in the palm of his hand.

The day his mother dropped this in his palm, he had thought she was crazy, yet still he took the ring that had been his grandmothers and brought it to a jeweler. Maybe his subconscious drove him to the jeweler maybe that had been the reason he reset the ring to suit Samantha. He snapped the velvet box open and stared at the flawless diamond that sparkled beautifully in the halo setting that it was now set in. There were diamonds wrapped around the solitaire diamond that was now raised. The band also had a row of diamonds that wrapped around the entire thing. His lips curved slightly as he pictured the ring on her finger. He snapped it shut and placed the box safely in the inside pocket of his suit jacket.

The knock on the door startled him from his thoughts. He grabbed the duffel bag off his bed and walked out of the bedroom to answer the door. He couldn’t imagine who it was because no one knew he was back. He pulled open the door, surprised to find his mother on the opposite side.

“Mom.” He said shocked and watched as her gaze traveled to his suitcase that still sat beside the door.

“I hope you don’t mind. I took a chance.” She paused and nodded towards the luggage. “Are you going somewhere?”

Nick stood there dumbfounded for a moment. He hadn’t seen or heard from his mother since she came to the garage that day. Watching her stand there, looking as if she was hoping he wouldn’t kick her out, had caused him to suddenly feel guilty. He felt guilty because here she was reaching out to him again when he never bothered once to reach out to her. He looked at the suitcase and shook his head before he stepped aside and opened the door wider, welcoming his mother into his home.

“I actually just got back from Seattle.” He offered as she stepped inside.

Lucille turned around and raised an eyebrow at the mention of where he had been.

He smiled slightly. “Dad tried to blindside me into closing a deal that would legally bind me to his firm for quite some time.” He shoved his hands into his pockets and shrugged his shoulders, trying to make light of the fact his father double crossed him. He lifted his gaze to his mother’s familiar eyes. “I’m sorry.”

“What are you sorry for, son?” She asked hoarsely and wondered if he was about to share the news with her. The news she came here prepared to beg to be a part of, if only he would agree she thought hopefully.

“I’m sorry you ever shed one tear over that man.” He said simply yet sincerely.

Her eyes widened for a moment in shock. “I’m sorry too.” She said once she regained her bearings. “I’m sorry I let him enable me, I was young and foolish.” She sighed heavily and then tilted her head to study the man before her.