and their culture, how they achieved their success, the more I understood that going public and trying to compete to keep investors happy was going to kill the values that built their brand. They would almost certainly take off. I’d be surprised if the company wasn’t bought up by a bigger conglomerate within the year. Strong brands with a solid customer base like Sturm’s would get scooped up in a hot second. It would sell big too. Sturm’s was an institution in the fashion world, and acquiring it would be a coup. But then it would no longer be the Sturm’s that I’d gotten to know.
I was trapped, because saying that the IPO would be a success but would destroy the things that make Sturm’s special would mean fucking with Phil’s plan and very likely getting fired from this project on the spot. It might not cost me my job, but it would certainly be a big hit for my upward trajectory with the firm.
“Rocco.” Phil’s sharp voice snapped me out of my thoughts and back to the not-so-pleasant reality that if I wanted that house in the suburbs for Sofia and Blue, I’d have to be this fucker’s errand boy until this project was over.
“I’ll see you Monday; we can talk about how to proceed then.”
He huffed, seemingly unhappy with my lack of enthusiasm for his plan to take money from children, but he walked away, finally leaving me in peace. I almost went back to hide in the backyard until it was a good time to leave when I remembered I’d come to the tent to get a beer.
I knew the stakes of not going along with Phil. I had to get my shit together and do what I’d come here to do. Which was why messing with Julia and thirsting after her was only one more way that I was sabotaging myself.
My father always told me I was my own worst enemy. And I worked hard to prove him wrong. But I was not just fucking myself over on this. I had to stop looking for ways to mess with my and my sister’s future.
I lifted my head and saw the twins spotted me and were waving me over to them. I held my hand up, indicating I would head there once I had a drink.
I got to the front of the line and ordered my beer, still feeling in a funk. I felt caged in by my situation, and unsure of what I wanted. Uncertainty was not a good place for me. The path to perdition had always been when I let my feelings for others cloud my decisions. The first thing I needed to do was quit this thing with Julia. She clearly wasn’t interested, and pursuing it could potentially cost us both dearly.
I walked over to the twins, who were now talking with Caroline, and there was an older woman there with them.
When Caroline saw me, she smiled wide and made space for me to join the conversation.
“Ladies.”
“Rocco, have you met Caroline?”
I dipped my head, smiling back at her, but feeling like my entire body had turned to stone.
“Hello again.”
Her smile was suggestive and flirty, and I wished to God I had the energy to oblige. Because maybe this was what I needed. Something, someone, to get me off this ill-advised obsession.
Thankfully the twins demanded my attention again. “And this young lady is our mother, Consuelo Garcia-Sturm.” I tried to hide my surprise at their mother’s name. I had no idea the twins had Latinx ancestry.
“So nice to meet you, ma’am.” I practically curtsied like a tool. Consuelo had to be in her mid to late seventies, but she looked great. Stupidly, I thought she’d probably get along with Julia’s grandmother.
“Nice to meet you, Rocco. I’ve heard a lot about you. Sounds like that ass-kissing cabrón at least got a consultant that’s not trying to destroy my husband’s legacy to make a buck.”
I sputtered, almost choking on my beer while Mitzy and Muffy did a terrible job of looking scandalized at their very dignified mother cursing out of one of their executives. I cleared my throat looking for a response, but Ms. Consuelo had more to say. “He’s handsome too, niñas.” I did grin at hearing Mitzy and Muffy—two high-powered women in their fifties—being called girls by their mom. “You need to find a way to steal him away from those New Yorkers and keep him here in the South.” I again was at