Antonia explained about Brett and how he didn’t approve of her career choice.
“He likes coming here, but he doesn’t like his girlfriend working here?” Amber said, stating Brett’s hypocrisy precisely.
“That about sums it up,” Antonia said, not correcting Amber’s mistaken assumption about her relationship with Brett. Partly because she didn’t believe it.
They rode up in the elevator together, Monica asking what Antonia planned to do.
“I think I’ve been fired. I put down my mother’s maiden name on my application so I wouldn’t be associated with the Attracelli family. Its called misrepresentation or something,” Antonia said.
“No one cares what your name is here,” Clara said, disgusted. “All they care about is how you look in the costume.”
Monica laughed, but was in complete agreement.
“I know,” Antonia said. “But they can make that stick. I guess I’m here just to pick up my bag that I left last night and anything else in my locker.”
Georgette came up behind them. “When will we see you again?”
Antonia was close to tears. She had to get out of here or lose it completely. “I’ll call you guys. We’ll have lunch and I’ll fill you in on everything that’s been happening.”
Mike came up behind her and handed her an envelope. “I know its messed up, but here it is. Could you mail back the costume?” he said and walked away quickly.
“What’s that?” Amber asked.
Antonia stared down at the plain white envelope. “I think it’s my final paycheck.”
Instead of standing there feeling sorry for herself, she quickly went to the locker room and cleaned out her locker. There wasn’t much in there except for the items she’d left last night.
She took one last look at the room, then waved goodbye to everyone standing in a sad group by the front of the bar. Antonia left by the back exit.
She started up her motorcycle that was thankfully still parked behind the building where she’d left it last night. Pushing her helmet down onto her head she flew down the road, trying not to think about anything. She kept her face mask down, not wanting to be pulled over twice in one day. Besides, it was now rush hour traffic and the fumes were pretty strong.
She drove over to her apartment, grateful that the elevator had been fixed this afternoon. But none of her keys fit into the lock. Mrs. Winkler came out when she heard Antonia trying to use her keys.
this afternoon. bag you keep.
“Congratulations,” she said, handing her a box of cookies. “I baked these I ran out of sugar, but the men moving your furniture handed me the I know you kept it on hand just for me, don’t you?” she asked, a tear
forming in her eye.
Antonia nodded, holding back the tears as she accepted the box. “Thank you. I’ll miss you,” Antonia said, impulsively hugging the tiny, elderly lady. “Be careful and take care of yourself, Mrs. Winkler.”
Antonia rushed back out the door, stuffing the cookies into her backpack. Changing directions, she sped towards her brother’s house. She was so angry that he’d taken over her life like this she could barely think.
She arrived twenty minutes later and slammed the front door behind her.
Finding her brother in the library, she tried to control her anger. But it was useless. “How could you do this to me?” she demanded.
“Do what?” he said, pouring vermouth into a martini mixer.
“Move me out of my apartment and change the locks, get me fired from my job, and worst of all, help orchestrate a wedding that I don’t want.”
“Did I do this all in one day?” he asked calmly. Too calmly.
“I guess so. I’m not sure when this day started and ended,” she said, putting her hands on her head. “I can’t believe this is happening to me. It cannot be real.”
Sal poured two drinks, picked them both up and handed one to the man standing directly behind Antonia.
“I think I’m the culprit,” Brett said.
Whirling to face him at the first sound of his voice, “Why?” she asked.
“How’s the car?” he asked, hiding his laughter behind his martini glass. “Don’t bring that up again. Not ever!” she said, pointing her finger at him.
Brett just threw back his head and laughed. “Antonia, it’s gratifying that you like your engagement present. I just wish it took you longer than fifteen minutes before your first run in with the police.”
“This isn’t funny. This whole situation is completely outrageous. Everyone is trying to control my life and I’m not going to stand for it. I will not be manipulated in this way,” she said, walking over to the bar and took a beer out of the small refrigerator behind the counter. She didn’t even bother to pour it into a glass after opening it. She just took a long, defiant swallow.
Brett stood up and came to stand in front of her. “In what way?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
“In what way am I not being manipulated? I’ve been terminated from my job, my apartment has been cleaned out and my lease terminated, and everyone is planning a wedding that I haven’t even agreed to,” she said, twirling around, her hair flying out behind her. “How can anyone say that my life is my own?”
Brett raised one, dark eyebrow, “I think you did agree to the wedding. Has it slipped your mind so quickly?” he asked, reminding her of his whispered promise this morning.
Antonia looked at Sal who was just sitting in his chair sipping his martini. Suddenly, he stood up and announced that he had dinner plans. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning, Antonia. Its good to have you home,” he said and walked out of the library. A moment later, she heard the front door open and close.
After a moment of silence, Brett looked at her and smiled, “We’re alone.”
Too afraid of being unchaperoned with him, Antonia pretended to ignore him by turning around and going upstairs. But he followed her. “What’s wrong? Mad about being outsmarted?” he asked, sitting down on her bed as soon as they entered her bedroom.
“I haven’t been outsmarted. Not yet,” she said, digging through a drawer. She finally found what she was looking for. A bathing suit she hadn’t worn in years. “If I have to stay here for a while, I might as well enjoy the small luxuries,” she said, holding up the bathing suit.