AR - No deal

“No deal,” you tell him. “That’s my girlfriend. We haven’t been together that long, but I’m not starting a relationship with lies. And this thing, whatever you’re doing, it’s gross,” you add, getting out of the car.

As soon as you’re back in the Lodge and out of the rain, you have your phone in your hand. You call Adella, unsure where she is. She picks up right away.

“Yes, Darling?”

You are so uncomfortable. You go back to the window and look out into the rain.

“So,” you say, unsure how to proceed. “What does your dad look like?”

“He’s here? What did he say to you?”

“I think he tried to… hire me? But it was very weird,” you say.

Adella doesn’t reply. That worries you.

“Baby?”

She sighs heavily.

“He wanted me to not say anything to you. And to do stuff, I guess,” you say. It sounds even worse when you say it like that. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to lie to you.”

“You have done the right thing,” Adella assures you. “Where are you?”

“At the Lodge.”

“How long ago did you speak to him?”

“Just now.”

She’s quiet again.

“What’s wrong? Did I mess up?”

“No,” Adella says quickly. “You did not. I’m sorry. You should never have been in that position. I should have expected it.”

“It sounds like he has some kind of business here with FUTA,” you say.

“I’m sure that he does,” Adella replies bitterly. “Riley, I should go. Whatever happens, I care about you. And you did the right thing.”

You don’t like the sound of that. You’re going to ask more questions, but she’s hung up.

Great. Now you’re a ball of anxiety. Adella is obviously expecting trouble. Salazar did promise consequences if you did this. But what can he do? Adella doesn’t need his money when she has a job right here with FUTA. Like… you aren’t super rich or anything, but you will make almost as much money for this summer doing FUTA as your Mom makes in a year. So it’s not like Adella is in financial trouble or anything, even if her dad is being a jerk.

So what’s the problem?