She didn’t respond.
I glanced over at her again. “Stay, Carmen. Stay in Italy. With me. Just for a while.”
She met my gaze. Her lips parted, like she was about to protest, but nothing came out.
I slowed to a stop at a light. Turned to face her completely.
“I’m not asking forever,” I lied. “I’m just asking for right now.”
She sighed. “I’ll think about it.”
You’ll see.
FirstDayofWork.
Day Seventeen.
I dropped my purse on the reception desk, and it landed with a sharp thud that turned heads.
The receptionist looked up, startled. Her expression quickly shifted into that stiff, polite annoyance reserved for unhinged people.
I smiled brightly.
“Hi,” I said, chipper. “How are ya?”
She straightened slightly in her chair. “Carmen. I’m fine. How can I help you today?”
“Oh, you know. Just thought I’d stop by and say hey! I heard about you and your boss’s wild night last Thanksgiving.” I tilted my head. “So exciting.”
Her mouth twitched. “Well. Nothing happened, so no need to concern yourself.”
I leaned closer, still smiling. “Right. Well. Unfortunately for you, I have taken concern. Not about your night together. I know Theo wouldn’t touch you with a dead man’s dick, but what did concern me was how I was going to maintain my job after I go to jail for beating the fuck out of you if you ever try that shit again.”
Her lips parted, some excuse forming, but I held up a finger and continued.
“Hit and run was the best option I could come up with. Quick, painful, with any luck, you’d wake up with no memories of what happened, and the police would write it off as a freak accident. Still, though, I don’t know if that will satisfy me.”
Her mouth opened and closed rapidly as she struggled to process my very obvious threat.
“I could be more creative, though,” I smiled. “If you want me to. And I’d get away with it, too. I’m a damn good lawyer.”
“Carmen—”
“Ms. Reyes,” I corrected.
She swallowed. “Ms. Reyes, nothing happened between me and Mr. Clayton.”
I pouted with fake pity.
“Oh, I know. Theo’s a good boy. He doesn’t have a wandering eye. But you. I know your type. Normally, I’d respect it. But unfortunately for you, your target is taken by someone who would put a bat through your fucking temple without a second thought. I wouldn’t even lose sleep over it.Capire?”
“SÌ…”
I gave her a look.
“Ms. Reyes.”
“Smart girl.” I grinned. “Now press a button and get my man out here. I want to go for lunch.”
