“Come in,” I say.
Carmine stands in the doorway. He leans against the doorframe, running his hand in the small section of hair that keeps escaping, trying to cover his eyes. There is an unlit cigarette dangling from his mouth. He puckers his lips around it, highlighting his already chiseled cheekbones.
“Eric is waiting downstairs to drive you home. Perhaps you can take the file with you while you drive home? I want to make sure you have plenty of time to prepare yourself for me,” he says, somehow grinning even with the cigarette perched between his lips.
“I think I have time still, it’s not even five o’ clock yet,” I say as I check the time on my watch.
“That wasn’t a suggestion.” His tone sharpens, intended to intimidate me, but it does something inside of me. “Tonight, is a busy evening, with the gala and all. I need to make sure we adhere to the timeline I have predetermined for us.”
Why is it every word that comes out of this man’s mouth has me teetering between thinking he is delectable and despicable?
“Ok,” is all I can muster up, as I try to distract my body from the unintentional lust that is stirring inside of me.
Still in the doorway, he brings a lighter to the cigarette, finally lighting it. “Oh, and Ms. Ricci …”
“Yes?”
“I know you and Eric have a history together. I want none of that happening in my office, or in my town car he drives you around in. I will only warn you once about this. Next time, I won’t be as nice.” He exhales the smoke as he closes the door.
The moment the door shuts, my phone is already buzzing with a text from Eric.
I read, “Boss has me downstairs waiting to bring you home.”
Of course, he does.
“Got it, be down in five,” I text back to Eric.
I grab the folder and throw it in my purse as I take another look around at my new office, with the beautiful wood bookcases that look as though they came from a turn of the century Victorian home. I scan the books and decor that line the shelves for the first time since Carmine brought me in here. There are mostly reference books, some grammar guides, and some random decor accents. I plan on filling the shelves with books that bring me inspiration. I may be writing more technical pieces at this job, but I can envision myself in this space, finally writing the novels I have wanted to for years.
As I go to shut off the lights before closing the door, a small piece of crumpled paper catches my eye near the bookcases. I walk over and bend down to pick it up. As I open it, I realize it is almost illegible. The only words I can make out is in a distinct red ink.
I bring the paper closer to my eyes to try to make out the words.
It reads, “It will be, as it was destined to be.”
I read it again, “It will be, as it was destined to be.”
So cryptic.
I fold the note in my desk drawer and go out to meet Eric, who is waiting outside for me. Today went nothing like I thought it would. Nothing about this place is how I imagined it. The mix of feelings it stirs in me is unexpected. Carmine Moretti is nothing I expected him to be, but somehow, he is everything I wanted him to be.
Chapter21
Carmine
“Are you sure you want to do this, man? This isn’t exactly going along with the plan.”
No fucking shit.
Alex’s unease radiates through the phone, as it’s starting to become contagious.
“What other choice do I have, if you saw my father down at the precinct today?”
Not that my father’s presence at a police precinct is out of the ordinary. However, what is out of the ordinary is him talking to the cops and not evading them.
My hands tense in vexation as I clutch the phone to my ear, pure venom starting to boil in my veins. I make a fist, crashing it down on the backseat of the car, startling my driver, Rufus. I loosen my tie in the hopes that may help release this rage forming, but it’s a useless attempt. I’ve been in too deep for far too long, I’m beyond saving.
The only thing that can calm me is between a Riccis legs.
