Page 45 of The Boss

“I feel like that shouldn’t be the most important thing,” I mumble.

He crosses his arms and stares at me.

“Juliet, since the day we met, you’ve always been the most important,” he says.

“You’re really taking this fake relationship thing seriously,” I grumble.

“This isn’t fake. The dating part, sure, that’s not real, but you’re my best friend⁠—”

I cut him off. “I feel like that’s Mateo.”

“Okay, fine, you're my second best friend; your life matters more than anything,” he replies.

“Gino, why have you never told me that before?” I ask.

“I didn’t think I needed to tell you that.”

I just stare at him, and it takes me back to the day I met him and Mateo.

10 YEARS AGO

I knew my first day of college was going to be nerve-wracking, but I am now into my second class of the day, and oh my God, my social life is not going to exist for the next few years. I am very much regretting being a double major right now.

On Mondays and Wednesdays, I have four classes, and three classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Fridays will be my only free day in the week, which I already know will be filled with studying in the library. I wanted to at least spend some time dancing, but I might only be able to do that through some electives I’m planning to take.

Business 101 shouldn’t be the hardest class I take this semester, but it will be the class with the most students. It seemed like a good idea when I enrolled.

I walk into the largest lecture hall on campus, and when I signed up, there were over 300 seats assigned to this class. I look around, looking for the seat I want. I don’t want to sit in the front few rows, but I also don’t want to sit all the way in the back. So, I pick a seat to the left in the middle.

I pull out my notebook; each class has its own color, and for this one it’s navy blue. I start to open it up and notice someone takes a seat right next to me. I glance over and notice a guy, probably a freshman like me; he’s cute, dressed in his sweatshirt and sweatpants.

“Hey, I’m Mateo.” He extends his hand for me to shake.

“Juliet,” I give him a soft smile and shake his hand.

Before I can say anything else, another guy sits right next to him. This guy is hot, with his brunette hair in a natural fade cut and piercing green eyes. He’s wearing a black button-down and black dress pants with sneakers.

“Dude, why do you have to wear slacks everywhere?” Mateo says.

“Because I wanted to? Why does it matter?” Even this guy’s voice is hot. It’s deep and commanding.

“We’re in college, not at home. I get that your dad is wearing suits all day, but come on, man, in college we're supposed to be in sweatshirts all day,” Mateo says, rolling his eyes.

“It’s not that serious.” He rolls his eyes back. He looks at me like he just saw me for the first time. “Hey, I’m Gino.” He gives me a small wave.

“Hi, I'm Juliet,” I reply.

“He may be my best friend, but he is also the most annoying person I’ve ever met sometimes,” Mateo says. The conversation ends as the professor starts talking.

Once class ends, we all go our separate ways, and I think I’ll never talk to them again, but every class they sit with me. We work on group projects together, study, and eventually become friends. By the end of the semester, we become a trio of friends who are inseparable, and Antonio Esposito offers me a job.

TWENTY

GINO

Six months. Six months of actual hell; that’s what this feels like. It’s the end of November now, and the first snowfall came last night, which puts into perspective just how long it’s been. I understand Mateo is probably actually living in hell, but this feels like it for me. I feel like I’m reliving the same hellish day every day.

The leads are completely gone, and every conversation with Lorenzo has gone nowhere. I’ve given him everything he’s wanted, and here we are.