Page 53 of The Boss

“Juliet, I’m sorry. You’re fiercely independent, and that’s something I’ve always admired about you. But I want to make sure you are cared for.”

“Did your father do this?” she whispers.

I don’t want to lie to her; my father did pay for things for her, but not to the extent I am.

“He did, somewhat. He paid for anything involving the house; he didn’t pay your bills like I have. The Amex card you have, my father, and now I have been paying the bill on,” I say.

“No wonder I never got a payment request from them. I just thought I paid the balance through auto pay before the billing cycle ended. But seriously, my car payment, Gino? Why?”

“You use your car for house-related things.” She gives me an I dare you to try and cover this up look.

“I didn’t want you to worry about a thing, but I know how important it is to you to keep your independence. You feel betrayed. I get it. I know I should’ve told you, but you were barely speaking to me for the last two years outside of pleasantries and expectations of when we’re around other people,” I say.

She gives me a flat look. “Gino, I have been speaking to you.”

“Not really,” I sigh. “Sure, we still sometimes have the banter we used to, and you call me out on my bullshit, but that time in the garden a few months ago was the first time we had a proper conversation, and even then it still revolved around work. We used to talk about sports and the shitty dates you’d been on, but now nothing.”

“People change⁠—”

“People do change,” I cut her off. “But I thought after we slept together, you would have wanted to be with me. Was I wrong?”

She’s quiet for a moment and then whispers, “No.”

“What happened to us, Jules?”

I think back to the morning after, when she completely ignored me and didn’t say a word about it. She left before I woke up, and I didn’t know what to do. The last two years we have been coexisting, not living, and that changes today.

She looks past me, and her eyes widen slightly. “Did you make me coffee?”

I turn and see the coffee I made her on the counter. “Yeah, I thought it was the least I could do since I turned off your alarm.”

“When did you do that?” she says, walking past me to get her coffee.

“Last night, after everyone went home, you left it on the counter when you went to lock the door.”

She nods her head, turning towards me as she takes a sip of her coffee. “Thank you for the coffee, but I’m still mad at you.” I sigh, and she walks out of the kitchen.

TWENTY-FOUR

JULIET

After Gino told me the truth about the finances, I needed to get out for a bit. I know he didn’t do it to control me, but it sure feels that way. Outside of my parents, only Vanessa would understand, but she had too much going on, so I don’t want to bother her with it. There’s only one other person I can trust with this. We haven’t spoken much recently, but I need someone.

I run upstairs and close the door to my room, and I dial her number.

“Hello,” she says.

“Hi Lucy, could we meet? I need to talk to you about something,” I ask.

“I’m at Vanessa’s. Why don’t you come over?” she replies.

“Could we talk alone?” I ask.

“Juliet, are you okay?” she asks.

“I’m—” I don’t know how to say it.

“How about lunch at the Cambio family restaurant in an hour?” she says after a brief silence.