Page 40 of Between Love & Ruin

I don’t understand why she is so pressed about me working with Sienna. Why does she think it’s such a bad idea?

And most of all, why is she trying to involve herself in my personal life?

Because while Myra has been close to me, and I have cared for her more than what is strictly professional, I have still tried to establish boundaries with her. I don’t like people getting too close to me.

Because when they do, they leave just as quickly and easily.

“I don’t get why you want to know,” I ask in return as I settle down in my seat. I am in a fairly good mood today. Part of it has to do with the fact that I am about to invite Sienna to my office.

“Because I am your PA,” she says as if it’s not obvious.

“I know, and I told you this is personal. So your PA skills aren’t really needed in this matter. Now, if you will let me know the schedule for today, we could move things really fast.”

She narrows her eyes as she passes me all the meetings that are scheduled today.

“Push these to after 3 P.M. I have another meeting in one hour,” I tell her, and understanding settles down on her face.

“It’s about Sienna, isn’t it?”

“If you already know, then why are you asking?”

I put on my glasses as I focus on the computer screen. I hate to admit that as I grow old, my eyesight is worsening by the day.

“Is it an ego thing that you have going on with Sienna? You know she has a boyfriend and you can’t have her. Is it because she is a forbidden fruit for you that you keep going after her?”

I close my eyes and take a deep breath through my nose.

You can’t fire her. You can’t fire her. I chant in my head.

“I will say this for the last time, Myra. Stay out of my business with Sienna.”

She rolls her eyes, and I know she isn’t taking me seriously, so I stand and walk over to her to make my point clear.

She looks up at me with a challenge in her eyes, as if daring me to continue.

“What I have with Sienna has nothing to do with ego. She is the only person I refuse to let pride come between, and that alone should tell you what she means to me. She is not some forbidden fruit. So, for your own sake, never, ever speak about her like that again.”

She stares at me as I glare at her before shaking her head in denial. I step back, giving her some space.

“You have changed completely.”

She says and doesn’t wait to hear me before she storms out of my cabin.

I take a seat back, and my phone flashes with Sienna’s name, bringing a smile to my face.

“Good morning, cara mia,” I say with a smug smile. By now, I know she’s figured out what the word means.

“You know we live in the age of the internet, right?” she says. “I know what that means now, and I don’t appreciate the nickname.”

“Of course you do,” I reply. “That’s exactly why I gave you that one, cara mia. It’s cute. Suits you too.”

“Agree to disagree,” she says, causing me to chuckle. The ability of this woman to bring a smile to my face with the most random things is crazy. “But I called to ask where we are supposed to meet today. We didn’t talk about that yesterday because—”

“Because of your rat-faced boyfriend, I know.” Bile rises in my throat even as I say that.

“Don’t call him that, Dominic,” she says, her voice stern, and I can almost picture the frown on her face as she utters those words to me. “Now, will you tell me the location, or are you going to surprise me today too?”

“Okay, fine. If you don’t like it, I won’t call him that,” in front of your face is what I don’t tell her. “But you and I both know what he is. Anyway, moving on, I think you should come to my office to work. We’ll both be more comfortable that way, and we can discuss things more easily there.”