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“Actually, Enzo is becoming the stay-at-home parent. I’m not going to quit my job to stay home.” The shock on both Russell’s and Adam’s faces flicks the realization in me. I might have opened my big mouth too damn wide. I look to Enzo; oh shit, he’s made of stone, something he hasn’t been in weeks. “I mean, Enzo is working from home. He’s not going to stop working or anything.”
Enzo’s hand comes down on my wrist; his grip is tight, signaling me to shut the fuck up. “I will work from home. We’ll have a nanny. I simply want to be around my child. Since it doesn’t matter if I work from home or in my office, I would rather work my fourteen-hour days at home where I can see my children for more than an hour out of the day. I would appreciate it if you didn’t repeat what you learned tonight.”
Both Russell and Adam stumble over themselves to reassure Enzo of course they won’t, but I wither inside as I can see Enzo isn’t sure he can believe them. Dinner doesn’t get any better, everyone is stiff, and only ten minutes later it comes to an end.
Russell hugs me close, whispering, “We’ll talk later.”
I nod as he gets into a cab.
Enzo hails a cab then opens the door for me. Everett doesn’t drive him on the weekends. The moment the door is closed, I reach for him and I wilt when he avoids my touch. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything. I didn’t think. Russell won’t say a word.”
“But you don’t know if Adam will or not. Not now, at home.” He raps the words out.
I curl into the door on my side. I’m praying Russell can keep Adam from spilling it. Would Adam’s loyalty to Russell outweigh his need to share insider information people would pay millions to know?
Enzo keeps the impression of a stone statue going all the way up the elevator and into the condo. He doesn’t look at me even once we’re in the condo. I can only watch, helpless as he goes into the home office. Leaning against the doorframe, I look on as he barks into his phone a request for a background check on Adam, everything from today to his teens, including known associates of note. Then he’s disconnecting his laptop before sliding it in the bag. Which means he’s going into the office.
“I’m sorry.”
“You said that already. I need to go into the office.”
“Why?”
“Because I need to rework my schedule so I’m high profile in full work mode. Next weekend is cancelled.”
“Enzo—”
“Do you really not understand what that information could do to the fund? If it gets out that I’m not a hundred percent invested in working on it every damn day, fourteen hours a day, we’re talking losses up to fucking billions. Trillions, Chloe, I have over a trillion dollars in assets under management. If even a few investors get shaky, it could cause a run that could sink the whole damn fund and all the investments in it.” Shaking his head, he pushes past me into the hall and walks out without looking back.
21
Chloe
I wake up alone, the same way I fell asleep. I check Enzo’s pillow, and my heart sinks; there isn’t even an indent. Where did he sleep? Even though I tried to stay awake, the last time I checked the clock it was a little after midnight.
How the fuck can I fix this? It’s fixable, right? My phone ringing yanks me out of my misery. Thank fuck it’s Russell’s ringtone.
“Pussycat, you okay?”
“No, Enzo
is pissed, like next level pissed. Please tell me Adam can and will keep his mouth shut?” Silence, oh fuck. “What, Russell? Tell me.”
Russell sniffs. “He swore he wouldn’t tell, swore on his mother and he’s a real mama’s boy but then he...” Another sniff. “He wondered if Enzo could hook him up with Anton and Burton or at least write him a reference. I’m sorry. I thought he was better than that.”
God damnit, Anton and Burton is the number-one financial advisory firm in Chicago. They handle the one percent and have been around since the birth of Chicago. I have to tell Enzo. “We all fuck up, like, you know, saying your fiancé isn’t going to helm his trillion-dollar hedge fund over dinner with someone you’ve met all of once before. This is all on me.”
“I’m sorry, pussycat.”
“Me too. I’ll talk to you later.”
Hanging up, I take a deep breath and call Enzo. I’m not sure if I’m relieved or not when it goes to voice mail. As quickly and succinctly as possible, I repeat what Russell said, and because I can’t think of anything else I say I’m sorry, again.
It’s noon and I should be going to lunch, but I’m not hungry. All I can do is stare at my phone, hoping for something from Enzo. My work phone rings.
“Hello?”
“This is Pauline, Enzo’s assistant. He asked me to let you know he’s gone to England to check out an investment. He expects to be back in a few days.”
