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“Would you like to get some air on the back terrace?” he said. I could definitely tell that was code for: I’m going to chew your ass out for this.
“Sure,” I said, then turned to Kyros. “It was nice to meet you.”
“You as well. I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot of each other.”
That was true. Though he was living on the opposite end of the property, we would work under the same roof often.
He said something to Leo in Greek and Leo responded. The way he spoke made tingles rush up my spine, and the need to jump and grab every word with my mouth skyrocketed. But Leo didn’t seem thrilled by the conversation they were having.
“Let’s go over that tomorrow,” Leo said and Kyros nodded.
With a hand planted firmly on my lower back, Leo steered me to the back terrace. His every muscle was tense and his long legs ate up the distance between the main ballroom and back doors in milliseconds.
Once we were outside, I took a deep breath of spring air wafting off the water and ruffling a few waves at the lake below. The view was incredible. Paired with the dim lights along the deck, the flecks of yellow gave a soft glow to the entire terrace. A terrace on which we were alone.
“You dropped the ball on the whole deflect thing there, Red,” he said, taking my champagne glass and draining the contents.
“Poor Leo, getting hit on all the time. Must be rough.”
This was not how I’d typically talk to my boss, but nothing about Leo or tonight felt like a boss or job. It felt . . . nice. Just being in his company. Having his eyes on me. Watching his smile light up when he spoke. It was enthralling.
He smirked and set the flute down. “My ass feels like a pin cushion.”
I laughed. “I’m sorry, but it was one dance and you survived just fine.”
“A lot can change in one dance,” he said, his voice a little gravelly and I knew he was talking about my dance with Colin again.
“I work for you, Leo.”
“Temporarily.”
His remark made a shot of anger and sadness flare through my veins. Two conflicting emotions I had no business feeling in the first place. I knew I was temporary. But throwing it in my face—pointing out my weakness or why I may be less trustworthy—was not going to happen. Temporary didn’t mean dishonest. And it sure as hell didn’t mean I would give anything less than all I was to Leo in my job.
I wouldn’t stand there and take the back and forth anymore. I was tired of the give and take. Mostly because when he had given me his faith in the slip purchase overseas, I felt truly whole for the first time in . . . ever. Like for once, someone believed in me. Then tonight, to have him take pieces of it away by questioning my loyalty? No. I couldn’t handle it. Because it made the empty ache in my gut redouble.
“If you have such a problem trusting me with your interests, perhaps you shouldn’t have hired me. Temporarily or not.”
The moment I said it, I regretted it. I was in a position where a bold statement like that could easily get me canned. Stupid pride had taken over once more and I let it control my words. But the truth was, I was tired. Tired of being a person who was doubted when all I wanted was the opposite. To gain trust. Earn respect.
He looked at me for a long moment as if trying to read my face. It was the same way he looked at me the night at the bar. Like he could tell I was struggling, and part of me hated that. The other part wanted to do what I had
done that night. Reach out. Take some of that warmth that radiated from him, and get lost in it.
“You’re right,” he said, and my heart stopped. I’d let my mouth get the better of me and now I was going to get fired. “You deserve more credit. I do have trust in you.”
His words hit something straight through my chest. And it was more than the words. It was the way he said them. Could he really have trust in me?
“Don’t say that if you don’t mean it,” I whispered. Because I didn’t want to do this anymore. Didn’t want to think one thing, feel like I was making progress with him, then have it snatched away with one questioning glare or insinuating tone.
“I mean it.” He stepped closer.
“Thank you,” I said a little softer than I meant to.
“Did you enjoy talking to Kyros?”
“Yes, he’s very nice. Told me about your sisters and family.”
Leo smiled and his gaze locked on something in the distance as if pulling from happy memories. “I have a wonderful family. Four sisters and thirteen nieces and nephews.”
