AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She folded her arms and arched an eyebrow at him, but she did not argue. Instead, she marched over to the wall and leaned on it. She looked a bit nauseated, and I wanted nothing more than to speed over to her and hold her.
The reality was, I would be dead within seconds, since she looked like she was ready to kill someone. Her face was full of rage and agony right now. I could feel nothing except astonishment and remorse if what I was understanding was true, and it seemed to be.
Joseph spun to face her and buried his face in his hand. “Isabelle, I did not know this about her.” He pivoted toward me. “It’s impossible to tell these things when the girls sometimes give fake names at these events. Their I.D. is only checked at the door, not when they are signing the contracts. I need to fix that.” Sighing, he sat on the sofa, crossing his ankle over his knee, looking back at Isabelle. “Those girls like to protect their identity just as much as Mr. Greco liked to protect his.” He shrugged and stood once again, unable to get comfortable. “And obviously I wouldn’t have hired her if I knew any of this, but there was no way to tell and be sure.”
“I would’ve been able to.” Noah rolled his eyes and turned to me. “How the hell did she even find out who you were? Weren’t you supposed to remain unidentifiable through this shit, too? Something only covering the eyes never works like it does in movies, does it Bruce Wayne?”
“Noah!” I gritted my teeth, glowering. “Know your fucking place in my house or I’ll end you right here in front of my fiancée!”
Isabelle gasped, then readied herself to speak but closed her mouth straightaway. Instead, she settled on a disapproving scowl directed at me. I pursed my lips, tightening my gaze, daring her to challenge me. She knew not to provoke me when it came to my other,more violentlifestyle. But she also knew she was the tranquil to my storm and the only person to ever bring me to my knees.
I sighed, lifting my hand to my chin, stroking my facial hair as I calmed my tone. “I honestly do not know how she found out.”
She mimicked my posture, chewing on her bottom lip. She knew exactly what she was doing to me every time she drew attention to her mouth. “Valentino, I hope you understand I’m firing her.”
Taking charge, I shook my head, gliding my fingers through my hair. “Bella, I have something else in mind for her.” I turned to William and cocked a brow.
Understanding my silent command, he offered a single nod, then hustled out of the room, giving Isabelle a reassuring pat on the shoulder on the way out.
Joseph examined the info one more time. “I’m so fucking sorry, I—”
I lifted my hand, signaling him to stop. Isabelle put her face in her hands to hide the tears that were pooling in her eyes.
“Joseph, I know you didn’t know because I trust you, but I’m still pissed off at the situation.” I marched to my desk and sat down, rolling forward. Propping my elbows on the surface, I grimaced. “For now, I need you to do damage control and clear Isabelle’s name immediately from whatever bullshit is being said about her.”
“And yours too, please.” She peeked up, her voice quivering.
Joseph nodded before exiting the room. Noah shifted his weight back and forth, not knowing what was about to happen to him, but prepared for anything. Fury and dissatisfaction were evident on my face. My entire personal and business life could have been ruined, and with Felipe already around, I needed no more surprises.
“Isabelle.”
Her eyes widened, filling with worry at my tone.
I just did not have it in me to correct my manners at the moment. “Please go wait for me in the bedroom.”
She nodded and sulked over to Noah, putting her hand on his forearm. “Thank you.”
He bowed his head shrewdly before meeting her gaze. “Just doing my job, Miss Ayala.”
She trudged to the doors and turned. “Please don’t fire him, Valentino. He saved our lives from further destruction.” Before I could respond, she closed the double doors.
“Sit.”
He inched toward my desk, sitting in a chair across from me. He appeared uncertain of his fate, but he did not seem to be apologetic for protecting my family. “Listen, Mr. Greco, I was just doing my job, and—”
I lifted my hand. “I know.” Resting my elbows on the armrests of my chair, I formed a triangle over my lips with my fingers. “I hate the way you spoke to me, Noah, but you just saved her life. Mine too, but of course I’ll always be more concerned about her and my child than me.”
“Why do I feel like there’s something you’re not telling me, sir?” He crossed his ankle over his knee and folded his arms. He seemed more relaxed now that I had praised him.
“There is a lot I’m not saying.”
“What do you mean?”
Taking a deep breath, I stretched before I brought my body forward and leaned on the desk. “I know who Lindsay is now. One of my masquerade submis— arrangements…became a little more verbal in the bedroom as time went on.”
Noah could not help but smirk a bit.
“Notthatkind of verbal. I mean, she would tell me emotional things and while I wanted only sex from her, she wanted conversation and emotions from me, which I didn’t do.”
