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“I know who you are.” He chuckled as he crouched down opposite me, his fingers steepled as his forearms rested on his thighs.
“That obvious, huh?” I smiled.
“Considering you’re the first woman to come around here except for Carmella, yes.” Seeing how friendly Emmet and Red were made me question how and why Lorenzo was so cold and heartless. “Boss should be home soon. Do you want to get ready for dinner?” he asked.
“No thanks, I’m not hungry.” I turned my head towards the lake, ignoring the rumbling in my stomach.
“Anastacia, you need to eat something. We won’t be there; it will just be the two of you.” He said that as though it was a good thing.
“That’s the problem.” I closed my eyes and let my mind wander to the last meal I had with my family, the one filled with love and laughter.
“Boss won’t be happy if you don’t join him.” He spoke softer this time, as if there was a plea in his voice.
“You can tell your boss if he wants us to have dinner, he can ask me himself. I would rather starve than sit across the table from him.” I let out an exasperated sigh.
“It’s your call. Nobody can make you do anything you don’t want to do.” He stood up and offered his hand for me to take.
“That’s where you’re wrong. I’ve always had to do things I didn’t want to do.” I glanced at his outstretched hand, and his face fell.
“I’m sure that’s not true.” He cocked his head.
“Marrying your boss was what I was born to do. If I had my way, I would have fucked off a long time ago, but unfortunately for me, I wasn’t able to.” I was about to take his hand when I heard a roaring voice come from the doorway.
“Don’t you dare fucking take his hand, Anastacia!”
Brilliant, there he was.
The thorn in my side.
Once my meeting was over,I arrived home. The football game was playing from the front room, and I could hear the cheering from my men along with the clinking of beer bottles and smell of cigarettes.
“Boss.” Red came into view as I entered the kitchen, his arms laden with snacks for the game.
“You got enough there?” I chuckled, pointing to his arms.
“It’s all I could carry; I’ll be back for more.” He cocked his head towards the fridge, indicating there was beer chilled and ready for whenever I fancied one.
“Thanks, Red, everything else okay?” He knew what I was referring to. Orwho, perhaps.
“Seems to be. I think she’s all unpacked anyway.” He walked out of the kitchen until I stopped him once more.
“What did she think of the room?” I hedged. I knew I shouldn’t care, but if she was here, she should at least be comfortable.
“She was surprised at how nice it was. She couldn’t take her eyes off the view.” His lips tugged into the rarest of smiles.
“What is it?!” I couldn’t hide my surprise.
“It’s nothing.” Oh, it was definitely something.
“Red. Stop fucking around and tell me what you’re hiding.” I narrowed my eyes as I waited for his reaction.
“She seems nice, that’s all.” Was he taking the piss?! I couldn’t imagine her being nice.
“That woman is anything but nice.” I shrugged off my jacket and threw it over the stool.
“She was to me.” He smiled once again before shifting his gaze towards the lake. “I think Emmet would beg to differ with you on that one.” Red could barely get his words out as he realised how angry I was.
My eyes focused on no one but her. The way her hair blew in the breeze, the way the smile on her face was given to another man.
