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“Thanks, man.” He patted me on the shoulder. “I know it’s just a favor to me, but Scarlett’s the smartest person I know. I give her a lot of shit, but she’ll kill it there.”
I was the scumbag who accepted his gratitude just then. That I was doing him a favor. That I was thinking about him at all when I’d made the offer to help Scarlett.
“Papa! We’re ready!” Leo called out, waving his arms for me and Christopher to join them at the other end of the field.
I let Christopher take the lead as he jogged off, hanging back to let the truth soak in. The only person I was serving in that situation was myself. Because I wanted to see her again.
Chapter 6
Scarlett
Istoodinfrontof the mirror in the staff bathroom for probably half an hour, staring at myself, questioning my decision to take Luca up on his offer. Coming back from Shanghai, I swore I’d keep my distance. With distance and time I was guaranteed the whole thing would blow over, and nobody would get hurt.
“It doesn’t matter how great the sex was,” I muttered to myself as I fixed my hair for the hundredth time. “You’re not about to ruin the only family you have over some guy. Some… hot, tall, incredibly ripped Italian guy…”
My shoulders slumped. I was so screwed.
The bathroom door swung open, and two employees walked in, talking and laughing. The one with David Bowie hair circa 1979 gave me a nod, while her friend disappeared into a stall.
“First day?” she asked, digging her hands into the pockets of her black skinny jeans. She seemed amused by me for whatever reason.
“Is it that obvious?” I chuckled lightly.
She leaned against the wall beside the hand dryer, looking like a model straight off the pages of Rolling Stone.
“Not really,” she said. “If I find someone staring at the mirror like that it’s usually day one, or they’re about to go in to see the big boss. He’s an ass.”
But he fucks like a god.
I managed to keep that thought from slipping out of my mouth. The memory was still so fresh in my head, though. If they only knew.
Then I remembered the email invitation I’d received to the morning team meeting and smiled nervously. “It’s a little of both, if he’ll be at the meeting this morning?”
I hoped that she’d tell me he was far too important to attend those things. That Luca Moretti stayed shut up in his office all day without speaking to any of his staff members. Not only would that help me avoid him, but not seeing his face would help me forget what he looked like when he came. So fucking hot…
Her friend came out of the stall before she could answer but did the job herself since she’d been listening to us talk.
“Mr. Moretti always attends the Monday morning team meeting,” she said, going over to the sink to wash her hands. “I’m Cindy, by the way.”
I smiled to hide the grimace that wanted to show on my face as I swallowed the bile rising in my throat. That was at least one weekly sighting guaranteed. So far.
“Ash.” The woman I’d been speaking to stepped forward and held out her hand.
I shook it, realizing too late that my palm might have been a little on the sweaty side with the way I was feeling.
“Scarlett,” I replied.
“Welcome to Chord, Scarlett,” Cindy said, coming up beside Ash to dry her hands at the dryer. The sudden blast of air made me jump, even though I knew it was coming. “You’re going to love it here!” She yelled the last bit so I could hear her over the thunderous blow dryer.
“Thanks!” I yelled back.
Although, I wasn’t so sure about the part where I was going to love working for Luca. I hated that he was my best option for not being homeless. I hated that I had to be involved with the company that ruined mine.
Most of all, I hated that every time I thought of him, I wanted to fuck him all over again.
***
My concerns about Luca seemed to be for nothing, because he didn’t so much as glance in my direction all through the team meeting. Granted, I was hanging out in the back with some temps, but I thought he’d at least acknowledge my presence since it was his idea that I be there in the first place.
