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“Then what word would you use?” Camila asks, her focus still trained on the pot on the stove.
“Purgatory.” I say and Sofia laughs, her teeth bared as she throws her head back.
“I think we need some wine. Mama?” she says, getting up to retrieve three wine glasses and a bottle of Chianti.
“Please.” Camila says, Sofia uncorking the fresh bottle before giving us our glasses.
“Should we toast?” she asks, raising her glass to me.
I frown, tilting my head in confusion. “For what?”
“For your new purgatory.” she says, her eyebrows raised as I chuckle and clink my glass against hers, all but downing the liquid in its entirety as I try to think about how in the hell this new partnership is going to work.
* * *
I decide to take a swim later in the day, after nearly four glasses of wine do nothing for my turbulent emotions.
The outdoor pool is being cleaned, so I settled for the indoor one residing in the pool house. I dive in immediately, my red bikini clung to my skin as I sink below the surface, holding my breath for what feels like an eternity. My thoughts are racing and my stomach is uneasy, not to mention my heart is in absolute fucking pieces. When I finally come up for air near the ledge, my view is bombarded with an expensive looking pair of Givenchy loafers.
“What do you want?” I ask, my eyes still locked with Nico’s shoes.
“To chat.” he says simply, looking down at me as I tread the water.
“I thought you made it abundantly clear that we shouldn’t cross paths. To stay out of each other’s way.” I say absentmindedly, still staring at his leather shoes.
“Am I in your way right now, Scarlett?” he chuckles, my eyes narrowing as I look up at him, the sun streaming in from the windows creating an aura around him, like some kind of dark archangel.
“You always are.” I say, swimming to the ladder before I climb out of the pool and grab my towel.
“I need your copy of this recent month's income.” he says, my eyes rolling as I pat myself dry.
“Why? Aren’t you well versed in this business?” I scoff, annoyed with his hot and cold personality.
The man makes no sense. He never has. One of the many reasons why I hate him, apart from his good looks…
Stop it.
“I am, but you haven’t turned the report in, since your husband died and all.” he says nonchalantly, like it doesn’t bother him. Like it wasn’t his best friend that just fucking died too.
“Why are you here?” I hiss, whipping around to look at him as my anger leaves my body like a flood.
“You’ve been out of his life for years, handling your side of things on your own. Not to mention, it seems like you could fucking care less that he’s gone. So, I’ll ask you again… why are you here?” I snap, my nostrils flared as my fists clench at my sides.
He tilts his head at me, offering me a speculative gaze before he marches towards my spot near one of the lounge chairs, the click of his heels stopping as he stands a breath away from me.
Why does he always have to be so close?
He’s a few years younger than Luis and his youth shows, even through his rugged and manly appearance.
“I’m here because I have a job to do and so do you.” he growls, gazing down at me since he’s nearly a foot taller than I am, even with my abnormal height.
I stare at him for a while, my eyes flicking to the gold chain necklace that rests against his exposed sternum. His skin is so dark, like he’s been lying in the sun for his entire life. His wavy hair kisses his shoulders, the strands silky looking. My fingers itch to run through them and I inwardly curse at myself for that.
“You don’t even miss him, do you?” I whisper, looking up at his emotionless eyes as he stands before me, his nostrils flared as usual.
For a moment, I think he might respond. Something flashes through his eyes, an expression that I cannot put a name to. Just when I think he might speak, he surprises me.
One of his hands rise, his thumb caressing the space beneath my bottom lip, shocking me still. My breath hitches and my heart races, hammering against my chest so hard that I’m afraid he might see it. He might rip it out of my chest with that same hand that touched my face and throw it to the ground.
