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Nero~
The day was over, and both Aurelio andRafael had been sent home. Kasen had ended up spending two hours at the hospital, and it was already close to ten o’clock as we walked through the front doors of the house. As much as I wanted to order my wife to call in sick tomorrow, I knew that she wouldn’t.
“Kasen?”
She stopped on the first step leading up to the second floor, then looked back down at me. “What?”
“Come with me for a second,” I ordered. “I want to show you something.”
“Now? It can’t wait?”
Ishook my head. “No, it can’t.”
“Nero, I’m tired,” she complained.
“I know, baby,” I replied, though not letting up. “It’ll just take a quick second.”
Letting out a heavy sigh, shegrabbed my outstretched hand, then followed me across the living room, through the back hallway, past the library, past my office, then down the hallway near the solarium. When we reached the engraved double doors, Kasen just looked at me. Even though she had a run of the entire house, the bedroom, kitchen, and my office were the only rooms that she was familiar with.
I pulled a key out from the pocket of my jacket. Aurelio had given it to me when he’d met me at the hospital, assuring me that everything was in order. With everything that had happened this past weekend, I had actually forgotten all about the room until Aurelio had reminded me.
“What’s this?” she asked as I handed her the key.
“It’s the only key to this room,” I answered.
Her brows furrowed. “Why are you giving it to me?”
I jerked my head towards the doors. “Open the doors and find out.”
Shaking her head, she unlocked the doors, and her feet stopped right inside when she got a look at the room. With bookshelves lining each side wall from floor to ceiling and a gliding ladder positioned on both sides of the room, the entire place looked like what you might imagine a law library to be. However, in the center of the back room, just a few feet below the ceiling, was a window that was big enough to let in the natural light, but small and high enough that nothing would happen to Kasen if anyone were to shoot through the window, Granted the glass was bulletproof, but still.
Below the window was a large Pollock painting, the colors black and silver over white, a touch of dark blue peeking out in certain areas.There were two huge potted plants in the back of each corner for decorative purposes, and since Kasen would have the only key to this room, it’d be up to her to water the damn things.
Off to the left was a small, oak, rectangular conference table, thoughit really wasn’t practical for actual conference meetings. With only one matching oak chair to accompany it, it was mainly for her to place her paperwork or books on. There was also a small table directly behind her desk, underneath the window and the painting, and that was purely for decorative purposes also. All those pictures of her family that she had taken to her work office, she could bring them back and set them up on that table. The cabinets on the bottom were faux, camouflaging a mini-refrigerator and snack shelves.
In the middle of the room was a huge, tasteful, Ziricote wooden desk with all the trimmings. While I knew that Kasen already had a laptop, I had still gotten her a desktop computer just in case something happened to her laptop. The room also had its own landline apart from the house phone, and all the desk accessories matched perfectly.
The final touch was the matching armchairs positioned in front of her desk, though we both knew that she’d never have clients over here. Our home was off-limits to anyone that wasn’t family, and the entire room had been remodeled by Sartori men, Aurelio overseeing the entire project. It was a beautiful room, and I really owed Aurelio a raise for what he’d been able to accomplish on top of all the shit that had been going on.
With her feet working again, Kasen walked further into the room, taking everything in. The room was as luxurious as my own office, though the feminine attributes made it clear who this room belonged to. If Kasen was going to work around the clock, then she was going to do it at home. I was done playing Mr. Nice Guy when it came to her career.
I waited patiently as Kasen explored the room, checking the spines on all the books, noting the painting, running her fingers across the topof the desk.
Christ, she was beautiful.
When she finally turned aroundto look at me, I couldn’t read her face. I had no idea if she loved it or if she hated it. I just knew that I couldn’t have her living at her office anymore. Breakfast or dinner wasn’t good enough for me anymore. I wanted more than what she’d been giving me, and it was time to take control of this prideful, stubborn, combative, absolutely stunning woman.
“It’s beautiful,” she finally said.
“Yes, it is,” I agreed. “However, Aurelio isthe one that deserves all the credit.”
She gave me a terse nod. “I’ll be sure to thank him.”
“Does that mean that you’re planning on using it?” I asked. “Otherwise, there’s no real need to thank him, I’d think.”
Kasen cocked her head. “Are yousaying that I have a choice?”
I slid my hands into the pockets of my slacks, wishing that I had a cigarette. “No, baby.”
