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CHAPTER14
ALESSA
I stand before the floor-length mirror in my office bathroom, smoothing my hands over the luxurious fabric of my dress. It’s a deep ruby red, my signature color, and one that I love to wear when I need to feel at my most alluring. The neckline plunges just enough to be tantalizing without being vulgar. A row of covered buttons trails down the front, nipped in at the waist before the skirt slips over my hips to just above my knees. I chose this dress carefully for today’s meeting, wanting to strike that delicate balance between professionalism and seduction.
Yesterday, I was dressed like a damn Amish girl for Fonelli’s next visit. I saw no reason to make the experience any more pleasant for him than it would be for me, so I went for severity over charm. It seemed to work well enough. He didn’t question a thing.
And today… I smile. Today I get to see Natalie again. I try to temper the butterflies in my stomach, reminding myself this is simply an orientation for her membership at the Ruby Realm. But I can’t help feeling excited about it as I smooth invisible wrinkles from the dress.
There was a part of me that actually expected her to knock me back. I mean, knock themembershipback. I should have had more faith in myself—and the Ruby.
A soft knock at the door pulls me back into the office proper. “Come in,” I call out, and Liana steps into the office. As always, my hostess looks impeccable in her tailored black suit, not a single chestnut hair out of place in her elegant updo. Her keen eyes sweep over me, one brow quirking upwards.
“You look…nice,” she says, though her gaze implies she knows exactly why I’ve taken such care with my appearance today.
I lift my chin, affecting nonchalance. “I like to look professional forallour new member orientations.”
“Of course,” Liana agrees, though the knowing gleam in her eyes says she sees right through me. “Well, your new member has arrived. Shall I send her in?”
“Yes, thank you,” I reply, hoping my voice doesn’t betray my nerves. Liana’s mouth twitches like she wants to smile but she simply nods and retreats from the office.
Alone again, I take a deep breath, squaring my shoulders. I’ve faced down roomfuls of Mob Bosses without flinching. One woman, even one as enigmatic as Natalie Moreau, is nothing to be anxious about. The money has already been transferred, so today is just the final paperwork. But maybe after that, I can persuade her to stay for coffee…perhaps dinner…
The door opens again and Liana shows Natalie inside, who greets me with that same tentative smile that’s been haunting my dreams.
“Natalie! Hi!” I curse myself for the ineloquent welcome. “Please, have a seat.”
Natalie greets me in return as she folds herself gracefully into one of the wingback chairs across from my desk. I sit as well, and then spend a little too long smiling vacuously at her. She begins to look a little uncertain, and I clear my throat.
“Thank you for coming today,” I tell her, folding my hands atop the desk. “The funds have been approved, and so you are officially a Ruby Realm member. Congratulations, by the way. I wanted to walk you through everything so you feel comfortable here as a member.”
“Of course,” Natalie replies with an easy smile. “I’m looking forward to learning more about the club.”
Some of the tension eases from my shoulders at her receptiveness. We discuss the various facilities, rules and other aspects of the club. We’ve just begun discussing the process for booking the various private lounge areas when the phone on my desk interrupts me mid-sentence. With an apologetic look at Natalie, I grab the receiver, expecting a brief inquiry from reception.
“Heads up, boss—” comes Liana’s anxious voice, but before she can finish the warning, my office door bursts open.
What the—?
Three men stride inside. I recognize the leader immediately—Vince Ricci, a reckless and arrogant enforcer for the Mancini Family. And his knuckles are a little bloody, I note.
Not good.
What the hell is he doing here?
“To what do I owe the pleasure, gentlemen?” I ask coolly, willing my voice not to shake.
Vince smirks. “I think you know why we’re here, sweetheart. The Boss…” His voice trails off as his eyes land on Natalie, and I can see the gears turning in his head as he tries to figure out who she is and why she’s here. “We need to have a talk about keeping your shareholders happy,” he supplies at last, his beady gaze still raking over Natalie. “Alone.”
His two hulking cronies loom silently behind him, looking around the place as though they’re measuring it for drapes.
The sight of these assholes in my inner sanctum makes fury rise like bile in my throat, but I force my voice to remain steady. “I’m with a member right now. Come back later.”
“I ain’t waiting around here till you’re done, Alessa. I’ll be back tomorrow, eight sharp. But before I go, any chance you’ve seen my niece Sienna? Last place she was seen was around here. Don’t want her getting any queer ideas in her head, if you know what I mean.”
“How dare you?” I snarl, rising to my feet at once. The three of them look taken aback, as though I should just accept their crude bigotry. I walk around the desk, glowering imperiously. “You and your men should not be in here,” I bite out, ice in every syllable. “And I will be informing my father about this intrusion.”
Ricci’s sneer wavers slightly at the mention of my father’s wrath. “Yeah, alright,” he mutters, glancing away. “Just thought you might’ve heard something about Sienna.”
