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Aurora turns and peers at me. Hatred flashes in her blue eyes, reminding me of an angry sea.
"Hey,tesoro. Calm down," I chuckle. "I'm just surprised to see you around here."
"Came to clear out my stuff," her voice is clipped. The blaze remains in her eyes. Her fiery looks and rosy cheeks make me want to press my body against hers.
"How's it going? I know it's tough not having a job. If you ask nicely, I'll hook you up." I wink at her.
"No, thanks," she opens the backseat door and drops the documents there.
"I thought you'd want to rejoin the team and help me give the place an update on the inside and out."
Aurora's head snaps up as she realizes with alarm that they might have lost the hotel for good. The anger on her face only intensifies at this thought.
"You can't do that." Her voice is quiet and unsure. It lacks strength or conviction, as if she’s too exhausted to put up a fight any longer.
"I can and I will if it makes us more profitable."
She stares at me, her eyes blazing. The sexual tension between us is palpable, and I’m drawn to her despite our differences. She's stubborn, but I'm determined to get to know her. I can make this work.
"Look," I say softly, "It was either I assume the debt, or they would have killedyourfather. It’s business,tesoro."
I take a step closer to her, and she takes one back. Even though she's trying to keep her distance, I can still feel the heat radiating from her body.
"We have a chance here," I continue in a low voice. "To make something great out of a fucked-up situation. I can put this place on the map as one of the best hotels in town."
Aurora doesn't answer for a few moments. She looks away from me and takes a deep breath before finally turning back towards me with determination in her eyes.
I reach out and tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. She sighs and gets in the car, slamming the door.
"Aurora, wait."
She drives away while I stand in the parking lot, watching the car head down the road. A part of me wishes I've not been as nasty, that I'd treated her and Jeff a little nicer, but nice doesn't cut it in this business. You have to stay tough to survive.
I get into my car and unlock my phone. I scan my list of targeted businesses. St. Regis Place is checked off the list, and now we have three more in the critical stage. All with outstanding loans.
The top few have due dates within the next sixty days. If they can’t payoff their loans, we take over their business. It's the nature of asking for loans from the mafia. There's always a steep price.
I drive away from the hotel, holding back on calling the project manager. I don't expect Jeff to come up with the money to get his hotel back. Heck, if he gets that kind of money, he'll probably take it back to the casino and lose it on cards. Suddenly I'm reluctant to move this remodel forward.
Is it the Aurora factor?
I can't deny the attraction I feel towards her. She's beautiful, smart, and confident in a way that I'm not used to seeing. But she's a good girl, and I'm not the kind of guy she should entertain. She deserves better.
The last thing she needs is to get mixed up with me and my business dealings. Yet, as I drive away from the hotel, all I can think about is Aurora and how beautiful she looks when she's angry.
With a tired sigh, I step on the gas. Buildings and cars flash by. I'm unsure whether to go home or head to one of the businesses we are about to take over again.
I get home and drop on the couch. It's been a hell of a day, a fulfilling day. Seeing Aurora has been making me long for her again. I drum my fingers on the couch and sigh. The day appears to end on a lonely note for me. Thoughts of going out to the sea cross my mind. It's my favorite pastime, sitting in an open craft and staring at open water.
As soon as I think about it, I dial Captain Morgan.
"Prepare the yacht."
"Yes, sir."
"I'll be there in an hour."
"Okay, Mr. Baldi."
