Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 78236 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78236 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Fuck. I look over to the broken porcelain beside my bed. I drop to my knees and begin to collect the larger pieces. What the fuck is wrong with me? My hands are now shaking as I pick up the pieces.
I don’t care if Crue sleeps with anyone else. I try to convince myself, but the unsettling feeling lingers no matter how I argue it.
I will not fall for someone like Crue Monti. And the hard slap of reality at three in the morning sinks in.
I need to stop this now.
Because he is consuming me.
Entirely.
CHAPTER 36
Rya
“You have got to be kidding me.” I stare at the gift basket that was delivered five minutes ago to my office and now sits on my desk. The gigantic thing takes up at least half of the space.
The card reads…
Miss Ricci
I hope you don’t find too much hardship in this challenging time. Periods must be difficult. Your body is your temple. And I will excuse your irrational behavior last night.
Get better soon,
Your soon-to-be husband
The basket holds various things. A bouquet of orchids, a box of chocolates, some bath bombs—even though I don’t have a bathtub—and enough snack food to fill half my cupboard. And… is that cough medicine?
The thought of Crue acquiring any of these things on his own almost makes me laugh, but I’m sure he had one of his men organize this. And this basket seriously pisses me off. I look between it and the trash can. But it’s bigger than the can.
My phone pings with another email.
Miss Ricci
I assume you have received your basket by now. Can we meet over dinner tonight if you are well enough for the occasion?
Reply.
Crue.
“You demanding asshole!” I growl at my phone.
“Sorry?” Mr. Luca asks as he steps into my office.
I all but hide the phone as if caught with something illegal.
“Wow, that is an impressive basket.” He whistles. “Belated birthday present?”
“No.” I pick it up. “But it’s too big to fit in the trash.” So I drop it beside the can and hope one of the cleaners finds joy out of it.
His eyebrows knit together as he closes the door behind him. “I was hoping I could have a brief discussion with you today.”
“Is everything all right?” I ask as I offer him the seat across from me, but he declines, so I make a point not to sit in mine. I tap my nail on the desk contemplatively.
“If it is about Brian’s job, I told the board myself I won’t step into the role until I’ve closed the Torrisi case.”
He quirks a smile. “It’s not about that.”
Okay.
“I thought I should reach out and see how you’re doing. I’ve been advised that perhaps you’ve been keeping unfavorable company as of late.”
“Unfavorable company? You do realize that’s my job, don’t you?”
“I’m talking about the type you might have outside of work. That might jeopardize this firm.”
My palm rests on the desk.
“Crue Monti, specifically.”
“Are you about to give me a fatherly lecture as to what I should do in my spare time, Mr. Luca?”
He offers a flat smile. “Nothing fatherly about it. I’m simply ensuring it won’t be a problem for the firm. We have clients who might not necessarily agree with your association with him.”
“And what exactly are you under the impression my association with him is?”
He shrugs and licks his lips. A sign that the conversation is rolling in my favor. “He was here only a week ago. He has also been identified as the person who killed Brian.”
“I had been advised that man was imprisoned and killed.”
He offers another tight smile. “Right you are. I would hate for you to jeopardize this upcoming promotion because of bad company.”
“Are you threatening me?” I ask.
Blood drains from his face. “No. I purely say it out of concern. I know some other board members have reservations about your relationship with Mr. Monti.”
“Such as?” None of the other board members frequent the office as much as Mr. Luca, and I have the distinct impression that he’s lying.
“I would rather not say. Please take it as a friendly concern, that’s all.”
Lucky for him, I’m not in the habit of making friends or being told what to do.
“You don’t have to worry about Mr. Monti. I’m dealing with it.” One way or another.
“Of course.” He points to the open blue box in the basket. I purposefully ignored it before. “Those are beautiful pearls.”
Had he known part of that note also mentioned the matching piece Crue would give me later as a pearl necklace, he might not have been so quick to comment.
“I’m sure the donations box will love them,” I add with a tight smile.
Asshole.
CHAPTER 37
Rya
Angel’s eyes grow wide. “You shot at him?”
I wave my hand. “Not at him. The lamp beside his face.”
Dominic covers his mouth in attempt to hide the chuckle. “Fuck, Rya, you have bigger balls than I thought.”