Page 14 of King Of Order
‘That’s if you find me,’ he rasped.
‘What the fuck?’ I breathed. ‘You know, on second thoughts, I want nothing to do with you.’
He unfurled himself from my desk with predatory grace.
‘Do you, woman.’
‘I intend to,’ I flashed back. ‘Conosco i miei polli!’
I was well aware of what I was fucking doing, and it wouldn’t be hiring him.
‘Arrivederci, Chiara,’ he growled as he exited, his steps so silent that a moment after his exit, I wondered if he’d even been there in the first place.
His cologne, however, lingered, and I breathed him in, bristling in anger, nostrils flaring, body thrumming.
Until a thought tore through me.
He left me with no number or any way to contact him.
It’s not that I wanted to, but just in case.
With a jolt, I rose and darted through my office, chasing after him.
I rushed through the gallery, eyes searching, hair flowing behind me as I swiveled my head.
The dim-lit showroom stood silent, empty.
I ran for the front glass entryway, pushed it open, and stepped into the night.
My eyes searched the shadow, peering up and down in a 360 sweep.
The street was deserted.
Apart from the occasional passerby.
One gazed at me with curiosity as I lifted my hands in frustration, chest heaving, annoyed.
He was gone.
Not a trace remained.
Like a phantom.
Cazzo!
The following morning, I woke up to the warm rays of the Neapolitan sun streaming through the windows, bathing mybedroom in golden light.
I stretched, loving the delicious lengthening of my limbs and letting the sun’s warmth sink into my skin before slipping out of bed.
With a suck of my teeth, reality hit. The worry about my father, the Tirone family business, my brothers, and my freakin’ lack of protection - all of my shit moroseness washed over me.
Panic jolted through me, and I took a shaky inhale.
I needed to find peace prior to heading out today.
After changing into leggings and a tee and taking my exercise mat, I went downstairs and outside into my garden.
The morning draft, cool and crisp, carried the scent of damp earth and the faint sweetness of jasmine blooming.
