“What do you want?”

I hate that I’m like this for someone I don’t even know, but knowing his history with Enzo, I can’t help but immediately shun him.

He glances around the room. “I know you. Lilly, too. And a few more of the influencer lot that Enzo has hired to do his bidding.”

Great. So, the erratic drunkard knows about me. Just when I thought my day couldn’t get any worse.

“Frankly, I don’t want to speak to you.” I turn away when he grabs my arm. “Hey. Let go of me.”

“Listen.” His tone is urgent, “You might think of me as some monster, but you deserve to know the truth. There’s something I need to tell you about Enzo.”

I yank my arm away from him, shooting him a glare.

But he’s managed to get my attention.

“You have exactly one minute.”

He rolls his eyes. “Trust me, it’s going to take more than just a minute. You come here, promoting this bullshit, knowing nothing about the history of this business.”

“Forty seconds…”

He realizes I’m not here to take his bullshit and cuts the theatrics.

“The Marchetti family are hiding some pretty dark secrets. If you want to come out of this unscathed, I suggest you listen to what I have to tell you.”

14

ENZO

“How’dthesessionwiththe influencers go today?”

I try and keep my curiosity at a minimum as I pull Valentino over to speak in private after our meeting with the team.

He sighs, knowing that it’s the tenth time I’ve asked him this in the last week.

“It’s going well, Dad. And before you ask, yes, she was there.”

I straighten up my back. “I was just asking in general. You know I’m invested in the success of this event as much as you are.”

“And yet, you somehow always want to know if Quinn was there or not.”

“She’s the one with the most responsive audience,” I lie. “It matters what her experience is like.”

“Right.” Valentino shakes his head.

I know he isn’t dumb and can figure out that something is going on. But he’s smart enough to not press further.

I appreciate that about him. He minds his own business in matters outside of work.

“She’s doing fine. I wouldn’t worry.”

He pats my shoulder before leaving, and I’m left wondering why I even care so much.

Quinn has been distant all week. She avoided my attempts to try and see her again, always having something or the other to do.

At first, I thought she was actually busy. But when she had the same reply each time, I figured something was wrong.

A part of me knows why she’s acting like this. I’d be a fool not to expect that.