Page 5 of The Prices We Pay
“What can I say? I’m a man who knows what he likes.” I don’t miss the fire in his eyes as he speaks. “Do you work in this building? I’ve never seen you here before. I’d remember you if I had.”
“I do now. Just got hired today.” My chest fills with pride at the reminder.
He gives me a knowing smirk. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you. You work here too, then?”
“Sure do.”
I’m not sure if my libido can handle seeing this many hot men on a daily basis. I’m sure I will find some way to soldier on, though.
“I’m Lorenzo, by the way. Everyone calls me Enzo. Unless I’m causing trouble.”
“Which I’m sure is quite frequent.”
He taps the tip of his nose and winks. “Clumsy, smart, and beautiful. The trifecta.”
My cheeks flush crimson at the compliment. “I’m—”
I’m cut off by his phone ringing in his suit pocket. “I’m so sorry. I’m running late for a meeting. If I don’t get up there soon, my boss might literally kill me.”
I wave him off. “Totally get it. It was nice meeting you. Thanks for saving me.”
“I hope I see you around.”
“If you’re lucky.”
Chuckling, Enzo shakes his head and steps around me. I take a deep breath, forcing myself not to look at his ass as he walks away and heads toward the elevator. I only make it five feet when I hear his light accent boom through the lobby. “Try not to dig and walk. Would hate to not be there to save you next time.”
I tilt my head back and laugh, ignoring the looks of everyone else in the lobby. I spin around and walk back toward the doors, waving my hand over my head as I go. “Goodbye, Enzo.”
I think I’m really,reallygoing to like this job.
4
Enzo
“You guys, I think I’m in love!” I yell down the hall as I walk right past my office toward Luca’s at the end.
Clara laughs but doesn’t bother to ask what I’m talking about as I approach her desk in front of his office door. She’s more than used to my antics by now. “Good morning, Enzo.”
“Morning, Claire Bear.”
“You’re late,” she sing-songs.
“It’s not like he can start without me.” I shoot her a wink and push open Luca’s door, not bothering to knock.
“Well, well, well. Look who decided to grace us with his presence at”—Luca glances down at his watch—“ten in the morning.”
I sit down on the chair on the other side of his desk, making myself comfortable. “Oh, shut the hell up. You know good and well that I had a meeting across town this morning.” We’re in the process of buying outStyle Usmagazine, one of the top fashion magazines in the country. I all but closed the deal this morning with their board; all that’s left is for them to sign on the dotted line, and it will be ours.
“Everything good to go, then?”
“Of course it is. You sentme. They just want their lawyers to look over everything one more time. But that’s not what’s important. Didn’t you hear me?”
“The entire floor heard you, Enz.” Luca tries to pin me with a glare, but we’ve been best friends since we were in our mothers’ wombs. I know when he’s fighting back a smile.
“You’re in love with someone new at least once a week,” Dante adds nonchalantly. I look over to find him manspreading on the couch against thewindow, the muscles in his chest straining against his black button-up as he drapes his arms along the back of the couch.
