Page 53 of Love Among the Ruins
CHAPTERFIFTEEN
DOMINIC
Dominic strode past Linus who was talking to Miranda at her desk.
He went into his office and dropped his briefcase to the floor, irritation crawling up his spine. He was tired and hot and bothered.
Linus traipsed in after him. “You saw Galatis without me?”
“You weren’t here.” Linus’s self-importance mingled with a hint of his desperation, and pissed Dominic off more than the heat and Galatis’ conduct had. Stripping off his shirt, he reached for a clean one and slipped it on.
“I’m sorry, but my wife is seven months pregnant and my two-year-old was sick with the vomiting bug. I had to stay and look after them.”
“It’s fine.” Dominic did his buttons up and sat down, then turned the table fan on. The AC here was dire, and he could feel heat starting to creep along his skin.
“It’s not fine. I will not let you down again.”
He tapped his keyboard and waited for his computer screen to come back to life. A ton of new emails stared back at him. Dominic’s eye caught on a slew of them from his father. These were urgent and he needed to tend to them now.
He had a conference call with his father later on. What he didn’t need was Linus hovering around asking him a million and one questions. “Don’t worry about it.”
“The little one threw up all over me before I could call to let you—”
“I said it’s not a problem.” Either Linus was tone deaf and stupid or he was even more desperate than ever to please Dominic. “Why are you still here?”
“You took the new girl?” The man didn’t even bother to hide the condescending tone in his voice.
“Yes.”
Linus looked hurt. His eyes going from side to side as he tried to process this. “My mother will come and stay with me. This won’t happen again.”
His mother coming to stay with him? Jesus. “Such drastic action is not needed.”
Linus held up his hands in a placating manner. “It’s okay. You are a busy man, Dominic, an important man, and I am available at your disposal.”
“There’s no need to flatter me. Please stop.”
“I’m sorry.”
Dominic wished the man would leave. They were done talking.
“You won’t have to take that girl with you again,” said Linus, never one to get the hint.
“Her name is Eleni, and I will do as I want.”
“Of course, Dominic.” Linus agreed, a little too quickly.
“I’m busy. Is there anything else?” He prayed not. Linus shook his head. “Then close the door behind you.”
Dominic sat back, contemplating the non-event with Galatis. The man had wasted his goddamn time. Talked about his newest grandchild, born yesterday. Had showed him photos of the baby on his phone. Dominic had remained calm, even in the face of such absurdity. Such blatant misuse of his time. It had been short, that had been the good part, but they hadn’t discussed business at all, and then the old man had said he was too hot to think. When Dominic had tried to bring up business matters, Galatis had chided him and told him he was too desperate.
It made him wonder if he had sounded like Linus had just now.
He grew pensive, thinking about Eleni. The journey had been less troublesome. Quieter. She wasn’t as annoying as Linus who spoke too much and tried to ingratiate himself with Dominic. Eleni talked, but her conversation he could handle. Found himself interested in it.
He had half a mind to take her along with him on the other meetings. It would make a change for her, and it would be better for him.
Linus could cause problems. But Dominic was the boss. He shouldn’t have to worry about these things.
