Page 25 of Resisting the Temptation
“I said, you can go now.”
“Are you seriously still pissed off at me? Even after I apologized? And complimented you?”
“What day is today?”
What?“September fourth?”
“Ah, well, according to my calendar, my ‘give-a-fucks’ are on vacation until October. So, I accept your apology, but if you think that qualifies as a compliment, you’re sorely mistaken.”
I truly don’t understand how this woman is the same sweet submissive girl I first met at the club. It makes me wonder which side of her is the real Emma because surely they can’t both be.
Right?
“Fine. It was really admirable you were able to relate to him so quickly and get him to tell you the story about his wife. He’s never once mentioned his wife to any of us, so it was cool you got him to open up. I’m…” I swallow harshly. “I’mimpressedwith you. You’ve done a really great job this last month. You’re a vital part of our team, and I’m sorry for making it seem otherwise.” The words burn coming out of my mouth, not because they’re a lie but because they’re true.
Emma blinks, her cheeks tingeing a light shade of pink before she clears her throat. “I—uh… Thank you. It means a lot coming from you. I appreciate it.”
Having reached my word quota for the day, I simply nod and leave her office.
After the disaster that was this morning with Emma, I’ve been holed up in my office with the glass opaque, so everyone leaves me alone. I should be done with theseinvoices and the plans for the next phase of the townhome complex I’m overseeing, but I can’t focus.
I hate that I hurt Emma’s feelings.
A lot more than I want to admit.
I’m not used to caring about the feelings of my coworkers, but I was an asshole.
I’ve just about given up on getting anything productive done when there’s a knock on my door, and Papà waltzes in like he owns the place.
I guess he does.
“Ciao, figliolo.”Hello, son.
“Ciao, Papà.”Hello, Father.
Papà settles in the chair across from me, giving me thorough onceover and nodding his head.
“It’s been a month since Emma was added to the team.”
“Yes, it has.”
“And?” He raises an eyebrow at me.
“And I’ll admit, you made a good choice.”
Papà grins and claps his hands together. “I told you! I knew she would be an asset to us. And she landed a job with Derek. That’s going to put our company on the map for other developers.”
I flinch at the mention of Derek, the guilt over saying she only got the job because of her looks bubbles in my stomach and makes me feel ill.
“She did well,” is all I say.
“Well, she has to work harder to be taken seriously. You haven’t exactly been easy on her.”
“You heard?”
“Of course I heard. And you’re lucky I don’t tell yourMamáabout what you said. She wouldslap you over the head for being so rude to a sweet woman like Emma. We raised you better.”
I groan at the subtle threat. “I know, you andMamàraised us well. I don’t know why, but Emma just gets under my skin and drives me crazy.”
