Page 166 of Hexed
Again, I’m alone and without a weapon. Bastien would murder me himself if he knew.
A beautiful woman with curved eyes and golden skin walks inside, her outfit screaming class, and her face warm andwelcoming. She smiles, a giant three-ring binder tucked into her side. “You must be Venesa.”
I raise a brow at her. “Depends on who you are, I suppose.”
Again, the elevator dings behind her and opens, men pouring out of the small space and walking into the room, filtering through the penthouse.
“What the hell is going on?”
“I’m Vivian, Mr. Marino’s interior designer.” She walks in farther, places her binder down on the coffee table, and claps her hands once. “Gentlemen, we need every piece of furniture taken out, immediately. Thank you!” she says in a singsong.
I blink at her.
Her smile drops. “Did he not tell you to expect me?”
“He did not, I’m afraid.”
“Well, maybe he wanted it to be a surprise. It’s not every day you get to go on a shopping spree and furnish a ten-thousand-square-foot penthouse.”
I squint at her, still unsure, and then I pick up my phone and dial his number.
“Piccola sirena.”
“I think you’re being robbed.”
I’m being serious, but all he does is laugh. “I sent her. Pick out whatever you like, make the place your own. Erase your cousin and everything she’s ever touched.”
I lift my brows, shocked he’s willing to get rid of what must be an exorbitantly expensive amount of furniture just to make sure I’m comfortable.
But you won’t hear me complaining.
After a lifetime of not being anyone’s first choice, it’s nice to be spoiled like this, and with the way he continues tokeepspoiling me, it’s something I could get used to. Quickly.
Honestly, I deserve it. I’m done with not putting myself first. And I know this thing with Enzo won’t last forever, but I’m sureas hell going to enjoy it while itdoeslast. Besides, I’ve never really lived in the lap of luxury, even though I’ve been a prisoner, forced to watch it from the inside.
“You’re sure?” I ask.
“Yes, baby. I’m sure. I gotta go, but I’ll be home tonight, and we’ll break in the new stuff.”
“You’re getting furniture I choose here today? How is that possible?”
He chuckles over the line. “How many times do I have to tell you I own this city before you believe me?”
I don’t know why that sentence turns me on, but it does. “That’s…incredibly attractive to me.”
“Oh?” His voice lowers. “What are you wearing?”
“Do you want the truth or want me to lie?”
He sighs. “The truth. I don’t have time to handle you the way I want right now.”
Emotion overwhelms me as I watch the movers take out furniture piece by piece. “Thank you for this. It’s…it means a lot. I’m not sure how to thank you properly.”
“You’re welcome, baby. You can thank me by spending as much as you can.”
I smile, and three words almost trip off the end of my tongue, but I bite them back at the last second.
When I hang up, Vivian is back in my face with a beaming grin and that thick binder. “Ready to spend his money?”
