Page 69 of Tour Wars
“I know it’s a short video,” she added, “but Davis said he’d post more later about our excursions to Matera and Paestum and a few other stops. That stuff takes a while to put together. In the meantime, this is ideal. Even if he doesn’t have many followers, his base has been growing steadily.”
“Normally, we’d be thrilled,” Angelo said. “An honest review from a travel influencer can go a long way, but not if it’s earned through illicit means.”
Illicit means?Emilia’s spine stiffened. “Are you suggesting I bribed Davis? I don’t have that kind of money. If I did, then I’d be the one going on these tours instead of serving as a guide.”
“I never said you bribed him with money,” Angelo retorted.
What the fuck?
As the realization hit her, the shock froze Emilia in place. A rush of heat enveloped her, making her cheeks flame with discomfort. When she regained the ability to speak, her mouth was so dry she could barely form the words. “Are…are you suggesting I slept with Davis?”
Giada crossed her arms. “He’s not suggesting. He knows it happened, you little tramp.”
“I’d just prefer if you admitted it outright,” Angelo said.
Emilia sprang to her feet, her distress turning to outrage. “There’s nothing to admit. What makes you thinkanythinghappened?”
“Sit down, Miss Flores,” Angelo barked.
She did as he said but glared at him. “That’s Dr. Flores to you.”Asshole.
“This morning, Luca asked to meet with us,” Dr. Roberti said. “He’s the one who showed us the video. At first, we were extremely pleased, until he told us what you’d done. Perhaps you didn’t realize it, but he was keeping a careful eye on you. He said your behavior with Davis was wildly inappropriate. Flirting with him. Sneaking off for a late-night tryst at the hotel pool. And spending the last night of the tour seducing him.”
“But I didn’t—”
“Luca caught you doing the walk of shame back from Davis’ room at five in the morning,” Giada said. “Do you deny it?”
I don’t answer to you, bitch.She kept her focus on the Roberti brothers. “On the last morning of the tour, Davis texted to tell me he was leaving, and I went to say goodbye. My messy appearance was because I’d fallen asleep in my clothes while watching a movie. But that was it. You want me to call Davis? I can do it right now, and he’ll verify nothing happened.”
“Like we’d believe him?” Angelo asked. “The fact is you not only broke the rules, but you also did it in a way that could compromise us as a tour company. Can you imagine what people would think if they learned our guides were exchanging sexual favors for ratings? It would tarnish our name in the tourism industry.”
Emilia was tempted to mention she’d heard rumors to that effect about Mateo, but she didn’t say anything. For all she knew, they were just rumors, and she wasn’t about to drag down a guide she’d never met.
She took a deep breath, trying to respond calmly. Yelling at the Robertis would only aggravate them even more. “I understand your concern. You put the rules in place for a reason. That’s why I followed them during the tour. Davis and I were friends but nothing more. If he gave us a high rating, it’s because we did a great job and made the tour fun.”
When they didn’t respond, she held her breath, hoping they’d believe her.
Angelo shook his head. “It’s your word against Luca’s. If I have any hope of gaining his father’s investment in our company, I need to appease him. Therefore, I have no choice but to relieve you of your Buon Viaggio duties.”
So he wanted to play it that way?Then the fucking gloves were off. She stood again, more incensed than ever. “You want the truth? Luca filled your head with this bullshit because I bruised his ego. He hit on me when we were in Rome, and I turned him down. If I’d gone to bed with him, then we wouldn’t be having this conversation. This is his way of getting back at me.”
“You’re such a liar,” Giada spat out. “Luca would never behave like that.”
“Oh, please,” Emilia said. “You’re the one who told me to wear lipstick and show off my cleavage when he was on my tour in Pompeii. You’re the one who asked if I was keeping him happy. Obviously, if I had, I wouldn’t be getting fired.”
“That’s enough.” Angelo pointed to the doorway. “Get out.”
“Fine. I’d rather work as an archaeologist anyway. That’s what I was hired for.” Fuck Angelo and his stupid tour company. If he and his sniveling lackey Giada were going to slut-shame her for something she hadn’t done, she never wanted to work for them again.
Dr. Roberti stood abruptly and marched over to her. He got up in her face, so close she could smell the onions on his breath. “Did you not hear my brother? You’re fired. Not just from Buon Viaggio but from the entire project. You have an hour to pack up your things and leave Pompeii.”
Tears welled up in her eyes. Hot, furious tears, sharp and stinging. Her throat closed up in rage, the painful knot making it hard to swallow.
Being wrongfully accused sucked. Being made to suffer for it sucked even more. She blinked, trying to hold the tears at bay. She’d rather cut off her arm than let these men see her cry. “That’s not right. You hired me because of my skills and training as an archaeobotanist. My position here has nothing to do with Buon Viaggio.”
“I don’t care,” Dr. Roberti said. “You cross anyone in my family, and you cross me. You’re out. I’ll see to it that you never work in Pompeii again.”
No.
