AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Go get me some coffee,” I said. “There’s a kitchen down the hall and around the corner to the right. Why don’t you get both of us some? After last night, I’m exhausted. I know you are too.”
Ash fidgeted with his fingers. “I don’t want to go by myself.”
“I promise you’ll be okay. Down the hall, to the right. A kitchen,” I reiterated. “There are cameras all over this building. I’ll be able to see you the whole way.”
He calmed a bit. “Oh, okay. I’ll be right back then.”
When he tried to walk away, I grabbed his hand and dragged him back. “No one is going to hurt you when you’re with me,” I said. “You understand?”
Ash searched my face before he blew out a breath. “Yes, sir.”
“Keep saying yes, sir, and we’re going to make good use of this desk,” I laughed.
His face blossomed into redness. “Come on,” he groaned.
“Come on what? My face? Your face? Where do you want it?”
Ash wrenched out of my grasp. “Asshole.”
“What was that?”
He looked at me as if contemplating what he’d just said. To my surprise, his eyes took on a mischievous sparkle. “I said you’re an asshole.”
I scoffed. “Rude. Gonna have to take a rude fee out of the next fuck.”
“Come on!” he shouted.
My stomach tightened as I laughed so hard it hurt. Ash stormed out of the room, slamming the door after him. I snorted.
“Ah, fuck he’s so gullible. What the hell?”
I grabbed my phone and dialed Weston’s number. The laughter only died down when he answered. Just like that, I was slammed back into the professional persona I had created for myself.
“Giancarlo,” he grunted.
“Mr. Weston! How are you?”
Silence.
“Hello?” I asked.
“Are we pretending what went down didn’t go down?”
I feigned innocence. “No idea what you mean,” I said, dismissing the conversation. “Hollister just came by to see me.” I let my words hang in the air as silence rang between us. “Did you say anything about our agreement?”
“No!” he shouted before he cleared his throat and settled down. “I mean, of course not. Your family was awarded the contract fairly. If Mr. Hollister has an issue, he can come and speak to me personally.”
I stared straight ahead, analyzing every word he said. One thing I knew for sure was that Weston was full of shit. Every word that dripped from his goddamn lips was crap that shouldn’t be taken seriously.
“Good, good,” I said, leaning back in my chair, rocking in it as I laced my fingers on top of my stomach. “I would hate to think you’ve sent him here to attack me. That looks… questionable.” I sat up. “Why don’t we iron out the rest of the details about the hospital today? I have some free time after lunch. How does three sound?”
“Yes, that sounds fine,” he muttered. “When do you plan to begin construction?”
“I’ll come with a crew. My men are the best.”
“That sounds good, Mr. Vitale. Thank you.”
He hung up the phone much too quickly. Weston was a shifty little bastard. I didn’t trust him as far as I could throw him, and the fucker would break both my arms if I tried. Pinching the bridge of my nose, I rocked back and forth in my chair.
