Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 92702 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92702 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
“Thank you so much. You’ve taken a stressful situation and turned it into a lovely meeting.” I stand and offer my hand to shake. “It’s been a real pleasure meeting with you. And I would love to meet again sometime to discuss the other arrangements we hinted at.”
“I would be happy to speak with you at a time you find convenient, Mr. De Luca.”
Alicia winds her arm through mine. “Now, babe, you said it yourself earlier. She’s a busy woman.”
“I’m not too busy for that,” she assures us.
“I didn’t think you would be.” I leave her with a wink before escorting my wife from the office. We aren’t out in the hall yet before I can’t help laughing softly.
If I didn’t know better, I’d think my loving wife is jealous.
9
ALICIA
I have so many reasons to hate Enzo, but right now? The fact that I’m swamped with work is the primary reason. Why did he have to make such a big deal of me making up all the work? Couldn’t he have sweet-talked that cat lady at the administration office into letting me slide a little? The way she was looking at him, I have no doubt she would’ve gone for it. The woman’s tongue was practically lolling out of her mouth, for God’s sake. It was pathetic.
But no, he couldn’t be bothered. He probably gets off on knowing I’ll have all this work to make up.
My head is still spinning hours later, stretched out on my bed, for lack of a desk, textbooks and syllabi spread out in front of me. I might as well get used to not sleeping since that’s the only way I’ll be able to catch up. All thanks to him, of course. Nobody asked him to kidnap me and hold me hostage like he did. This is all his fault. He should be the one doing the homework, not me.
Ugh. Yes, I’m being a baby. All things considered, I doubt anybody could blame me.
“How’s my little student doing in here?” The man is loving this, poking his head into the room and grinning when he sees the mess around me. “I know I shouldn’t interrupt when you’re so busy, but I couldn’t help it.”
“I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself,” I mutter, my teeth clenched. “The more you interrupt me, the longer I’ll spend digging my way out of the hole you put me in.”
He lowers his brow, and I know that was a mistake. Not that I needed to have it pointed out to me. Smarting off like that is a calculated risk. Right now, I’m willing to take it. He needs to hear what an asshole he is.
Rather than back out into the hallway like any sane person would do, he steps fully into the room. “In case you aren’t aware. You’re treading on thin ice. I’m already displeased with the way you conducted yourself back at the school.”
“What are you talking about?” I ask, guarded and searching my memory.
“Don’t play dumb with me. You were against me being placed in your file as a contact person. You made the mistake of voicing that disapproval in front of the woman who was helpful enough to pull strings for me.” He folds his arms, and I can’t help noticing how it makes his sleeves bulge. This is a strong man, a powerful man. He’s proven it to me countless times already, hasn’t he?
“You took me by surprise,” I point out. My voice is shaking. Dammit, I don’t want him to hear how he’s affecting me.
“You’re going to need to learn to hide your true feelings if you’ll have any hope of surviving our marriage.” There’s not so much as a twitch of his lips to tell me he’s joking. The man is dead-ass serious. A chill runs down my spine at the implications.
“I won’t talk back anymore,” I vow. “Really. If I have any questions, I’ll wait until we’re alone to ask you about them. I won’t say anything in front of people.”
“I’m afraid I can’t believe you, though I appreciate your assurance.” He shakes his head slowly. It’s the flatness in his voice that makes my blood run cold. “You aren’t abiding by our agreement.”
“How so? I was confused and concerned that Catherine lady was going to see through your request. It sounded sort of abusive, honestly. Don’t you see that? Red flags all over the place.”
He raises an eyebrow—something tells me I’m not getting through to him. “I had it under control. The woman was in the palm of my hand.” I look down at my books, but not in time to hide the eye roll I can’t hold back. “What? You don’t like the idea of me finding it so easy to make her do what I wanted?”
“No. It was kind of pitiful, if anything. The way she caved.” The way he took advantage of it. I can’t say that out loud. I might as well ask him to hurt me.