Page 26 of Frayed Bonds

I sniffle from the cold and rush in. As soon as I enter, I’m engulfed by the warmth of the store.

“Next,” the young barista calls me forward. “What can I get for you?”

I open my mouth to reply, but I slowly realise I don't have an answer for the male in front of me. If his face wasn't enough for me to want to crawl into a hole, the line of customers that magically appeared behind me was.

“You don't by any chance know what Ambrose Vitale's usual coffee order is?” I ask in a hushed tone, feeling stupid for even having to ask.

His face morphs from impatience to confusion all in a matter of seconds.

“No? Okay, I didn't think so. Uhm, can I get a double espresso and a cappuccino to go?” I ask, and the male nods slowly.

I hand him my card, and the nauseous feeling is back. I question what the headlines would say if I let this exchange slip to the media.

Europe's Youngest Billionaire Uses Assistant For Free Coffee?

Most Eligible Bachelor Can’t Afford Espresso?

I entertain the idea of headlines all while waiting for the drinks. It isn't until the TV in the centre of the coffee shop shows Antonio and Adriano stepping out of a black car in front of Vitale Holdings, that I stop. The headline across the bottom of the screen flashes, "Vitale Holding's Shaken as Investors Jump Ship Amidst Turbulent Times."

My brows furrow, I wonder if that’s what they were meeting about at Scala. The entire meeting had quite a tense atmosphere when I walked in. It would explain why Ambrose appeared to be mid-argument with Diego at the table.

“Valerie,” Another barista calls while holding out my drinks. “Any sugar?”

“Yes, please. Three. Do you have any salt?” I ask, and she nods and smiles politely.

I spend the entire speed-walk back googling everything about why the Vitale investors are pulling out. Although a lot of it is speculation and rumours from competitors, they all seem to agree on the fact that it's because of Ambrose's reputation.

The front of the building is still surrounded by a few paparazzi by the time I get back, and I just about manage to slip past unnoticed.

As the numbers above the doors of the elevator rise, so do my anger levels. I cannot believe he made me walk four blocks, in heels at that and still had me pay for his drink. Some billionaire.

I stomp over to his office and bang on the door, before opening it and revealing floor-to-ceiling windows, with the most breathtaking views of Tevici.

The views almost claim my full attention, until my eyes meet his less-than-impressed jade green ones.

“It isn’t polite to walk into a room without acknowledgement,” he says. “But it seems to be your speciality.”

“And it isn’t polite to make your assistant walk four blocks to buy a usual coffee order that she doesn’t know, and have her pay for it herself.”

His brows furrow, “You walked?”

I’m stunned at his change in mood, and it freezes me in my spot in the middle of his office.

I'm directly in front of his desk, and his eyes rake up my knee-length pink body con dress covered by my coat. My outfit is a contrast to the weather in Tevici lately, clearly since I've left the weather has shifted to the cooler side of things.

“Yes, I did, how else was I supposed to get there?”

“The driver,” he states matter-of-factly

It’s back again, the anger. My eye nearly twitches as I stare at him. Ambrose Vitale has made me feel more anger and irritation in the last hour than I ever have in my twenty-five years of life.

“How was I supposed to know about the driver? Besides, you said it was down the block.”

“You could've asked. And as for the money, you could have asked for that as well,” he explains, slouching back in his seat.

“No, I couldn’t. Especially since you decided to run into your office like a scared little girl.” I scoff at his nonchalant attitude and place the coffee on his desk.

Amusement is clear in his eyes as he stares at the cup, and then back at me.

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