Page 63 of Frayed Bonds

When I check my phone it’s a little after 9:30 a.m., and my stomach almost does a flip when I realise it means Valerie should be right outside.

A smirk tugs on my lips as I wonder what her reactions will be like today. I’ve always enjoyed teasing her even when we were younger, but now that she’s got more of an attitude and isn't afraid to dish it out right back at me, it’s also become a form of sadistic fun to see how riled up she gets.

When I step out of the office, her desk is still empty, not even a laptop, which could've at least meant she was in the office but not at her desk.

Pulling out my phone, I dial the number that’s been lying dormant in my phone since the night of the dinner.

“Hey,” her voice says.

“Valerie?”

“You’ve reached Val, sorry I’m not able to–” I groan and click the call off.

My phone pings with a reminder of the meeting that she set up to make sure I wouldn’t forget.

“Cazzo,” I curse under my breath and head into my office to gather what I need and head off.

Chapter twenty-three

Ambrose

“Thank you so much for your time again, Horatio.”

“Thank you. The more I hear, the more impressed I am.” He smiles as he shakes mine and my brother’s hands. “We’ll be in touch.”

“Something’s off about him,” Adriano says the second we’re alone in the elevator.

I look over at Antonio who rolls his eyes before looking over at Adriano.

“Why do you think that?” I sigh.

“Yeah? Everything he brought in is completely legit?” Antonio adds.

Adriano shrugs. “I just do.”

I curse under my breath and step out of the elevator, leaving both of them behind as I walk towards my office. Adriano's gut feeling is hardly ever wrong. So for him to say that leaves a sinking feeling in my gut about what to do.

The sinking stops when a vision of pink flashes in the corner of my eye.

“Running in your time zone today?” I smirk as I step up to her desk.

She stares up at me with a scowl and her brows furrowed

“I was about to send out a search party for you.” That’s only partially a joke because I was genuinely concerned since she was running this late without mentioning anything.

She scoffs, “If you're pissed about a lack of caffeine, you don't need to act like a dick, I’ll go get your order in sec.”

My brows furrow. “Val-” It’s too late, she storms off and I wonder if my joke crossed a line.

***

A coffee cup slams onto my desk half an hour later, and I look up to find a particularly pissed-off Valerie.

“Do I have to worry about this being your attempt at a salted caramel latte again?”

“Only assholes get salted caramel lattes, so figure it out for yourself.” She rolls her eyes and turns to exit. Before she can even make it to the door, I grab her wrist and she stops walking.

“Take a seat, Valerie,” I say, and she sighs before doing as she’s told.

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