Page 37 of Under His Protection

“Should I wait for George?” I asked her.

“God, you’re so clueless. He’s off today. He has a doctor appointment.”

I nodded, wincing. “Right. That root canal appointment.” I shrugged, striding toward the door and hoping it was nothing I’d need to deal with. My stomach growled, and I would get hangry at any second since I worked out hard this morning downstairs.

After I undid the locks and put my faith in the fact that no one could come here without passing the gates, then also the perimeter guards patrolling the perimeter, I pulled open one half of the old double doors.

A slim brunette stood there expectantly. Her sneer suggested disdain at seeing me answering. Despite the breeze in the air, her styled hair remained perfect and smooth, in place. Beneath her expertly applied makeup, her skin glowed, but the too-puffy lips she curled in annoyance were so fake that I wondered if she could tell she was moving them.

“Hello?”

Her face twisted some more, contorting her cringe into a grimace. “Excuse me?”

What? I raised my brows. “Hello?”

“Why aren’t you in uniform?” she demanded.

“Uniform?” I glanced to the side, catching Eva’s eye. She remained to my right, out of sight from this visitor at the door. Rolling her eyes and crossing her arms, she stayed out of it.

“I don’t have a uniform,” I said slowly, wondering if she was unhinged or lost. “Can I help you?”

“Aren’t you a housekeeper?”

I sighed, losing patience. “No. I’m not. No solicitors, please.” Slowly closing the door, I chalked this off as an oddity. How a saleslady got past security was beyond me.

“What?” She slammed her hand on the door, keeping it open. “I’m not selling anything.” She held a bag up. The crinkly paper sticking out of the container showed that it was a baked good of some kind from a fancy bakery. “I’m here to see Dante.”

“You are?”

She huffed. “Yes. For our lunch date.”

I narrowed my eyes. If anyone could be claiming a date with that man, it would’ve been me. Falsely, in the name of make-believe, but still. He was mine.

“No, you’re not.”

She dropped her jaw. “Excuse me?”

I set one hand on my hip. “You’re not here for any date with him.”

“Says who?”

I shot her an amused look. “Me.”

“Who the hell are you?”

“His girlfriend.”

For several minutes, she laughed so hard that tears leaked out of her eyes. I stood there, waiting until she calmed down. Trying to shove inside, she shook her head. “Get out of my way.”

I slapped my hand on the doorframe and locked my elbow. It served as a very physical blockade that prevented her from coming any closer.

“No.”

“You are not his girlfriend.” She shook her head, like the joke was on me.

I stared her down. If she was looking for a pushover, she wouldn’t find one now in me. I wasn’t Dante’s anything, not really, but this was the role he expected me to carry out. I had no idea who this woman was, so I bet I had to maintain this falsehood with her, too.

“He’s waiting for me,” she insisted hotly.

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