Page 2 of Strictly Business

Her eyes soften a little, and her shoulders fall with a sigh. “And that’s fine, Michaela. You’ve had a lot going on, at least that’s what you say, but I need to know you can handle this despite everything else. If not, I’ll find someone who can.”

“I can, I promise. It won't happen again. Not even one minute."

“You have one month, Michaela.”

Fuck, she said it.

“Two.”

“One.”

“One and a half?” I try one last negotiation, but Nina doesn’t budge, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. I can’t blame her; she’s given me more chances than anyone else would. To ask more of her wouldn’t be fair.

“What's going on with you?”

"Nothing,” I groan, and it feels like a child on the receiving end of a lecture from their parents. “Everything is fine, Nin.”

Nina’s brow quirks in response. She knows I’m not telling her the truth, but will she ask? Nope. She’ll let it go…for now. She has too much other shit going on to worry about whatever mess I’ve created. But, I have to be careful because her trust and patience with me are starting to wear thin.

“Is David home?” she asks changing the subject. “You’re welcome to bring him over for dinner later. Haven’t seen him in a while, Kai will be there. He’s picking up Ophelia.”

“No, he’s in D.C. I don’t think I’ll make it tonight, Nin; I have some stuff to do around the house.”

“Do it tomorrow.” She bats her bright green eyes at me. Normally, that might work, but I’m not in the mood to spend the night with the Villa siblings. “You can’t skip out on dinner; Ophelia would be heartbroken.” Nina sits behind her desk and the wall between boss and best friend comes down. “You do look kinda tired, Mic. Why don’t you go home after you meet with Angela? Get some rest, and come back refreshed tomorrow. I can take care of whatever they need around here.”

“When’s the last time you ran an office?” I meant it more as a joke, but I can tell by the tightening of her jaw she doesn’t find the humor in it. “I just mean, you’re not running them — the offices. Not really. You have other people do the dirty work for you. There’s a difference.”

Nina laces her fingers together and leans forward on the glass top. “I have ten offices across this country, and I know what’s happening in each one, but please, if you have something to say, ti suggerisco di sputarlo.”

I stay quiet — it seems like the safer option right now.

The Italian flows quickly, and without pause, I have a hard time keeping up with no idea what she just said, but I know it’s nothing good. I swallow the lump in my throat. Honestly, I’m not sure what possesses me to do it, but the filter between my brain and the mouth falters when the next thought enters my mind. “Just because you’re upset you haven’t fucked your husband in over a month doesn’t mean you can take it out on the rest of us.”

“Fuck you, Michaela." The calmness when she speaks doesn’t match the look in her eye, and it sets my nerves on edge.

Okay, so maybe what I said was a little uncalled for (a lot uncalled for) and highly unprofessional, but she should know I didn’t mean it that way. “Nina—”

“Un mese, Michaela,” she says through gritted teeth. “Un mese. Se non riesci a mettere insieme la tua merda—” A knock interrupts her before Bella steps into the office.

“Hey, Nina… Oh! Sorry, I didn’t —”

“It’s fine, Bella. Michaela was leaving.” Nina glares at me, “Go home and get some sleep. Be ready for our meeting with the Adler twins tomorrow morning.”

She doesn’t need to add the “or else.” It’s pretty obvious.

Nina raises her hand when I try to apologize, and I take the hint. Bella pats my arm in what is meant to be comforting as I pass through the door, but it only makes a new wave of nausea roll over me.

“Bella,” I hear Nina say. “Tell Angela she’ll be meeting with me today. You can send her to my office when she arrives.”

Chapter Two

MICHAELA

“HONEY, I’M HOME,” I say, not expecting an answer when I open the door to my condo. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s home. 201 East End Ave, Apartment 13E checked all my boxes when I moved to NYC two years ago: Upper East Side, low fees, over 400 square feet, at least one bedroom, and parking. Settled on the thirteenth floor, it has incredible views of a park and the river from the living room and a private balcony. I was ready to sign the papers when I stepped inside.

The condo is cozy; that’s how Mom describes it anyway. It isn’t Nina’s four-thousand-square-foot penthouse at the Plaza. Yes, you heard me. The Plaza. New York City landmark hotel where "nothing unimportant ever happens." That Plaza. Not long after signing the paperwork on the New York office. The whole thing seemed fitting, really (very Nina), Nick wasn’t kidding when he nicknamed her Princess.

When she decided to purchase a house in New York, Nick had initially been against it. “We don’t need this, Nina,” he said.

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