Page 47 of Ruthless Touch

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Gideon

Marcello Angeloni agreed to a meeting with me this morning, so I reluctantly leave Aria in bed and get ready to deal with him. After hearing what Cesare had to tell me about the youngest Angeloni, I’m finally in a position to fix this problem he has with the Rule family.

Sasha meets me in my office earlier than usual since it’s a special occasion, and she doesn’t hesitate to ask about how things are going with Aria. “So you look happy this morning. Is that because you’re about to lay waste to the house of Angeloni, or does it have more to do with that beautiful creature you’re keeping all to yourself in your penthouse?”

I smile but don’t answer her question directly. “Speaking of that, Aria is no longer required to stay in the penthouse when she’s not with me, so if you see her somewhere in the hotel, you don’t have to worry.”

My assistant’s eyes open wide in shock. “Really? You aren’t allowing her out of the hotel on her own, though, are you? What about that ex of hers?”

“Relax,” I say as I take my seat behind my desk. “She knows she has to be accompanied by one of my security guards if she wants to leave the hotel. We’ve come to an agreement.”

“That’s great. How did that happen?”

Sasha takes a seat across from me as she expects an explanation. When I don’t immediately offer one, she pushes me. “Well? Don’t leave me hanging here, Gideon. You looked like you were going to tear off someone’s head yesterday, and now you’re telling me you two have come to an agreement. What happened?”

“I hate to admit it, but my brother brought everything to a head. If he hadn’t pulled his usual bullshit with Aria, we wouldn’t have had our discussion last night. I guess I have to thank Alex this time.”

That makes her roll her eyes in disgust. “Don’t say that. He shouldn’t get any credit for anything after what he did with her. I swear he’s worse than that private investigator of yours.”

Her irritation with my brother for me makes me chuckle. “Feel free to call him what you want. No need to hold back. I hold no brotherly love for him.”

“I would call him a pig, but I think he’s worse than that. Why does he take every opportunity to make your life miserable? What did you ever do to him?”

With a shrug, I answer her truthfully. “I have no idea. I can’t remember a time when my older brother didn’t hate me. He’s no better with my sister either, although I don’t think he bothers much with Autumn anymore now that she’s at school. You’d think being the favorite child of my father would make him happy.”

Sasha levels her gaze on me and corrects my comment about Alex being my father’s favorite before I can. “I’ve seen your father around Autumn, Gideon. Trust me. She has him wrapped around her finger. Alex might be his favorite son, but his favorite child is definitely your sister.”

She’s right. My father adores my younger sister.

“Where does that leave me? I’m like some bastard stepchild, it seems.”

With a chuckle, she says, “Well, you always have your place as your mother’s favorite. And don’t bother arguing with me on that. Whenever your mother sees you, it’s like she’s seeing the sun rise for the first time. Take comfort in that, I guess.”

“I guess.”

I’ve had enough talking about my family. There’s a good reason I like living here with them all living far enough away so I don’t have to see them much.

“My guest is going to be here soon. I don’t want to be interrupted while he and I are talking. I don’t care who it is. No one is to bother us.”

She nods and hands me a sheet of paper. “Got it. Interrupters will be shot on sight. After you’re finished dealing with him, that’s the list of events going on at the hotel today. We’ve got a wedding this afternoon, an engagement party tonight, and all of that is after the two groups that are using the grand ballroom and the secondary ballroom for their lunch meetings.”

For a moment, I glance at the words, barely noting them before I set the paper on my desk in front of me. “You have all of this under control?”

Her face twists into a look of utter shock. “Really? How many years have I been handling all the events here at the hotel? I think I might be insulted, Gideon.”

I know Sasha well enough to be sure she’s not insulted, but I play her game anyway. “I’m sorry. What can I do to make it up to you? Would you like an extra day off this week? Tamsin wasn’t so bad the last time you had a vacation day. I think I could muddle through without you for a single day.”

A wicked smile brightens her face. “No. That’s not what I want, and you know it.”

Again with the Aria business. The two of them are nothing short of relentless.

“No, and I’ve told you to stop asking. You’ve even got her thinking you like her.”

That makes her even happier. “Good! What did she say?”

“She said she doesn’t want to have my assistant constantly hitting on her. That’s what she said.”

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