Page 19 of Power Pucking Play

My carefully prepared speech dies on my lips when I see Gio himself sitting across from my boss, looking annoyingly comfortable in a designer suit.

I stop in the doorway, my heart pounding in my chest. What the hell is he doing here?

"Ah, Brookes," my boss says, grinning. "Glad you could join us. De Luca here was just telling me about Sal Carmine's event."

I blink, caught off guard. "He was?"

Gio turns, that infuriating smirk playing on his lips. "Don't look so surprised, Brookes. I can play nice when I want to."

"Could've fooled me," I mutter.

"Have a seat, Brookes," Charlie says, gesturing to the chair next to Gio.

I reluctantly take a seat, feeling like I'm walking into a trap. "What's this all about?"

Gio gives me a small nod before turning back to Charlie.

Charlie glances at Gio briefly before answering. "Gio has agreed to do the televised feature. He was just telling me how impressed he was with your handling of the situation at the event."

My jaw drops. "He what?"

Gio smirks, clearly enjoying my reaction. "It was a great save, Brookes. I have to admit, you impressed me."

I'm speechless, my brain trying to process this unexpected turn of events.

"So," Charlie continues. "I think it's only fair that Gio has a say in how his story is told on the show. And since you two seem to make a good team..."

I can't believe what I'm hearing. Is this really happening?

"Wait, so it's really happening?" I ask, still in shock.

Gio shrugs, leaning back in his chair. "What can I say? I'm full of surprises."

"Like a box of poisoned chocolates," I mutter under my breath.

Charlie ignores my comment and continues, "I thought it would be a great opportunity for both of you to work together on something positive. And who knows, maybe this will lead to more collaborations in the future."

I can feel Gio's eyes on me, waiting for my response. I know I should say yes, take this opportunity and run with it. But there's still that part of me that doesn't trust him, that wonders what his true intentions are.

In the end, I have nothing to lose and everything to gain. "Of course," I say through gritted teeth. "This is a great opportunity and I would be honored to work with Gio."

Charlie smiles, clearly pleased with our response. "Great! We'll start planning the segment tomorrow. And Brookes, I'll need you to write a draft for Gio's interview."

Gio raises an eyebrow at me, silently daring me to try and sabotage his segment. But I won't give him the satisfaction. I'll do my job professionally, even if it means working with someone I don't trust as far as I can throw.

As we leave the meeting, Gio falls into step next to me. "Looks like we're going to be spending a lot of time together," he says casually.

I keep walking, my high heels thudding against the carpeted floor. "I guess so. Though, it would have been great if you actually told me that we would be working together before springing it on me in front of my boss."

Gio chuckles, a deep warm sound. "Where's the fun in that? I wanted to see your reaction."

"You're lucky my reaction wasn't to 'accidentally' drop a cup of hot coffee on your lap." I glance over. "The thought is still tempting."

"Oh, come on, Brookes. I paid you a compliment by saying yes. Really. I liked your writing style and thought it would be a good fit for what you have planned."

I turn the corner, almost to my office. "And you couldn't just email me or call me back like a normal person?"

"I like to keep things interesting." He pauses. "Plus, doing it this way gave me an opportunity to see your pissed-off face again."

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