Page 57 of Diavolo

"Impressive," praised one of the Chinese board members. "Which hospital do you work at now?"

Elyse's smile froze. "Unfortunately, Mr. Zhao, I'm not employed in a hospital at the moment."

The Mayor chuckled derisively. "C'est dommage!At least, you still have your looks."

She side-eyed the Mayor as though he was an unruly child. "Clearly, they're all I have left."

The Mayor laughed heartily. Her sarcasm had flown right over his head. Alessandro cast a wary look in her direction.

The CEO challenged, "So, Dr. Romero, you are no longer a practicing surgeon?"

"No," she answered quietly, "I'm not."

"A shame."

Then, the men lost interest in her and moved on to discuss other topics. Alessandro kept his gaze on Elyse, though. He dipped his head to her ear and murmured so that only she could hear, "Do you miss it?"

She whispered back, "Miss what?"

"Slicing up bodies and sewing them back together."

Elyse clicked her tongue. "You make me sound like a serial killer."

"Do not change the subject," he chided. "Answer me. Do you miss working in hospitals?"

She shrugged. "Sometimes. A little."All the time. A lot.

Alessandro dropped a light kiss on her shoulder and promised, "Once my business dealings are settled in a year or two, I will buy you a hospital to do with whatever you like."

She glanced up at him in shock. "What?"

He smiled down at her. "Would it please you?"

Elyse didn't know if she would be around in a year or two. She also doubted that Alessandro would follow through on such an extravagant promise. He probably promised the moon and stars to all of his ex-lovers. Still, the fact that he noticed her unhappiness was quite sweet. She pecked him on the cheek. His face flushed ever so slightly.

"That's kind of you to offer," Elyse said softly, "but unnecessary."

"As I have said before," Alessandro grunted thickly, "I would move mountains for you."

He then whisked her away to meet some of the other guests. Elyse greeted Morocco's Ambassador and Australia's Ambassador to France. Afterward, Alessandro introduced her to a pair of sharply dressed but intimidating-looking gentlemen from Colombia who seemed to be cut from a slightly different cloth from the diplomats.Señor GarciaandSeñor Castilloclaimed to be involved in the agricultural industry.

Alessandro seemed to know the Colombians quite well. Suspiciously well. This prompted Elyse to pay extra close attention toSeñor GarciaandSeñor Castillo. When the two men talked amongst themselves, in terms of accent and slang, their Colombian Spanish differed a little from her Mexican Spanish, but their conversation wasn't difficult to follow. The wordnievestuckwith Elyse. She knew it translated directly to "snow," but the word could also be interpreted as slangfor cocaine. When Elyse finally found a moment alone with Alessandro, she couldn't contain her suspicions any longer. She glanced his way. "May I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"Do those men work for the cartel?"

He paused. "It is possible."

"Are they the ones who want to hurt you?"

He sighed, "No, they are friends."

She arched an eyebrow. "Is there anyone around us who isn't friendly?"

Alessandro's expression darkened significantly. He obviously didn't want to answer.

"I'm in a room full of killers and criminals tonight thanks to you," Elyse pointed out. "The least you can do is tell mewhoI need to stay away from."

---