Page 17 of The Deal

In that position, her blouse puckers, giving me an ample view of the intricate lace covering her tits. Even the sight of that pisses me off because it’s lace and not inexpensive cotton.

Have I lost my goddamn mind?

I grate my back teeth together, snapping, “Get up.”

Her eyes widen slightly, and she pauses for the briefest moment before continuing forward … completely ignoring my command. That only angers me further. What is it with these disobedient women lately?

When she pouts her bottom lip, I stand, round my desk and reach down to grasp her elbow. “How did you get past my security?” I ask, helping her to her feet.

“I told them you wanted to see me.”

I arch an eyebrow, unimpressed. “So you lied?”

The fact that she was let in without checking with me first means someone’s head will roll. This is the kind of incompetence that puts lives at risk.

She grasps my tie, tugging on it slightly. “You seemed to enjoy having my lips wrapped around your cock last week, so I thought you might be interested in a redo … I know I am.”

I’ve yet to release my hold on her, so I turn and march across the room, bringing her with me.

When I fling the door open, Marco swings around in my direction. The look I give him is enough to let him know I’m unhappy. “Escort Miss Reynolds out of the building?—”

Ava gasps, cutting me off. “You’re firing me?”

My attention remains on Marco. “Tell Carissa I want to speak with her.”

Carissa is in charge of the bar staff here, so technically, Ava’s boss. I need to let her know she will be a woman down tonight.

“Sure thing, boss,” Marco says. “She told me you were expecting her.”

“She lied.”

“Fuck,” he mumbles under his breath. “I’m sorry, Mr Mancini, I thought?—”

“You thought wrong,” I growl. “I’ll deal with you later.”

He swallows thickly and nods, but I’m still confused byhis actions. He’s one of my best men, so I don’t understand why he’d take Ava’s word and send her in. A mistake like that in my world could cost lives.

Marco takes Ava off my hands, and I slam my office door in their faces, stalking back to my desk.

I drop heavily into my leather chair and lean back, rubbing a hand over my face. I should’ve known better than to get involved with her, so I’m as much to blame as anyone. I’ll get a sense of what she’s like as an employee from Carissa before deciding what to do. The last thing I need is a lawsuit on my hands.

My phone dings in my pocket, and I briefly consider ignoring it but decide against it. Complacency is a luxury I can’t afford.

I slide my phone out of my pocket and glance down at the screen, seeing a message from Antonio. The single word it contains has me leaping to my feet.

Antonio: Bingo!

Chapter 7

Chloe

“Is that a new fashion accessory?” Belinda, who handles the reception desk, asks as I pass through the accounting firm’s foyer, heading for the exit. “Very chic.”

“Ha ha! Very funny,” I retort, rolling my eyes.

It’s been a long day, but nothing unusual for me. My mornings start early—3 am, to be precise—Monday through Friday.

I clean a block of offices ten minutes from here. My first shift ends at seven. When I still had my car, I could catch an hour of sleep before heading to job number two—my regular nine-to-five. But this morning, instead of resting, I had to kill time at the McDonald’s down the road, nursing a cup of coffee I couldn’t afford, just waiting it out.

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