Page 47 of A Sixpence For Your Shoe

I lean against the kitchen counter, reaching out and stealing a slice of carrot off the chopping board. “Well, at least now I know where I get all my crazy from.” I shrug.

“Whatever, you definitely get that from your father. Not me.” She winks at me.

“None of it matters mom.” I smile at her. “All that matters is that we have each other. You and me. As long as that doesn’t change everything is perfect.” I walk around the counter to where she’s standing and wrap my arms around her. We’re the same height. I nuzzle my face into her hair and smell the same faint smell I always do. Perfume and cigarettes.

“I love you, mom. And you better stop smoking.”

She laughs.

“If you haven’t been fired by the end of the year, I will quit smoking.” She agrees.

“A year? That’s a long time.” I say in horror.

“Well, that’s what the deal I’m willing to make.”

“Fine.” I grin.

“Fine.” She grins back at me.

My day was perfect. I love spending time with my mom, and we laughed and relaxed and everything was amazing. She’s sohappy in the new place and so proud of me - I do have some guilt around the fact that I am not being entirely honest with her about Vincent and my work - but it doesn’t matter. It’s small compared to how happy she is. And all I really want is to take care of her. And I can now.

Driving home, my heart is singing, and I’m dancing in my seat as I tap my fingers on the steering wheel to the song playing on the radio.

Tonight, I am going to do something special for Vincent. I think the red lingerie will be a pleasurable surprise for him. I grin when I picture his face. I love how his eyes devour me. I love everything about him. From the light to the dark. From the shadows he hides to the secrets he shares. My mother is right. Not all men are as bad as the ones she’s met. At least Vincent is honest with me. He doesn’t hide his true self. And I don’t want him to. I want to see everything. Because the more I see of him the more I know he accepts me for who I am.

When I get home Vincent is relaxing on the sofa. His eyes are closed, and his head is tilted back. I tiptoe past him into my bedroom where I quickly change into the red lingerie.

I’ll wake him with a smile.

While I’m getting dressed, I hear music drifting from the living room and the clink of a glass as he pours himself a drink, then he sits back down in the sofa. He doesn’t know I’m home yet. It’s perfect.

When I slink into the living room, moving seductively, I can’t hide the cheeky grin on my face.

His eyes do exactly what I’d hoped for. He devours me with one look.

“Hello, sir,” I bite my lower lip.

“Hello, cheeky little raven.” His deep voice vibrates through me.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Vincent

“When the fuck do I get to retire?” I snarl into the phone and Mas huffs loudly.

“Look, Rufino, Tuomo and I can deal with this - but because it’s Celso - I just thought you’d want to know.” He snaps defensively.

I run my fingers through my hair, sighing in frustration.

“No. I’m glad you called. I do want to know. You better tell me exactly what the hell he did this time.”

Celso is always causing shit. He has very little respect for laws or rules, even the ones I set. And stupidly I’ve let his defiance slide. He has been my most challenging son and - despite the fact that I would never say it out loud - he is my most precious son. Because he reminds me of his mother.

But at this point in my life, when I have finally let Amelia go because Misha has filled my heart with everything I could ever need - Celso’s favor is wearing thin.

That boy has cost me millions throughout his life - fixing his mistakes has always been my cost to douchebag. Not anymore. I’m tired of it now. I want to retire from the business and spend my time with Misha.

This is thelasttime I will bail him out of whatever trouble he’s gotten himself into.

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