Page 50 of Say You Hate Me
Anderson
I don’t knowwhere I’m going—I only know I have to get away from Natalia Rossi. Why the fuck does she aggravate me so much? No one else has ever been able to get under my skin like this. I might spontaneously combust from the hot rage coursing through me.
I want to fuck and choke her all at once.
I walk past the surprised hostesses, turning right immediately into the vineyard. My heart rate is erratic, thundering against my chest with anger. My nails dig into my palms as I stalk down one of the rows, away from Roseblanc, away from Luca, away from Natalia. I’m too angry, and if I’ve learned one thing about myself in the past, it’s that I need to control my anger.
I turn left and walk down a roadway; the sun beating down on me as a cool breeze flutters through the vines. If I weren’t so furious at Natalia, I might find this whole scene beautiful. Amongst the vines are decades-old oak trees, and I turn again, walking to the edge of the property which backs up to a row of oaks. It’s a little wilder back here, a little less manicured. The vines are overgrown, the trees shadowing the area. I pace in front of one of them, fuming.
I didn’t want to take this place from Mr. Roseblanc. I had no intentions of erasing the history of the place. But I knew wine was an instant money maker, and I knew Luca would take care of it—he’s more virtuous than I am. And so is his goddamn sister. Howheever got Gather off the ground is beyond me. He’s smart as hell, but he leads with his heart.
Don’t let this one go. She’s the heart of your business.
“Fuck!” I scream into the breeze, ignoring the desire to punch the trunk of one of the trees.
“Talk about throwing a tantrum,” Natalia’s voice sounds from several feet away.
I whip around to face her, andfucking hell, why does she have to be so goddamn gorgeous? That dress… it’s light blue and clinging to her golden skin like a glove. Modest, below her knee, but those nude heels… those arefuck meheels if I’ve ever seen them. She’s crossing her arms and watching me with a matching look of fury. We’re two storms circling each other, wondering when the clouds will break.
“You have no idea what you just did,” I seethe.
She walks right up to me—a few inches shorter, but no less intimidating with her round, honey brown eyes that pin me with an indignant stare.
“Save that poor old man from your money hungry hands? Why do we need this winery? Why not let someone else—someone more qualified—take over? Do youknowhow to run a place this big?” she asks, cocking her head. She’s frowning, and while a part of me wants to wipe that frown off her face, a bigger part of me is still seeing red.
“You have no idea what it means to run a profitable business, and it’s called outsourcing, Natalia,” I snarl. “You think Luca would’ve let me run this place to the ground, turn it into a corporate, bland, run-of-the-mill winery? You think we haven’t run the numbers to see how many of the current staff we could retain? Spoiler alert: they can all stay. How’s that for running a winery?”
Her anger falters for a second. “But you said the staff might lose their jobs.”
“Yes,” I hiss. “With Roseblanc Winery. That’s the worst-case scenario. But they’d be the first people we hire back when we reopen under the new owners—which should have been us.”
She stumbles and takes a step back. “You should’ve explained that to me—”
“Why should I need to?” I roar, walking toward her. “You’ve destroyed two major deals because you have no idea what you’re talking about.” She takes another step back, but I follow her. “You’ve ruined—” I pause, gritting my teeth. “Millionsof dollars’ worth of investments.” I clench my fists tighter. My muscles jump in my arms, my jaw. I am a predator stalking his prey. “If you were anyone else, I would’ve fired your ass a long time ago,” I grind out, my voice losing steam as her eyes widen.
“I thought you said you could fire me,” she responds, backing into a vine until she’s up against the wooden trellis. I bat away the brambles and leaves, stopping right in front of her. “You own fifty-one percent of Gather. So, fire me,” she taunts.
A different kind of fire burns behind her irises now, and my erection presses against the thick fabric of my pants. I’m still angry, but there’s something else flowing through my veins now.
“Maybe I will,” I murmur, pressing against her. The tiny gasp she makes nearly sends me over the edge.
“Then do it.” She watches me with such a blazing expression, one that makes me dizzy with lust.
I grab the back of her head and smash my lips against hers instead.
26
Natalia
I was soangry a moment ago—so incensed at Anderson’s insults that I considered walking away from whatever burned between us. Whatever was ablaze beneath the fury. But I can’t find a good enough reason. Not when kissing him feels so spectacular.
“Fuck, Natalia,” he hisses, his hands on me fervently, his mouth hungry. He doesn’t bother with formalities as his tongue sweeps back into my mouth, as it claims me and causes the wetness to pool between my legs. The voraciousness and greed consume me, the way he works fast to claw at my dress. The calloused fingertips send a shiver down my spine as they graze my leg, and the other hand unbuckles his belt.
“Are you on birth control?” he asks, his voice desperate.
I pull back a bit. “Yes.”
“And you’re clean?” he adds, unzipping his pants.
