Page 22 of The Consequence of You
“What did you do?”
“He is incompetent. He couldn’t take his eyes off your arse. Can’t blame a man for that, but he shouldn’t be doing it on your father’s pound, so I informed Rossi, and he’s being removed from his post.”
After what happened last week, Carlo is only just back in Rossi’s good books. He’s not worked for the family for long, so I know two mistakes will be unforgiveable to my father, even if the first was more my fault than his. I need to try to smooth this over, so he doesn’t lose his job.
“If Rossi felt Carlo wasn’t doing his job, he’d have said something.”
“You make a good point, Calliope. Suggests Rossi is also distracted.” Before he gets any ideas, I grab Asher’s arm. I’m not happy about Asher threatening Carlo’s position, but it’s absolutely unacceptable for him to threaten Rossi’s.
“Don’t you dare do anything that jeopardises Rossi’s job. I trust him with my life. I won’t have you interfering with his role.”
Asher’s eyes hold mine, and I’m suddenly aware of my tight grip on his bare forearm. He looks down and studies my fingers, which are currently curled around his arm. Mypale skin is a contrast to his more tanned tone and my fingers look tiny.
I loosen my grip, letting go, and instantly miss the feel of the warm skin on my palm.Asher’s green eyes connect with mine.
“What will you offer me in return?”
“What are you talking about?”
“If I don’t report Rossi’s mistake to daddy dearest and save him his job… What will you do for me in return?”
Scoffing, I try to sound more confident than I feel.
“Rossi is the best in the business, Asher. Do you honestly think my father would listen to anything you have to say?”
“Your father has a reputation to uphold. His wife is deceased. He isn’t going to do anything to risk his only daughter’s safety. If I go to him, he will listen. Because he can’t afford not to. Even if he does nothing now, that tiny seed of doubt will be there and eventually he’ll let Rossi go.”
The smug bastard takes a long swig of the drink Joshua placed in front of us, before swirling the remaining liquid around the glass. I swallow.
Why the fuck is Asher making any of this his business?
My thoughts drift back to the last time I saw him. I picture the expression on his face when I walked out on him at the nursing home. Figures his ego would be bruised.
“You’re a prick, you know that?”
“Never claimed to be a nice guy, Calliope. So, what are you going to give me to keep your knight in his job?”
“What is it you want?” I grind out, already sure Asher has something in mind.
“I want you to come to an event with me.”
I scowl.
“What kind of event?”
“It’s nothing really. Just a charity dinner. But I need a date.”
“When have you ever been short of a date?” I eye him suspiciously, knowing instinctively there’s more to this than he’s letting on.
“Yes, you’re correct. My little black book is bursting. But I something specific for this event.Someonespecific,” he clarifies, “and you are exactly right for what I have in mind.”
“You’ll have to give me more than that.”
“Actually, no I don’t. I’ll text you the date and time, and I’ll send a driver for you.”
I look at Rossi who nods at me, oblivious to what Asher is threatening to do if I don’t agree to his demand. Dinner is nothing in the grand scheme of things. I sigh.
“Okay.”
