Page 17 of The Last Ones Standing, Part Two

“Sorry, man, I know your brother from the business. I wanted to come work for you guys once. After that thing last night, I saw your picture when I googled your brother and sister-in-law.” He shrugs. “There’s not a chance he hates her or something, is there? My career can’t be totally fucked.”

Very interesting. I bank all this information for later. Riccardo will jump at this chance either way. I can count on that.

“Um, I don’t know what that cunt has done to get you fired. As for your career, that’s why I’m here. I hope this doesn’t stop you from sitting to talk to me about a job. I was here a month ago and your food is amazing.”

It’s not a lie. I was here a month ago. He has stellar skills. If not for his grandfather, I would have hired him then with the intent to cultivate his raw talent and keep him around for my restaurants.

“You have to be shitting me,” he says.

I flick my wrist out to check the time. “I don’t have time to waste or play games.”

“I’m sorry. It’s just, your sister-in-law just totaled my career and now you’re here with a job offer. That’s crazy. Come on, bro. You have to admit it sounds too good to be true.”

“I honestly don’t know what you’re talking about, and my sister-in-law is too self-absorbed to have an active role in my family’s business, so I fail to see how she could possibly affect my being here either way.

“I’ll google this video for myself. If your skills outmatch whatever bullshit she’s pulled, I’ll be in touch,” I say and turn to leave.

“Wait, wait, you’re really here to offer me a job?” he calls after me.

I don’t turn back around. I throw up a hand to wave. “I was.” With that, we climb back in the car and Jace pulls off.

A look in the side-view mirror shows Jacob staring down at his feet in thought. I grin. My job here is done.

“You think it worked?”

I look at Jace and frown. He grins without turning to look at me. I roll my eyes and pull out my phone to check my emails.

“Riccardo will make sure he’s in touch,” I reply dryly.

Chapter 8

Pull The Curtain

Gio

A month later…

“I know what I just said. Make it happen. I’ll pay you double the commission on top of what she pays,” I snap as I walk out of my office with my earpiece in my ear.

“Gio, man, this is my business. I work on referrals. I can’t afford for her to report me or some shit.”

“Do what I ask or lose the job.”

“You want me to demo the entire place so she can’t live there through the renovation, you sure about this?”

“Good, you did understand what I said. I thought you misunderstood me somewhere. And since I had to repeat myself, I’m only going to give you half of the bonus commission. Don’t disappoint me again, Ralphie.”

“You got it, Gio.”

I hang up as I stop at Lizzy’s desk. I lean on the counter as I look down at her with her head bent over a book. I smile. I’ve learned she has a few sides.

I love them all. I don’t regret entering her life in the least. She’s become as much a friend to me as I have to her. I didn’t know how much I needed that.

Lizzy gives me a sense of normalcy. She reminds me of the innocence Nyla and I once had. Those chess matches I used to play with her sister have now become our thing. I can step out of my thoughts and focus when I spend time with Lizzy.

I can also protect her with her this close. Not that she needs protecting. However, Riccardo made it clear a long time ago that women and children are fair game when it comes to him. There would be no stopping Nyla if he ever touched Lizzy.

“I’m really going to have to talk to HR about the slacking you do around here,” I say low.

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