Page 17 of Beautiful Desire

Just then, I hear the elevator doors open and see Sean, the head of security, exiting. “Hey, Elle. You ready to go?”

“Yep. Just in time.” I smile, making my way toward him.

“What’s got you staying late tonight?” he asks, making conversation as I enter.

The doors close and we begin our descent to the lobby.

“The meeting with the London group on Tuesday. I wanted to get it wrapped up early. I’m on bridesmaid duty all weekend, so no work time for me.”

“Ah, too bad. Me and a few of the other guys are off tomorrow night, and we’re meeting some of the gang for drinks after work. Guess you won’t be able to make it?”

This isn’t the first time Sean has tried to invite me out for drinks after work. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a great guy, and not bad to look at either. He’s tall with dark brown hair and green eyes, and has biceps that look like they could squeeze a watermelon open. But I’m not attracted to him like that. Ever since that day three years ago when I walked in on my boyfriend fucking the secretary on his desk, I’m pretty sure everyone here knows my stance on dating anyone I work with. He may not work for LM Investments, but he still works in the building, and for me, that’s still a no.

“Thanks for the invite, but G and Fabi’s wedding has taken over all my free time. We have a lot to get done and not a lot of time. Rain check?” I ask, giving him an apologetic smile as the doors ding open.

“Sure, rain check. Oh, car’s here already too,” he says as we make our way toward the main entrance door.

“Night, Sean. Thanks for walking me down.”

“Night, Elle. Anytime. Enjoy the rest of your evening.”

Just as I’m getting settled in the back seat, my phone starts vibrating in my bag as the cab pulls out and heads in the direction of my apartment. Gia’s name flashes on the screen, and her face pops up when I answer the video call.

“Hey, bitch. You just leaving the office now? It’s after nine p.m.!”

“I know, but Mr. Lewis has a meeting on Tuesday, and I wanted to get it all wrapped up so I could give my full attention to my MOH duties.”

I watch the smile spread across her face as she walks into her kitchen. I can hear deep voices talking in the background as she sets her phone down on the countertop of the kitchen island.

“So, are you excited for Saturday night?” I ask.

After Gia asked me to be her maid of honor, I was going to make damn sure she had at least some sort of bachelorette party. Gia wasn’t really big on going out, but I wasn’t giving her a choice.

When I spoke to Fab about it…well, he wasn’t exactly thrilled. I knew we’d have to have some sort of security with us after everything that happened to her, but he said the only way he’d be happy about it was if we had it at his nightclub, Diavolo.

Knowing this was something he wouldn’t back down on, I decided we would go there, but told him that he wasn’t allowed to be there that night. He agreed, but I knew deep down he could never hold up that end of the deal.

In all honesty, I don’t really care where we go. I just want a night with my girl, drinking and dancing like old times. Gia and I haven’t had a night out since before she met Fabi.

“I don’t know if I can trust you out with my wife unsupervised,” Fabi’s voice sounds from somewhere in the background.

Asshole.

“I’ll have you know I go on plenty of nights out unsupervised and I do just fine, thank you,” I reply.

“Yeah, but my wife hasn’t been with you,” he fires back as I roll my eyes at his dominance.

It feels like it’s been an eternity since we’ve had a girls’ night. Perks of being a mafia don’s wife, I guess. You can’t just go where you want when you want. As much as part of me longs for a relationship like the one they have with each other, I don’t envy that aspect of Gia’s life.

“Do you really, though?”

Goosebumps pebble across my skin as another voice pipes up in the background. One I was hoping and praying I wouldn’t hear. The small smile I had has entirely disappeared as I try to act unaffected.

Jesus, it’s just a voice. What the hell it wrong with me?

My palms feel sweaty, and my heart rate increases. My mouth is dry, and my brain is coming up empty with a response. Sensing the awkwardness and giving me a confused look, Gia decides to move the topic along.

“Oh! Saturday morning, I need your help. I need to pick a pair of shoes for the wedding. I have it narrowed down to three, but I want you there to help me choose.Pleeeease?” she sings, lifting the phone and moving while giving me her biggest grin.

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