Luca (I Love the Way You Lie #1) (20 page)

Birds chirped happily outside my window. I padded over to the shade, pulling then releasing it quickly to reveal the outside world. Another breath released as I made my way over to my closet. We had a big day. Melissa and I were going to deposit Alastair’s generous check and meet with the realtor to secure the new building. We also needed to speak to our supervisor and friend about our recent fortune. She’d be a great asset for us. However, she’d never leave her pension in a million years for the private sector. We couldn’t afford her salary right now anyway; so it worked out. I wouldn’t feel the guilt from leaving my job and hoped some of my clients would follow me over.

Later that afternoon…

Melissa and I shared a cab to secure the building downtown. “I can’t believe this is really happening. Can you? I mean, this is your baby. You must be beyond ridiculously giddy right now,” she said, practically singing with glee.

I smiled tightly, almost wincing as I did. “It’s just so hard to believe. I don’t know what to think Mel,” I answered honestly. It was true. My feelings were all over the place. Sigh. I rubbed the knot in my chest. “I’m far from a pessimist, but I can’t help but feeling…I don’t know…leery,” I said, expelling another long-winded breath. I had that “other shoe’s going to drop” feeling. And it sucked.

She waved her hand at me in a poo-pooing gesture. “Please, you’ve got to trust. We worked hard for this. This didn’t come easy, nor was it handed to us.”

I agreed. We did work hard for this. Still, I wondered. We got out on the corner of 85
^th
, grabbed a cup of coffee, and hoofed it over to the building.

The building was over a hundred years old but newly renovated. The architecture on the outside was innovative for that era. Most of the old buildings were in this part of Manhattan. It was what separated one building from the next. “Wow, this is just beautiful,” I said, running my palm across the outside wall. I turned to her. “Okay, I’m officially beyond excited.”

She laughed, hugging me. “Welcome aboard, sweetie. Enjoy this moment—please,” she said, opening the door as we walked in.

A young hipster was on the phone. He smiled, waving us in as he ended his call. “You must be Ms. Anderson and…” He shook my hand.

“Allison and Melissa are fine,” I said, introducing ourselves. I didn’t do pretenses and Ms. Anderson made me feel old.

“Perfect. Allison and Melissa.” He offered us a seat at the small reception area. The receptionist’s desk was recessed behind a half a wall of glass. Aesthetically, it had a medical office feel.
We can always change the layout,
I thought. “Here’s the lease for the property. It’s a twenty-year lease, which is standard for this space.”

“Twenty years?” I said flabbergasted and turned to Melissa for guidance.

“That’s fine,” she said, taking the lease from him and reading it through.

“And if we wanted to buy?” A slight hesitation was in her voice. What the fuck was she on today? We didn’t have money to buy a building. I wanted to gob-smack her freaking face. If she was smoking that vaporizer thing… I swear to Christ.

“In all truthfulness, we don’t have the money to buy the building. Ignore her,” I said to the hipster and gave Mel my best evil-eye stare.

“However, if we did, I’d like that written into the lease. As an option,” she continued confidently at the risk of embarrassing both of us.

I bit my tongue and let her ask her irrelevant questions and he politely answered her. I chose to look around the space. High vaulted ceilings throughout, hardwood floors throughout, and a half dozen offices. They weren’t big, but we didn’t need big. We just needed something. I could work with anything. My heart began to beat faster as my anticipation built. It was a good feeling. Finally. I wanted to scream; I wanted more of these good feelings. Fuck, I needed more of them to get through the coming weeks. A small operating kitchen with appliances was at the end of the hall. It was perfect. It really was.

“There you are! Are we going to do this or what? He’s got other clients that want the space.”

Still focusing on the shiny new kitchen, I replied, “He’s probably just saying that.”

“You really want to take that chance, Al?” She threw up her hands, half disgusted. Hell, she thought I was going to bail. Not commit to this project. I never meant to give her
that
impression.

“No, I don’t want to take the chance. Are you sure?” I walked over, placing my hand on her arm.

Her angelic smile warmed my heart. “I’ve been sure since you pitched it to me in college, babe.”

I hugged her with all my might. My roommate, who stuck it out through all my mental issues, my begging to share holidays with her family instead of mine, my endless obsession on the infamous Luca, on and off my medications… She was constant light in my darkened tunnel. She’s a sister to me, and the closest thing I have to family. I wouldn’t be here without her trust. “Let’s make it official then.”

My gaze was steady on the Manhattan’s skyline and beyond. Oliver-fucking-Sven was in town. Archer bounced in here with that lovely little bit of mind-fuck. If it weren’t for the fact that I actually needed him, I’d fire his ass. We’ve been friends for years. In college, he was a top alumnus at Drexel. He and our lawyers put in hours of tedious work, drafting contracts that worked in our favor. Then he spent nights looking for weak links in faltering companies. He was a patient fucker, too. As stocks in said companies fell, he pounced while the seller thanked him. Meticulous, charming, and a fucking ninja was what he was. I wasn’t surprised. Luck was always on his side of the business table.

My private line rang. I let out a determined exhale and answered; it was Noel the realtor. Allison signed the lease. I smiled, wanting to beat my chest, and thanked him. A step closer to
her.
I opened my desk drawer, taking out a recent picture of her. Windswept hair, she walked the tree-lined street home, her eyebrows furrowed. She looked beautiful. The voyeur in me was pleased by the candid shot.

The buzz of my intercom interrupted my stolen thoughts.

“Mrs. Blakeman is here to see you. Would you like me to—”

I cut her off, half annoyed that she had interrupted my thoughts. “Yes.”

I woke the monitor up with a shake of the mouse, looking for file on Allison’s foundation gala. Double-clicked and opened…there really wasn’t much to discuss. It was all about price with this event planner. She was the best in the business and catered to the wealthiest of clientele with discretion. There was no budget or anything I wouldn’t provide to make this night successful.
Successful, because you’re a self-serving prick
, I thought. In return, I’d beg for her forgiveness explaining all the ways it pained me to do what I did. And why. There was no other way for me to be the man I am today if I didn’t do what needed to be done—then.

“Mr. Deluca.” She swept in with her blue Tiffany tote.

I walked over, extending my hand to greet her and offering her a chair. I sat across on the couch, a small table between us. “Here’s a printout of what I want and what I’m expecting.”

She grabbed it but failed miserably at holding in her sigh. “Naturally, I brought you plenty to look at.” She opened her tote, pulling out some brochures.

I held up my hand. “There’s no need for any of that. It’s all been decided.”

“Sorry I’m late.” Archer walked in, quick to take a seat. “What did I miss?” he asked, looking to us.

“Nothing, we just sat down,” I affirmed.

Mrs. Blakeman looked stunned. Her mouth opened and closed a few times as she skimmed my instructions.

“I was just explaining to Mrs. Blakeman that everything has been picked out. Her job is to manage so it goes smoothly, as I plan on being very busy this night,” I said, never moving my eyes from her. I could feel Archer’s smile. He knew I didn’t like dealing with these sorts of events. However, this was for Allison. I promised myself I’d be civilized.

“I’ve secured the venue already. So everything else he’s requesting is yours to deliver. Why don’t we walk down to my office so I can get you your check.” Archer stood, helping her with her brochure. The frazzled look on her face was priceless. She assumed we’d be sitting here, picking out flatware and flowers. I shook my head. She politely said goodbye, thanking me for my business, and followed Archer out the door.

As I started checking my inbox, there it was—an email from my contact and all the information on Sven’s stay while in New York. He was staying at the W Hotel.
Poser
. I built the elaborate ruse to get back in her grace. To have her in my bed and by my side. Yet, with danger lurking, it didn’t feel like enough. There was no comfort in all my hard work. He was going to be here with my girl.

An icy shiver rolled through me. The type of ripple you can’t brace for because you didn’t know it was coming. This guy was a real problem. Has been from the get go. My fingers cracked as I fisted them onto my desk with a thud. Loss and abandonment was already churning in my gut. As much as I wanted to give her, it may not be enough. I could give her luxury, security, and love. However, he’s had her longer. The bond may be stronger. He may have already scratched me out of my own fucking game. It was
he
who comforted her when I walked away. My hand grabbed the glass lighter paperweight on my desk mightily as the fire started to build.
Fuck, who knows what else he did
, I pondered. I hurled the paperweight across my office into the wall. I heard a feminine scream.
Secretary
. I smirked. Her scream gave me a smidge of relief. She was right to be scared. I was a breath away from losing my shit.

Then, Archer slammed through the door. After taking in the shattered glass, he gently closed the door, taking a seat in front of my desk. “What’s going on with you, man?” His expression was serious.

“I’m going to lose her and it’s fucking killing me,” I said breathlessly, my heart beating out of my chest.
Am I having a heart attack, panic attack, or a break with reality?
I wondered.

His eyes widened incredulously. Yeah, that expression there told me everything. He couldn’t believe I was fucking crazy over a woman I haven’t been with in seven years.

“It will happen to you one day. Just wait. And when it does, I’m going to laugh my ass off.” Archer had been an unbending source of support over the years. And I’d always be here for him to reciprocate. However, the ribbing I’d give him would be unforgiving.

“She doesn’t love him,” he said flatly, as if he knew. I began doing a mental calculation. Did she say something? Did he? Maybe Melissa?
Fuck.

I sneered, leaning over my desk. “How do you know she doesn’t love him?” I sat, my fingers reaching for my lighter.

He ran his fingers through his hair, sighing loudly. “Listen, man, don’t ask me how I know. I just do. I
know
women and
that
girl is still in love with you. Mark my words.” He pointed and then removed his vaporizer from his suit jacket. “Why don’t we hit the gym tonight? After the Adams Indemnity meeting…in”—he pushed up his sleeve checking his watch—”fifteen minutes.”

Fuck. “Everything set in the board room?” I asked, thinking about all the prep we put into this deal. This was more than a partnership. It was our business. We both worked our asses off to get where we were today. Our loyalty and dedication went toe-to-toe. We both knew our strengths and weaknesses and played off that well. He sat quietly watching as all the pieces of my sanity ever so carefully aligned into their rightful places. I was being a selfish prick. For that, I was sorry. We both had a lot riding on this merger. After a long pregnant pause, I answered, “Yeah, I could use a few hours at the bag.” I nodded, taking him up on his offer. “Let’s go,” I said, settling back into the CEO of Alastair Capital and walked to the boardroom to close this motherfucking deal.