10. Nico
Chapter 10
Nico
I haven’t been able to get Francesca out of my head. I’m putting it down to the fact that she fell in line easily and that accent of hers … sexy as fuck.
It wasn’t the time to ask where she’s from originally, but I would guess the UK or maybe even Australia?
Sitting in the back of my black SUV, my finger mindlessly taps on the side of the door as I ponder all things Francesca when I should be thinking about the offer that was sent through this morning from Ivan.
It wasn’t unreasonable but I’m not going to tell him that, not so soon after he made it, but I know the O’Connors are going to try and fuck this up, so I need to act before they do.
Reaching for my cell, I scroll and press call when I find Tony’s number.
“Boss,” he answers on the first ring, sounding breathless. I hope he’s fighting and not fucking.
“I need someone taken care of, it has to be discreet,” I tell him. “The O’Conners are trying to muscle in on the contracts and it’s becoming a pain in the ass,” I explain, getting agitated as my hand taps my leg repeatedly.
“What are you thinking?” I hear him move away from the noise and the door closing, to what I assume is him entering his office.
“Brendon’s cock sucker of a brother has been causing issues and stirring up a lot of trouble, and it isn’t only us that have issues with him. I want him to disappear but no ties back to us. The guy has issues, so if something were to happen, and the ruling was natural causes it wouldn’t be a surprise, you understand,” I explain.
“I got you,” he tells me. “When did you want to do this?” I hear the pop of a bottle top as he gulps down whatever it is that he’s chosen to drink, which isn’t annoying in the slightest!
“Tonight. He’ll be at the rooftop bar, midtown,” I tell him, knowing it’s his usual watering hole and has been going there pretty much everyday since he arrived. They’ve been trying to buy the place, but the owner isn’t having any of it either.
“On it. I’ll send one of the guys, and I’m guessing Tommy won’t be needed as we’re leaving the body behind to be found?” he clarifies.
“Correct and I want the new guy Frankie on this one. I want to see what he’s made of,” I tell him. “Give him my number and tell him to message me when it’s done.” I don’t wait for a response and end the call, then type out a message informing Ivan that the deal is on.
It doesn’t take long for Ivan to respond that he’ll have the paperwork ready for us to sign. I know that one thing is under control, so now I just need to wait and see if this Frankie guy is all he’s been made out to be.
Pulling up outside the club, I step out onto the crowded sidewalk and head toward the glass entrance. Marco won’t be here, but he isn’t who I’ve come to see.
Walking through the main entrance, I spot a woman with jet black hair, well, that’s until she spins around when she hears me coming and I see the flashes of pink mixed into it. I have no idea what it’s called but she looks good. Her neck is tinged pink as she turns back around and continues to argue with the receptionist. It has me intrigued so before I leave to go to the main building I stop next to them.
She looks around at me once again, hands on her waist. She looks pissed! The angrier she gets the pinker her neck gets, and the deep chocolate brown of her eyes are almost black.
Her lips pout. “Can I help you?”
I try not to escalate the situation, but this lady really has no idea who she is talking to.
“Ladies, what seems to be the problem here?” I ask, raising my brow, looking at both of them. Our receptionist lowers her head while this other woman stands tall, straightening her shoulders. I mean, she can’t be more than five feet, but this firecracker is determined not to back down.
“I need to go through and get some paperwork from Mr. Romano’s desk, but she won’t let me through,” she spits out, pointing her finger at the lady standing and shaking her head behind the desk.
“Sir, if I may, we can’t let people in who haven’t filled out the required forms, and this lady isn’t on the list. I am just following protocol. I haven’t been informed otherwise,” she informs me. I don’t even know what her name is, but she clearly knows who I am, so I should respect my employees enough to find out her name.
I nod my head in understanding. She hasn’t done anything wrong, and we have rules that have to be respected.
“What’s your name?” I ask her.
“Rochelle,” she almost whispers.
“You’ve done the right thing, Rochelle, don’t worry,” I assure her.
“The right thing? Do you know what will happen if I head back to the office without the papers that Mr. Romano asked me to fetch? No, I’ll tell you what, he’ll have a fucking aneurysm!” Her voice rises as she explains what she’s here for.
“I’m sure that miserable son of a bitch sends me on errands he knows I can’t succeed in, and it makes his fucking day when he can shout at me for being fucking useless,” she mumbles to herself, forgetting we’re here.
“Can one of you go to his office and collect the file I need?” Her arms raise. “You both have access in there, right?” She points toward the entrance.
I stand and look at her for a moment, my head tilting to the side as I assess the situation.
“You’re Mr. Romano’s … what exactly?” I chew the inside of my lip, awaiting her response.
“Receptionist-slash-Personal Assistant, and general dogsbody.” She smiles sarcastically.
I try to hide my smile, but I know that’s impossible. This is who Marco has been trying to avoid fucking, and this is why he’s been sending her on shitty errands, to make her hate him.
Kudos, I guess, but I don’t think it’ll work. In fact, on this occasion, I will help her succeed. It’ll only be a pity that I won’t see his face when she comes back triumphant.
“What is it he needs exactly?” I ask.
“Tax return and the investment portfolio for plots 1080,” she informs me.
I acknowledge her and head into the club, and I am surprised to see how busy it is. The dancers are downstairs but the bar is busy.
Heading into his office I found what he wanted, then go back out and hand over the file.
“Thank you.” She takes the file and goes to walk out but turns and looks back. “Rochelle, I’m sorry, you know, for being a bitch.” Then she strides out and disappears into the busy New York crowd.
I smile at Rochelle and head back into the club and downstairs to the red velvet door. Seeing the entrance makes my cock stir, taking me back to when I was last here and the blonde beauty I left behind.
I don’t know what this feeling is, but I feel like I have been hit in the chest by a fucking brick. I move on, trying to rid myself of this strange feeling inside. It’s a feeling I am unfamiliar with and not one I am sure I want to be feeling.
“Cat, I want you to permanently close out the punishment room and only allow it to be booked either by myself or Francesca,” I inform her. “That room must always be available for our use, is that clear?”
It’s not the smartest thing I have ever done, but despite how I feel, I know I have to see here again. There’s no way I will allow any other man to touch her without my say so.
“Erm, yes, sir, but what about the clients that have already booked?” she questions.
“Move them to an alternate room. I’ll get Marco to sort it so they will have the same experience, but no one else uses that room.” I tap my finger on the desk she is standing behind. “Understand?”
“Yes, I understand,” she tells me with a smile.
It can’t have been ten minutes before I get a call from Marco, checking to make sure what he heard was correct.
“One hundred percent,” I inform him. I know he won’t question me further and will just get done what needs to be done to ensure business continues running as smoothly as possible.
“What the fuck! You can’t be serious?” His voice is distant, almost as if he has moved the phone away from his ear.
“Marco, what’s happened?” I call to him.
I hear his office door open and a female voice I recognize in the background. “Here’s the file you asked for. Is there anything else I can do for you?” She sounds like the cat that just got the cream.
“Just shut the door on the way out,” he spits back at her.
The door slams, and he comes back with a sigh. “Some fucker is about to get fired.”
“Ah, about that, I assumed you really needed that all important file, on a plot we haven’t touched in years.” I laugh.
“Nico. I gotta go.” He rummages around on his desk, distracting himself, knowing that I’ve caught him out.
“A piece of advice, fuck her out of your system, it’ll make your life easier.” I end the call not allowing him the chance to respond with the same shit as usual.