14. ENZO
14
ENZO
“How’d the session with the influencers go today?”
I try and keep my curiosity at a minimum as I pull Valentino over to speak in private after our meeting with the team.
He sighs, knowing that it’s the tenth time I’ve asked him this in the last week.
“It’s going well, Dad. And before you ask, yes, she was there.”
I straighten up my back. “I was just asking in general. You know I’m invested in the success of this event as much as you are.”
“And yet, you somehow always want to know if Quinn was there or not.”
“She’s the one with the most responsive audience,” I lie. “It matters what her experience is like.”
“Right.” Valentino shakes his head.
I know he isn’t dumb and can figure out that something is going on. But he’s smart enough to not press further.
I appreciate that about him. He minds his own business in matters outside of work.
“She’s doing fine. I wouldn’t worry.”
He pats my shoulder before leaving, and I’m left wondering why I even care so much.
Quinn has been distant all week. She avoided my attempts to try and see her again, always having something or the other to do.
At first, I thought she was actually busy. But when she had the same reply each time, I figured something was wrong.
A part of me knows why she’s acting like this. I’d be a fool not to expect that.
I completely blindsided her in front of Alessio and Luciana. But I had my reasons.
One day, when she has children of her own, she will understand the lengths a person has to go to in order to protect their kids.
A knife twists at the thought of her starting a family with another man, and I chide myself.
It’s not like she owes me anything. We aren’t a couple. I never claimed her. We have no future anyway. It was just a fling.
I’ve tried to tell myself this, over and over. But somehow my mind still doesn’t get it.
It feels like I’m running from the truth. I thought my attraction to Quinn was limited to our physical relationship, but the reality is that I miss her.
We have some unfinished business, and I don’t want to live with the regret of not clearing the air between us before she has to leave to go back home.
So, I do something that’s rare for me. A first, even.
I put my ego aside and make an appearance at the influencer event that night.
She can ignore my messages all she wants, but she won’t be able to turn down my request to talk to her.
She spots me from a distance, and I give her a knowing look.
It’s the first time I’ve put my eyes on her in days, and she still looks just as good, albeit looking more tired than usual.
Jealousy claws at me as I ponder over if she’s already found a replacement.
Surely, someone as charming and young as her has an entire line of men waiting at her beck and call.
I realize she’s never mentioned any prospective men in front of me. I’ve always taken it as a sign that she isn’t interested in anyone else, but now I’m wondering if it was just because she didn’t want to upset me.
Is it possible that she was playing me this whole time?
Does it even matter when I never gave her any assurances myself?
My mind is a mess, and time seems like it’s slowed to a crawl.
I message Valentino to cut the event short, not willing to wait any longer.
Quinn is halfway to the exit when I intercept her. She has her head down, refusing to look at me.
“Can we talk?”
She glances up at me finally, and I can’t quite place the steely look in her eyes.
At best, she’s perfected her poker face. But at worst, she’s moved on.
“I’m not sure if…”
“Quinn, this has really gone on for too long now. We can have this conversation here, in front of everyone, or we can go to my office. The choice is yours.”
She reluctantly nods and follows me into my office.
I’m not one to get nervous, but it’s all I feel as she stands at a distance, arms crossed, waiting for me to speak.
I don’t even know where to begin. It feels like an eternity has passed since we last spoke.
“About the other day… With my kids.”
Her eyebrows furrow. “What about it?”
I sigh. “I thought over that later, and I realize how it must have come across to you.”
“Pray tell. I’d love to know your take on it.”
She’s being aloof, and I hate it. I just want her to go back to being the same Quinn she was a week ago, but maybe I’ve lost that now.
“I get that you might have felt a little slighted with how I chose to handle that situation…”
“Might?” she challenges, her tone finally betraying the slightest hint of emotion. “Well, I’m glad that you were able to get that self-awareness, at least.”
I run my hands through my hair. “It doesn’t have to be like this. We can talk this out.”
“Oh, my bad. You can act like you’re this amazing, understanding, great guy when we’re here, away from everyone else. But the moment we step out of this, it’s business as usual, again.”
“What did you expect me to do, Quinn?” Anger flares inside of me. “Tell my kids, ‘hey, by the way, this is the woman I’m sleeping with’? I’m sure that would have been a hoot.”
“It’s better than acting like I’m nobody,”
“I never did that. Not for a second.” I take a few steps closer to her. “You know this affects you just as much as it does me. Did you really want them knowing you’re hooking up with a guy who’s old enough to be your father? Thinking what you might be trying to gain out of this?”
I can tell she’s hurt by that, and guilt immediately follows.
“I didn’t mean it like that…” I try and reach out to her.
“No. That’s exactly what you meant.” Her voice is low. “This is what you’ve been thinking of me this entire time. You just didn’t want to admit it to me.”
“That’s not true, Quinn. You’re putting words in my mouth.”
“I didn’t have to. You did that all by yourself. And now, you’re just trying to save face. But I’ll make this easy for you, you don’t have to pretend anymore. This is over.”
Her words hang in the air between us, and we’re both too stunned to speak.
I use this opportunity to move closer to her.
“You don’t mean that.” My voice drops to a whisper.
She doesn’t answer immediately.
“Do you?”
“No, I don’t.”
Somehow, we’ve found our way back to each other. Like two magnets being pulled together.
Even when you try to break them apart.
“It’s just… It’s a lot for me.”
“I know.” I pull her closer to my chest, the feel of her in my arms better than it has the right to be. “You’re not the only one.”
“I just wish that…” She sighs. “Why does it have to be so complicated?”
Our eyes lock together, and there’re no words I can use to convey what I want right now.
Her gaze drops to my lips, her breathing ragged, and I kiss her on the lips.
All the pent-up rage, all the frustration, the emotions begin to pour out of us both as we
practically devour each other’s mouth.
It’s not the healthiest way to deal with our problems but god, I missed her so much.
I back her up against the wall, pinning her arms to the side, and she moans into my mouth as I press my body into her.
“Fuck.” She bites my lip, and I realize she’s trying to get back at me for hurting her.
But it’s only turning me on more.
I yank my fingers through her hair, pulling at it roughly, and she moans in my mouth again.
My mind is swimming with desire now. Everything I touch, smell, feel is her, and I want to savor every inch.
“I’m going to show you just how much I’ve missed you.” I turn her over, and she grinds her ass on me.
My hands find the straps of her dress, pulling at them.
It doesn’t matter that we’re inside my office. I’m going to fuck her right here if it’s the last thing I do.
Both our anger and lust melt into one another, and it’s hard to tell where one begins and the other ends.
She decides to take back control, turning back around and grabbing my collar.
“You’re going to have to make it up to me.”
I don’t know if that is meant to be threat or a delicious promise. But whatever it is, I’d be out of my mind to pass up on it.
My hands go lower until they grab a handful of her ass. “Careful what you wish for.”
We're too lost in the moment to notice the sound of the door opening behind us.
It's not until we hear a deep voice at the door that we finally break apart.
“Chet, your house manager told me I’d find you here… oh, sorry, I can see you are bu—Quinn?”