Chapter 2
TWO
I Hoped You Were Dead
Just as the taxi stopped in traffic, my phone rang. Only my bored mom would think I was free to chat in the middle of the day. I took a deep breath and lifted the phone to my ear.
"What is it now, Madre?"
"Oh. Such manners. This is how you speak to your own mother? When I was a child, we had respect."
Annoyed that my cab might not move anytime soon, I spoke firmly. "If you called for no reason, I'm hanging up."
"No. Wait. Your father wants to know what you're doing in America these days."
Why she sounded uncertain, I wasn't sure. I'd already told them about launching the dating app. Of course, my parents gave me their typical response: unimpressed.
"The app will officially launch next month."
"Oh right. Your sex app," she said, but then her voice softened. "I just…don't understand."
Frustrated, I took two deep breaths. "How adults choose to use it is their business, but I'm offering them a chance at real love."
Even I heard myself repeating an Amoré Nights advertisement. Selling love like it wasn't a scam.
"You? Love? Go ahead and tell me another lie."
After the quickie during lunch, I was semi-relaxed, but now, thanks to Mother, all of that was gone. This was why I never called, as she often pointed out. Sure, no one saw me ending up selling love, not after the train wreck of a breakup I had in college.
"Alexandra, are you still there?"
Her earlier words replayed in my mind, and then it clicked. I had used the app for exactly what Madre said it was meant for—to get sex.
"What is it?" I asked, annoyed that she hit the nail on the head.
"Anything new happening in your life?"
In the back of a taxi wasn't the place I wanted to have this conversation. "I'm at the office. I'll call you back later when I'm free."
"Wait."
I didn't bother listening. If something important had happened, she would've told me right away. By now, hanging up on my mother felt as routine as brushing my teeth. Still, it spoiled the decent mood I was in just minutes ago.
After exiting the car, I handed the driver some cash.
Around me, sirens wailed, joining the constant honking of cars and the murmur of voices.
The noise did not bother me anymore; I was a real New Yorker now, so I walked into the high-rise where my company, Amoré Nights, rented office space.
The day wasn't turning out at all how I planned.
From Pedro's faulty equipment to my mother, if it wasn't for the fact my app was ready to go live after months of testing, I might still be wearing a sour expression.
Screw that. I refused to let anyone determine the sort of day I'd be having.
I was the only one responsible for my mood.
Determined, I lifted my chin and clicked my heels against the polished floor, pretending the sound they made was a battle drum.
I could handle anything that came my way.
After going through security, I made my way to the elevator and stabbed the button.
I had to wait a short while for the damn thing to arrive, so I used the time to return a few messages.
Once inside, I tapped the twenty-third floor, and as soon as the elevator closed, a familiar cologne filled the space.
I froze. No fucking way, it couldn't be him.
As the metal box began its climb, I tried to think rationally.
The brand might've been used by him, but it wasn't made only for lying, cheating bastards.
With my head still straight ahead toward the buttons in front of me, I took a breath and returned my gaze to the phone screen.
"Hi, Alex."
My skin crawled the second I heard that voice. It was too familiar, and I didn't waste a second hoping it wasn't him. That low and smooth, mostly smug tone belonged to no one else. Slowly, I turned, every muscle tight, not eager to see this man. Yet, there he was, exactly how I remembered.
Fuck it, I gave up. My day was officially down the toilet. Forget trying to shape it into anything decent. If this pig was here, the battle was already lost. "What the fuck are you doing here?"
My ex-boyfriend, a man whose name I vowed would never cross my lips again, didn't flinch at my words. Why would he? I'd called him every name under the sun since he cheated on me with my college roommate.
"I'm here for business," he said.
I hated him, but he still looked like a young Andy García with dark eyes, a sharp jaw, and that stupid effortless charm wrapped in a perfect business suit. Even I could not lie to myself about that face.
Hundreds of companies rented space here. Pure coincidence, I told myself. While I didn't appreciate my luck at running into him, this unwelcome encounter would end soon. The elevator was nearly at my floor.
"You know what, forget I asked. It's not my concern," I snapped, then spun back around and stared at the door, eagerly awaiting my floor.
"Your blouse is inside out."
Slowly, I lowered my eyes to find my shirt was indeed on incorrectly.
Fuck. He was the sort of ex you wanted to run into, if it had to happen, looking your best—not with your buttons or tag in the wrong place.
Shrugging, I took a deep breath and turned.
"Well, your zipper's down. I didn't bother pointing it out. "
We looked at each other for a bit, and he said smugly, "No, it's not."
I didn't crack a smile. Instead, I looked from his face to his crotch, and as expected, he lowered his gaze to double-check.
"Don't worry about things that don't concern you."
A low amused chuckle bounced off the elevator walls. His laughter hit hard, and I tightened both fists at my sides. One more second of that smug sound was almost too much to bear. One year ago, he turned me into a joke, and now was enjoying another chuckle at my expense.
How damn long was this elevator going to take? The twenty-third floor never felt this far from the lobby before.
"Seems you had an enjoyable lunch."
Seconds ago, I'd silently made a vow to go back to pretending this cheating piece of shit didn't exist and never exchange another word with him.
However, at that moment I couldn't resist delivering one last blow.
Spinning back around, I locked eyes with my ex, licked my lips slowly, then made a show of wiping the corners of my mouth.
"He was delicious."
Bruno's nose wrinkled, and his lip curled like he smelled something horrible.
I would have stayed there, mocking him with a smile he would never forget, if the elevator doors had not opened at my floor.
I stepped out, my heels clicking as I enjoyed the satisfaction of getting the last word.
Then I noticed something strange. The familiar scent trailed after me.
Confused, I paused, turned, and found Bruno.
"What the hell is this? Why are you on my floor? Where are you going?"
"Amoré Nights."