Chapter 5
FIVE
Played Me anger and annoyance had warmed me up.
Seriously, I'd have to do this until we fucking launch?
Endure a series of unpleasant days at my own company because of this man of all people.
I didn't want my rage to be noticeable, so I entered the elevator door he held open and pressed the button.
"Good morning."
Unable to help it, I rolled my eyes. "I made myself perfectly clear long ago, a good morning for me is one where I wake up and learn you're dead."
Seconds passed as we stood in stiff silence while the elevator moved, the motor's noise louder than either of us.
"Alex, you know I'm sorry. I've done everything possible to make it up to you."
Just then the elevator doors opened, and a few people stepped inside. Thank goodness he stopped his sob story.
We continued to climb higher until finally we arrived at the Amoré Nights floor.
When we exited, I told him, "This is my place of business. I don't want to hear anything from your mouth that is not about the company. You are not going to ruin something important to me."
Bruno looked wounded; that man had really perfected the look. "Why would I do that? Greenslate wouldn't have even invested if it wasn't for me."
His eyes widened when the words left his mouth, and Bruno glanced away. That half second told me everything, and a series of ideas formed in my mind.
"What?"
"Forget it."
I grabbed his arm and pulled him into my office. The door slammed behind us. "What the fuck is that supposed to mean? Speak clearly."
"Alex, calm down," he said, holding up a hand.
"No. I didn't even know you worked at Greenslate until recently. I haven't said your name in a year, and that rule includes my friends. So you being the reason they invested in my business makes no fucking sense."
Bruno spoke quickly. "Greenslate is the big league. They don't normally invest in small start-ups, so I talked my boss into it."
I clenched my jaw. "Fuck! I don't want to owe you anything."
"You don't. I'm the one who owed you, so I wanted to help."
Frustrated, I lowered myself into my chair. Bruno continued explaining, but I barely registered the sounds. Other than the one in my mind, which was now filled with many thoughts.
What the hell was this man up to? What was his angle?
Bruno lowered one of the coffee cups he'd been carrying since I spotted him downstairs onto my desk, and I blinked as I looked at him.
"Espresso and sweetened condensed milk."
Annoyed that this man who'd wrecked my life thought remembering how I took my coffee, or getting my dream company funded, would make up for anything, I slapped the cup off my desk. The hot liquid splashed as it fell, and some droplets splattered onto Bruno's pants.
"If I want coffee, I can get it myself. I also have a damn secretary. Greenslate didn't send you over here to fucking sniff around me."
"Alex."
"Ms. Ortega. That's what you should refer to me as, Mr. Gasol. We have no relationship whatsoever. You might have forced yourself into my space, but you need to remember your place."
Just then, a familiar ringtone sliced through the tension. I would have ignored it if he had not been right there, but I was more than ready for the conversation to end, so I grabbed the phone.
"Hello." I smiled when I recognized the voice. "Oh hi, handsome."
Bruno still stood in front of me. For fucking what? Couldn't he take a hint? Fine!
"Dominic, last night was just what I needed. Your cock was amazing. Is there any area you aren't capable in? Kitchen or bedroom, there seems to be no space where you do not shine."
I leaned back in my chair, phone pressed to my ear, laughing softly at something Dominic said, and out of the corner of my eye, I caught the way Bruno's expression darkened. His jaw tightened, eyes narrowing, carrying a flicker of jealousy he couldn't hide.
"Why don't you swing by around lunchtime. I have a desk here we can clear so we can have a sweet time."
Shocked, I opened my eyes when the man I was trying to get rid of lowered himself into the chair in front of me.
He was staying. What the hell!
"OK. Sure. I'll see you later."
After I ended the call, I asked plainly, "Why are you still here? Our conversation is finished."
He shook his head hard. "It's not over. We aren't over. I don't care how many useless men you sleep with."
I laughed. "Bruno, you tried this before, and it didn't end well. Don't push me, because I won't back down or have a change of heart."
Rubbing his elbow, Bruno nodded. "I still have the scars to remember."
A year ago, after returning to the college dorm, I found Bruno and Monique Beckford, the roommate who pretended she was a friend, in the act.
She was deep-throating Bruno's disloyal cock while he screamed in bliss.
In fact, I heard them before even opening the door, but like a fool I entered, thinking there had to be an explanation.
Well, after they were found, Monique looked so proud of herself.
"Since you didn't know how to take care of him, I just fucking stepped up."
Bruno fumbled with his zipper and wasted time speaking. "Alex, I'm sorry."
Between both of them, my emotions varied, but I wasn't about to fight over a man.
"You two can have each other," I said and meant it.
I left the room and never looked back at either. This shocked Bruno, who spent days, then weeks, trying to earn my forgiveness. When that didn't happen, the manipulative ass thought I was still under his spell and cornered me one day.
"Alex, let me explain."
Walking around him, I kept going down the path, the sky watching over us a silent witness to the end of our relationship.
Bruno ran after me. "Please let me explain. I can't live without you."
"Then go ahead and die," I hurled and walked away.
He grabbed my arm to stop me, but I shoved him off without hesitation, fury blazing hotter than anything moving through my veins.
"I'll jump into traffic," he threatened.
Mid-step, I stopped and turned around. Both of us locked eyes as we stood on the sidewalk. Cars whipped past beside us on the busy street, and the noise seemed to give me a suggestion. Slowly, I walked toward Bruno.
"I'm sorry," he mumbled.
When I was close enough, I shoved him hard, rage blinding me as he stumbled backward toward oncoming traffic.
"You already killed me. No fucking reason you should get to live."
I didn't just lose a boyfriend that day. I lost my belief in love and loyalty.
"A broken arm and my life flashing before me as the cars all slammed on their brakes around me, desperately trying not to run over my body…" Bruno said, bringing me back to the present.
Glaring at him, I spoke firmly. "Always a lying sack of shit. You said you wanted to die. Why try so damn hard to live, then? I also remember you promised to leave me the hell alone. Why are you here? Does this look like leaving me alone?"
"I made them invest, and now my job is on the line."
For the briefest of moments, the idea of sinking my whole company just to ruin Bruno's career flashed through my head. But he was no longer important. I'd put everything into Amoré Nights, and unlike him, there was no reason to kill it.
The door to my office burst open and slammed against the wall with a force that startled me. Eliana carried a worried expression. "We have a problem."
"What?" I asked, already on my feet.
She looked from me to Bruno as if wondering if we should speak privately.
"Our fates are tied to Amoré Nights. Go ahead."
Eliana wasted no time. "We're being sued."
"Amoré Nights? By who? It's still in beta. For what?"
Bruno spoke. "You should call the company lawyer."
"I don't need you to tell me what to do. Is that some sort of difficult decision? Who else did you think I'd call, the janitor?"
"Alex, focus," Eliana said, as if she were the boss and not me.
Still, in that moment she was right. I jumped into action, calling the legal team, and soon everyone gathered in my office.
"Mr. Davis is suing on grounds of libel. The man has an embarrassing one-star rating average from women on the app, and now nobody will date him."
I waited for the rest. When the lawyer said nothing, I looked around the office. "He's wasting his time. Every platform has the same protections, and we'll beat him if it even goes to court."
"Ms. Ortega is correct. How quickly can you have his lawsuit dismissed?" Bruno asked.
The lawyer answered slowly. "Does Amoré Nights use any vetting policy for ratings?"
"Really? Reviews are everywhere online. What procedure would…" I began to rant but cut myself off. This would not help, and he clearly had more to say.
"At the moment, users are free to rate and leave reviews, and the problem is Mr. Davis insists everything written is false," the lawyer finished.
"All of them?" Eliana blurted out.
I let out a short laugh. "Twenty-five members rated him, and he says not one of them told the truth."
"That is Mr. Davis' stance."
Bruno came to my side, like we were partners on the issue. "We could easily beat him in court, but I don't want it to delay or hurt the launch. Amoré Nights can't afford bad press that makes men run from the app. That would ruin you."
What had been a joke seconds ago now felt dangerously real. My hand curled into a fist. "Pay him off. Money talks."
"Are you sure?" one of the lawyers asked.
Did I want another man to get away with screwing me? No, but I didn't have a choice.
"Wait. Doesn't the app agreement bind users to arbitration? I'm sure many of those women would love to go on record about how much Mr. Davis sucks. In my experience, an angry woman can go on at length about why she dislikes you," Bruno said.
If that was a jab at me, I didn't care.
"But what about the press?" I asked.
"The app just did what you intended, spared another woman from meeting that man.
Now we should protect ourselves a bit further.
Disable written comments and leave only the rating system.
Then legal will add more verbiage about not being responsible for the ratings and that no one may request changes or sue because of dissatisfaction. "
"Mr. Gasol could have a point. Those lines about his smell, sweaty hands, and beady eyes probably set him off," Eliana said.
Damn, leave it to my fellow women to go that deep into the details. I nodded, and after a bit more back and forth, it seemed the crisis was averted. Finally, with my office mostly cleared, I looked at Eliana. "Can you get me a cup of coffee?"
She started to leave but stopped. "I know you have history with Mr. Gasol, but in this case, he helped."
I didn't answer, and she went out to do as I'd asked.
"Hip-fucking-hooray. My ex, the man I swore off, is now hailed as a hero at my own company. The only thing left is for them to put Bruno on their shoulders and carry him around while I stand by and watch," I muttered to myself.
Even in my somber mood, sunlight forced its way through the tall office windows and into my face.
I sat there, tormented and silent. I was fairly certain soon many in my staff would liken Bruno to Amoré Nights' savior, and I was left with nothing but bruised pride.
I didn't want that man to rescue me. Given a few short hours, I would've thought of the same solution.
All he did was think quickly on his feet.
Now, he'd be called on to make good decisions under pressure.
Give me a break.
Where was that skill when he decided to screw Monique?