Chapter 26
Daniella
“… and this is your office.” Lorenzo points to the plaque on the door that reads Daniella Russo, Vice President.
“Lorenzo,” I breathe, “you can’t give me that title. This is my first day.”
He chuckles. “It was given to you the moment you decided you wanted to be a part of the family business.”
“But won’t people be mad? I’m sure there are more qualified employees.”
I might’ve done several internships at various companies while I was in college, but my experience wouldn’t equal Vice President status.
“This is a private company,” he explains, opening the door so I can walk into my new office.
“There are no board members or anyone to answer to. When Dad died, I stepped in as the president, and since you said you wanted to come to work for Russo once you graduated, I left the position open for you.”
Tears prick my eyes. “Thank you,” I choke out. “I promise I’m a quick study, and despite the crazy title, I know I have a lot to learn.”
“Since you seemed to do a lot with marketing at the companies you interned for, I was thinking you could start there. Patrice is the marketing director, and she can show you the ropes. You can sit in on meetings and learn about Russo Property Group. Once you feel comfortable, you can move on to another division.”
“That sounds amazing.”
“Perfect. Kathleen is our assistant …” His words trail off, and a frown mars his features briefly before he plasters on a fake smile. “She was recently promoted,” he continues, “but she’s worked for Russo for a long time, and she seems to be catching on quickly.”
“Hey.” I place a hand on my brother’s arm. “How are you doing with the whole Hillary thing?”
While what Enrique did was beyond fucked up, Hillary played a significant role in his scheme, so it must be hard for Lorenzo since he genuinely loved her and planned to marry her.
“I’m okay,” he says. “It was a lesson learned, one that I won’t be making again. Matteo always tells me that I let people in too easily, and now, I get why he doesn’t.”
I nod in understanding since I can relate. “I’m here if you need anything,” I tell him. “Not just here.” I wave my hand, indicating the company. “But as your sister.”
“I appreciate that,” he says with a soft smile.
“I’ll get together with Patrice and let her know you’ll be spending some time with her team, and I’ll have her reach out to you so you two can talk.
In the meantime, spend today getting situated.
I’ve sent out a companywide email to welcome you home, so everyone is expecting you.
“Check out the different divisions and get a feel for Russo. As you know, this is our main headquarters, but we have thirty-five housing markets spread out across the East Coast.”
“Thank you.” I hug him. “I’m really glad to be here.”
“Maybe we can do lunch?” he asks once we’ve broken apart.
“I’d love that.”
“Good,” he says, heading for the door. “I hate that you never had a chance to work with Dad, but I’m so damn glad you’re here, Dani.”
“Damn, you’ve been here for half a day, and you already got your name on a plaque? I need to tell my brother to step it up. I’ve been working for him for … well, shit, my entire life, and I still don’t have a plaque on a door.”
Matteo walks in, and I roll my eyes at his sarcasm.
“Probably because he knows you’d lose your shit if you had to be confined to four walls,” I say, standing to greet him.
“True,” he agrees, closing the door behind him.
Then, he shocks me when he grabs a handful of my ass with one hand and lifts me onto my desk. Since I’ve been visiting all the different departments, I’ve barely been in here, so the desk is empty, save for a computer that I haven’t even fired up yet.
“What are you doing?”
“Visiting my girlfriend at her job. I heard it’s a very boyfriendy thing to do.”
“Oh, you did, huh?” I laugh.
“Yep. And so is this.” He pulls a small bouquet from behind his back.
“What is this for?” I ask, taking in the pretty white Cala Lilies he’s holding.
“The lady at the flower shop said they symbolize new beginnings.” He places them on the desk next to me.
“Matteo,” I whisper, glancing down at them. “You got me flowers?” I lift them up and inhale their fresh scent. “Thank you.”
I look at them again and then back up at Matteo, who shrugs nonchalantly.
“Nobody’s ever bought me flowers before,” I admit. “And they’re so meaningful,” I choke out, having no idea why I’m so emotional.
I mean, they’re just flowers, right? But they’re from him, and he went out of his way to find out what they meant. And maybe to some people, that’s not a big deal, but to me … it’s everything.
“Damn, Sweetness, I didn’t know buying you flowers would affect you this way.
Listen,” he says, cradling my face in his hands.
“I don’t know if you’ve been on the terrace at the condo yet, but it’s huge, and if you want, we can turn the whole thing into an outdoor garden, hot tub be damned.
Just say you’ll move in with me, and I’ll make it happen. ”
I bark out a watery laugh. “Oh my God, you’re so crazy. Why are you so hell-bent on me living with you?”
It’s meant as a joke, only Matteo’s features turn serious, not taking it as one.
“Because the alternative is living without you.”
I swallow thickly and nod in understanding because as scary as it is to imagine taking this next step with Matteo, the thought of not being with him is even more terrifying.
“Okay,” I tell him. “I’ll live with you.”
His brows shoot up to his forehead. “Are you serious? Because if you’re just saying that to fuck with me, it’s not funny.”
“I’m serious,” I tell him, yanking him closer by wrapping my legs around his waist. “I want to eat with you and sleep with you, and I want to live with you.”
His mouth fuses with mine, his strong yet soft lips caressing mine as he leans in, his arms caging me in … and then the door opens.
“Jesus fucking Christ,” my brother hisses. “Is this going to become a thing? Me walking in on you two?”
I hide behind Matteo, embarrassed at having been caught again, but Matteo only laughs.
“Maybe if you knocked, you’d stop walking in on people.”
“And maybe if you guys took it to a fucking room, people would stop walking in on you.”
“Um, we are in a room,” Matteo deadpans, making me stifle a laugh. “And the last time we were in a room, you walked in on us, so I don’t think that would matter. Besides, we were just celebrating. Your sister is moving in with me.”
Lorenzo’s brow furrows. “Isn’t she already living with you?”
“As my roommate,” Matteo explains. “But she just agreed to officially move in with me. So, you won’t have to worry. We’ll be taking it to our room quite often.”
“New rule.” Lorenzo glares. “I don’t want to hear about you taking my sister anywhere.”
“How about we take this to lunch?” I push Matteo back and hop off the desk. “I’m starved, and I saw there’s a Greek place right across the street—my favorite.”
Matteo groans. “You’re lucky I love you because I am sick of eating Greek food.”
We get to the restaurant and order and then find a table outside since they’re covered and have fans, helping to cool the hot day down. Matteo, of course, sits next to me, his hand going to my thigh.
“I like this skirt on you,” he murmurs, leaning in and nibbling on my bottom lip.
“Rule number one,” Lorenzo whines, reminding us that we’re not alone.
“Sorry,” I tell him. “We’ll try harder.”
“No, we won’t,” Matteo says. “You’re just acting like a whiny bitch because Hillary fucked you over.”
“Matteo!” I hiss.
“What? It’s the truth. You need to get back out there,” he tells Lorenzo. “You going to the fight this weekend? There will be women everywhere. Find one and fuck that bitch out of your system once and for all.”
I gasp at Matteo, ready to tell him that’s not how it works, when another thought occurs to me. “Your fight is this weekend?”
He glances down at me. “Yeah. You knew I had a fight coming up. Hence all the training I’ve been doing.”
“I know. But I didn’t know it was this weekend. How does it work? Where is it? Do I need to buy tickets?”
Lorenzo chuckles, but Matteo frowns.
“No, you’re not going.”
I rear back. “What? Why can’t I go?”
“Because I already told you no before,” Matteo says as if his word is final.
“I want an actual reason,” I say. “I’m a grown woman, and you’re treating me like a child.”
The waitress drops off our food, but neither Matteo nor I make a move to eat.
“Because the last fight ended with a fire,” Matteo finally says.
“Well, a false fire,” Lorenzo points out, making Matteo glare.
“What? The Underground didn’t catch fire,” he says to me.
“It was a distraction to get everyone out. Then, while the girls went home, we went to the warehouse because there was another fire. But again, it was only a distraction so that psycho Anthony could try to kidnap Dominick’s son. ”
I heard about this. While Brielle and I were shopping, she gave me a bit of a backstory so I would understand why we had guards.
She also told me about her past, which had me wanting to cry for her.
I couldn’t imagine someone forcing me to have an abortion.
She comes across so put together, but I can tell there’s a part of her that will forever be broken because of what she went through.
“Will Brielle be there?” I ask.
“It doesn’t matter,” Matteo says, taking a bite of his food. “You won’t be.”
“That’s not fair.” I pout, crossing my arms over my chest.
“Eat your food, Little Russo,” Matteo says, pointing at my untouched food.
I huff in annoyance, but my stomach growls, so I eat, but not because he told me to.
“This conversation isn’t over,” I warn him, hitting him with a look that makes him close his mouth rather than argue.