Chapter 15
FIFTEEN
Milo
Being the only Accetti in Manhattan took a toll on me. It wasn’t that I couldn’t do the job, it was more that I missed not having Chello or my dad around to rein me in.
No one would call me out for what happened with Bello the other night, but there were rumblings of me being a loose cannon who would fly off the handle and blow the orderly way my father approached business right out of the water.
Lucas had raised concerns that the cartels were getting nervous that I couldn’t handle running the empire on my own. I had to prove them wrong. That was vital if I wanted to maintain my family’s position.
I finished signing the last few contracts that needed my approval just as Sable came into my office at the dealership.
“How was your tour?” I asked.
“This place is stunning.” She came to the front of my desk. “Ricardo is awfully knowledgeable about it too. ”
“Ricardo is like our own family historian.” I tapped my pen on the desk. “I think he knows more about my family and how this dealership came to be than I do.”
“Well, as far as I can tell, your dealership is thriving. The cars are beautiful.”
“Glad you approve.” I pushed the contracts to the side of the desk. “I thought maybe you and Ricardo could have lunch, and then he’ll take you home.”
“Can you have lunch with us?”
“I’m swamped.” I stood and joined her on the other side of the desk. “I can probably make it home for dinner tonight.”
“Okay.”
“Don’t pout.” I ran my finger along her lips. “There’s so much going on, and I’m a one-man show.”
“I understand.”
“Thank you.” I took her hands. “Once things calm down, I’ll take you somewhere tropical.”
“A beach?”
“That’s what I would consider tropical.” I laughed. “I have a villa on an island that you’ll love.”
“I’ve never been to an island.” She gazed up at me. “I’ve never been on vacation.”
“I’ll give you everything.” I caressed her cheek. “Anything you want.”
“I did want to ask you something.”
“Sure.” I glanced at my watch. “I have to take a meeting in about five minutes.”
“I’ll be quick.” She let go of my hand and took a seat in the chair in front of me. “You know how you bought me all those clothes?”
“The clothes you didn’t want?” I grinned as I admired the way her fit form looked in the navy-blue skirt. The open-toed, gray stilettos accentuated her sexy feet too. “You’re fucking hot.”
A blush filled in her cheeks when she smiled at me. “I was thinking now that I have this killer wardrobe, maybe I could do something with it.”
“Like what?”
“Look for a job.” She smoothed out her skirt. “And then when I get a job, I’ll have clothes to show up in. Going to interviews was a struggle before because I never felt like I looked good enough.”
“I’m sure you always looked good.”
“But not as good as I look now. My hair, my nails.” She held up her hand to show me her fresh manicure. “Even my eyebrows are perfect.”
“I thought you were stunning before all of that, but you’re a fucking goddess.” I rubbed my jaw. “Far too beautiful to let you out of my sight.”
“What do you mean?”
“You don’t need a job.” Even though I knew that statement was barbaric, I wanted her home when I got there. My life was too chaotic. I needed her when I needed her. This relationship was so new. I didn’t want to share her. “I can take care of you.”
“We can take care of each other,” she said. “Emotionally, physically, but I have to have some stability, you know?”
“Financially?” Was she thinking about an endgame? Did she think I was going to kick her to the curb when I was done? “I can give you money.”
“I don’t want your money.”
“Like you didn’t want the clothes?” Did I need to remind her how I dealt with that display of unappreciativeness? Fuck, I made her strip in front of Camila and… I am barbaric.
“That was different.” She crossed her legs at the ankle. “I need some independence. I have to be able to stand on my own two feet. Chance needs that from me too.”
“Chance doesn’t need anything from you.” I leaned against the desk, trying to contain my anger over her constant need to protect and clean up after her idiot brother. “If anything, he should be the one who makes up for all the shit he put you through. He has to learn to stand on his own two feet.”
“If he didn’t get into trouble, I wouldn’t have found you.”
“I’m not an unreasonable man.” That wasn’t true, but I wanted to at least try. “What kind of job do you want?”
“I don’t know.” She stood, appearing more anxious than I would like. “I’ve mainly worked retail and in restaurants, because those were the only places I could get someone to even consider me. It’s a competitive world.”
“Not when you know an Accetti.”
“I don’t want any favors. I can do it on my own.”
Why is she so difficult? I stalked toward her, backing her toward the wall with each step. “I could just load money into your account.” I leaned my forearm against the wall as I captured her hip in my other hand. “I might do that anyway.”
“No.” She pursed her lips together like she often did when stress took over. “I want to work.”
“You can work.” I gripped her hip.
“I don’t need your permission.” Her statement had an obvious amount of uncertainty.
“Are you telling me that, or are you asking me if you need my permission?” I trailed my hand up her body and then twisted her hair around my finger. “I’m going to bet you already know the answer.”
“Milo,” she sighed. “Do you honestly see what’s happening between us lasting forever?”
“What?” Forever?
“See?”
“I don’t see anything.” I slammed my palm into the wall with enough force that the pictures rattled. “I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.”
“My point exactly.”
When she tried to duck under my arm, I blocked her with my body, wedging my knee against her thigh. “You’re not getting away.”
“I just want to go to some job interviews now that I have some nice clothes to wear.” She pushed her hair from her face. “I’m used to being independent. I don’t want to look pretty all the time and have no purpose.”
“Your purpose is to be whatever I need you to be.” I caressed her neck, sailing my fingers along her collarbone. “Right now, I need you close.”
She gazed down at the floor.
“But that doesn’t mean that I can’t meet you halfway.”
“What do you mean?” She looked up at me.
“This is a big place.” I continued to stroke her soft skin. “We can find something for you to do here.”
“Work here?”
“Then you can look pretty and wear your new clothes.” I smirked. “I like the idea of you being here with me.”
“A real job though. One where I get a paycheck.”
“I’ll pay you.”
She bit her lip and shook her head.
“I own the place. The money comes from me anyway.”
“What would I do? ”
“Fuck me whenever I want.” I gripped her throat. “Wherever I want.”
“Milo.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m trying to get my life together.”
“I’m kidding.” I skimmed my lips across hers. “Kind of.”
“You’re lucky you’re so sexy.”
“What do you like to do?” I tugged on the ends of her hair. “Marketing, sales, customer service? Administrative work?”
“Marketing sounds interesting, but I have to learn about the business.” She pressed her back against the wall when I ran my tongue along her throat. “I might be good at administrative stuff.”
“You can start tomorrow.” I slipped my hand under her skirt and tugged at her panties, because all this talk about having her whenever I wanted had me ready to go. “But now we need to handle my business.”
“You want to have sex right here?”
“Anywhere I want.” I pulled her panties down her legs and guided her out of them. “Anytime I want, remember?” I kissed her neck as I hiked her skirt over her hips. “That’s a new term in our agreement.”
“You can’t keep adding conditions as we go.” She draped her arms over my shoulders. “I’m pretty sure your human resources department would frown upon that.”
“Not if I threaten their lives.”
“I do like having sex with you.” She licked the seam of my lips. “Quite a bit.”
“Then this job is going to work out well for you.”
“I am qualified for the position.” She smirked. “I’ve had extensive training with my boss.”
“I really wish I had time to lick your pussy.” When I swirled my tongue inside her mouth, she moaned. “Then I could savor your taste all afternoon.”
“You’re so dirty.”
I lowered my hand to my belt buckle, but a tap at the door halted my movement. Sable let go of me as if she were going to get into trouble for what we were about to do. I’m the fucking boss.
“Milo.” Another knock at the door. “Lucas asked me to come and get you.”
“I’ll be right there, Angela,” I said.
“Your father’s assistant?” Sable asked.
“How did you know that?” I straightened my tie.
“I met her on my tour.” Sable tucked her hair behind her ear. “She talks about your dad a lot.”
“She’s obsessed with my father.” I bent down and scooped up her panties. “You should probably put these back on.” I pressed them into her hand. “Or don’t. Your choice.”
Her coy smile did nothing to settle my raging dick down.
“That blush in your cheeks makes my cock hard.” I stole a quick kiss before strolling toward the door. “Especially when I know I’m the one who causes it.” I opened the door wide enough to shield Sable so she could put her panties on. “Angela.” I leaned against the frame. “How can I help you?”
“Lucas wants to see you down in the garage.” She peered over my shoulder, trying to get a glimpse. “Unless you want me to tell him you’re busy.”
“That won’t be necessary.” I glanced over my shoulder as Sable tugged her panties up her thighs. I winked at my flustered girl then turned my attention back to Angela. “Walk with me” I ushered Angela down the hallway. “I need a favor. ”
“Anything,” she said.
“I need you to train a new assistant for me.”
“A new assistant? What about me?” Angela asked.
“You’re doing a fantastic job.” I walked her to her desk. “But when my father returns, you’ll be busy with all of his needs.” God, I hope not all of them. “You’re really picking up the slack with Marchello on his honeymoon.”
“I should ask for a raise.”
“I’ll arrange that.” I slid out her chair for her.
“Do you need me to handle the hiring of this assistant?” Angela sat down. “I could call an agency.”
“I’ve already hired her.”
“The girl Ricardo gave a tour to this morning? Mink or some other odd name.”
“Sable, her name is Sable, and yes, she will be starting as my assistant, but I want you to show her the ropes.”
“Milo? Do you really think you should hire the woman you’re sleeping with to work side-by-side with you?” She sipped her water. “What do you think your father would say about that?”
“He might have some experience with that situation.” I arched my brow at Angela, because my father was known to relieve some stress with her. “Before you were married, of course.”
She rested an elbow on her desk. “I’m sure your father will be disappointed when he learns that I got married while he was away.”
“I’m sure.”
“How is your father going to handle both you and Marchello being in relationships when he returns? He’s used to the two of you being at his call at the drop of a hat.”
“Nothing will change.” I glanced at my watch. “I’ve kept Lucas waiting long enough. I’ll make sure you see a bump in your paycheck.”
“And I’ll make sure Sable is an exemplary assistant for you.”
“Don’t be too tough on her.” I headed to the stairs that led to the main floor of the showroom. “Make her feel important.”
I smiled and waved at the salespeople as I made my way through the floor.
I smirked when I caught a customer pretending not to be taking a picture of me when I walked past her.
Marchello swore that some women came here not because they wanted to buy a car, but because they wanted to take a selfie with one or all of the Accetti men.
I would admit to being guilty of taking more than a selfie with a few of them. Who could blame me? But that was before Sable. Last month, I would have approached the woman and offered to take a picture with her. I would have taken her for a drink, and then…
Before Sable. I liked things much better this month, even if her question about seeing things in a long-term sense threw me off. My world was far too complicated to worry about what happened beyond today.
Once I reached the garage, I couldn’t help but notice the scowl on Lucas’ chiseled face. He had been over Marchello and my rein for a few weeks now. He wanted my father back at the helm. So did I.
“I’m sorry for keeping you,” I said. “But it couldn’t be helped.”
“Distractions.” He pointed at me. “Look where it got your brother.”
“I’m not Marchello,” I said. “But if I were to compare myself to him, it would be an honor.”
“I don’t want you to lose focus.” He motioned for me to follow him through the corridor to a more secluded area of the garage.
On our way, I nodded at Chance, who was in the process of learning how to detail a car. Sable didn’t want him mixed up in anything illegal. I wanted to respect her wishes.
“How’s he doing?” I asked as we walked past Chance. “Behaving, I hope.”
“I haven’t received any complaints.”
“Good.” Once we reached the end of the hall, we went into a small break room. “What’s up?”
“I located the missing cars.”
“Really?” I nodded. “That’s great work. Are they salvageable?”
“Perfect condition.” He got himself a cup of water from the watercooler. “Of course, we’re having them swept for bugs or… other devices.”
Those other devices were always a sensitive subject given what happened to my mother.
“Do we know who is responsible?” I asked. “Any leads?”
“We have a very important lead waiting for you at Pier 57.”
“You found someone?”
“One of the thieves who intercepted the truck.” Lucas sipped his water. “Our guys are prepping him for you.”
“Perfect.” I grinned. “Keep him there, and make sure they don’t kill him before I arrive.”
“When do you want to handle this?”
“Tonight,” I said. “I want to know who hired this piece of shit to steal from me.”
When I did, I would show them what the consequences were for coming after the Accettis. No one fucked with mine.