Chapter 21 Aliénor
ALIéNOR
I packed my things in a small rollaway suitcase for the weekend.
I’d stayed at a guy’s place for a sleepover before, but I’d never been so excited about it.
Probably because a six-foot-four ripped Luca hadn’t been the one to invite me over before.
A whole weekend of orgasms and gourmet meals and cuddling in a soft bed with the most beautiful man who ever lived.
I’d struck gold.
I’m outside.
I saw his text message, turned off the lights, and locked the door behind me before I took the little elevator to the bottom floor.
I walked through the small lobby and out the double doors, seeing Luca standing near the SUV with the driver, who waited for him.
Dressed in dark jeans and a long-sleeved olive shirt, he looked like a man who belonged on a fashion billboard that was posted over buildings under construction.
He looked like he could be a model at Diamant.
He wasn’t the most expressive man, but I could see a hint of a smile in his eyes at the sight of me. He didn’t come to me, waiting for me to come to him.
“Hey.” I moved into him and wrapped my arms around his thick trunk. I smothered myself with his smell, felt the softness of his shirt against my cheek.
His arms circled me, and he brought me close for a squeeze.
I could stay like that forever, seared in his heat.
He pulled away first and dipped his head to kiss me. “Ready?”
I loved when he kissed me like that. It was simple and expected, but it felt so domestic, like this was a mature relationship that had continued to blossom after the honeymoon stage.
Like this was a real relationship, not a situationship, not something with an expiration date.
We hadn’t talked about being that serious, but it felt that way. “Yeah.”
He placed my suitcase in the back then got into the SUV from the other side.
The driver drove away without instructions from Luca.
Luca didn’t make conversation with me, just looked out the window at the people who passed on the sidewalk, who had a smoke in the cafés that lined the street.
Instead of heading to his apartment, we arrived outside a restaurant a few minutes later.
Luca got out first then helped me out before we entered the establishment.
He hadn’t mentioned dinner, but I was always happy to eat, anywhere, anytime.
We got a table in the corner, the place already packed with people for the dinner rush, and Luca didn’t pull out the chair for me, even though it was a nice place.
Not that I minded. He wasn’t the most elegant person, but I liked that about him.
The second the waiter came over, Luca cut him off and ordered a drink for himself and a glass of wine for me. Then we were alone together, just the two of us, surrounded by the loud conversations of those around us.
Luca stared at me across the table, elbows on the surface, tendons popping on the backs of his hands.
Jesus, I couldn’t believe how hot he was. I felt like a goddamn troll in comparison. I knew every woman in that restaurant assumed I was his sister or something.
The waiter returned and placed our drinks in front of us along with a basket of bread, and then he departed.
I broke contact and looked at the menu. “What’s good here?”
“I always get the same thing.”
“Steak?” I said seriously and teasingly at the same time.
He took a drink of his scotch.
“I’m not sure what I’m going to get.” I scanned through the menu, everything looking good. “Maybe the duck.” I set the menu aside. “Come here a lot?”
“It’s my favorite spot. Ever been here?”
“I don’t even know where we are.” It had all happened so fast.
“Chez Georges.”
The name rang a bell. My family and I used to come here when I was younger. “It’s been a while. Bring other girls here?” I asked playfully.
He considered the question. “Maybe once or twice. I can’t really remember.”
I liked how honest he was. He spoke his mind without filter, didn’t care whether he offended me or if he looked like an asshole for not remembering the women he’d brought here. “How have you been?”
“Busy.”
“That’s not an answer, remember?” I teased.
He smiled, but it was slight. “Stressed.”
“Why have you been stressed?”
“Drama with the Aristocrats and the other Emperors.”
“Why an Emperor?”
“He’s offended we robbed their holy seat. I have to rectify this, or there will be consequences.”
“Why is this your responsibility?”
He sat back in the chair, arms crossing over his chest. “Everything is my responsibility.”
The waiter returned to take our orders, but Luca ordered for us both in a rush, like he wanted to get rid of him. We were alone once more, the air tense between us even though our relationship felt lighter than air.
I couldn’t believe we were sitting together like this, having a conversation like we’d never butted heads in the past. I had access to a man who didn’t give anyone access.
He didn’t seem to want to talk about it further because he said, “Tell me about your job.”
My first week had been a rush. A lot to learn in a short amount of time.
“I shadowed the current fashion merchandiser this week. Today was her last day, so it was a lot to take in. But I enjoyed everything I learned, how involved I’ll be in the brand’s presence in shops all over Europe.
I’m glad it’s not the kind of job that’s done blindly.
I have to analyze trends, take trips to Milan for fashion shows, try to stay ahead of the game.
The designers make the clothes, but I’m the one who decides how many units of each item we should sell… or if we should sell them at all.”
He listened to what I said, the straightest of straight men, and seemed to actually pay attention. “So, you’ll be on your own on Monday?”
“I will.”
“Nervous?”
“No. I could tell some of the girls in the office were a bit annoyed with me, but if I just do my job, they’ll have no shit to talk.”
“Why are they annoyed with you?”
“Because I’m sure some of them hoped they were going to get the job. Move up after paying their dues. Several of them went out of their way to mention that they started as interns, trying to make a dig.”
“Did you punch them?”
“Sorry?” I asked.
He kept a straight face like that was a legitimate question. “I would have punched them.”
“Well, that’s not really how it works.”
He took a drink. “There would be no further comments.”
“I’d lose my job real quick.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“And why not?” I asked, my eyes narrowing. “Who do you know over there? How did you get me that job?”
“I know Henri.”
“Henri who?” Never heard that name.
“Henri Diamant.”
“As in…the owner of the entire company.”
He took another drink from his glass.
“How do you know him?”
“I told you I know everyone.”
“But you push drugs on the street and police the dealers in the city. He’s got nothing to do with that.”
He gave a quiet chuckle and returned his arms to the table. “Everything is connected in one way or another.”
“Did he owe you a favor?”
“No.”
“Then why did he agree?”
“Because I’m a good person to have in your pocket.” He grabbed a piece of bread and took a bite.
“Clearly…”
Dinner arrived a few minutes later, and as usual, he inhaled his food like he’d skipped all his meals for the day. His steak was rare, and my duck was hot and fresh. We enjoyed the silence and the food, comfortable not saying anything at all.
He finished before I did and washed it down with the rest of his scotch. Patient, he sat and watched me finish, and when the waiter came over to check in, he ordered another scotch.
“What else have you done this week?” I asked.
“My life mostly revolves around work.”
“You don’t have friends or family outside of it?”
He shook his head. “It’s hard to maintain a relationship with someone when you can’t share any aspect of your life. There’s a hard line in the sand, and you have to pick a side to stand on.”
“So, the women you’ve been with…they knew what you did for a living?”
“I don’t have the energy to put on a production. Don’t have the energy to lie. Too much work. I went to my uncle’s house last night for dinner. We usually get together once a week or so.”
“That’s nice. Is he in the same line of work?”
Luca nodded. “Meth.”
I took a few more bites of my food as I absorbed that answer. “Are your parents still around?” I thought I already knew the answer to that question, based on everything else he’d told me…and not told me.
“No.”
“I’m sorry.”
He gave no reaction, like my words fell on deaf ears.
“What happened to them?”
His eyes flicked away like the question intruded into his private space. He let the silence linger between us for a while. “Now isn’t the place.”
“Of course,” I said. “Fair enough.”