Chapter 18
Get Out My Face
Oni
“No, Mom. I’m fine. We were out last night. I attended a business event with Uncle Claude. I’m getting a late start this morning, that’s all,” I say as I finish getting dressed while talking to my mom on the phone.
She called this morning wanting to talk about my school options, but became concerned when I answered sounding like I had just woken up—which I had. I had just stepped out of the shower after sleeping in.
I hadn’t planned to, but I didn’t hear my alarm go off. Something tells me Rico cut it off sometime during the night. When I did wake, I had a text from Fredrico Sr.
Because of my good work last night, he gave me the morning off and said I could hang with Emilia and the others this afternoon instead of following him to his business meeting. I welcomed the reward.
I did earn it. Not only did I complete my assignment, but I dealt with all that other craziness as well. Grateful, I took the free time to get myself together. I sat in bed gathering my emotions before I jumped into the shower.
I couldn’t leave this room with the smile I had on my face. Not if I planned to play things off. One look in the mirror and I could see the happiness in my eyes. It was written all over my face.
Rico didn’t leave my room until early this morning. The kiss he left me with represented everything he made me feel last night. I thought I was going to lose my virginity last night, but Rico’s words made sense after my hormones calmed down. It will be better to wait.
I wouldn’t want to do something like that and then have to act like he means nothing to me. I don’t think I could. It’s going to be hard enough as it is.
“Okay, honey. I have to get back to work. I’d like it if you could call me back this evening. I really want to discuss your options. We need to get things in motion,” Mom says, bringing me from my thoughts.
I smile. I’ll be able to go to one of those schools and she’s not going to have to pay for it. I have it covered.
All thanks to Rico. He’s doing more for me than he knows. Giving my mom peace of mind is something I’ve always wanted to do. I can now, thanks to Rico.
It might not be the way Mom would want, but by the end of the summer, I’ll be able to change my life for good. I can’t help wondering how Rico will feel if I decide to leave the country for school.
I think I’m falling in love with him. I came close to telling him that, but I didn’t want him to think I’m being silly. If Rico wants to take over the world, the last thing I need to be is a silly, clingy girlfriend.
I hang up with Mom and head downstairs to find something to eat. Breakfast has long passed, so I’ll find some fruit or something so I don’t have to bother the staff. I’m lost in thought as I hum to myself and look through the refrigerator.
I find some juice and a sandwich with my name on it. With a smile, I grab both and back out to close the door. Taking my sandwich and the juice to the counter, I then turn to grab a glass.
“Oh good, it’s you. I need some things fetched from the store. Take notes to make sure you don’t forget anything. Hurry up,” this bitch Juliana says, snapping her fingers at me.
I spin in a circle, looking for who the fuck she thinks she’s talking to. She can’t be talking to me. I know she’s not talking to me.
“Excuse me?” I hiss.
“You’re Fredrico’s assistant, no?”
“I’m his assistant. I’m not your dog or servant though. Talk to me like that again and I’ll give you a permanent happy face,” I deadpan.
“What did you say to me? Do you know who I am?”
“Do I look like I care?”
“Whoa, whoa,” Mario croons as he rushes into the kitchen we’re standing in the middle of. He wraps his arms around me and walks me back away from her.
I hadn’t realized I’d been so close, ready to deal with her disrespect. Rico appears and his face clouds over with rage. He doesn’t look in my direction.
“Relax. Don’t allow her to bait you. She wants to get you punished. Rico hasn’t been giving her the attention she wants,” Mario whispers in my ear.
He then brushes his lips softly against my temple. I look up at him, surprised, then remember what Rico said last night. Quickly, I school my features and place my head against his chest.
“We have a problem here?” Rico asks.
“Who does she think she is speaking to me like that?” Juliana whines.
“What did you say to her? Oni stays quiet and does her job. We’ve never had an incident with her, so my father will have words with you when he returns.”
“But … you can’t be serious. I’m to stay here for four weeks and be treated like this?”
“You don’t have to stay here,” I say coolly.
Rico and Mario snort a laugh. I look to Rico, and he winks at me.
“Listen, I have shit to do. I don’t have time for this. Emilia is having some people over for a pool party. You guys should join her,” Rico says dismissively.
He goes to walk away, but Juliana rushes after him, grabbing his arm to stop him. He turns and looks down at her hand; she draws it back quickly.
“But I thought we could spend some time together.” She pouts. “Are you really too busy for your fiancée?”
“If I can, I’ll join the party later. Right now, I don’t have time for you.”
A grin comes to my lips, and I have to fight not to laugh. The way her face shatters after she tried to throw that bullshit in my face is so satisfying. I want to give a slow clap to Rico as he turns to leave once again.
“Mario, let’s go,” Rico barks, causing Mario to release me immediately and follow after him.
I grab my sandwich and juice then leave Juliana sulking by herself as I go in search of Emilia.
Rico
“Shouldn’t I be back there with Oni?” Mario says as we walk upstairs to the office I’ve set up for myself while we’re here.
“You should, but I needed you to get your hands off my girl. Then I needed to warn you to be careful how well you play your part,” I snarl, knowing I’m wrong even as the words come out of my mouth.
“Calm down, bro. I know who she belongs to. I was just selling the part. You know I mean no disrespect,” Mario tells me.
I sigh and pinch the bridge of my nose. “Fuck.”
“Should I head back down there?”
“Yeah, I’m sorry, man. All this shit is starting to get to me. Go make sure she’s safe and stays out of trouble.”
“It will all work out. I’ve already sent a message on your behalf in New York. You will get the right results. I have your back, man.”
“I know. Thanks. You don’t have to do any of this,” I say and turn to continue to my office.
When I get there, I have a seat as my mind wanders to all the shit I’ve learned from Mario’s report. There’s no question someone is trying to set me up. My only questions now are who and why?
It might be time to shut the operation down. It’s too risky with all this activity in the background. I rub my jaw in thought.
One more job … I need to complete one more job. The others were bonuses. However, this one job will put the jewel in my crown.
I sit back in my chair and think over my options. I need to clean house. I can’t trust everyone around me.
If I risk this final job, we’ll be working with a skeleton crew. If this were my old crew, I might have been okay with that, but having Oni on the crew and now not knowing who I can trust changes everything. I grab my hair by the roots.
This is business, I shouldn’t be making decisions based on a woman. Fuck, she’s not even a woman yet.
“Pull it together, Rico. Handle your business,” I breathe to myself.
Music blasts from the backyard, telling me that the party has started. I mumble under my breath. I’m not about to get any work done. Between my thoughts and that music blasting, I won’t be able to focus at all.
“Fuck it.”
I get up and head to my room to change into something else.
Mario
“He’ll be out here in the next half hour, I promise,” I whisper in Oni’s ear as I stand with my arm around her shoulder.
She looks up at me, and I’m punched with the reason Rico is so taken by her. She’s a beautiful girl. I would never violate the friendship I have with Rico. He’s like my blood brother.
However, I have eyes and it’s hard to miss how gorgeous the girl he’s in love with is. Oh, my friend is in love, whether he’s ready to admit it or not. Rico has never been interested in girls for more than a good fuck.
However, this girl has held his attention since she arrived. She’s as smart as she is beautiful. I think she’s good for him.
Rico is ambitious; he wants to make a great name for himself. I am here to make sure he does and to keep him and the love of his life safe while he does so.
“He has work to do. We probably won’t see him until tonight,” she replies, then shrugs. “It’s cool. I’m in good company and it’s not like I could hang out with him if he were here. I can feel her eyes on me.”
I glance up and she’s right, Juliana is staring daggers at her. I smirk, turning Oni so that my body is blocking hers. I then dip my head to bring our lips closer together.
“Rico might kill me for this, but I’ll explain it to him later,” I say as I hold her close.
Oni reaches up to cup my face. “Just keep your tongue to yourself and your hands above my ass.”
“I can do that.”
I close the distance and press my lips to hers. I’m not expecting the punch to my gut. I don’t stick my tongue into her mouth, but I do nip her lip.
I break the kiss as soon as I feel myself growing hard. She places her head against my chest and sighs. Then she starts to giggle.
“What’s so funny?”
“Before this summer, I’d never kissed a boy. Now I’ve kissed two.”
“In all fairness, we’re men.”
“You know what I mean.”
“I do. Friends? I don’t want to confuse things. I know my kisses are magic.”
She laughs. “You’re now my new best friend. You’d do anything for him, so would I. I think he will need us to be close someday.”
“You will be his queen. It will always be my job to watch out for you, so I guess you’re right,” I laugh.
I throw my arm back around her shoulder and turn to look at Juliana. She’s no longer glaring at Oni. However, Rico is standing in the doorway, glaring at me with fire.
I clench my jaw and nod at him, telling him silently that I’ve only done my part. He nods back, but I know he’s still pissed. I might have to go a few rounds with him later.
“Mario?” Oni says beside me.
“What’s up?”
“Who’s that guy? He was at the club that night. He gives me this eerie vibe. Do you know him?”
I follow her line of vision to see who she’s talking about. There is a guy not far from Juliana who has his gaze trained on Oni. I don’t know him, but I’ll be watching him for the rest of the night.
She’s right, there is something off about him. When he moves to whisper into Juliana’s ear and she nods, I narrow my eyes at the two of them. I’m definitely going to keep an eye on him.