57. FRANKIE
FIFTY-SEVEN
FRANKIE
It’s been a whirlwind of a month. I fold another sweater and place it in my closet. After my last day at work, I flew out to San Francisco—and the house-hunting started. Amy and Alana were a huge help with determining prime locations.
My parents flew out and helped me tour apartments and condos. We are going to rent for now. It’s still too unpredictable to set down permanent roots. Jackson left it all in my hands, being way too busy with baseball. His only requirement: me being there.
We settled on renting a condo in a complex with a few of the younger guys on the team who haven’t purchased houses yet.
I glance around at the boxes surrounding me and let out a sigh.
It’s official. Moving sucks. I have no idea how I accumulated so much shit.
I mean, not the clothes; my clothes are amazing.
I just can’t get over the sheer volume of boxes I have to unpack.
And that’s without considering the furniture.
We decided it made sense to leave the furniture at my townhouse.
I’ll sell it or give it away when my lease is up.
At this point, Jackson has made enough money to comfortably afford to furnish this place.
Which means Frankie gets to go shoppinggg.
A knock echoes from downstairs, and I frown. It could be Jess or Mya, girlfriends of a couple of the players. I check my phone. 2 p.m. No, they’d be at work. Like I would be if I had a job.
A weight settles in my chest, and I stand.
I have a few interviews scheduled in the coming weeks.
I think I’ll feel better once I’m working again.
I really miss it. I miss my pretty spreadsheets.
I miss my clients. I miss Gen. Well, I still see Gen.
But I miss bitching about work with her.
It has been such a boon being able to see her so often.
It was terrifying moving out to San Francisco, leaving everything I’ve known for twenty-eight years behind. I wasn’t prepared for the rightness that would settle over me once we found a place together. I have my boyfriend. I have my best friend. I have a new BDE family who we fell into seamlessly.
Oh, and another boon—I passed my fucking exam. My fingers spin the large diamond studs in my ears. My present from Jackson for passing. Frankie is very sparkly now.
I hurry down the stairs just as another knock rings out. It’s a firm, commanding knock. I peer through the peephole and jerk back. What the hell?
I pull the door open and stare blankly at the sexy, silver-templed man in a suit standing on my doorstep. “Kieran?”
What the hell is Gen’s…whatever he is…doing here?
“Francesco. May I come in?”
I shiver at his deep tone. I swear everything the guy says comes out like a growl. I really don’t blame Gen at all. I am also greatly regretting my outfit choice. I’m in one of Jackson’s shirts and a pair of his sweats. I literally look like a saggy, baggy elephant.
“Of course.” I step back and wave him inside. “I apologize, still in the middle of getting settled. Can I grab you something to drink?”
“Water, please.”
I lead him into the open-concept kitchen. It’s all whites and grays, with a white quartz countertop. At some point, I’ll decide on how I want to add some color in here. I stop at our Sub-Zero fridge. “Sparkling or regular?”
“Regular is fine.” He settles onto a barstool.
“I apologize for…” I sweep a hand down me.
He waves me off. “I was unannounced. That’s on me.”
I grab a sparkling water for me and a regular bottle for him. I slide it to him and lean against the counter opposite him. “Is there something I can help you with?”
He’s so silent and stoic; I’ve never been able to get a read on him.
A part of me feels like he’s here to kill me as part of some sort of mafia ploy.
Not sure why I’d be a target, though. Gen always teases me about how fanciful I am, but he just has that vibe.
The thick, glinting Rolex and tattoo peeking above his shirt collar don’t help with my imagination.
“We have recently had a position open up in the San Francisco office. I’d like for you to be the one who fills it.”
I try to contain my surprise. So not mafia related. I take a sip of my water as I choose my words carefully. “I appreciate you thinking of me, Kieran. Unfortunately, I am looking for a change, and I don’t think I can achieve that at Mercari.”
There. A nice way of saying I am looking to be as far from soulless bastards as possible, and unfortunately, the San Francisco office has a huge one in charge of it.
He watches me, and I do my best not to shift.
“As you know, I head the West Division at Mercari.”
I look from side to side. Yes…
“Which means the head of each West Coast office reports to me. I am very particular about who I appoint to head each office. It has come to my attention that I recently made a poor choice.”
“I’m…sorry to hear that.”
His lips twitch. “I also learned that one of our star consultants recently moved out to San Francisco. But left the company.”
“Kieran, I’m really not following.”
His jaw sets, and he leans forward. “I know what Nick did. I know what he did six years ago, and I know what he propositioned you with a month ago.”
My face flames. My olive skin isn’t hiding this blush. How effing mortifying. Like, why don’t I just take off my briefs and wave them in the air—here’s my dirty laundry!
Kieran’s nostrils flare and his cheek tics. “He has been fired, and I can promise you he won’t be finding work in San Francisco now.” He taps the counter. “Anywhere.”
I take a sip of blessedly cold water. Okay. Total mafia boss, I don’t care what Gen says.
Speaking of…
“Gen told you,” I say quietly.
“Yes. She stormed into my house in an absolute rage. Warranted, Francesco. What he did was abhorrent. He took advantage of a junior employee. He used his position of power against you to ensure your silence.”
“You believe my word over his?” As much as I appreciate it, I’m having trouble believing he’d go to these lengths based on word of mouth.
He arched a brow. “I have my way of…validating things. It wasn’t difficult to find a certain lease from six years ago with both your and Nick’s names on it. Everything I found aligned with what Genevieve told me.”
“Gen’s a gem.” My words come out thick. She’s a true friend. One of the very few I’ve managed to make outside of Paulie’s. The distance never mattered to us.
Kieran makes a non-committal noise. “She’s something,” he mutters.
I cross my arms and lift a brow at him. Speaking of power dynamics.
He reads my mind. “Gen’s and my…” He stretches his head from side to side. “Relationship is documented with the company.”
My chin jerks in. I wasn’t expecting that.
“The last thing I’d ever do is hurt her.”
I barely catch the whispered words, and it just raises more questions about whatever it is that’s going on between them.
He steeples his fingers and watches me over them. “So does that change your answer at all?”
I worry my lip. I think it does. “This would essentially be my same role as before, just assigned to San Francisco?”
He shakes his head slowly, dark gray gaze locked on me. “No, Francesco. We only have one position open. The one someone was just removed from.”
My jaw goes slack. “Are you asking me to…to fill Nick’s position?”
He dips his chin. “I want you as head of San Francisco.”
Holy fucking shit. “Kieran,” I say weakly. “I’m not remotely qualified for that position.”
He rubs his fingers and thumb over his chin. “I beg to differ.”
He lifts a finger. “You lead multiple clients in Providence, and you’re highly praised for your project management skills.”
He lifts a second. “You passed your final exam, which means you are a conference away from attaining your FSA designation.”
Another finger. “You’re adaptable. You swept in to take over for Cathy without issue. The team loves you. The clients love you.”
Fourth finger. “Managerial experience. You have been an incredible manager to our junior staff. Rosanna said she has had several people request to be switched over to you.”
Thumb. “Client rapport. We are a business built on sales. Clients love you. Do you know the hell I dealt with on Colanova when you left? Our contacts were terrified their account would flounder with you gone. Guess who didn’t get that same reaction when he left—and he was the lead on that account.”
I swallow hard. Wow. “That’s quite the praise.”
“Deserved,” he says crisply. “It comes with added responsibility. You’ll be managing the entire office. I plan to mentor you and provide the guidance you need to grow into the role. You have shown incredible promise since we hired you and have yet to disappoint. Continue that, and you’ll be fine.”
I think I’m speechless. Something Kieran recognizes.
“I’ll send an email with the role details and compensation package.” He stands. “I expect your acceptance by the end of this week.”
I’d raise an eyebrow at his cockiness, but he’s right. Something fizzes in my chest. Head of San Francisco. Little old moi. Running an entire fucking office. It’s so badass. It’s so…everything I could have hoped for. I hadn’t even thought to dream that high.
“I’ll get back to you ASAP,” I say as I walk him out.
He nods, back to silence, and steps out the door.
“Oh, and Francesco?” He looks back over his shoulder at me.
“Hmm?”
“Tell your boyfriend I say congrats on making the playoffs. I hope he can bring home a win for us.”
“Will do.”
It’s not until I close the door that I realize what he just said. My eyes fly wide. He knows. I whip out my phone.
Me
You told Kieran about me and Jackson?!
A moment later.
Gen
Does that mean he just left? How’d it go?
Me
I am glaring at you.
Gen
Good. You look sexy when you glare.
I huff out a laugh.
Gen
He won’t tell anyone, Frank. Not only because he’s a huge BDE fan, but his code of honor runs miles deep. He understands. Better than you’d think.
Huh. Interesting. I amble back to the kitchen as I type.
Me