Chapter Twenty-Seven
BEC
“Do you ever just stand here and watch the cars drive around down there?” Livia asked. “They look like little specks from this high up.”
She had pulled one of the chairs and positioned it in front of the wall of windows in my office a couple of hours ago.
I hadn’t expected her to stick around after Rome left with Andi for my penthouse.
When I gave Rome the list of items I needed him to pick up while he was there, he knew what less than half of the items were.
His confusion while reading over the list was rather adorable.
Andi eventually made the decision to go with him.
She knew my penthouse like the back of her hand and had bought the majority of the items in the first place.
Thus, Rome would get the note, and Andi would get what I needed.
Having the two of them go together seemed like the best decision all around.
This did leave me without an assistant for the time being.
Andi had just as many tasks as I did, if not more.
Between running my life and my schedule, she was crucial to my success.
I typically didn’t work without Andi or some sort of backup.
The phone calls alone would be enough to send me over the edge.
Cue Livia Romano, who was self-appointed as my stand-in assistant for the afternoon.
She was actually rather brilliant at the position.
From what I knew about her, she was known as the wild child of the family.
Bouncing between jobs, finding herself in the most bizarre scenarios, and causing chaos all around.
Her reputation made me hesitant to let her take over Andi’s responsibilities even for a short time, but Livia had proven me wrong instantly.
Her personality and spunk helped keep people in line, and her brilliance allowed me to throw tasks at her she didn’t understand but figured out nonetheless.
In the last few hours, she had managed to complete Andi’s entire to-do list and helped book tickets for an upcoming trip to Oregon.
The only issue with Livia… she needed attention.
She had brought Andi’s phone and computer into my office and was now performing random tasks from her spot near the window.
She had a pink blanket that matched her hair draped over her lap.
I have no idea where she pulled it from, but I was learning not to question her.
I had also learned that I didn’t mind her company… it was a welcome distraction to my racing thoughts.
I shouldn’t have been surprised that my dad was willing to sacrifice my job and happiness for money.
That was what had truly corrupted him. My mom had talked about when things were good with him.
Neither Will nor I remembered, but according to her, prior to Bly Enterprises, he was loving and kind.
It’s why she fell in love and ultimately married him.
It’s also why she stayed for as long as she did.
She had hoped that someday he would revert to the man she once knew—the man she fell in love with and had wanted to share a life with.
But money corrupts, and it ate away at everything that made my father good.
He became addicted to the success and the rush of building the company.
Like any other addiction, it ruled his life, and he never felt truly satisfied.
His family, friends, and the good in him were all sacrificed for success.
When he had initially handed me the company, I, too, had hoped that he would revert to the man my mom once knew, or at least a version of him.
While I had never been fond of the man, I was still a daughter who desperately wanted her father to love her…
to put her first. A father who cared and supported his children.
I guess it just wasn’t in the cards for me.
While my dad’s methods to recoup his money were bordering on insane, Livia’s theory was plausible. By causing internal disruption and instability, Bly Enterprises’ stocks would drop.
While the rumors, threats, and kidnapping attempt had caused instability, it wasn’t enough to cause major waves in the markets. I couldn’t help but wonder if he had more up his sleeve.
My train of thought was interrupted by a piece of candy hitting my forehead. “Ow,” I murmured and rubbed the spot it bounced off of before falling onto my desk. “What was that for?”
Livia snickered, “I didn’t realize I had such good aim. It’s good,” she said, pointing to the hard candy in a pink wrapper. “It’s strawberry… I would highly recommend it.”
“Was there a reason for the projectile, or did you just want to share?” I asked and unwrapped the candy before popping it into my mouth, the strawberry flavor washing over my tongue as it dissolved.
“No. Though I don’t mind sharing… comes with being a twin,” Livia mused.
She was sitting on the chair sideways, her legs hanging over one of the arms, her pink Converse—which matched her hair—kicking softly back and forth. She was very dedicated to pink. I respected the passion. “I asked you a question, but you didn’t answer.”
“Oh yeah, sorry,” I apologized, thinking back to what she had asked. “The cars, yes, I used to watch them. Back when I was a kid and this was my dad’s office. After a while, it gets boring.”
Livia laughed, her whole face lighting up, “No, not that! That was like four questions ago. I asked what your plans with my brother were.”
I raised a brow and interlaced my fingers on my desk, “Are you asking me what my intentions with your brother are? Shouldn’t that line of questioning come from your mom or dad?”
She smiled and nodded, “I can’t help but be curious.
I mean, he’s Rome. He doesn’t date, but then you come around and he completely transforms. And I mean completely.
You aren’t just his first serious relationship, but his first relationship ever!
From what I’ve read about you, which is a lot—I’m willing to admit, it’s a bit creepy—you’re the same as him.
Two lone wolves have found each other. I can’t help but wonder… what now?”
I leaned back in my chair and really thought over the question.
Rome was my opposite in every regard. Where he was sunshine and blue skies, I was midnight rain.
He looked at life with a level of optimism I had never seen before, while I expected life not to go according to plan. I had learned to expect the unexpected.
Rome was unexpected.
On paper, we wouldn’t work, but in reality, it was seamless. We balanced each other. We were there to step in and support each other’s weaknesses when needed, and uplift our strengths when able.
We had only been together for a couple of months, but I couldn’t imagine my life without him. “I guess forever comes next… as long as he’ll have me.”
Livia’s jaw dropped as she stared at me, “Holy shit, so you’re like a legit thing! Do you love him?”
I laughed at her enthusiasm. “I think he should be the first one to hear that, not you. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“Absolutely not,” she exclaimed and sat fully up. However, she still wasn’t using the chair correctly, as she was now sitting backward as she said, “I should definitely know first!”
“You’re something else, you know that?” I mused.
She shrugged her shoulders, “As my mom says, I’m not a lot to handle.
I’m the perfect amount for someone out there…
” she trailed off, “I just need to find them.” Her brow raised, and I could see the mischief swirling in her brown eyes.
“By chance, do you have any rich friends who are in desperate need of a pink-haired attention whore in their lives?”
I barked a laugh at the comment. Rome would say something right along those lines. “You’re so much like your brother.” I checked the clock. “Speaking of, where is he?”
Livia looked out the window, as if she could see him down on the street. I shook my head in amusement and called for one of the security guards.
Fynn popped his head in, “Yes, Ms. Bly?”
“Do you know where Rome is? He left a few hours ago. It shouldn’t take this long to grab my things, my mail, and get back here. Was there an accident that caused traffic? I highly doubt it would take them this long to grab the items on my list,” I stated, concernedly.
Livia snickered, “It was two pages long.”
I rolled my eyes and turned back to Fynn, “Can you figure out where he is?”
“Give me a moment,” he answered. “Let me see what I can find out.”
He left, closing the door softly behind him.
“He’s cute,” Livia mused.
“He’s a decade older than you.”
Livia just shrugged and resumed her earlier position in the chair. She had closed all my blinds when she first came into the office, but did eventually open one up so she could get a good view of the city. “Did Rome take one of your cars?”
“I doubt it. Since the incident, he’s avoided them. Though…” I trailed off, thinking of Andi, “with my assistant in tow, I wouldn’t be surprised if he opted to take one for her convenience. She’s terrified of the subway.”
It was quiet for less than a minute before Livia started talking again. I was learning she didn’t do well with periods of silence. “If you marry my brother, does that mean he’s technically rich too? Does that make me rich by association?”
“So we’re now onto marriage?” I joked as Fynn made his way back into the office.
His look of concern had me on edge, “I called the building your penthouse is in. Rome never showed up. They have no record of him keying into your penthouse, or him arriving at all.”
“Was there an accident?” I asked as I stood. It seemed I had become as illogical as Livia since I was looking out onto the streets for whatever source was keeping him from me.
Fynn shook his head, “Nothing. There’s something else…” He trailed off and glanced at Livia.
“Oh, don’t you dare try to kick me out, Army man!” she protested. “If my brother is missing, I need to know.”
Fynn sighed, but didn’t argue. “The car Andi had called isn’t registered to Bly Enterprises, it’s registered to your father.”
“What exactly are you saying, Fynn?”
He responded calmly, “I’m saying there is a chance that since your dad couldn’t get to you, he went with his next best option, the person closest to you… Rome.”