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Chloe
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I can’t believe how quickly everything is coming along. It’s only Friday, but in four days of work all the floors have been laid in the kitchen, new half bath, sunroom, and the basement. The carpenter for the cabinets, Jake, is a person who is sought after and does everything on his own. He came yesterday to double check the measurements for the island and cabinets. I made the call to have another farmhouse sink put into the island as well as the dishwasher. Jake is also making a new window with inlaid stained glass to go above the sink in the kitchen.
The half bath is framed out and the plumbing already done. I’m standing with Ray inside it as we discuss the best way to handle the windows that go almost to the floor. Heat hits me; my head goes up instantly to find Enzo staring at me from across the room. Christ, I’m pathetic. Those stupid bees wake up and freak out in my stomach, and my skin goes tight.
Ray is the one who breaks the silence. “Hey, Enzo. The floor came out pretty good. What do you think?”
Enzo looks down at the floor then nods. “It’s fine.” He looks to me. “Why did you use such dark hardwood in the basement? The flooring in here would look better.”
“This hardwood is what’s in the basement. It will lighten up when we paint the walls and add more lighting.”
“You couldn’t have gone with something lighter?”
“We’re going to paint the walls a light color. Once everything is in place it won’t be dark.”
“What the hell is with the stove?”
“You don’t like it? It’s gorgeous. How can you not like it?”
“It’s gold.”
“It’s hardly blinged out; the handles are gold, the rest of it is cobalt blue. It’s a statement piece. This is a top-quality stove, each one is made only upon being ordered.”
“Then how the hell did you get it so quickly?”
“The home Dominic intended it to go into was sold before he had it installed. Tony says it’s worth every penny.”
He goes still, his eyes hard. “You talked to Tony and Dominic? When did this happen?”
I blush from embarrassment as I remember all over again Dominic’s words from that night. “Monday, I went to pick out everything. The place Ray referred me to, Fine Finishes, is owned by Dominic. He was waiting when I was done, I had dinner with Tony and him.”
Now I know what Enzo looks like stunned. “You had dinner with Tony and Dominic?” Nodding, I can’t take my eyes off him. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me?”
“Because it was embarrassing. Amazing food and wine, and over three hours later I’m told I’m a bad person and it’s a good thing I’m not interested in getting involved with you because you deserve better than me.”
He sighs. “I apologize for my cousin and uncle. They should not have contacted you.”
Shrugging, I turn away. He doesn’t disagree with them. “They care about you. Give the stove a chance. If you don’t like it once the kitchen is completed, we can take it out.”
“I don’t like it now.” The words are hard, rapping against my skin.
“Tough, you told me to handle all the buying so I handled it. If once everything is done you don’t like it, then change it yourself.”
“Or maybe I can just fire you now and hire someone else who will do what I tell them to do.”
“If you fire me you’re still paying me, so please do, because I have better things to do with my time then deal with an asshole like you.”
“Doing what exactly? Oh, that’s right, picking out a sperm donor because you’re a control freak who won’t let a real-life man close to you but that’s good for them, saves them from freezer burn.”
I close my eyes against the pain his words cause in my chest. When I open them, he’s gone.
***
Enzo
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Clenching my jaw tight against the apology I know I owe Chloe, I get the fuck away from her before I say something else I’ll regret.
In the car, I pull out my phone. “Enzo, how are you?”
“Stay the fuck away from Chloe, she’s completely untouchable. Do you understand?”
Tony’s chuckle is unrepentant. “An old man’s attempt at meddling. I see it worked. You’ll thank me later.”
“Dominic made her cry.” She didn’t say it but I could see it in her eyes.
“Don’t go breaking noses. Your Ms. Hutchins, as most beautiful women are, was a little too sure of her hold on you. Dominic simply placed a doubt in her mind. Reminded her other women might be willing to give in to your endless attractions.”
The wave of red washes away. “You had no right to interfere.”
“I regret nothing. Some people don’t know what they have until it’s gone; she was simply reminded of that.”
“She’s out of bounds until I say otherwise.”
“As you wish. Good luck with her, she’s a beautiful woman and a good match for you.”
Hanging up, I shake my head. Even though I still want to pound Dominic’s face, the anger is gone. They’ll stay away from her; for now it’s enough. I should be thanking Chloe for not repeating the completely and utterly stupid thing I did. Christ, even now thinking of it I can’t believe I did it.
I have no idea what led me into the store on the way back from Che’s house, only once I was there, instinct kicked in. Marrying Chloe made perfect sense. The plan was to wait until after the house was finished, but standing there with her in my arms, it felt right. Even as everything she said made sense, it was all I could do to keep from lashing out at her in anger for daring to refuse.
My first thought once my head cleared was to fire her ass, sell the house and wash my hands of the whole stupid interlude. Only pride refused to allow me to take a bath on the house. The place had sat on the market for over two years. From a business standpoint, which was all it represented now, the best thing to do was to complete the updates it desperately needed. Turn it into the home Chloe proclaimed it could be, then turn around and sell it at a profit, which I know I can do.
I was sure I could work with Chloe, but I was wrong. Every time I see her, I want her even more. At this point she’s a fire in my blood. I’m unable to sleep, or focus on anything but how much I want her. I’m not going to try and change her mind; she’s so stubborn she’ll only dig in her heels. She doesn’t want me, she’s made it more than clear too many times. It’s time I started listening to her.
Pulling up her number, I begin sending texts. I want updates every day, in the morning and in the evening. I want pictures of all the work every morning and in the evening. She needs to send me an accounting of everything spent, as well as her planned spending by the end of the day. Starting now, every week she needs to send a report to me by noon Monday, and what has been spent by noon on Friday with any updates on projected spending.
I’m at my desk before she responds.
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Payment starts now.
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Hell, no.
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Payment starts week two. Or you can quit at any time and what you earned will be paid.
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No response. She’ll quit, soon. I’ll make sure of it.
***
Chloe
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I hate him. I hate him. Oh my god I hate him so fucking much. So quit, just quit. Except I can’t walk away from Enzo.
At work I have an issue with two agents fighting over a commission. Figuring it out takes almost two hours with a demand to take the issue to Dante to settle, and thank fuck Dante backs my judgement.
I have an hour to get together everything Enzo demanded. Tabatha is a huge help, she sends everything over in an Excel spreadsheet I use to add the other expenses. I’m proud of myself for getting it in only a few minutes late.
I’m wondering what I want for lunch when I get a response to the email I sent Enzo.
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Do it again. This doesn’t have the labor or the cost of the plumber or carpenter.
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I text Ray for the hours for his men and ask if he has the information on the plumber and carpenter. Ray takes a few minutes to respond with his secretary’s number so she can get me the hours for his men, he thinks she has the info on the plumber but he isn’t sure about the carpenter. Fair warning though, she’s on lunch until one thirty.
I call her and leave a message pleading with her to get me the information as soon as possible because I have Enzo demanding it. With a sigh I respond to Enzo’s email, letting him know I can’t get the information until the woman is back from lunch. As soon as I get it, I’ll send him everything.
His response is quick.
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Warning you now. Every time you miss a deadline you’re dinged ten thousand. This is a warning, from here on out you start losing money.
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Bullshit.
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You don’t get to start making up rules out of nowhere to cut my pay. Three hundred and fifty thousand, three months, that was the deal. So you aren’t a man of your word like your brothers always proclaim a Sabatini to be?
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No response. Fucker. Closing my eyes, I fight the anger welling up inside me. A few deep breaths and I open my eyes to see a response.
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Fine, but if you can’t meet the deadlines then you aren’t meeting my terms and you will be fired, and I will not pay you anything more than what you have earned. Three more times and you’re gone.
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I don’t bother responding. I totally hate Enzo Sabatini’s guts. Before I do or say something I’m going to regret, I grab my purse and get the hell out of the office for lunch even though I’ve lost my appetite.
When I get back to my desk I find everything I need from Ray’s secretary, a woman named Mara. I call her to thank her profusely and let her know I’ll need the information at the end of every week at the beginning of the day. She’s understanding and assures me she’ll get it to me.
It only takes a few minutes to update the spreadsheet then send it to Enzo. This time there is no response.
***
Chloe
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I explain Enzo’s new demands to Ray, and consider slugging him when he laughs. He assures me he’ll help out any way he can.
I take pictures of the work done throughout the house. Wandering the rooms, I shake my head. If Enzo did buy the house for me, why did he care about the wood floors in the basement or the stove in the kitchen? Maybe like Dominic suggested, Enzo will find another woman to fill this home with the family he wants so badly. The very thought of Enzo with another woman in this home is a blow to my solar plexus, leaving me gasping as I sag against the wall. My legs refuse to work.
Oh god, Enzo and another woman. Enzo’s children running around the house, playing in the backyard. There have to be three or four, loud, with ink-black hair and dimples with big brown eyes. He wants them; despite what he said, he hasn’t given up on them. A man like Enzo won’t let one setback keep him from his goal. I slide down the wall to the floor, and my head goes back. I told him not yet, but all he heard was no. I had sent the ring back and not heard a word from Enzo about it.
Closing my eyes, I refuse to let the tears that have built fall. No, we’re beyond tears now. You did this. What are you going to do now?