Page 14 of King Of Order

‘That’s if you find me,’ he rasped.

‘What the fuck?’ I breathed. ‘You know, on second thoughts, I want nothing to do with you.’

He unfurled himself from my desk with predatory grace.

‘Do you, woman.’

‘I intend to,’ I flashed back. ‘Conosco i miei polli!’

I was well aware of what I was fucking doing, and it wouldn’t be hiring him.

‘Arrivederci, Chiara,’ he growled as he exited, his steps so silent that a moment after his exit, I wondered if he’d even been there in the first place.

His cologne, however, lingered, and I breathed him in, bristling in anger, nostrils flaring, body thrumming.

Until a thought tore through me.

He left me with no number or any way to contact him.

It’s not that I wanted to, but just in case.

With a jolt, I rose and darted through my office, chasing after him.

I rushed through the gallery, eyes searching, hair flowing behind me as I swiveled my head.

The dim-lit showroom stood silent, empty.

I ran for the front glass entryway, pushed it open, and stepped into the night.

My eyes searched the shadow, peering up and down in a 360 sweep.

The street was deserted.

Apart from the occasional passerby.

One gazed at me with curiosity as I lifted my hands in frustration, chest heaving, annoyed.

He was gone.

Not a trace remained.

Like a phantom.

Cazzo!

The following morning, I woke up to the warm rays of the Neapolitan sun streaming through the windows, bathing mybedroom in golden light.

I stretched, loving the delicious lengthening of my limbs and letting the sun’s warmth sink into my skin before slipping out of bed.

With a suck of my teeth, reality hit. The worry about my father, the Tirone family business, my brothers, and my freakin’ lack of protection - all of my shit moroseness washed over me.

Panic jolted through me, and I took a shaky inhale.

I needed to find peace prior to heading out today.

After changing into leggings and a tee and taking my exercise mat, I went downstairs and outside into my garden.

The morning draft, cool and crisp, carried the scent of damp earth and the faint sweetness of jasmine blooming.