Page 152 of Mario
He stops short when he sees me standing beside his desk.
Then he sees Rocco.
Then his face changes into one of guilt.
“Mr. Conti,” he says quickly. “I was just getting coffee.”
“Does it take half an hour to get coffee?” I ask, my voice low.
His mouth opens. “No, I— There were a lot of people in the kitchen waiting, and then I ran into someone from finance who needed to ask about the calendar for—”
“Do not lie to me.”
The color drains from his cheeks.
“I’m sorry,” he says. “It won’t happen again.”
“No,” I say. “It will not.”
His eyes widen.
“Sir?”
“I pay you to do a job,” I say. “That job does not include leaving your desk for half an hour to drink coffee and talk while unauthorized employees walk into my office.”
“I didn’t know anyone—”
“Because you were not here.”
He swallows.
“I apologize. Truly. I can explain.”
“You already tried.”
His mouth closes.
I look at Rocco.
“I want Mr. Bellamy out of my building in five minutes.”
Eric’s face changes to one of panic. “What?”
“Collect his badge,” I continue. “Take it to Ms. Murray and instruct her to revoke his security credentials immediately.”
Eric’s mouth falls open. “Mr. Conti, please. I made one mistake.”
I turn back toward my office.
“Rocco.”
“Yes, signore.”
“Company phone and laptop. Nothing leaves this floor.”
“Understood.”
I step into my office.
