Page 44 of Roses are Royal

“Oh, sorry, do I have something on my face? It just tastes so good, I couldn’t help myself.”

“I’m glad you like it.” Ignoring my original question, Dante continues, “How was your day today? You mentioned you’d be out of the house?” His voice turns up at the end in question, but it also sounds a bit like he is fishing for information.

“Oh, I actually spent most of the day with Shirley at the diner. There weren’t any deliveries scheduled today, so I thought it’d be nice to do some work there for a change.”

“Just Shirley?”

“Well, we only got to chat for a little while, so I mostly did some work on my laptop while I was there. Sometimes it’s easier to get work done with other people around, even if we aren’t interacting, you know? Especially now that I am a company of one, there isn’t anyone else to work around.”

“Do you enjoy it? Having your own company?”

“Oh my god, yes. I can’t imagine ever going back to Franklin & Sons or really ever working for someone else again. I love being the boss. Plus, I’m used to having to do things on my own, so it all worked out, I guess.”

“What worked out?”

“Me quitting and starting my own company.”

“Why did you quit? If you don’t mind me asking?”

“Well, the short version is I didn’t see a future for myself at that firm, so I took my future in my own hands.”

“And the long version?” Dante prompts.

“The long version will require an espresso martini or three to get through. I don’t want to bring our nice dinner vibes down, if you know what I’m saying.”

“Okay, we can continue that part of the conversation later.”

“Honestly, it’s not that good of a story. It’s the classic ‘no girls allowed in the club’ mentality, and although they are a highly respected firm in the luxury design world and I got to work with some big-name clients, I was sick of how I was being treated and not being taken seriously in terms of promotions, so I left. Simple as that.”

“Hmm. And what got you into design in the first place?”

“Now that is definitely something I need an espresso martini for.”

“How about you give me the short version now, and I can clear the plates and make our drinks, and you can tell me the long version.”

“Are you sure you want to know? It’s not a very happy story.” Maybe I can persuade him to let this go. I don’t usually share this information with people and definitely not with the clients I typically deal with. But honestly, I don’t think any of them would have ever asked. I mean, I wasn’t even asked that when I was interviewing for Franklin & Sons after my internship. It was just all about my education and work experience and portfolio, never about what got me into design in the first place.

“If it’s about you, I want to know everything.” Dante’s eyes hold mine, and I hold my breath until he stands and starts to clear our plates.

I sit unmoving in my seat, truly absorbing his words and letting them start to seep in and fill the cracks in my heart I didn’t even know existed. Or ever acknowledged is probably more accurate. I have been living life alone for so long that it’s nice to have someone show a genuine interest in me as a person and not just what I can do for them.

54

DANTE

Iknew from the moment I started my research on Rose and the firm she had worked for that I had a bad feeling about Franklin & Sons, and hearing Rose validate my suspicions just seals their fate. I’m sure I can find something on them and their business that is shady enough to leak to the press and turn the snobby, socialite types who employ them away and toward another firm. Rose’s, perhaps? Maybe I can also plant positive information about her company at the same time? I mean, her work is stunning so it wouldn’t be hard.

But instead of continuing to plot the demise of Franklin & Sons, I use the act of clearing plates and cleaning the table off to distract me from the rage burning internally. How dare they treat tesoro mio like that? They are most certainly on my ever-growing list of people I need to take care of for her, but I need to calm down and focus. Dinner went just as I hoped. Her shock at the setup and her sinful moans as she ate my food will replay in my mind forever. Now, it’s time for dessert, and I have something extra special planned for Rose that I’m hoping she’ll appreciate.

“Why don’t you go pick out an album to put on in the sitting room? I’ll grab our drinks and dessert and be right there.” I call out to Rose from the kitchen. I don’t want her to think this night is over. Far from it, if it’s up to me.

“Oh, okay. Are you sure you don’t need any help cleaning up? I promise not to break anything,” she responds with a light chuckle.

“I can finish up later. Go.” Rose will never clean another dish if I have anything to say about it. She deserves a soft life of being pampered and taken care of, and I intend to be the one to give it to her. She just doesn't know it yet.

55

ROSE