Page 88 of It Kills Me

Dante rounded the corner, and of course, Scarlett was with him. “Try to get this to me before my meeting with Axel is finished,” he said. “And call Mario about the shipping containers.”

“Sure thing.” She turned and walked into his study, not looking at me once.

It took all my strength to focus on the painting and not catch a glimpse of her ass in that tight skirt.

“Axel.” His voice was cordial, but there was a hint of quiet rage deep underneath. Now that he assumed my relationship with his daughter was over, he was less antagonistic, but he could still barely tolerate me.

I turned to him. “Let’s talk numbers.”

His eyes were a little angry as he looked at me, like the sight of my face reignited all the anger he tried so hard to suppress. But he managed to brush it off. “Let’s.” He stepped onto the patio and took a seat under the umbrella.

The butler brought drinks and cigars.

We both lit up and talked business.

“I see that you’ve cut expenses further.” He sat with his legs crossed, his cigar in his relaxed fingertips.

“That’s what you requested.”

“But you said it couldn’t be done.”

“It couldn’t be done without cutting wages.”

He brought the cigar to his mouth to let the smoke coat his tongue. “So it can be done.”

I continued to pay the guys with my own money. I wouldn’t screw them over because this billionaire was so fucking greedy. Once profits rose again, I would start paying them from the pot once more, and Dante wouldn’t even know what happened.

We talked about other things, other relationships that could serve us.

“The Sanswith Society Gala is next week,” I said. “There are going to be a lot of people there, including Giovanni Hallsworth. I think an introduction is necessary if we’re going to expand our reach.”

He gave a slight nod in agreement. “What does he like?”

“Women.”

“All men like women.”

“Not more than this man.” He had a wife, but he also had three mistresses. His wife was fully aware of the younger women who fulfilled his libido when she couldn’t. But she fulfilled his emotional needs—and that seemed to be enough for her.

“Good to know.” He crossed his arms and let the smoke slowly leave his mouth. “Men are weaker for women than they are for money.” He stared at me across the table, like he could see right through me.

“You’re right about that.”

I’d just walked into my bedroom when my phone lit up with her name.

Whatcha doing?

Why? Are you hungry?

She sent me several middle finger emojis. I’m always hungry…but that’s not the point.

What are you hungry for?

Pizza…and you.

In that order?

You, and then pizza, and then you again.