Her Love Her Boss

26| Not the girl I once was

"You did not do it because you couldn't." We stayed there in complete silence. He was right. I couldn't do it and wouldn't. I looked down at my glass and shoved the wine down my throat. He was getting to me, he shouldn't.
"Where is Olivia?" I asked. I hope she can forgive me for leaving and not saying goodbye.

"With Micah at the other house. Not to forget they got married four months ago." Married?

"S-she got married and I didn't know." I whispered to myself. I feel so stupid.

"She is in business with me as well, a spy. As for Micah, he has always been taking care of the clubs and cleaning money." He smirked. Was he laughing at me right now? I always believed Micah was out of it but he wasn't. They all hid this from me. Not to mention Olivia as a spy. "If you're wondering if Olivia hates you, she doesn't. I spoke with her and she understood." How did he know what I was thinking? She doesn't hate me and she understands? What words did this bastard feed her with? "Anything you want to say?" He poured himself a glass of whiskey then gulped it all down.

"Fuck you." I blurted. He slammed his glass down and I gulped. He stared into my soul and I stared back. I wanted to fight this man.

"So tell me." He poured himself another glass of whiskey. "Who's your friend, you've been talking to?" I gulped and ate another sfogliatelle.

"What friend?" I asked with a mouth full.

"Don't act like you don't know, Irina. Looks like you enjoy talking to him." He's talking about Leonardo but he can't know it's him.

"Someone I met at the supermarket and why do you care?" I rolled my eyes. I see his jaw tighten then he releases it. Am I really lying to him? He knows because I'm fidgeting with my fingers.

"Something wrong with your fingers?" He scoffed. "Irina, you never did the shopping when you left. Piero did that. You stop lying to me. This better not be the guy at the fair." He raised his glass then gulped the alcohol down. What did I get myself into? "Oh last thing, I'm your brother?" He laughed. "This guy must mean something to you, I see." He laughed. "Better not get him." He stopped laughing, a serious expression appearing on his face.

He will kill Leonardo, I mustn't let that happen.
"He's no one Giovanni and we're just friends so there's no reason for you to hurt him." I gritted my teeth. It was him at the door last night, I got carried away which is why I didn't hear him walking towards and leaving the room.

"I'm not going to stop you from talking to your friend. He's just a friend after all." He smirked. He's lying, he will hurt Leonardo which means I need to talk to him without any suspicions. There's no one else to talk to here.

"Just a friend." I eyed him, sitting back in my seat.

"Now you're here with me baby. I need to know that you're capable of running this business with me. You get your own office and get to order people around here with me." He said. I opened my eyes wide like I just saw a ghost. Me? Irina Inessa Smirnov, I refuse.

"I'm not doing it Giovanni. I'm not doing anything for you or with you. Let me go by tomorrow and everything will be normal. Alexander is dead." I got ready to leave, pushing my chair in, I turned around. I heard him get on his feet and walk fastly after me.

"Irina, don't you dare walk away from me." He scolded and my feet obeyed him. I stopped. I bit into my lip as I didn't want to shed any tears. This was a lot of information to take in tonight. I felt his hands snake around my waist. "I need to show you the place, baby." He whispered in my ear, making me gently pull my head away from his. I won't allow him to do this to me.

We walked for several minutes until he opened a door with my name written in bold letters. We entered and I fell in love. The room was white with brown wooden floors. On my left was a shelf filled with books. I love reading. The ceiling didn't fail to disappoint either, it was brown in color to match the floors. There was a large window on my right with white sheer curtains. "This is your office." He broke the silence. I quickly smiled but hid it but somehow Giovanni still saw because he burst into laughter. "Do you like it?" He moved to the side. I nodded and he smiled. "Follow me." He walked to a corner and revealed a black door. "Ladies first." He said and opened it. Another office completely different from mine. "This is mine." He smirked. It was mostly black with little white. He had no curtains and a waterfall could be seen in the far distance. There was also a garden.

"Why is it connected to mine?" I cocked my head to the side. He pouted his lips together before speaking.

"We work together so it's best." He shyly smiled. We left through his door and he faced me. "I hope you forgive me for what I did, baby." He cupped my cheeks into his hands. I'm trying not to but that's impossible. "Rosa is going to have her own room and you get to stay in the one you're in right now." He stared into my eyes. No, I can't give in to him.

I removed myself from him and nodded. "Baby please say something." He whispered. He pulled me back into his arms about to kiss me.

"I should get going, Giovanni. I'm tired." I turned my head away from his. He sniffed my hair and held me tighter in his arms.

"Princess, please forgive me." He whispered, one I could barely make out.

"Giovanni, don't." I blurted out, a tear rolling down my cheek. Can I forgive this man? Who made me feel a different kind of pain. He hurt me, he broke me now he wants me to forgive him just like that. I pulled myself away from him and quickly wiped my face. He couldn't say a simple I'm sorry but wants me to forgive him.

"I'll walk you to your room." He said and I followed. We said goodnight and I thanked him for dinner. It didn't take long for Leonardo to call me. I had just gotten out of the bathroom and got comfortable in bed.

"Hey darling." He greeted me. This felt so wrong, I don't want Leonardo to get hurt because of me. I need to speak as quietly as possible. We spoke for some time and he asked the question again. I knew he would. "When will I see you again?" We saw each other two days ago and he already wants to meet.

"Leonardo, we can't." I whispered. "It's more complicated than it is." I sighed.

"Is he holding you back from everything else? This is bad when I look at it." He said, trying not to sound angry. "Can I help you in any way?" He continued. He couldn't and he shouldn't even try.

"I'm fine Leonardo and no, you shouldn't help me." I smiled, knowing this guy is willing to help me.

"Whatever you say darling." He continued. "How have you been lately?" We spoke for four hours again but this time I was discreet and no one stopped by this time. We didn't share any jokes, rather we spoke about life. What we all expected in life and how it's treated us lately.

"It's nice talking to you again Leonardo." I said with teary eyes.

"I'm always there darling, call you tomorrow. Goodnight." I curled into the sheets and started sobbing. I can't live like this but Rosa just reunited with Giovanni and I wouldn't take her away from him. I should stop crying and be comfortable around here. He gave me my own office and as much as I didn't want to have anything to do with it, I can at least do some research on my own.

I am here hoping Rosa is fine sleeping on her own and me not reading her a bedtime story. Sleep consumed me, something I needed.