“How’s my little sis?”
“I’m good. How’s everything at home?” I mindlessly turned the faucet with my toe as I lay in the bubble bath, sipping a glass of cheap wine.
“Hmmm,” Bianca mused. “Why do you sound sad? Sin City not what you thought it would be?”
The snarky way she showed her concern was annoying. No one wanted me to take this job. Everyone said I was reaching beyond my class. Trying to be something I wasn’t. “Vegas is great. It’s everything I wanted. I’m just lonely, you know?”
“What did you expect moving halfway across the country? You can always come home. John would take you back in a heartbeat. You know that man is still crazy in love with you.”
I set my phone on the edge of the tub and sank down in the water. “Love wasn’t our problem, Bianca. We wanted different things and grew apart.”
My sister sighed. “You know I didn’t want you to move, but you’re there now. You should make the best of it and give it a chance. Get out of that tub and go meet people. Go sit in the bar or something.”
I groaned. Sitting in a bar is what got me in this mess in the first place.
“Go on,” she continued. “Put on a sexy dress and go meet a hottie. Take advantage of the situation. You know the saying… what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.”
Those were the same words Trent sweet-talked in my ear last Friday. If I never heard them again, it would be too soon. “That’s what they say alright. Listen, B, I gotta let you go. My toes are starting to prune up.”
“Okay, but I’m serious, G. Get out and enjoy yourself. I’m secretly jealous of you. I’m settled down with three kids and you have the world by the balls. Don’t waste it.”
We said our goodbyes and I tipped back the rest of my wine. Bianca was right. I didn’t want to waste my time in Vegas and trying to be friends with my dickhead boss was a complete waste of time.
I quickly dried off and threw on a pair of cute jeans and a sparkly top. I finished the look with killer heels and released my hair from its tight bun, fluffing it over my shoulders. Inspecting myself in the mirror, I decided it wasn’t bad for a quick fix.
My stomach rumbled as I grabbed my purse and headed toward the elevator. The earlier encounter with Trent made me lose my appetite, but now I was famished. Once in the lobby, I browsed my options for food. I wasn’t used to eating out alone, but I guessed I should get used to it. When you had moved to a big city that sees twenty thousand tourists a day, the chances of making friends outside the office were slim. My only companion so far was Penny, and it wasn’t her responsibility to keep me entertained.
I settled for a casual pub that served burgers and sat down at the bar. One of the upsides of living at a resort hotel was everything I wanted or needed was practically at my fingertips. Want a juicy steak or a slice of pizza? Both were available. Need a pedicure? Make an appointment. Run out of toothpaste? The twenty-four-hour store had you covered. One thing I knew for sure was it wasn’t healthy to never leave the grounds. This weekend I was going to get out and about to explore the city.
“What can I get you?” the bartender asked. He was an older gentleman who reminded me of my dad, dressed in a bow tie and vest.
I looked at his nametag. “Hi, Claude. I’m Gia and I started working here on Monday. What’s good on the menu?”
He gave me a big smile. “Welcome to Mystique, Miss Gia. Everything is good here, but my personal favorite is the bacon mushroom burger.”
“Mmmm. Give me that and a glass of chardonnay.”
Claude slapped the bar top. “Coming right up. You want that cooked well done?”
“Medium well,” I corrected.
He put the order in and returned with my glass of wine. “So, how are you enjoying your first week?”
I shrugged a shoulder. “It’s okay.”
“Well, that’s not a glowing recommendation.”
“The job is fine. I moved here alone and haven’t made many friends yet.” I shrugged again.
He tapped on his chest with an open palm. “Well, you’ve got me now. Anytime you want to talk, I’m here.”
I held my glass up and saluted him with it. “I appreciate that, Claude. You might get tired of seeing me.”
“I doubt that very much,” he said with a chuckle. Then he straightened uncomfortably and focused on the man sliding into the chair next to me. “The usual, Mr. Dorsey?”
“Please.”
Claude immediately pulled out a rock glass and poured a splash of amber liquid in it.
Hunter took the glass and brought it to his lips. “Stressful day?”
I forced a tight smile. “Not too bad. Just getting a bite to eat since I worked through dinner.”
Hunter frowned. “That’s not good. Is Trent working you too hard?”
“Not at all. That’s all on me.” I took a sip of my wine. “I’m trying to get acclimated. I don’t want to get fired before I’ve barely begun.”
“I wouldn’t worry about that,” he said with a wink. “What can I do to help? I’m at your service.”
“That’s kind of you, but I’ve got a handle on it. Penny is a godsend.”
“Penny?”
How could he not know who Penny was? “Yes, my assistant. She’s great. Besides, isn’t event planning out of your realm as CFO?”
He rested one elbow on the bar and leaned into me. “I’m a man of many talents, Gia.”
I eased back to give myself some personal space. Hunter sent out signals I had no intention of reciprocating and I wondered if he knew what went down between Trent and me. I was saved from responding to his blatant flirting by Claude placing my burger in front of me. “Thank you, Claude. This looks delicious.”
Hunter took the hint and threw back the rest of his drink. “I’ll leave you to eat. See you tomorrow, Gia.”
I took a bite of my burger and gave him a little wave. It might have been rude, but it was better than any words I could think of. Hunter was problematic. He had the same smooth-talking gene as Trent. I fell for it once, it wouldn’t happen again. Both Dorsey brothers were off my list. Like scratched out with a fat, red Sharpie crossed off.
I wasn’t that desperate for friends.
By Thursday, Penny and I had the details of the spring fundraiser worked out. All I needed to do was finish formatting it into a proper proposal.
“It’s good,” Penny said. “I wish I could afford to attend it.”
I frowned. It hadn’t occurred to me that Penny wouldn’t be able to afford a thousand-dollar-a-plate dinner. Hell, I couldn’t afford to go either. Neither one of us would be able to enjoy the party we were planning. “Me too. I’ll talk to Trent about getting us tickets. Maybe he has a shred of decency in that black heart of his.”
She sighed. “Let’s worry about getting it approved first.”
I tapped on the papers in front of me. “What’s not to like? It’s classy, fun, and for a deserving charity.”
“That it is.” She held up her hand for me to high-five. “We did great.”
I slapped her waiting hand. “We did more than that. We kicked ass.”
A sharp knock on the open door interrupted our celebration. “You have some packages, Miss Romano.”
I stood up and giddily clapped my hands together. “I’m so excited. Lean them against the wall over there,” I directed the delivery guy.
“What are those?” Penny asked after he left.
“These”—I pulled the brown paper from one of the packages—“are inspiration. A little dose of feminism in a man’s world.”
“Is this Audrey Hepburn?” She ran her fingers over the canvas.
I nodded. “From Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Have you ever seen it?”
“No, but looking at this, I feel like I should. What else did you get?”
Peeling back the paper from the other two canvases, I revealed what was underneath.
“No way!”
“Yes way. Marilyn Monroe and Raquel Welch. My whole life, people have doubted me, thought I should settle for less. These pictures remind me it doesn’t matter where you come from. You can be wealthy or the daughter of an immigrant or raised in an orphanage and still become something great. You can be gorgeous and successful; you don’t have to choose. You get to decide your own destiny. These women remind me to be bold, fierce, and fearless.”
Penny held her hands to her chest. “Oh, my god, I think I just came a little bit. That was beautiful.”
“Oh, stop!” I playfully smacked her on the shoulder.
She did a little shimmy. “I’m serious. I’m totally inspired.”
I laughed. “How about you be inspired to find me some nails and a hammer. I want to hang these up before I leave tonight.”
“Sure thing, boss.” With a salute, she was off and running.
I loved Penny’s quirkiness and wondered if she had a man in her life that appreciated the gem she was. I made a mental note to ask her about it. We’d worked together almost a week and I didn’t know shit about her. No wonder I was terrible at making friends.
I went back to my desk and checked my email. Everything was confirmed for the floral convention this weekend, though I could hardly take the credit. Penny firmed up all the details. All I had to do was show up and make sure everything ran smoothly. Piece of cake.
When Penny returned with a hammer and some small tack nails, it was already after five. “You need help?”
“Nah, I got this. Go home and relax.”
She crossed her arms and bit the side of her thumb. “I’m your assistant. I’m supposed to be assisting.”
“And you’ve more than earned your keep this week. Go on, girl. Get out of here.”
Once Penny left, I should have dove into the proposal, but I couldn’t wait to see the iconic women on my wall. I pulled a chair over, stood on it, and tried to pound the first nail into the wall. It should have gone in easily, but the nail barely scratched the surface. I blew my hair out of my face and held the nail steady. Giving it three hard hits, the nail finally sank into the plaster. Victory! I hopped off the chair, lifted Audrey from the floor and hung her on the wall. She was gorgeous. So classy and sophisticated. The second picture went up easier, but the third gave me trouble. I pounded the hammer over and over onto the head of the nail.
“That’s destruction of property.”
Startled, I dropped the hammer and wobbled in my heels on the chair. A hand landed on my butt and another on my waist to steady me.
“Are you trying to kill yourself?” Trent barked.
I stared down at his hand, which was still firmly planted on my ass. “I was doing fine until you scared the shit out of me.”
Trent quickly removed his hand and picked the hammer up from the floor. “You were making all kinds of racket. Where did you even get this?”
I swiped the hammer from his hand. “I have my resources.” I gave the partially inserted nail two more whacks, hopped off the chair, and hung my last picture.
My “boss” inspected my handiwork. “Those are not company issued and you’ve put holes in my wall.”
I rolled my eyes. The man was more dramatic than a drag queen. “Your wall? This is my office. You don’t own the building.”
His lips pursed. “Not yet, but I will. Consider this office a rental. If you want to make alterations, then you need to ask.” He motioned to my women of inspiration. “Those were not approved.”
My eyebrows shot up to my hairline. Control freak didn’t even come close to describing him. “Are you serious?”
He threw his hands in the air. “You put holes in the wall. Who’s going to fix that?”
“Oh my god! The nails are smaller than your tiny little—”
“Careful, Miss Romano. You’re treading a fine line.”
I was. I knew I was, but I couldn’t help myself. He turned me into someone I wasn’t. Driving me to the edge of insanity and pushing me over. I held my hands up in surrender. “Fine. You win. You want my pictures gone? I’ll take them down.” Begrudgingly, I removed Marilyn from the wall.
“Leave them up. I’ll allow your little display of femininity, but I expect you in my office at eight a.m. sharp with your proposal in hand.”
“That doesn’t work for me. I have an appointment first thing in the morning.” He didn’t need to know that appointment was with Hunter, and it was more of a casual breakfast than a meeting. I only agreed because I didn’t trust Hunter’s intentions and figured it would be better to keep him close.
Trent tapped the face of his fancy-ass watch. “Eight a.m., Miss Romano. Not a minute later.”
I sucked in a deep breath and released it slowly. “I’ll be there.”
“Then I’ll see you in the morning.” He buttoned his suit jacket and strode from my office while I stood there and fumed. He got my blood boiling and not in a good way.
Before I left tonight, I had to finish the fundraiser proposal. Most of it was already complete, I only had the details to finalize. Knowing Trent, if I didn’t have all my i’s dotted and t’s crossed, he’d reject it on principle to prove I was unfit for this job. Besides our tryst, which wasn’t my fault, I couldn’t figure out why he hated me so much. Well, maybe hate was too strong of a word, but he definitely didn’t like me. Thought I was incapable. A naive, Midwestern girl trying to play in the big leagues.
Just like everyone else in my life, he doubted me.
With every word I typed and fact I checked, I had one mission: To prove to Trent Dorsey he was wrong.
