“Sir, when you hired me you specifically stated security was a crucial factor. My conditions are every employee needs identification. Every client or associate must present confirmation of their meeting. She could be a fraud! I—”
“I am very well aware of the conditions as I am the person who made them. I have three things for you. One…” Giulio whips out his phone and begins to scroll. “Do not ever make the mistake of nearly touching her again. Two. You’re fired. And three…” The security guard tenses as the device is shoved in his face. “Valencia Giannotti is no fraud. She is my wife.”
“Oh…” The man glances between the phone and me. “Oh, I’m extremely sorry.”
A glimpse of the white lace is enough to launch my trembling hands inside my coat pockets. The photo Giulio showed him was one from our wedding day. Holy…my heart is pounding.
Breathe.
Giulio disregards the apology and only reiterates that this is the man’s final day.
Well…I didn’t expect that.
I’m glad Giulio’s hand falls to the small of my back as he guides me to the elevator because if it didn’t, I would still be standing in shock. After our discussion the other night, I felt we took a progressive step forward and now I feel the same inside this elevator. Although I can’t quite meet his eyes and my lips are pressed shut, our tension is eased—peaceful almost.
But how long will it last?
I needed to get my feet back on the ground after losing my teaching job and although working for him could be another mistake, the appeal is blinding. Giulio was right. Nobody else will understand my uncontrollable outbursts of emotions. Nobody else will say; talk to me, I don’t want you to go through this alone. Nobody else will understand the intensity of my heartache like he does. He will accommodate me and as selfish as it may sound, I agreed for those exact reasons.
I want to be a better mother and woman; that means stepping up and taking opportunities that scare me. I haven’t taken many steps into the unknown during my life and the first is always the most frightening one.
I only hope everything works out as planned.
“Valencia?”
I turn to Giulio, blinking away my thoughts. “Yes?”
“The first thing you can kindly do for me this morning is contact backup security guards on the system. I permit you to hire the most proficient guard to commence effectively immediately.”
“Of course. I’m sorry to have caused so much trouble already.”
“None of this is your fault.”
I massage my throat. “Maybe you shouldn’t have been that tough on him. He was irritating me, but in the end, he was only doing his job. Are you sure you want to fire him?”
When Giulio rushes a hand through his dark tousled hair, his bicep tenses through his black button up. The coat he wore seconds ago is draped over his right forearm and I get lost in his perfect morning stubble.
Giulio takes a good look at me and nods. “Yes, I’m sure of it. He deserved it. The moment he made the mistake of even thinking he could touch you, he deserved it.”
I have nothing further to say because I’m mesmerized by just how electrifyingly potent his gaze is. It’s a tug-of-war between what my head says and what my heart wants. It’s for all the wrong reasons, and as much as I know it, I also can’t look away. So, while I’m ogling the hell out of him, I make a mental note to contact security on the system and obtain a keycard before I cost someone else their job.
God, I never wanted anything like that to happen.
Notti Designs HQ is located in the heart of downtown Seattle on 5th Avenue, inside a modern twelve floor building with exterior glass wall panels. The company shares the building with two other businesses, coincidently both in the real estate field. Each business owns four floors with Notti Designs occupying the top floors.
The last time I stepped inside of Notti Designs was half a year ago. Most of the furniture is different. Giulio is a perfectionist and strives for change, especially with weekly new hot items and seasonal design trends.
Aside from an Italian marble interior accent wall with a golden business sign, glass wall hallways run through the entire company. An emerald velvet couch and matching armchairs are the statement pieces in the open plan waiting area and surround a glass table styled with eccentric gold pieces.
Further along, the area blends into reception. Kayla is at her sandstone desk, typing away on her Mac in unbroken concentration. Her straightened dark hair is short, one side curled behind her ear to reveal a classic golden hoop earring. It complements her glowing medium dark skin and perched purple glasses. This is exactly how I remember her. She’s been here since Giulio founded the company and we have become close through the years, which is why it has been so tragic that our friendship is yet another thing that has waned during the separation.
Kayla waves as I pass and I mirror the action with a smile.
“She’s missed you,” Giulio informs me.
“I’ve missed her.”
He simply nods, his vision zoning straight ahead as we continue to his office.
Notti Designs HQ is divided into five departments across three other floors of the building; the design center on the eleventh floor, the development and marketing team on the tenth, and the construction administration, management, and human resources on the ninth.
There’s also a warehouse less than ten minutes away that I’ve only been to a handful of times. It holds their stock, staging items, and additional storage. Giulio controls just over one thousand employees across twelve successful global firms, assisting clients in achieving their dream homes and commercial businesses.
We stop short at the end of the hall and Giulio begins explaining that this will be my work station. His office phone begins blearing and when he doesn’t make an attempt to move, I urge him
