7. Isabella

Chapter 7

Isabella

Nico has been at the gallery every day for the past two weeks. He is getting more involved in the operations and movement of art work and it’s a problem for me.

It’s stupid - but I’m really attracted to him. And the fact that he is the father of my baby is a huge issue.

Everything in my life has suddenly become ten times more complicated than it needs to be. Of all the people in the world - how does it happen that Nico Vitale is my new boss.

Every time we are in a room together I‘m intensely pulled towards him. It’s making things awkward between us. I’m sure he senses it too - or am I imagining it?

At the gallery opening we almost kissed. Since then he has been cold and distant. I don’t understand why - I haven’t done anything to offend him. That I’m aware of, at least.

“Isabella, I need to speak with you, please.” His voice booms across the gallery in the usual aggressive tone he addresses me with.

“My name is not Isabella.” I huff.

He pulls his mouth tight. “Right. Yes. Sorry. Please can we talk in the office, Bella.” It’s not a question - he walks away straight after saying it, so I walk quickly to follow him.

Dammit. I need to stop admiring how good he looks.

“What is this about?” I ask as I step inside his office. He is standing right by the door waiting for me - and once I am inside, he closes the door which makes me really uncomfortable.

“Sit down.” He says.

My heartbeat picks up pace and I feel a nervous tension running through me. Did someone tell him about my baby?

In the two weeks since he arrived I have been very careful not to talk about Dante at all. I don’t see any other reason for him to be acting so weird right now.

I pull out the chair at his desk and sit down. He paces up and down the office, making me even more nervous.

“Bella, I’m sorry, but I have to fire you.”

The shock of his words slams into me. I stand up so fast the chair spins away, knocking against the desk.

“What? Why? What did I do?”

“Nothing. It’s just - you can’t work here anymore.”

“You can’t fire me for no reason, Nico. I’ve been doing a fantastic job here. I work my ass off for this gallery. No one is going to be better than me for this job.” My shock has turned into anger. Aggressive and defensive anger.

I take a deep breath and unclench my fists. My nails are digging into the palm of my hand and it hurts.

I can’t lose this job. It took me forever to find this job. I need it. Not for me - but for my son.

Nico sighs heavily and runs his hand through his hair. “I don’t believe this is the right environment for you. You would be safer working somewhere else.” He says, his face turned away from me.

He can’t even look at me when he’s trying to fire me.

“Safer? What is that supposed to mean?”

“I mean - it doesn’t matter, Bella. I am the boss, and I am telling you that you are fired.”

I shake my head. I refuse to accept this.

“Nico - unless you want face every legal issue I can throw at you for firing me without reasonable cause - I suggest you call this ridiculous meeting to an end.”

His eyes are dark as he shoots a glare at me that might melt steel. “Did you threaten me?”

Thinking it’s better not to say anything I bite my lip and stare at him through narrowed eyes.

“Bella.”

“Is this meeting over?” I snap.

He clenches his jaw and folds his thick arms across his chest. I watch as the muscles ripple over his forearms where his shirt sleeves are rolled up.

It’s a standoff - both of us not wanting to back down. But I am fighting for more than my job. I am fighting for security for my son.

Finally, Nico shakes his head and closes his eyes. “This meeting is over.” He retorts.

I grab the door handle and yank it open - marching out of the office in a rage.

I can’t believe he tried to fire me.

Even worse - I am still so attracted to him.

It’s almost nine. The street lamps are shining outside, and I’ve finished my last email. I’m still agitated and anxious about what happened this afternoon and I’m toying with the idea of asking Nico what it was really about. But that means having to face him again.

It will better if I do though - and I should get it over with.

Huffing to myself I head out of my office and towards his.

I hear him talking to someone.

“The delivery can be made around back. It’s open now.”

What delivery? I have nothing else scheduled for this evening -

“Nico.” I call out to him. If there is a delivery, I need to log it.

I hear him mutter something and come walking towards me from around the corner. He grabs my arm, dragging me away from whoever he was talking to and into his office.

Closing the door behind himself he glares at me.

“Nico, what delivery?”

“Never mind that - we need to talk about us.”

“Us?” I stammer, awkward.

He rubs his hand over his jaw, dark stubble shading his face. It makes him even more sexy. I swallow hard. What us? What does he mean?

Instead of answering me he walks purposefully towards me, wraps his hand around my jaw and drags me towards him, our lips crash and fire ignites inside me. Every inch of me is suddenly alive, breathing, singing, dancing. My skin is tingling and burning at the same time.

His kiss is fiercely passionate, as though he has been holding back since the moment he saw me - and now he can release it.

I stand on my tip toes and wrap my arms around his neck. His hand explores my waist, across my back and down over my ass.

Lifting me, he carries me to the desk.

My body is screaming with desire when he pushes my legs open and stands between them, still kissing me.

He pulls the buttons of my blouse open and tugs my bra off, wrapping his lips around my nipple. I moan, forgetting we are in the gallery - at work.

“You need to be more quiet than that, Bella.” He warns, tugging his belt open.

My eyes graze over his groin, how the material of his pants is stretched over his cock - rock hard and ready to rip through the seams.

He steps closer again, pushing my legs open, dipping his hand beneath my skirt he slips his fingers under my panties and into me. I gasp, trying to control myself as pleasure surges through me.

He chuckles, low and divine, grabs my panties and yanks them to the side.

Nico rubs his cock over my pussy, and I lean my hands behind myself on his desk, knocking over various things that I couldn’t care less about right now. All I want is to feel him inside me again.

I’ve never forgotten that night.

Nico pushes his cock into me.

A low groan escapes his lips, and his eyes darken with need.

He thrusts deeper, filling me up and stretching me open.

I can barely breathe it’s so incredible.

He grabs my ass in both hands and starts fucking me so hard his desk jolts across the floor.

So much for being quiet.

I wrap my legs around his waist, and he pushes even deeper into me.

Both of us were holding back. We’ve both been fighting the obvious attraction between us - it’s so clear in this moment.

I feel my legs shake as his cock slides in and out, massaging and pulsing inside me.

Nico reaches up and grabs a handful of my hair, dragging my lips back against his. The intensity of his kiss sends me over the edge.

My body goes rigid and my legs shake uncontrollably.

Nico moans deeply and my pussy tightens over his cock.

Wave after wave of an orgasm so strong it snatches the air from my lungs.

Nico thrusts deep into me, exploding inside me.

When it’s over, he looks at me with a gentleness that catches me off guard. He reaches up and brushes his hand over my cheek.

“You are—” He swallows hard. “You are beautiful, Bella.” He steps away. He wanted to say more. But he stopped himself.

We are both breathing heavily for a moment, and neither of us speaks as we pull our clothes back on.

Nico seems upset. I can’t figure out why though.

I bite my lip nervously as I gather my things and straighten my clothes.

“I — was there something you wanted to talk about?” I ask, remembering what he said when he called me in here. Us .

“No.” He replies.

Flabbergasted, I frown, annoyed with the way he is treating me.

“You should get going home, Bella. Your baby daddy won’t want you working so late. Won’t he be upset? About this?” he gestures between us. There is accusation oozing from his words and the realization that he knows about my son fills me with sudden dread. Every muscle in my body tightens.

“There is no one waiting for me at home.” I respond. “The father was a one-night stand, a mistake I made when I arrived in New York.” The lie drifts from my lips - but it knots heavy guilt inside me. How can I tell him the truth, that the baby is his? How would he react? Anger? Hate? He already tried to fire me today, if he found out I was keeping such a massive secret things would only get worse between us.

Nico’s eyes are locked onto me, but I need to leave. I have to get out of this claustrophobic office before he asks me anything else.