8. Nico

Chapter 8

Nico

Bella hurries out of the office, slamming the door behind herself.

I am a complete asshole.

That was low to throw that childish comment at her about her baby-daddy.

It was a stupid, jealous comment. I should’ve kept my fucking mouth shut.

I dragged her back into my office tonight to distract her from the illegal deliveries arriving this evening. I didn’t realize she was still at work.

I don’t want to put her in a position where she is compromised by knowing the truth about those after-hours deliveries. They aren’t paintings. They aren’t for our usual clientele. And she should not be involved with it in any way whatsoever. I am determined to keep her safe from that side of things. It was the entire reason I tried to fire her. For her own safety.

But she threatened legal action and I don’t need anyone sniffing around this business. I don’t want to draw any unnecessary attention to the gallery.

Tonight did not go as planned.

I thought I could pull her into my office and talk - but I lost control.

I lost control, and I loved every fucking minute of it.

Sighing I mutter under my breath. “Idiot.” This is going to make things ten times more awkward between us. It was already so fucking uncomfortable and now what - I shake my head, pushing the office door open so I can get out there and make sure she went home and that the deliveries are running smoothly.

Killian is the one who mentioned her baby boy. I was sick with jealously when I heard she had a son - I didn’t even know she was dating anyone - I guess that’s because she isn’t.

So, she had a one-night stand with some asshole in New York.

I am still green over it. Another man touched her.

But worse than that - she has a child, and she’s working in my gallery - a business involved in the underground mafia world.

Guilt sears through me like molten lava. She deserves better than this.

Over the next few days I keep my head down, doing my absolute best to avoid Bella, and focus on my work. But she is stubbornly aware of every little thing that goes on in this gallery.

She’s way too good at her job. The gallery as a business on its own is doing brilliantly. I didn’t expect it to - but Bella is running it like she was born for this position.

Her attentive nature though makes her very aware of insignificant details.

Details I need her to turn a blind eye to, but I can’t explain why.

She leans over my desk to place the report in front of me. Her blouse hangs open for a second and I can’t stop myself from looking.

The scent of her skin washes over me at the same time.

My cock stirs beneath the desk and I clear my throat.

“Thank you.” I say coldly.

Glancing at my watch I note the time.

Eight thirty. It’s late - and I have a delivery coming in at nine again.

“Go home, Bella.” I say, without looking at her.

“I’m still working.” She replies, walking towards the office door.

“No, I said go home.” I snap.

She turns to face me with fire in her eyes. “I said I was still working. I have a job to do. What difference does it make to you if I’m here or not? What are you still doing here, anyway?”

I clench and unclench my jaw, the muscles ripple across my face.

“I have some artwork arriving. A very private client is collecting it and he wants to remain anonymous.”

She looks confused. “What art work?”

“Nothing that you need to worry about, Bella.” I sigh.

“I want to see it. Our gallery has a very specific image to upkeep. I need to know what type of art is coming and going - even if the buyer wants to remain anonymous. A lot of our buyers stay anonymous.” She shrugs.

“No - go home.” I say, more sternly as I stand up and push my knuckles into the desk.

She folds her arms across her chest.

“What is really going on here, Nico?” She glares at me.

My heart constricts and my throat tightens. “What do you mean?” Does she know about the underground side of things?

Annoyance flitters over her face. She looks agitated.

“I’m tired of you playing games with me. Its time you made a choice. You’ve been giving me mixed signals since the moment you arrived at the gallery opening. You need to make up your mind.”

“Make up my mind?” I stammer, surprised by her outburst.

“Yes, Nico.” She snaps angrily. “I will not let you hurt me. One minute you’re all over me and the next you are pushing me away. Why are you so desperate to get me to leave - is there another woman involved? Is someone coming to see you that you don’t want me to know about - is that why you’ve been so hot and cold?”

“There is no other woman, Bella. I have a delivery. I don’t know where this is coming from.”

She huffs, not convinced at all. “I’ve heard the stories about you, Nico - how you don’t commit, how you date multiple woman at once. I am not some game you get to play. If there is another girl involved, I want nothing to do with you in a personal capacity and I’d rather you had the decency to be honest about it.”

I stand up from my desk, desperate to defend myself against this crazy accusation.

All I’m trying to do is keep her safe from the illegal shit happening here. I haven’t even been able to look at another woman in the same way that I look at her since the first night we spent together.

Now she is standing in my office accusing me of playing around.

“Bella this is ridiculous. I am not dating anyone. I am trying to make this business work. That is all I’m focused on - and with you it’s - “ I sigh. It’s complicated.

“It’s what?” She demands.

“It doesn’t matter. What matters is that there is no woman coming to meet me here. I’m working. But I want you to go home so that I can handle this client.”

I glance at my watch again. The delivery is going to arrive any minute now. For fuck sakes this is not good.

I walk out of my office, trying to encourage Bella to leave.

She follows me into the main section of the gallery.

I see someone walking up the steps towards our front entrance.

Dammit, the delivery is here.

My heart sinks right into the pit of my stomach when I see my client did not come himself - he sent his assistant.

A gorgeous young woman with long dark hair, wearing a skirt so short it leaves nothing to the imagination.

Bella’s entire body goes rigid. She pulls her mouth tight and turns to glare at me with fire in her eyes.

“Enjoy your - private delivery , Nico.” She hisses under her breath, and storms out of the gallery.

Shit.

“Bella.” I call out after her, walking briskly past my client's assistant. “I’ll be right with you.” I say quickly.

Outside on the street I grab Bella’s arm, forcing her to turn and look at me. “Bella, stop for a second.” I need to explain myself.

“Don’t bother saying anything. I can see what is going on. Have a lovely night.” She yanks her arm away from me and walks towards her car.

I watch her climb into the car and slam the door hard. I’m not sure what to do. Even if I stopped her from leaving - I can’t explain what is really going on without putting her in danger.

And I need to get back inside to deal with this delivery.

The entire thing could not have gone worse. Now Bella assumes I am using the gallery as a late night rendezvous for random women and I can’t even tell her the truth to ease her concerns.

“Fuck.” I shout, and turn back towards the gallery, hurrying inside so that I can get this shit sorted out and finished.

Then it strikes me.

Bella is jealous.

The way she spoke to me - she wants something more from me - she was considering a more serious relationship between us. My heart hammers for a moment.

I love the idea. But I know it can’t happen. She deserves more than the world I will drag her into if she gets involved with me.

But I have been giving her mixed signals because I can’t stay away from her.