Chapter 58 MICELI

On my way to the helipad, I call Giovanna and fire her. Not just as our PR rep, but from the company.

I don't know what kind of games she's playing, but they stop now.

She's still squawking when I hang up and call her boss. I explain the situation in a few short sentences. Primarily that if she doesn't fix what Giovanna fucked up and get the interview moved out an hour, heads will roll.

Being a member of la famiglia , she knows I'm not using a euphemism.

I'm waiting with the helicopter when Róise arrives. If I had gone to the mansion, we would not have made it out of her bedroom for at least twenty-four hours.

The wind ruffles her shiny brown curls, the sun glinting off the natural red highlights. Her gorgeous body is encased in a 1950s inspired taffeta dress. Pink of course. A matching bow is holding her chin length curls back from her face.

I smile. She scowls in return and fuck do I want to kiss that frown right off her lips. I wanted her to wear pink, because she is everything I think of when I see the color.

Innocent. Hopeful. Emotional. Her youth isn't something that bothers me now because this woman will keep me feeling young for the rest of our lives.

But if I asked her to wear pink, she would've worn black.

Her contrariness and resistance to authority is only one of the many reasons she is so vital to me.

Unwilling to wait for her to come to me, I stride across the helipad and pull her right into my arms, laying a kiss on those luscious lips that lasts until the rotor blades start whirring .

"That's our cue. Come on, Aphrodite, lets get you inside before the wind from the rotors sends your skirts over your head."

"You wish."

I really do, but I lift her into the helicopter before that can happen.

Once we are inside, she tries to sit on the bench across from me. Not happening.

I pick her up and put her down next to me. "I prefer to face forward when flying."

She opens her mouth to say something. Argue probably. But it just hangs open as Allessio climbs into the helicopter carrying Pusheen's pink cat carrier.

He buckles it in the seat between him and Zoey and the soldier-in-training closes the door.

"What is my cat doing here?"

"Pusheen is part of our family. Naturally, we'll want her in some of the pictures."

"What if she doesn't like to fly?" Róise asks worriedly, squinting to see Pusheen inside the carrier.

The cat is cuddled up with one of her catnip toys.

"She's fine. She's too formidable a beast to be bothered by something as inconsequential as a helicopter ride."

"Is that a catnip toy?" Róise asks.

I nod. "She likes them."

"I can't believe you're drugging my cat."

"I'm not drugging her." But I do have a hypodermic with a sedative in it on the off chance Pusheen didn't take to flying with her usual Queen of the World approach.

"Whatever. Why did you come?" Now, she's squinting at me like she's trying to read my thoughts. "Did you have a meeting with my uncle?"

"No."

"I don't understand."

"I haven't seen you in four days."

"So?"

Deflated ego, thy name is Róise. "So, I wanted to."

"Why?"

"How did your exam go?" I ask rather than answer a question I'm not ready to answer.

She wouldn't believe me if I did because she's not ready for the words either.

"Really well."

"You aced it." It's not a guess .

If Róise puts her mind to something, she will accomplish it.

"I hope so."

"You studied hard enough," Zoey pipes up. "Makes me glad that my job didn't require college. School is not my thing."

"It requires intelligence and skill to make it through the training program you're on. Allessio says you are doing well."

Zoey beams. "Thank you, boss."

"Don't thank me for the truth. It's not always so palatable."

"Don't ruin it by being a jerk now," Róise admonishes me.

"Telling the truth does not make me an asshole."

"I didn't call you that. I called you a jerk and yeah, sometimes telling the truth makes you nothing but an asshole." She grins, inviting me to share her joke.

I cup her nape and kiss her. Again.

She melts into me without hesitation and it takes all my formidable willpower to pull my mouth from hers.

I glance down at her feet. "I like the tennis shoes."

"I've got heels in my bag." She looks around, her expression turning panicked. "Where's my bag?"

Zoey holds up a tote bag stenciled in glittery pink with Actors do it in character .

"Oh, good. Thanks, Zoey." Róise smiles at the soldier and then looks at Allessio. "Did you send the press release to me? I can read it now."

Oh, this should be interesting.

Allessio nods and Róise fishes her phone out of the bag before tucking it on the seat beside her.

The first screech comes about a minute later. "Six kids? I'm homeschooling them? I'll kill her."

"I'd prefer you didn't. Especially since that's in there because I was punch drunk tired when I answered her questions. It made me facetious."

"Facetious? More like ridiculous and completely out of touch with reality," she says sarcastically. "Giovanna didn't ask me about children. Really, I know you think she is, but you're pet PR person is not very good at her job."

My pet PR person? Is Róise jealous? My dick likes the thought that she might be. Very much.

"It's no longer her job, so that tracks."

"You fired her?" Róise stares at me, her green eyes wide. "From handling the engagement, right?"

"From Oscuro Enterprises. She'll be lucky to get a job in Public Relations anywhere in New York."

"You blackballed her?" The shock in Róise's tone makes me smile.

I shake my head. "I didn't have to. Her boss is throwing her under the bus as we speak. She had to arrange the schedule shift on the interview. Our media personality is not amused."

"I did tell Ms. Ricci about my exams. On the phone and then when I thought she wasn't listening, I emailed her."

"I believe you. I don't care what her personal feelings are, when I give an order, I expect it to be carried out."

"Have you slept with her?" she asks, her words rushing together.

"Not for lack of trying on her part, but no," I say dryly.

"Is that why you fired her?" my fiancée asks. "She was coming on to you?"

"Giovanna fucked up. There's no place for her under my leadership."

"Are you that unforgiving with everyone?" Róise licks her lips, her head cocked in question.

My eyes follow the tempting pink tip of her tongue as it goes back into her mouth. Mine wants to follow it. "No."

"Why this time?"

"She tried to embarrass and hurt you." And that I will not stand.