10. Enzo

10

ENZO

T wo months, two months, two months.

The mantra has been playing in my head on repeat all week. Gabriella and I have started working together and even though I’m keeping it together on the outside, inside I’m going a little crazy. Those clicking heels, that honey-scented smell of hers, those slim-fitted skirts…it’s enough to drive a man insane. And the way she leans, allowing me to catch a glimpse of lace beneath her shirt. It’s killing me. All I want to do is grab her, haul her against my aching body and kiss her senseless.

That can’t happen, though. I need to be on my best behavior, work extremely hard to prove my worth and secure this deal. Nothing else should matter. Not the way she greets me so jovially every morning, even though I know it’s fake, or the way she leans a hip against my door and asks if I’d like a coffee. She’s going above and beyond to be nice, and it’s making me a little nuts.

Right now, she’s making her way around the office, checking in and chatting with all of the employees. Good for her. Sucking up to other people has never been a tactic I use to win. I deliver results. Sure, it’s smart to build relationships, but screw that. I can’t go out there right now and risk bumping into her. It’s not even a risk, it’s a sure thing because this office is so damn small.

Maybe that’s part of the problem. Every time I turn around, she’s there. Smiling, laughing, drumming those long nails against something. Closing my eyes, sitting back in my chair, I groan as I remember how they felt dragging down my back. My groin tightens at the memory. She left her mark on my skin and I remember catching a glimpse of it the next day in the bathroom mirror. I want those nails scratching down my back again, but it’s impossible.

We’re playing on opposite sides and are enemies, I remind myself. I had my fun with her and now is the time to outmaneuver her. I have some ideas about how to improve the money situation here and I make a call to a friend in the tech industry. We talk for a while and share some ideas and potential ways to increase revenue. After we set up a meeting, I hang up and stretch my arms above my head. It’s almost noon and I’ve been hiding in my office all day. I suppose I should probably get up and get moving. Go greet at least a couple of people out there then go down and grab a sandwich from the cafe. The last thing I want is for the employees to go back to Doug and tell them I never socialized or made an effort to get to know them.

My strengths lie in making money, though. Not chatting about someone’s kids and getting all chummy, pretending I care about some little league game. It’s too bad Gabriella couldn’t just handle all the social butterfly obligations and I could handle the business part of it. But, no, good ol’ Doug wants a well-rounded boss who actually gives a shit. I get it. I really do. It’s just exhausting when I have so many other things to do. This place isn’t my sole focus, but I guess it’s going to have to take up the majority of my attention for the next two months if I want to win.

Standing up, I button my suit jacket and grab my phone. Bracing myself to be assaulted by the honey scent that Gabriella leaves all over the office, I step out and find myself breathing in deeply. Her lusty scent fills me and I let out a soft sigh. Instead of saying hi to anyone, I find myself peering into her office, but she isn’t in there.

Curious, and against my better judgment, I start walking down the hallway, looking for her. I spot her deep in conversation with one of the tech analysts and I frown, crossing my arms. It’s clear by the way he’s looking up at her with googly eyes that he’s infatuated. Can’t say I blame him. Today, she’s wearing a slim-fitted charcoal gray suit, the jacket open, matched with a pink pin-striped blouse with a couple too many buttons undone. My scowl deepens when she throws her head back and laughs, her full breasts straining against the pink fabric.

Dammit. Turning, I discreetly adjust myself then stalk over. “Hey, Josh,” I interrupt, “what’s new on Wall Street?”

As if I don’t know. I’m always up to date on everything and I can pick stocks and decide how to invest money better than anybody. But, I had to interrupt this little party here. I don’t like the way he’s looking at Gabriella with little hearts in his eyes or the way she seems to be flirting back. Christ, he’s just a kid. Probably not even twenty-five. Bri needs someone older, a man who can take care of her needs.

Josh instantly turns all business now that I’m standing here and starts pitching some new tech stock. I’m only listening with half an ear, my gaze moving over Gabriella, wishing I could reach over and button a couple of those buttons up on her shirt. It gaps open slightly and my eyes zero in on a pale pink lacy bra strap. Christ.

“Sounds good,” I say, cutting Josh off, and focusing on Gabriella. “Can I talk to you?”

Before she can respond, I turn and head back down to my office. My pants are uncomfortably tight and I drop down in my chair, using the desk as a cover to hide my raging erection. I hate that I’m so damn attracted to her. Normally, I move on quite easily, even if a woman is beautiful. But, Gabriella is so much more than that. She has this alluring charm that draws me in and won’t let go. I’m beginning to want her on a level that borders desperation.

So fucking pathetic.

I don’t understand. One night with her should’ve satisfied me. But, instead, I find myself wanting more. Just another kiss, another touch, another night. Maybe the problem and the thing that bothers me so much is that she left. I didn’t get my closure, my way.

God, that sounds weak, even to my own ears.

When Gabriella appears in the doorway and leans that curvy hip of hers against the frame, crossing her arms, I inwardly groan. How one woman can be so ridiculously attractive to me is insane. What is happening? I’ve never been like this before. Almost like I’m obsessing.

It needs to end, I tell myself. And the best way to do that is to piss her off. She’s been going out of her way to be sickeningly sweet to me, probably because Doug’s employees are reporting back to him, and she wants to make sure he hears what a team player she is. Grinding my teeth, not willing to let her outsmart me, I narrow my eyes and let loose about what’s bothering me the most.

“You and Josh seem pretty chummy.” I don’t mean to sound like a jealous school boy, but that’s the way it comes out. So much for easing into this conversation.

She tilts her head, the corner of her mouth lifting in a smirk. “And what’s your point? I’m getting to know my new employees.”

I snort. “They aren’t yours yet. No need to get ahead of yourself.”

“What can I say? I’m a positive, forward-looking kind of gal.”

“Who’s slightly delusional,” I finish and shoot her a grin.

“Maybe.” She leans forward and lowers her voice. “After all, I did sleep with you. Clearly, my head needs to be examined.”

I stand up, stalking closer, drawn to her like a magnet to metal. Or, in this case, a better analogy might be a bee to a flower. “You’re a riot, honey,” I say dryly.

“Don’t call me honey.”

“Why not?” I ask, stopping directly in front of her.

“Because it’s derogatory to women in the workplace and I don’t appreciate it.”

“The reason I call you honey,” I murmur, my voice dropping as I lean forward, getting into her personal space and breathing deeply, “is because you smell like it. It’s not an insult. It’s a compliment.”

She hisses in a sharp breath at my nearness and I notice her chest begins to rise and fall faster.

“Can I make a suggestion?” I ask softly, my voice low near her ear, my breath rustling her hair.

“What?” she whispers.

“Button your shirt up. You were giving Josh quite a show.” I stand up straight and adjust my shirt sleeves beneath my jacket, back to being a professional rival.

In response, she sends me a piercing glare. “You are such an asshole.”

“You haven’t seen anything yet,” I tell her, gaze dipping as she flicks another button open. “Bri?—”

My growl is cut off as she shoves her perfect tits out, slides a hand beneath the edge of her coller and exposes a delicate pink strap.

“Something bothering you, Mr. Rossi?” she purrs. Sliding her finger beneath it, she gives it a little snap and my dick twitches.

Hell, yes, something is bothering me, but I can’t exactly tell Gabriella that it’s all the building sexual tension happening between us. The banter, the teasing, the fighting. It’s making me hard ninety percent of the day and all I want to do is bend her over my desk and sink my cock deep into her sweet pussy. If I don’t get some relief soon, I’m going to lose my shit.

And we’ve only been working together for a week.

“I’m going to get some lunch,” I growl, pushing past her. Her melodic chuckle follows me as I stomp down the hall, heading for the elevator. She may have just one that battle, but she’s not going to win the war. Once I’m safely inside the elevator, I cup my aching dick and try to get more comfortable.

Getting comfortable proves impossible when Gabriella is always prancing around the office, shaking her ass and spreading her honey scent. Every day that passes makes me a little more crazy and need fills me constantly. It’s getting to the point where I dread going into the office because I’m in a constant state of arousal and always obsessing over Gabriella. Focusing on work isn’t cutting it anymore because she’s such a huge distraction.

I’m starting to wonder if this torture I’m putting myself through on a daily basis is even worth it. I tap a finger on the desk and question if I should walk away from this deal. God knows, I don’t need Holloway Corp. The only reason I’m sticking it out is because it’s a matter of principle and, truth be told, it’s an excuse to see Gabriella. Although, she doesn’t want to see me. She isn’t pretending to be nice anymore and tends to stick her nose up in the air and closes her office door when she sees me.

Whatever game we’re playing with each other is getting old. There’s an undeniable chemistry bubbling right beneath the surface between us and it’s getting harder and harder to ignore.

The whole thing is a paradox. I want to see her, but when I do, she drives me crazy. The alternative, however, of not seeing her doesn’t hold any appeal. We might be getting on each other’s nerves constantly, but it’s only because we can’t have what we both want. And, I know she wants me just as much as I want her.

It’s been a month now and we’re halfway through this game, and I don’t know how I honestly feel about it. Yes, I’ll be glad when Doug finally picks the winner, hopefully me, and I can take full control of Holloway Corp. But that also means I won’t be seeing Gabriella every day. We’ll go back to the occasional sighting at meetings for the Five Families. We used to always flirt and eye fuck each other during those…back before all this nonsense with Holloway Corp.

But that all changed. The last meeting, Gabriella didn’t even look in my direction. I know I sound like a damn baby, but it hurt my feelings. God, when did I turn into such a pussy? I guess when she left my bed and didn’t bother to tell me. Just disappeared like it didn’t mean a thing.

It wasn’t supposed to mean anything. That’s the kicker, but somehow it did. And that really sucks for me because Gabriella seems to have moved on from our night just fine. That bothers me more than I care to admit.

Every day that passes, tensions between us get higher. I find myself getting terse, snippy and downright rude because I’m so damn frustrated. No matter what happens, this isn’t going to have a good ending. If I win and she loses, she’ll never forgive me for swooping in and stealing her pet project. If she wins, she’s going to rub it in so badly, I’ll have to bury my head—and pride—in the sand.

I honestly don’t know what to do. One second, I want to beat her out of the running for new owner and, the next, I’m considering handing her the entire company on a silver platter and just walking away. One thing is certain, though, and it’s the fact that I’m so frustrated, I can’t think straight. And not just sexually. I want things to go back to how they were before we both decided to go after Holloway Corp.

Okay, before I decided to go after it. Because that screwed everything up royally. But, in my defense, I was pissed because I wanted more after our one night together and she seemingly didn’t. Going after the company was a childish way to get my revenge and briefly force her to acknowledge me again.

Even if I do walk away now, though, there’s a very good chance Gabriella is done with me. Hell, can I blame her?