We both laugh. She’s funny.
“Okay, my warmup is done,” she says. “I have to do arms today. Thanks for that. Just ask your friend if she used a job agency or what way she thinks I should go.”
“Okay.” I smile. “I’ll come get your number before I go so I can text you later.”
“That’d be great, thank you so much.”
I watch her walk over to the weights area. A guy says something to her, and she laughs out loud. She’s so typically Australian-relaxed and carefree.
I like her. I’m going to make an effort to get to know her better. It would be nice to have another friend here. I’ll have to remember to call Nat for her later.
I turn up the speed on my treadmill and start to run.
Hot body, here I come.
* * *
It’s 1:00 p. m. when Giorgio comes swanning into my office with two cups of coffee in hand.
“Hello, my darling. I came for our afternoon tea.” He holds up a brown paper bag and gives it a shake.
I look up from my computer and smile. “Is that cake?”
Please let it be cake. I’m tired of eating healthy already. It’s been eight whole hours and I’m feeling weak.
He passes my coffee and hands me the bag over. “Almond biscotti.”
“Thank you.”
He sits on my desk and sips his coffee. “This place is so dull today. I miss the Roma office.”
“What’s it like? The Roma office. Did you see Seraphina?”
“Yes, Seraphina and I had cocktails last week.” He smiles wistfully. “She’s divine.”
“She really is,” I sigh. “I wish she’d stayed in Milan. We really clicked.”
I smile, remembering that heart attack she gave me.
“What?”
“You know, when I met her and she told me that she had a fiancé from Roma, I was sure it was Enrico. I was having a heart attack over it.”
He chuckles. “What a coincidence that would have been.” He watches me for a moment and narrows his eyes. “She is not good enough for Enrico Ferrara.”
“She’s beautiful. Are you high?” I scoff.
“She’s not as beautiful as you.” He smiles wistfully. “You have an inner quality. There is something very special about you, Olivia. You were sent from the gods for him. I could feel it from the moment we met.”
“Do you mind?” a deep voice says from the doorway.
We turn to see Enrico standing at the door. He raises a brow. “Hands off, Giorgio.”
I smile and stand. “This is a pleasant surprise.”
Enrico walks in and kisses my cheek. “Hello, bella,” he says softly as his hand falls to my waist.
Giorgio leaps up from the desk. “My darling Enrico.” He kisses both his cheeks, and Enrico smiles.
“You’re visiting me at work?” I ask. “This is lovely.”
“Just delivering a package.” He places a little black box with a gold ribbon tied around it onto my desk.
I smile as my eyes hold his.
He gives me a sexy wink.
Enrico turns to Giorgio. “Last night, Olivia told me she wishes I was a delivery driver.”
Giorgio face falls as he looks at me, and then he claps his hands and bursts out laughing.
“Can you imagine that?” Rico says, clearly amused as his sexy eyes hold mine.
“You? A delivery driver?” Giorgio scoffs. “Now I’ve heard it all.”
“Don’t laugh, you two,” I huff as I fall back into my office chair. “I actually do wish you were a normal, podgy old guy with a boring job.”
Enrico laughs heartily, it’s deep and loud and permeates through the room. “What is podgy? It does not sound in the least bit appealing.”
I try to think of an apt description. “Sort of fat and pig like.”
They laugh again, thinking this is the funniest thing that they have ever heard. It’s annoying that the thought of him being fat and pig like is so amusing to these two. I hate that he’s so damn gorgeous. I want what’s on the inside. I couldn’t care less about his fancy packaging, and I’m not even joking. I really do wish he was a podgy delivery driver because then we could have a normal life.
My phone rings.
“Excuse me for a moment,” I say to them before answering. “Hello.”
Enrico
I watch Olivia answer the phone. She begins to write in her diary, and a smile crosses my face.
“Oh, Rico,” Giorgio whispers. “Look at you.” He grabs me by the elbows and inspects my face. “Happiness suits you, my friend.”
I glance back at Olivia still on the phone. I find it hard to look anywhere else. “What are you doing this afternoon?” I whisper to Giorgio.
Giorgio frowns. “Why?”
“I want to go shopping. Olivia needs a new wardrobe and I could use your help.”
Giorgio clasps his hands together. “She does. I’ll cross myself off for the afternoon.”
“Meet me in the foyer in ten minutes?”
Giorgio winks and blows Olivia a kiss. She gives him a wave, and he disappears out the door.
“Goodbye,” she says, ending her call.
Her eyes find me again. I close her office door and take her in my arms.
“Rico,” she whispers. “I’m at work.”
“I know.” My lips drop to her neck. “But, as the delivery driver, I didn’t get a signature yet.” I take her lips in mine, my tongue slowly sliding through her mouth. I feel my arousal begin to flutter.
She pulls back from my kiss. “Rico, not now.”
I smile and give her behind a hard squeeze. “It has come to my attention that delivery drivers are seriously underpaid and underfucked. Where is my motivation to deliver more packages?”
She giggles. “Well, one would hope that you don’t expect sex for every parcel you deliver. What kind of delivery man are you? Go home, I’ll see you tonight.”
With one last kiss, I turn toward the door.
“Rici.” I turn back and stare into her eyes. “Ti amo.” She smiles.
My heart somersaults, and I move to take her back in my arms. “Let’s go home now,” I breathe.
“No, I’m working.”
“Resign, you don’t have to work here.” I kiss her again.
“You are an awfully distracting delivery driver.”
I stare down at my beautiful girl, she brings me a happiness that I never knew was possible.
I kiss her one more time. “Until tonight, my love.”
I walk down the corridor toward the elevators and my phone rings. It’s Sergio. He’s in Sicily.
“Hey,” I answer.
“We’ve got a problem.”
I roll my eyes. I don’t need this shit today. “What is it?”
“Lombardi has been going around town stating that he owns Sicily and Roma now-that he has run Ferrara out. He’s boasting that we have retracted with our tails between our legs. People are beginning to stop and take notice of him. His cocaine is top quality.”
I exhale heavily. “We know that’s not true, don’t we?”
“My intel tells me that he’s coming to Milan.”
“Why?”
“He wants our brothels. He’s coming to scope them out.”
“I won’t let that happen.”
“We need to take back the blow, Enrico.”