Carlos: A Zambrano Family Novel

by Deici, Olivia

  I looked pointedly at the doctor. “Why is she here?”

  Dr. Laurenti was shifting again on her worn tennis shoes. I frowned when I saw their condition.

  “I can explain this. I don't want-”

  I held my hand up to stop her from talking but I did it more because I knew it would antagonize her. She was easy to read and annoy.

  “I'll let Scott speak for himself.”

  He nodded.

  “Sir, she came into the lobby, frantic. She claimed that she was your girlfriend and that she had an emergency. She couldn't wait another minute to speak to you and you hadn't been answering your phone.”

  “Wait-”

  I held up my hand to stop her. I thought I saw smoke come out of her ears.

  “I told her to hold on, that she wasn't authorized to go any further until I called up here. I grabbed the phone and before I could dial Edgar, she booked it for the elevator. I tried to stop it and when I couldn't, I ran to the desk to call Edgar. It rang but there was no answer.”

  Edgar began coughing and there was a slight blush on his cheeks.

  “Sorry, boss. I was on a personal call and couldn't switch over. Nothing ever happens here so late and I figured I could call Scott back in a minute.”

  By this time, I was getting peeved. The fun I'd been having was morphing into serious disappointment and annoyance.

  What if this had been a real threat?

  The doctor had her arms crossed now. She couldn't make eye contact with anyone.

  “So I kept trying to call. Then Edgar called me to come up.”

  “This isn't his fault. I lied. I'm the one who fooled him. I-”

  I put my hand up again. I really wanted to goad her. She was so damn cute.

  “This is a real problem, especially with corporate spies looking for any advantage. Not to mention other possible threats.” I looked pointedly at them and they understood what I really meant.

  The doctor groaned and rolled her eyes.

  “You can stop with the subtleties. I'm not a mafia hitman. I carry for personal protection,” she said and opened her doctor's coat. My eyes opened wide at the holster she wore over her scrubs. I saw the handle of her gun.

  I looked at my watch. Four times. Ten minutes.

  I cleared my throat. “Dr. Laurenti, I'll give you a pass now, but for future reference, firearms and weapons are not allowed in my building.”

  She actually snorted at me. “Really? Because they're both wearing a piece,” she said jutting her chin out to Scott and Edgar. “And you,” she said, narrowing those discerning eyes at me, “don't fool me one bit. You have one in that drawer.”

  I wanted to laugh. She was good. It was rare that I found a beauty with brains who went toe-to-toe with me. I refused to crack the smile that wanted to form on my face, though.

  “We aren't talking about me or them. This is my building and that's my security. You are a visitor. Well, you're actually a trespasser-”

  “I am no such thing. This is a place of business where the public is allowed.”

  “You are correct, Dr. Laurenti.” Her smile was smug before I continued. “However, there are business hours, and see, it's well beyond those business hours. You are not welcome here at this hour. This is in fact trespassing, and I could call the police to forcibly take you out of here and potentially face criminal charges.”

  Her mouth was agape. Damn, I loved a battle of wits. The adrenaline was pumping.

  “Getting back to the matter at hand.” I paused and looked at Edgar. “Please take Scott's badges, gun, and uniform once he changes.” I heard her suck in a breath. To Scott's credit, he played the part well. This wasn't the only time we had done this ruse, but it was the first time the violator had been sorry.

  I looked at Scott. “You violated company policy, and for that, despite two and a half decades of service to our company, you will not be getting a severance.”

  “Now wait a minute, Mr. Zambrano. You cannot fire this man because of me.”

  I looked at her. “I am not. I am firing him because he couldn't keep a petite woman who couldn't weigh more than a hundred pounds soaking wet from sneaking past him. If he is unable to do that, how will he keep bigger threats away?”

  I paused and I saw her eyes moisten.

  “Perhaps next time you will think of others before doing a selfish act.”

  “Fuck you.”

  My eyes detoured down to my watch. Five times. Twelve minutes.

  “That's what I'm here for you pompous ass.”

  I quirked an eyebrow. Now I was beginning to get pissed. This petite vixen was insulting me after she trespassed and caused trouble?

  Fuck. That. Shit.

  I looked at the guys. “Edgar, do as I told you.” My eyes landed on Scott. “Goodbye Scott. Thank you for your service.”

  Both nodded and left. My sincerely annoyed gaze returned to her.

  “How could you fire someone who worked so long for you?”

  “Quite easily, as you've just seen. Now, Dr. Laurenti, you have one minute to explain to me why you trespassed into my building and office after midnight.”

  “You cannot have my building.”

  “What building are you speaking of?”

  “Metro line.”

  I leaned back and sighed. That explained a lot.

  “It is a city-improvement project that will bring revenue, jobs, and desirability to that area.”

  She snorted again.

  “You mean, you're booting out poor locals and small business owners barely scraping by to build your high-end shopping center and expensive high-rise condo building.”

  I sat back just watching her.

  “It will improve the area.”

  “It would leave the people who already live there homeless. It would leave the small business owners without livelihoods.”

  It was me who laughed derisively this time.

  “Dr. Laurenti, we offered those people two times the market rate for their properties. We might be businessmen, but we aren't assholes.”

  She rolled. Her. Fucking. Eyes.

  My fists clenched.

  “I'm not sure you're aware of this considering your tastes, wealth, and salary,” she spat, looking around for, presumably, dramatic effect, “but Miami is a very expensive city to live and work in. That money won't get them far.”

  “That is not my problem, Dr. Laurenti. We've been more than generous, more so than we needed to be. Homeowners with a house and land valued at $200,000 received $400,000. It's unheard of. We have a good reputation in the community for thinking about the community and not just profits. We're an enterprise not a charity, yet here we offered these people twice what their property was worth.”

  She exhaled noisily. “Well, you won't be getting mine.”

  My eyes narrowed on her. She was under my skin, something that didn't usually happen. My eyes roamed over her petite frame but everything was left to my imagination. Her lab coat and scrubs hid every appealing quality she could have possessed.

  Her loose mouth ruined any illusion.

  “You know, we could have easily gone the eminent domain route, Dr. Laurenti. They would have received a fraction of what we gave them. We chose, instead, to do things the right and moral way.”

  She huffed a breath out.

  “Perhaps you're in need of an examination yourself since you keep snorting like a horse.”

  Her cheeks actually reddened with aggravation. It was great.

  “What do you know about what's right and moral, Mr. Zambrano.”

  The way she said my last name had me pursing my lips in annoyance.

  “Besides, eminent domain can't be used for what you're planning.”

  My sigh was purposefully condescending, much like an adult’s would be to a child. I saw her clench her jaw when she noticed.

  She was going to educate me about the law?

  Not in this lifetime.

  “Dr. Laurenti, I’ll give you a quick less
on in Miami politics. Money talks. We could have easily approached the city and county governments with our city-improvement plan. Donate money here and there. Lunches here and there. Political campaigns here and there. This isn’t a new concept. In fact, it’s been done before- designating one road as important to public transportation. The choices and options were endless. Instead, we gave these owners more than what their property was worth. Don’t stand here in my office and tell me we don't know about morals. You can get the hell out of my office if you continue with that bullshit.”

  She cracked a smile. “So the impeccable businessman and lawyer does have a foul mouth.”

  “Sweetheart-”

  Yep, I “sweathearted” her, and that hit where I wanted it. Her lips shriveled into little raisins.

  “This mouth is a lot of things. Dirty and foul are only two of its many fun attributes.”

  Her blush was genuine, and I was fascinated. Riveted, really.

  “You’re disgusting. I don’t care about your sexual proclivities.”

  I laughed. I let one loose; I couldn’t help it.

  “Who’s speaking of sex, Dr. Laurenti? My vocabulary is colorful and vast. I have an exotic palate and rampant tastes.”

  “Oh? Let me guess, Latin, Russian, Irish, and Asian?”

  The second laugh that escaped me was as genuine as the first.

  “I do love me some Italian, too,” I said, as my wanting eyes traveled over her boxy form. “And when my appetite is large, I have them all on the same plate like at a buffet.”

  She inhaled sharply and released an annoyed breath. “God, you’re a disgusting dick.”

  I smiled at her, and her eyes landed on my dimples. The ladies loved those, and it looked like she was no different.

  “So I’ve been told. A big, muscular dick, with a thick head. I’m a fun guy, what can I say.”

  She shook her head. I thought I saw a smile wanting to crack that plaster on her face. Hmmm, or maybe not.

  “You’re not getting my building, Mr. Zambrano-”

  “Please, we’ve spoken about dirty mouths and big dicks. I think it’s ok if you call me Roman.”

  “Mr. Zambrano,” her tone stressed. “You won’t be booting me out. You want my building, you’re going to have fight me for it.”

  I smiled at her. “Now that sounds like fun.”

  My intercom beeped. “Yes, Mildred.”

  “Mr. Zambrano, the clerk called.”

  My heart sped up. “Yes?”

  “The jury has reached a verdict.”

  I looked at my watch, surprised that it was almost one in the morning.

  “So late?”

  “They said the jury was close to a verdict and hadn’t wanted to delay it. The judge allowed them.”

  In other words, they didn’t want to be sequestered another day.

  “Ok. How long?”

  “They want to convene in a half-hour.”

  I looked at my watch again, grabbing my cell phone, keys, and suit jacket.

  “This has been entertaining, Dr. Laurenti, but I have to go.” I hit the button on the intercom. “Mildred, please see Dr. Laurenti out. Call Edgar and have him escort her out of the building.”

  She pursed her lips and looked cute, but my focus was on the verdict and my brother.

  “This won’t be the last you see of me.”

  I spared her a glance and my eyes wandered over her again. “Preferably in something more revealing.”

  I heard her gasp as I left my office, my laugh trailing behind me.