by Penelope Sky
It was such a load of horseshit. “If you really believe that, why did you encourage me to attend university?”
“To get your M-R-S. Degree.”
“Excuse me?” I asked, an eyebrow raised.
“I wanted you to meet a good man and settle down. But you came back without a ring on your finger.”
“I wasn’t shopping for a husband. I was only interested in learning.”
She shrugged then kept looking out at the breathtaking view. Most people would never know the wealth we got to enjoy—and we didn’t even work for it. “You’re still young, so enjoy yourself, Sofia. Date men you’ll never marry. Screw guys who will only hold your interest for a night. Because eventually…all that fun stuff ends. That’s one of my regrets…not enjoying my youth. I immediately married your father… I wish I’d let loose first.”
I’d definitely been letting loose, and the casual detachment was simple. Maybe if I met a man I really liked, things would be different. But the idea of settling down into boring mediocrity sounded terrible. I wanted to be an executive, I wanted to have flings, and I wanted to have a family someday…even if I did it on my own. But being tied down to one man forever…sounded terrible. “I’m only twenty-two. I have a lot of youth left inside me.”
“Then enjoy it. But don’t get your hopes up about running that hotel.”
The sexism surprised me, especially coming from my own mother. “It’s nice to be home.”
She chuckled, picking up on my sarcasm. “I can’t wait for you to move out either.”
Gustavo had married my mother just three months after my father was gone.
He was a widower, having lost his wife in a terrible car accident just a few years before my father died. He had one son, who lived out of the house and had already started his own family. I didn’t know the specifics of my mother’s second nuptials, but I knew it had been negotiated like a contract.
But in any case, I liked him.
He was kind, affectionate, and treated my mom well. When I saw them together, they seemed more like friends than man and wife. Maybe that was why their relationship worked so well. My mother wanted a man to take care of her, and Gustavo didn’t want to be lonely.
It could be worse, so I let it be.
We went to the Tuscan Rose together and entered the lobby. Several chandeliers hung from the ceiling, the crystals on fire as the light shone through the prisms. White vases with fresh flowers lined the tables and counters, and mirrors on the wall showed how expansive the room really was. I loved the energy the second I stepped inside, loved the excitement of the guests as they checked in at the front desk. It was impeccably clean, a visual representation of the Romano family name.
“I suggest you start with a concierge position.” Instead of leading me to the back where the offices were located, he stopped in the lobby. “You know so much about this city, and you’re so good with people. It’s a great start.”
I looked up at him in surprise, finding no comfort in the warm look he gave me. He was a tall man, taller than my father had been, and his dark skin showed his exotic origins. He wore eyeglasses on the bridge of his nose. In conversation, he was a polite and restrained man, but when his eyes lit up with warmth, he was a whole new person. “I’m not interested in the concierge position. I was hoping to shadow you, to look at the bookkeeping, and take on whatever other managerial positions I can assist with.”
His smile never faded. “I realize that, but—”
“Don’t listen to my mother. I know how she feels about this, but this is my legacy, and I intend to hold on to it.” I wouldn’t get married just to have another man control my company. I didn’t need anyone’s assistance but my own.
His smile slowly faded. “This is her hotel, Sofia. I don’t have a lot of say in the matter.”
“You obviously do if you’re running it.” I stood my ground and refused to back down. I would only get what I wanted in life if I fought for it. It didn’t make sense that my mother’s second husband got to manage what belonged to our family. It should either be my mother or me.
He sighed as he lowered his gaze. “I was under the impression you needed money.”
“Yes. I’ve got to move out as quickly as possible.”
He chuckled. “I can imagine. But I can’t offer you a position as a manager or anything of that nature. You had excellent marks at university, but experience is more important in an occupation like this. You’ll have to start at the bottom.”
“I never said I had a problem with that.” I didn’t expect to be given everything just because of my last name, but I did expect the chance to prove my worthiness. “I’ll take the concierge position if you teach me everything about running this hotel. I can work with you in the morning and take the concierge position in the evenings.”
“You mean business, don’t you?”
“Always.” I placed one hand on my hip, looking up at my stepfather without budging an inch. I refused to let this go without at least fighting for it. Maybe the concierge job would pay enough to cover my rent, and with enough time, I would prove to my stepfather and mother that I was capable of taking over when the time was right.
Gustavo was the man in the relationship, but he possessed much more compassion than she ever did. He didn’t seem to harbor the same sexist viewpoint she did. “Alright. Let’s keep this between us—for now.”
I moved into his chest and hugged him. “Thank you, Gustavo. It means so much to me.”
Gustavo had an office and a conference room off to the side of the hotel. There were several other offices belonging to personnel involved with the daily operations of the hotel. One office was empty, and a nameplate wasn’t attached to the door.
I worked with Gustavo for the day, shadowing his movements and understanding the duties of a manager of the hotel. Technically, he had a general manager who oversaw the employees, but he was responsible for the financial aspect. I got to study the balance sheets, seeing how much money the hotel earned on a daily basis. It was impressive—especially during the off-season.
The hours passed quickly, and I couldn’t help but assume my mother was an idiot. Man or woman, it didn’t matter. Anyone could run this hotel if they were passionate about it. I wanted to tell my mother to return to ancient times, because the present didn’t suit her well.
Gustavo printed off a few spreadsheets then laid them across the desk. “I have a meeting in just a few minutes. How about you focus on this until I’m finished?”
“What’s the meeting about?”
“Money,” he said, half joking. “Everything is always about money.” He was just about to step outside when a man appeared in the doorway. Tall, muscular, and wearing a suit like a second skin, he wasn’t the kind of guest I expected…because he was so young.
I was sitting at the desk, my eyes taking in the man in the gray suit. With brown eyes that seemed both dangerous and warm, he had a familiar face. He had high cheekbones and a masculine tightness to his features, and his appearance immediately ran a bell. It’d been so many years since I’d last seen him that I almost didn’t recognize him.
He’d been a man the last time I saw him. But now…he was a bigger man.
With broad shoulders and tight forearms, his manly physique was noticeable through his clothes. A shiny watch was on his wrist, an Omega, probably worth tens of thousands of euros. His thumb casually brushed over his bottom lip as he entered, his chin covered with a thick shadow that hadn’t been shaved in days. The cords in his neck were distinct, especially since his skin was tanned and tight. He had full lips, perfect for a hot kiss in the darkness of a cold bedroom. Those eyes were so powerful, they could make a woman spread her knees in just seconds.
I’d had some decent lovers in Milan…but none of them had looked like this man.
Hades.
He addressed my stepfather first. “Gustavo.”
My stepfather walked over to him and shook his hand. “Thanks for coming by. I know you’
re a busy man.”
“A man is never too busy to make money.” It was the first time his eyes turned to me, and without his giving any significant reaction, it was clear he recognized me. It was the subtle narrowing of his eyes, the slight clench of his hard jaw. Slowly, his hands returned to his pockets as he studied me.
When we’d first met, I was nothing but a shy girl. I was barely an adult and didn’t possess the courage to handle an experienced man. His confidence had unnerved me, made me back up against the wall and turn rigid with fear.
But not anymore.
I rose to my feet and glided to him, working my heels like they were comfortable sandals. With my hand outstretched, I greeted him like he was a business associate. “Nice to see you again, Hades.”
He didn’t pull his hand out of his pocket for a second, as if my offer were inappropriate. Our first meeting had been anything but professional. We were two walking hormones who ground up against the wall like it was our last night on earth. I still thought about that climax sometimes, the first one of its kind. It was powerful, profound, and so much better than the pathetic ones the boys had given me.
He finally took my hand. His fingers moved all the way to my wrist, and he immediately squeezed me firmly, the pressure making my blood circulate from both fear and arousal. His eyes never left mine, and he didn’t seem to care if my stepfather picked up on the heat between us. “I’m sorry about your father. He was a good man.” It didn’t feel like a false sentiment. My father had been dead for years, and Hades didn’t need to acknowledge it. Seemed like he meant it.
I dropped the handshake first. “Thank you.”
“Good, you’re acquainted.” Gustavo gave me a gentle pat on the back before he stepped through the doorway and into the hallway. “Hades and I will take an hour, maybe more.”
“Can I sit in?” I asked, knowing he would say no.
“Not today,” Gustavo said. “In time.” He rounded the corner.
Hades lingered for a second longer, letting his eyes take me in as if he could easily picture me naked. Innate confidence burned in his eyes, as if nothing and no one could ever make him question who he was. He took a gentle step back, not wanting to take his eyes off me. Then he finally turned around.
My eyes immediately went to his ass.
Still tight, I saw.
3
Sofia
I didn’t see Hades again.
I wasn’t entirely sure what business he had with Gustavo. He mentioned something about working in finance a long time ago, but I couldn’t recall the specifics. Maybe he never even told me that information…I just assumed. When I asked Gustavo, all he said was, “He handles the money.”
That didn’t make sense.
I was determined to be a respected member of the team at Tuscan Rose, so I wouldn’t get involved with someone who was also on the payroll, not that I assumed anything would happen in the first place. That kiss had been four years ago, and we were complete strangers. Perhaps he’d been just as bored at that party as I was, so he followed me just to get away from the stiffness.
I could feel embarrassed by our past, but I refused. It was one moment, one night. Nothing much to say about it. He was even sexier than I remembered, so I couldn’t pretend that he wasn’t a walking piece of eye candy. He was gorgeous…plain and simple. But gorgeous men were only good for one thing.
Fucking.
I started my shift in the concierge department that evening, helping American guests decide where to make dinner reservations in this historic town. Most of them were newlyweds, so their excitement was palpable. I also booked a few spa treatments, and by nine, I finally got to walk out the door.
Instead of heading home…to my mother’s…I decided to go out instead. I had a couple friends in Florence, and after a few texts, we met somewhere crowded and dark, going straight for the hard liquor and skipping the wine.
I had wine for breakfast. It was practically water to me at this point.
“How’s the new job?” Esme had blonde hair and blue eyes, looking nothing like me but definitely more beautiful. She wore a white dress with a black blazer on top, finished with her job at the art gallery.
“It’s gonna pay my bills, so it’s pretty good.”
She chuckled. “Are you in training to take over?”
“Yes and no. Right now, I’m just shadowing my stepfather and doing a few small tasks.”
“Not a bad way to get paid.” She had a scotch—neat. Her nails were painted fiery red, which was an interesting color against her fair skin.
“I actually don’t get paid for that. That’s all volunteer.”
“Then how do you plan to pay your bills…?” She cocked an eyebrow as she took a drink. “You got a sugar daddy?”
“No. I work the concierge gig in the evenings.”
“Oh…not nearly as exciting as having a sugar daddy.”
I chuckled. “No. Not even close.”
“What’s it like so far? Do you help a lot of hot businessmen taking their mistresses to their rooms?”
“No. I’m sure they would be more secretive than to stop by for a chat. They don’t care about eating the best pasta or visiting the Barsetti winery for wine tasting. All they care about is fucking and getting room service.”
“Ooh…” A dreamy look came into her eyes. “Sex and room service. That sounds like a dream.”
“It does.” It’d been a while since I’d had a good man between the sheets. My lovers were casual, nothing serious because I hadn’t intended to stay in Milan for more than a couple of years. Being a student was a good way to meet new people, especially men my own age. But I’d never had a deeply passionate relationship, the kind where you couldn’t keep your hands off each other for more than a few minutes. Maybe that was love. Or maybe that was combustive lust.
“Are you seeing anyone?”
“Me?” I asked incredulously. “No. Not while I’m still living with my mother.”
“How’s that going?”
“It’s not terrible. I mean, we have so much space, it’s not like we’re fighting to use the bathroom or the washing machine. It’s just weird to live under her roof again, like I’m a child or a failed adult. I miss bringing men home. I can’t do that anymore.”
“I’m sure you could sneak one in.”
“Eh…don’t really want to do that.” That would make me seem dishonest and childish.
“Couldn’t you just stay at his place?”
“I suppose. But then my mother will wonder where I’ve been all night.”
“No, she’ll know where you’ve been all night,” she said with a smile. “You’re a grown woman, so I doubt she’ll give you a hard time about it.”
“Yeah…” My mother was a very blunt person, and she even encouraged me to enjoy my youth as much as possible, be with all the men who would never be my husband, get it out of my system before I settled down with a suitable partner. “She probably wouldn’t care. Probably wouldn’t ask me any questions. But I guess it’s just awkward giving her an idea of what I’m doing in my private life.”
“I always thought the two of you were close.” Esme was oblivious to all the attention she was capturing. Lots of men behind her wouldn’t stop staring at her, probably trying to decide if they should buy her a drink or just walk up and talk to her.
“We are. I love my mother. We just don’t see eye to eye on a lot of things. When my father passed away, we became a lot closer.” My parents were never in love, but it was obvious my mother’s sadness at his passing was genuine. She’d lost a friend…a partner.
One of the men who had his eyes on Esme finally made his move. Tall and handsome, he had a nice smile and shoulders built for strength. He appeared on her right side, his hands in his pockets so he wouldn’t seem overly eager. “Hello, I’m Kyle.” He extended his hand to shake hers.
When her eyes widened in approval, I knew she liked what she saw. “Esme.” She shook his hand. “This is my friend Sofia.�
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He shook my hand. “Lovely to meet you both.”
They became engaged in conversation, making each other laugh and exchanging subtle cues of affection.
I silently excused myself so my friend could get laid. I brought my drink to another table and took a seat. Sitting alone anywhere besides the bar was awkward, but I wasn’t ready to end my evening just yet. I wanted to enjoy this last bit of vodka cranberry before I walked home.
My eyes wandered around the bar, people-watching. There were a few packs of women at the bar, gathered close together and chatting over a bottle of wine. A lot of the men were looking in their direction.
But some were looking at me.
I didn’t see anyone I was interested in, so I kept my gaze averted.
My eyes scanned to the left, and they stopped immediately when I noticed a man I recognized. Sitting in a dark booth facing the rest of the bar, he wore a white shirt with black slacks and dress shoes. With his jacket missing, the hardness of his body was unmistakable. His pecs were easy to visualize, and he had such strong shoulders that they stretched the fabric of his shirt and made it tight. His tanned skin contrasted against the white fabric of his shirt, making him look worshiped by the sun. His head was turned slightly toward the woman beside him, a brunette who squeezed his thigh under the table and whispered into his ear.
Her blue eyes were glued to his side profile, her eyes heavy with lust and affection. She looked at that man like he was all she wanted in this world, like she wanted to take him home and never let him leave. Her hand grazed right over his crotch then slowly moved up his chest, pampering him as she slid toward his neck.
Hades had his arm around her shoulders, but he didn’t shower her in the same affection. He looked at her indirectly and allowed her to touch him, to let her claim him as hers. She was a beautiful woman a man would give up anything to be with, but to him, she didn’t seem that important.