by Jan Moran
The elevator doors closed, and Julia disappeared.
Granddad returned to the waiting room. “What’s taking so—” He stopped. “Mr. Grassi, you’re early.”
The two men approached each other and shook hands.
He glanced over Vincenzo’s shoulder at her. “Alicia, are you coming?”
“Right behind you, Nonno.” Her voice cracked with anger. He interviewed and hired him? How could he after Vincenzo broke my heart. Pushing away from the wall and still wobbly on her feet, she followed the men down the hall. She never imagined seeing him again, especially not in this building.
In her granddad’s office, Alicia dropped into one of the wide chairs before the massive oak desk, knowing her jelly legs would give out any moment. “I can’t wait for you to move to the house with us, Nonno.” Small talk might help control her emotions.
“All in due time.” He combed his fingers through his thick white hair, a deep wrinkle forming on his forehead. “Right now, I want you to meet Vincenzo Grassi, a recent graduate from Virginia Commonwealth University. He’s an accountant and is going to help us with the books.”
Alicia sat up straighter. He hadn’t mentioned wanting to hire someone else to help with the books. She had been under the impression they would tackle everything together, just the two of them. The gulp of air she took didn’t calm her drumming heart. Her gaze narrowed on the intruder, hate and distrust an infectious disease growing inside her. She detected discomfort as he shifted his weight from foot to foot. He’s not going to even acknowledge we know each other?
“Vincenzo, please take a seat. Seems my granddaughter needs some time to digest the events.”
He had that one right. She glared at him, but he didn’t seem to notice her mood…or maybe he chose to ignore it.
Her granddad sat on his oversized leather chair, leaning forward and folding his hands on his desk. “Shall we begin?”
Begin what? Alicia glanced at Vincenzo then scooted her chair closer to the desk. “What are we discussing?”
“When Brian retired, I tried to stay on top of the accountants as best I could, but I have since realized I don’t fully understand the books and neither do you, my dear. So, I hired Vincenzo. I need someone I can trust to ensure the other accountants stay clean. I would also like for him to teach you a little about keeping the books and finances straight. To run the business side of the company, you need to know a little about everything, or you won’t be able to turn a profit when I hand it over to you.” He leaned into the chair, glancing from one to the other. “Do we understand?”
Alicia nodded. “Yes, Nonno.” Resentment toward the intruder bubbled in her stomach.
“The first task I’m going to give the two of you is to hire a dependable administrative assistant. You both need to learn to work together, and you, Vincenzo, need to understand Alicia here is as much your employer as I am.”
“Yes, sir.”
He continued. “Vincenzo, you need to get applicants, and then you’ll both conduct the interviews and, together, decide who should be hired for the job. Until you hire someone, with my final approval, the two of you will share the obligations of an administrative assistant. Now, go off and start your day.” With a devilish smirk on his face, he dismissed them.
Alicia stood. Being an administrative assistant for a while had not been the ideal first day of work, but she knew better than to let the likes of Vincenzo Grassi dampen her need to learn.
Vincenzo rushed to the door, opening it for her. Ignoring him, she walked through, unable to understand the creepy feeling running through her body. Something just isn’t right. She headed for the receptionist area.
A young man in a navy suit sat in one of the comfortable leather chairs. When she entered, the man stood and moved to the counter. “I have an appointment with Mr. Contrino.”
“Good morning,” Alicia greeted him, opening the appointment book to see who he was and the time the meeting had been scheduled. “Mr. McDermott, I’ll let Mr. Contrino know you are here. Can I get you a cup of coffee?”
“Thank you, that would be great,” he said, sitting down.
Alicia hit the intercom button. “Mr. Contrino, Mr. McDermott is here for your nine o’clock meeting.”
“Thank you, Alicia. I’ll let you know when I’m ready.”
She glanced at Vincenzo, who busied himself making phone calls. “What are you doing?”
“Calling temporary agencies to get us administrative help until we hire someone permanent, freeing up time so we can start going over the books.”
“Good thinking.” At least he seemed to have a good business head on his shoulders. Tearing her gaze away, she headed down the short hallway to get coffee for Mr. McDermott. Keep it together, Alicia. Remember, no matter how hot and sexy Vinnie is, he still broke your heart.
Chapter 3
Vincenzo
Vincenzo kept glancing Alicia’s way while he searched for numbers of temp agencies. In the past few years, she’d gone from a skinny girl to a woman with curves that begged for his touch.
Would she ever understand the reason for his disappearance? The hateful glares she darted his way said no. But it seemed his dick didn’t care as it strained against his zipper.
“Where are the restrooms?”
Alicia pointed. “Down the hallway.” The resentment pouring from her voice stabbed his heart.
He hurried away, glad she’d returned her gaze to whatever occupied her in the appointment book.
In the bathroom, he pounded his fist on the sink counter. I’m such a jerk! The image of her creamy naked body lying across the dark-blue sheets during their college life filled his mind. The way her body had moved against his, how the moans from her lips as she came in his arms made him harder than steel. Damn how he longed to taste her hot mouth again.
Groaning, he moved to the sink and splashed cold water on his face to take the edge off. Dammit. Pull it together. It’s not like you can jack off in the men’s room. He glanced in the mirror at the sole tiny stall behind him. No. Not on the first day, anyway. Grabbing a handful of paper towels, he dried his face then headed to the reception desk to continue his phone calls.
“Hello, I’m looking for a temporary admin.”
“When would you need the person to start?” The high-pitched voice of the woman on the other end hurt his ear.
“Today would be good.”
“How long will the job last?”
“Only until we find a permanent admin.”
“We have two candidates available to start right away. Would you like me to send them over for interviews?”
He smiled. “Yes.”
After managing all the arrangements, Vincenzo leaned into the chair, tucking his hands behind his head.
Alicia spoke on the phone. “Confirming Mr. Davenport’s appointment for Wednesday morning at ten o’clock.”
When she hung up, he said, “We have two admin temps from the Carmichael Agency coming for interviews.”
“When?”
His gaze dipped to her lips. “As soon as they get here. Having a temp would give us time for thorough interviews. We don’t want to hire the wrong person for the job.”
She straightened, her blouse pulling tight across her breasts. “I agree. Having a temp will allow us to better screen the permanent applicants.”
Her polite tone bordered on stuck-up. What happened to that sexy baby-doll voice she had in college? His dick stirred again. Dammit. This is so fucked up.
The elevator dinged. A twenty-something dude in a polo approached Alicia.
“Hi. I’m Butch Belmond.” His gaze roved over her, and anger twisted through Vincenzo. “The temp agency sent me.”
Alicia rose, and the guy ogled her boobs. Asshole. “This way, Mr. Belmond.”
She strode down the hallway, her heels clacking on the tiles. Butch followed after her like a damned dog. The urge to beat the crap out of the guy had him clenching his fists. In the conference room, Alicia p
erched on a chair, the candidate plopped in the seat opposite hers, and Vinnie grabbed the wingback to her left.
“Mr. Belmond, what spreadsheets are you familiar with?” She crossed her long legs.
Butch licked his lips. “I’ve worked primarily with Excel. But learning a new one shouldn’t be a problem.”
“Do you feel you know Excel very well?”
The guy stared at her boobs again. Vincenzo wanted to smack him. “Yes, I’ve used it for the past two years.”
“Then you are acquainted with the macros. Most of the spreadsheets you’ll be working with have imbedded macros to make the tasks faster.” She uncrossed then re-crossed her legs. God he remembered those legs…wrapped around him tight, her heels digging into his back while he pounded into her. “Periodically, these macros need to be updated as Mr. Contrino makes changes on what and how he wants to see some of the data.”
“I was told I’d primarily be answering phones and scheduling appointments.” The guy squirmed in his chair.
“This is not a simple answering-the-phone job. It’s an administrative assistant’s position.” Alicia stood, and Butch dragged his gaze up to her face.
“It’s not?”
Idiot.
She extended her hand. “I don’t think you are what this office needs at present, Mr. Belmont. I’m sorry your company did not understand what our present requirements are.”
Vincenzo smirked. Yeah, get a clue and get the fuck out.
She accompanied Butch to the elevator, her pert ass looking mighty fine in her tight blue skirt.
Vincenzo stood and adjusted his Dockers. He needed to find a way to control himself or he’d end up walking around with a constant raging hard-on. But then, she’d always affected him that way.
When she came back, she escorted the next candidate into the conference room. “This is Vincenzo Grassi. Vincenzo, this is John Brittle.”
He looked the part—skinny as a twig, but his eyes held intelligence. Vincenzo extended his hand and grasped soft fingers. This guy might work. “Nice to meet you. Please have a seat.”
Alicia jumped right in. “Now, Mr. Brittle, are you familiar with Excel?”
He settled on the edge of the chair. “I’m certified in Microsoft Office, which includes Excel.”
Alicia’s devilish smile startled Vincenzo. She hooked a strand of rebellious curls behind her ear. Wow! She has small delicate ears. He’d forgotten how dainty they were. Damn! Pay attention to the interview.
“Have you worked extensively with the macros?”
“Yes, I have.”
From her folder, Alicia pulled out some papers. “How would you change this macro to reflect weekly totals of the separate types of wine in addition to the monthly ones?”
John took the papers and read them then pulled out a pen from his briefcase and made some notes. He handed the papers back.
After studying them, she handed them to Vincenzo who glanced at the inserted formula. As an accountant major, he knew almost everything about Excel. “Nice work.”
Alicia stood, making everyone stand. “We have no admin. Can you start right now?”
“That’s why I’m here.”
“Well then, Mr. Brittle, go start your day.” Alicia dismissed him.
John smiled and exited the room.
“You asked him just one question. How do you know he can do the job?” Vincenzo sat down.
Alicia remained standing. “Answering the phones is not difficult, but making my grandfather happy with all his spreadsheet requests is a must.”
The previous receptionist’s dexterity with macros might have been the reason Mr. Contrino had kept her around for so long.
“Now that we no longer have administrative duties, shall we dig into the books?” Vincenzo didn’t want her to leave the conference room.
“First, I need to show John all he needs to know to be productive.” At the door she turned around. “By the way, what have you done so far to find permanent help?”
“I’ve put out a work request on Monster.com and a few other employment websites. We should be getting some applicants by the end of the day or tomorrow morning.”
She frowned. “Good.”
Chapter 4
Alicia
Alicia nodded her approval at the image in the full-length mirror. The simple black dress highlighted her curvaceous body. Her unruly curls pinned in an updo showed off her long neck. Damn! I look like a swan. Don’t know why Mom likes it so much. After a last glance, she went downstairs.
At the bottom of the circular staircase, she met her sister Mina. “What are you still doing in jeans?” She set her fists on her hips. “You know it’s formal now that Nonno is back.”
“I don’t care. I’m not dressing up just to eat some food.”
“Can’t say I didn’t warn you.” Alicia huffed and walked away, shaking her head. Mina always sought trouble.
In the gathering room, she found her granddad and mother sitting near the roaring fireplace, in deep conversation. She sauntered to the hearth and extended her hands. The gas fireplace made her mother happy—with the press of a button, she had instant gratification.
“Alicia, why don’t you come sit down with us?” Mom’s soft-spoken words made her turn and sit on an armchair near the duo. “Is your sister still getting ready?”
“I think Mina might have different ideas about dinner attire this evening.” She couldn’t bring herself to snitch. Soon enough, they’d both be disappointed. Mom loved any occasion to dress up, but as long as Nonno didn’t live in the house, she wanted life to be laid back. It might have been a mistake on her part. After Dad’s death, she changed rules drastically in an attempt to help the girls through the pain.
“What do you think of Mr. Grassi, Alicia?” He broke into her revere.
Blood rushed through her system, bringing on palpitations. “Do we really need him?” She tilted her head, staring hard at her grandfather.
“Keeping the books straight is not an easy task. You can fire him once you understand the ins and outs of the business and would like to tackle them yourself.” His patronizing smile sent shivers of anger down her spine, but not wanting to antagonize the man, she said, “Works for me. But I still don’t understand, with all the accountants we have, why a new one fresh out of college?”
“The boy is sharp, and I have a feeling he’s going to serve you well.” He shrugged. “The business is yours. I’m there to guide you and help you while my mind is still good.”
“Don’t talk like that. You’re an active man, and active people stay sharp.” It always made her uncomfortable when he said stuff like that. “What are we waiting for? I’m starving.”
Mom shifted in her chair. “Your grandfather invited Vincenzo to dinner.”
What? Her chest tightened as if tendrils wrapped around her lungs making it difficult to take in air. She shifted on the rock-hard chair. It wasn’t just the fact when they’d dated in college he’d abandoned her with no explanation, but something about the guy rubbed her wrong, and it had nothing to do with the past. She would get to the bottom of it. She’d dig out the skeletons from Vincenzo’s closet.
Mina, dressed in faded jeans, marched in. “Why aren’t we eating? It’s past dinner time.” She flopped in an oversized armchair, huffing.
Nonno’s brow furrowed. “Why aren’t you dressed for dinner, young lady?” The annoyance running through his tone sent a pang of stress through Alicia.
Please don’t let this turn ugly.
“I’m wearing clean jeans and a brand new top.” She stood and twirled, showing off the silk blouse.
“Is that the top you’ve been pestering me to buy?” Mom didn’t appear pleased with the crop top.
“Yes. I waited until it went on sale. Guess how much I got it for…. Only thirty-five dollars.”
“Thirty-five dollars for half a shirt?” Grandfather shifted in his chair, stretched his long legs out, and crossed his ankles—a warning sign his temper would
flare if not abated.
Alicia stood, grabbed her sister’s wrist, and dragged her out of the room. “Now you listen to me. I don’t want Nonno upset so soon after he’s moved back home. Go put on a pair of dressy pants, and you’ll make everyone happy. He’ll even forget about your crop top, and so will Mom.”
“But—”
Alicia placed her index finger on her sister’s lips. “Now. Go.”
Mina stomped up the stairs.
Pretending not to hear her sister’s curses, Alicia strolled to the gathering room. Just as she sank into her chair, the doorbell rang. She bounced to her feet. “I’ll get the door.”
“Alicia,” her grandfather growled. “Please sit down and let Mr. French do his job.”
Yes, Nonno is back. A bit confused she eased herself onto the edge of her chair. She’d forgotten with Grandfather home, even the simple things she did to help the cook and Mr. French would need to be done behind his back. My goodness he’s so old-fashioned. But he had been raised that way.
She bristled. This sucks. Not only do I have to suffer Vincenzo’s presence at the office, now he’s invaded my home. She glanced at her granddad. Is this a one-time thing, or does he plan to invite Vincenzo every other night?
She slumped—a little—in her chair. The jerk told me he loved me then just disappeared. Did he just want to sleep with me?
Since then, she’d quit dating and concentrated on her studies so she could go work with her granddad.
The guy who’d broken her heart swaggered into the gathering room, looking—if it was possible—even sexier than he had at work. Muscles strained against the broadcloth of his button-down shirt. Those arms had once held her. His gaze landed on her, and her breath hitched.
What is wrong with me? She bit her bottom lip, unable to stem the desire flowing through her. How can I still want him? I’m such an idiot.
Chapter 5