by Rayne, Piper
Bella sighs. “Mom, I have to work.”
“Okay, well, let’s do lunch,” she says with a small frown.
“Breakfast would be better.” Greg slides another forkful of eggs Benedict into his mouth.
Linda looks at her daughter.
Bella puts down her fork, a piece of cantaloupe attached, and pushes away her plate. “Sure.”
“Perfect.”
“Then I’ll take you shopping,” Greg says, searching for Linda’s hand under the table.
Linda smiles as if he’s a damn rock star, and I can’t help turning toward Bella to see her gaze focused on her teacup.
“You’re going to the Hamptons?” I ask, once again trying to move the conversation forward. “My brother’s girlfriend has been on me about finding her and my brother a place. Do you own any other properties there?”
I’d do just about anything for my family, and Annie is family now. If she wants the Hamptons summer experience, I’m going to deliver.
“I do. I can give you my guy’s number up there, but…” He glances at Linda then at Bella. “I was going to offer my house to Bella this summer since I’ll be in Florida with Linda.”
I want to raise my hand and ask Linda to adopt me with all the kissing up Greg seems to be doing to Bella.
Bella perks up for the first time this whole meal. “Oh, my friend wanted to go, but I told her I have to work.”
Greg chuckles. “I’m all for hard work, but you only live once. It took me a long time to realize that. My fourteen-hour days at the office are over now.”
Hello, he’s in his late fifties and owns half the city. He has the luxury of sitting on his ass on Florida beaches.
“Take the house. Maybe you guys can come up with some arrangement. It has ten bedrooms and is right on the ocean.”
“I’ll pay you,” Bella says.
I choke on my coffee for a second. Does she have any idea how much that would cost? Greg chuckles. I think we’re on the same wavelength.
Bella peeks at me. “Maybe Enzo and Annie wouldn’t mind having us as roommates?”
I shrug. As if I would mention this to them.
“When I was your age, I rented a house with my friends. It was the best summer of my life,” Greg says, smiling.
I’m skeptical. The man is a machine. I doubt he took a summer off to fuck randoms and get plastered.
“You should do it,” Linda pushes. “The two of you and maybe Max and Evie? Carm’s brother and his girlfriend? It would be fun, and you deserve to have some fun.” Linda’s hand takes her daughter’s across the table, and she stares into Bella’s eyes.
It feels like the moment is about more than just a mother wanting her daughter to have a fun summer. There’s a secret between them.
My eyebrows furrow.
“I’ll think about it. Thank you, Greg, but please allow us to pay something.”
He thinks it over. “How about half?”
Bella blows out a breath. “We’ll see.”
Her phone rings and she quickly silences it, stuffing it back into her purse.
“Please, sweetie, take Greg up on his offer. You need to get time away from work.”
Bella nods, but her eyes plead for her mom to stop pushing.
I steer the conversation back to business, and before I realize it, I’ve paid the bill and the four of us are getting up from the table.
Bella and Linda hang back, discussing their plans for tomorrow. I overhear Linda apologize for not being able to spend as much time as she would’ve liked with her daughter.
We all say our goodbyes outside. Greg’s driver pulls up, so he and Linda get in the vehicle, leaving me with Bella.
“I’m going to walk,” she says.
It’s unusual for it to be so hot in May in the city, but I’m not complaining. I hate the fucking cold. “I’ll join you.”
She stops at the corner. “I’m good. But thanks.”
“We’re going to the same place,” I say. Our building is at least ten blocks away, but I can tell she’s heading toward Central Park and figure she’s cutting through.
Justin’s texted me ten times already, probably thinking I’m hungover in bed and forgot my appointment. I should forget Bella and get a jump start on Greg’s properties. He said he’ll have someone send us all the information before we’ve returned to the office. But I can tell that Bella’s rattled, and something in me feels the need to make sure she’s okay.
“I’m going with you. You can choose to talk to me or not.” I shrug and she doesn’t respond.
Sure enough, she steps off the curb, crosses the street, and concrete and steel are replaced with green grass, lush gardens, and the sounds of musical instruments. We pass a saxophonist, and Bella drops a few dollars into his case. He switches gears into a special tune, and she smiles at him, bowing her head.
We remain side by side, our footsteps in unison for what feels like eternity. I’m a talker, so being next to someone and feeling as though I can’t say a word is excruciating.
“She’s always like this,” she says out of nowhere as we pass a small child with a bag of food for the ducks. Bella’s voice is so quiet, I almost think she’s talking to him at first.
“Your mom? Like what?”
“Obsessed. He’s the center of her universe until he breaks her heart.” She stops to stand on a bridge overlooking the stream, staring down as if there’s a show to watch. “She just. Ugh!” Her fists tighten at her sides. “She believes in all that shit.”
“What shit?”
“True love. Soul mates. The entire love story. She spins everything to make her believe he’s her prince. He’s not a fucking prince. He’s a city developer with so much money he could start a whole chain of her bakeries and not give one shit whether they survive or not. Now he wants to throw me this bone and give me a floor to prove myself, not to mention the house in the Hamptons. I’m not twelve. I won’t be calling him Daddy if that’s what he thinks.”
I’m not sure where to go from here. Enzo would give her some solid advice. Dom would stay silent, not wanting to deal with anything resembling feelings. My impulse is to wrap my arms around her and tell her I get it. But I don’t. My parents have been happily married for almost forty years.
“Then enjoy it while it lasts. It’s his choice to give you this opportunity and the house in the Hamptons.”
She swivels away from the water and I match her pose, both our backs resting on the cement bridge. “Watch me succeed and then he loses interest. The men my mom finds always lose interest.”
That felt like a knife to the chest. I know she’s talking about Greg, but I also know what Bella thinks of me. Maybe she’s thinking that he’s just like me. Annie’s already made it clear that’s how she sees me. Why wouldn’t Bella?
“I’ve seen a woman change a man,” I say.
“Who?”
“My brother. He wasn’t like he is now until he met Annie. No other woman made him as obedient as Annie does.”
“Obedient?” She cocks one eyebrow.
“He does whatever she says.” I shrug. It’s the truth.
She pushes off the cement and heads down the walkway. “It’s called love. You want to make the other person happy.”
I shrug. “Maybe Greg will fall in love with your mom.”
She rolls her eyes and keeps walking. “My friend Evie is all over me about this Hamptons thing, and the more I think about it, I just need to get out of this city. One thing he said that stuck with me is that life is short. Talk to Annie. If she and Enzo are cool with sharing, they’re more than welcome. And… if you want in too, I’m sure the house is big enough for the both of us.”
Yeah, that’s not going to happen.
But I nod anyway.
I might as well sign myself up for an experiment to discover how long a guy can live with blue balls. Just the thought of Bella Scott in a bikini makes me hard.
“Thanks for the offer,” I say and leave it at that.
Chapter Twelve
Bella
The next morning, after breakfast with my mom, I arrive outside 15 Bond St. The building is still undergoing heavy construction, and a part of me doubts Greg Throttle can get this completed in time. But then again, he’s mega powerful, which makes just about anything possible.
I walk into the small showroom on the ground level, where a scale model of the building, along with the layouts of the three different floor plans, are showcased in the center of the room.
“Hi, I’m Helena.” A blonde woman, who’s taller than me, walks out from behind a desk, dressed in a cream-colored pantsuit. Her makeup is flawless, and her hair has not one strand in disarray. She’s beautiful. Like model stunning.
“Hello, I’m Bella Scott.”
She smiles, but it doesn’t come close to reaching her eyes. “Yes, Mr. Throttle told me to expect you.”
When she doesn’t say anything else, I look over the model to busy myself.
“We’re just waiting for the other broker, then we’ll begin,” she eventually says.
What is she talking about?
“I’m here.” Carm’s voice rings out behind me.
“Oh, I didn’t know you’d be here,” I say.
His eyes shift from Helena to me before he stretches out his hand and moves his gaze back to Helena. “Carmelo Mancini.”
This time her smile does reach her eyes. Hell, I’d say it reaches her pussy with the way she’s practically purring. “Very nice to meet you. I recognize your name…” Her gaze tracks back my way for a millisecond.
“Probably my billboards.” He shrugs.
Her gaze slips down his body as though she’s mentally tracking what he looks like naked. “Oh yes, I remember now.” She doesn’t even bother trying to hide the appreciation in her voice.
I inwardly roll my eyes, knowing I can’t be unprofessional in this setting.
“So this is the model?” Carm switches into business mode, releasing her hand and coming up next to me.
Whatever, buddy. Maybe I should give them fifteen minutes alone so we can move on to what we’re really here for.
“Yes. There are three different floorplans…” She continues on her spiel.
I take in all the information even though she never glances at me once. Her manicured nail—with nude polish—points to various places on the floorplan while she explains the features. Carm’s “uh-huhs” and “interestings” as though she’s the most fascinating woman on earth aggravate me to no end.
My body is hot all over and you’d think I was about to start my period or something. Even I can feel myself getting pissed off with very little poking. Well, Helena’s poking me by wanting Carm to poke her.
Jesus, I need to get this guy out of my head.
“I’ll take you up to show you the space now.” Helena disappears into an office, presumably letting whoever’s in there know that she’s stepping out.
Whoever the other person is, they discuss lunch, and I step toward the door to flee this situation as soon as I can.
“How was breakfast?” Carm asks me as if we’re friends.
We’re not friends.
Right now, we have competing interests. If I can sell out an entire development as an FSBO broker, there are no limits to how successful I can make my company.
“Breakfast was fine.”
“That’s it?”
“I’m not sure what you’re looking for?” Yes, I’m being a bitch because of the woman whose heels I hear clicking on the floor as she approaches. Sue me.
“Okay, let’s go.” She uses a key to open the elevator door.
Carm motions for me to step in first, so I do. We pack into a small elevator that, if I’m honest, I’m a little afraid of.
Carm talks with Helena about her work history with Greg and the building, as well as what development projects the company has coming up next. She practically trips over her tongue to spill secrets I’m sure she’s not supposed to give. I swear good looks and a little charm can get a guy anywhere in life. It’s ridiculous.
Finally we arrive and step off on the thirty-third floor. Helena turns to me. “This floor will be yours, Miss Scott. Go ahead and get yourself acquainted. I’ll take Mr. Mancini to the floor above and we’ll come back and grab you on our way down.”
She’s kidding, right? The place is practically empty, with only framing giving a basic outline of the units. But I’m not about to argue since being alone is better than dealing with Helena’s desperate attempts at flirting with Carm.
“Sure. Have fun.” I step forward, looking side to side, thankful there aren’t a bunch of construction workers on this floor.
“Let’s go through them all together.” Carm follows me, not waiting for an answer from Helena.
I hate that him staying eases the tension in my body. “You don’t have—”
“Yeah, I do. Ma would kill me.”
Helena huffs. “Okay then.” She takes the lead, going through the space as though she was the architect of the property. “There are eight units on each floor, and you have views of the river from most.”
We’re back by the elevator before I can blink or ask a question.
“Um.” I stop her hand before she pushes the elevator button. “Are they all the same price?”
“I’ll give you the pricing downstairs.”
“Are the buyers allowed to change anything as far as layout, since it’s still under construction?”
She presses the button and I’m growing more irritated with her by the minute.
“What’s the rush, Helena? She has to sell this property with nothing but an artist’s concept video and a floor plan.”
I hate the fact that Carm has to come to my defense.
I walk away from the elevator and back into the space. “This unit, for instance.” I step over the entrance. “How will my client know the views they’re getting? I’m going to have to have someone come and take pictures unless you supply them.”
Helena huffs and joins me.
“They’ll be overlooking the garden and pool of the building next door.” I point below us.
“Yes, but look out there.” Her arms widen.
“But then look down,” I say.
“A pool could be inviting,” Carm remarks, and irritation pricks my neck.
“Not when the guy lounging on a chair is naked.”
They look harder and gasp.
“Well, it’s New York, what can you do?” Helena shrugs.
“If that man happens to be out there when clients come to view the unit, it will not sell.”
“Let’s cross that bridge when we get there.”
I stop her before she can turn around and I catch Carm smiling, but he diverts his gaze out the window again.
“Can my client change the layout if that’s an issue? I’m not talking major construction here. I’m talking about moving some walls. Is there flexibility?”
“Maybe you should ask Greg. I’m sure he’ll consider it, what with him being so chummy with your mom,” she says.
Carm’s head rears back and he steps away as though instinct tells him I’m going to launch us into a fight. But I’m not a fighter.
I walk away. “Maybe I will.”
What can I really say? She’s right. I have this opportunity because Greg is nailing my mom. So I might as well make her fearful that I’ll use my connection against her.
“I’ll also be sure to let him know how helpful you’ve been.” My snide tone tells her I have no intention of giving a favorable report.
I step into the elevator. A quiet Carm follows, and Helena eventually joins us and presses the button for the thirty-fourth floor.
I mostly look around by myself while the two of them go through each unit. I loathe women like Helena who flirt with a man while conducting business. How are we supposed to get ahead in this world if women keep letting men get their way because they’re
good-looking?
Her giggles are like acupuncture pins digging into my skin, and her hand seems to be drawn like a magnet to his forearm until it’s almost permanently stuck there. He doesn’t once try to get out of her way or remove it.
Annoyance drowns me like quicksand—slowly and painfully.
When they round the corner to the elevator, I step in before them just to get this over with. I wish I would’ve brought Max. She always knows how to handle these things.
Helena talks to Carm about where he works out on the way down to street level. Does she not see how transparent she is?
I stay as far away from them as I can the entire ride down, finally able to breathe once the doors open.
“Let me grab you guys the flash drives with the pricing and promo stuff.” She disappears.
I scour the model again. I won’t be able to bring customers here like Carm will because that’s not how I do business. Which leaves me at a disadvantage.
“Want to come with me to the Trading Post?” Carm asks. “I have lunch there with my brothers every Thursday, but you could be my Wednesday date. The food is good.”
I eye him, wondering what his angle is. “Wanting to delay me so I can’t get my listings up before you?”
He chuckles. “Never.”
But I’m fairly sure I’m right.
“What do the Mancini men talk about anyway? The women in their beds and the dollars in their bank accounts?”
His smile only grows.
Helena interrupts us, handing us each a business card and the flash drive, but the card she gives Carm is turned over and there’s a phone number scribbled on the back in ink.
“Any time. I’m here to help.” Her eyes are solely on Carm.
“Yeah. Have a great day. Thanks.” I walk out, annoyed that I don’t seem to be on equal playing ground. She’ll probably send any of my clients straight to Carm.
She holds Carm back as I’m heading out the door. Thank goodness. I can make my exit quickly.
A cab stops outside, and I slide in, thankful the driver has the air conditioning on. This heat wave is killing me. This weather is typical for July, but that’s more than a month away still. The weatherman said it’ll be the hottest summer in years.