Concealment (The Cassano Series Book 1) (13 page)

Victoria

I can’t believe the nerve of him. How dare he decide I’m not working? Then, to insinuate I’m acting like we’re in a relationship …
Ugh!
He’s infuriating.

He’s the one who has practically held me hostage in his penthouse. Well, I’ve got news for him; I’m going to work this evening. I’ll beg Shannon if I have to.

After grabbing the clear bag of my stuff in the dining area, I head to the hall bathroom and find a hand towel in the closet.

I squeeze my hair inside it, getting it as dry as possible before I put it up into a loose bun. Changing out of Adrian’s t-shirt, I put back on my wrinkled, purple blouse and gather up the rest of my things.

After I exit the front door into the hallway, he’s waiting by the elevator in only a pair of sweats. How hot he is angers me further.

“You know, today didn’t have to go this way,” he says.

“Let me out.” He’s pissed, but his eyes show more sadness than anything, and the pang of guilt twists in my stomach.

The doors soon open, and a different elevator guy is glancing back and forth between Adrian and me.

“Charles, please see Ms. Stuart down.”

“Yes, sir.”

The doors close on Adrian’s sad eyes, and it hurts. Why do I even care? Once I’m on the first floor, I beg the Human Resources receptionist for Shannon’s phone number.

She refuses to cough it up but insists she’ll get a message to her that I’m coming in tonight. I hurry to the bus stop and wait. I don’t have a lot of time to get home and make myself presentable.

Theo

“He’s not in there,” I say as Simon strides past my desk toward Adrian’s office.

“Where is he?”

“He took the day off.”

“Shit, I bet he’s with her.”

“Who?”

“After you left last night, that server he likes, Vicky, passed out. He made me bring her up to his penthouse. I bet she stayed the night, and I bet he’s fucking her now.”

“Simon.” I give my baby brother a look. He has no filter. I can barely let him near my daughter, Miranda.

I have to call “earmuffs” every other minute. She always grins and covers her ears while Simon spews profanities.

“He’s going to lose focus if he falls for her.” He jerks his head up and to the side to flip the long piece of hair out of his face. He’s biting his lip anxiously.

“You don’t even know if they’re together.”

“I want her address.”

“I’m not giving you that, and you need to leave her the hell alone.”

“I only want to see where she lives. I’ll get it from HR then.” He’s treading out of my office before I can respond, and this whole situation is getting out of control.

I have to discuss it with Adrian. I pick up my phone and call him.

“What?” he asks rudely.

“Damn, what the hell is wrong with you?”

“Nothing, sorry. What do you need?”

“Uh, do you have company?”

“No, why?”

I’m silent for a bit.

“Hmm … you’ve spoken to Simon. No, she’s not here.”

“I’m only asking because he’s getting overly suspicious of her.”

“She’s an employee, nothing more, so he needs to back off.”

“Why do I sense this is a new development? Oh, I know, it’s because you sound like you want to rip someone’s head off. Want to talk about it?”

“No, I don’t. It’s over.”

“Alright, I’ll leave you alone.”

“I’m coming down to work. There’s no point in me sitting around here alone.”

“Go with me to Miranda’s game. She would be happy to see you and so would Karen.”

“Alright, I’ll go.”

“Great. It’ll be good for you to get away from work for a while.”

I hang up with my brother, and I’m wondering now if Vicky was actually helping him somehow. He seldom spends time with his family outside this hotel, yet he’s willing to tonight.

Victoria

“Hello.”

“Cicely,” I say.

“Girl, where the hell have you been?”

“It’s a long story. One I can’t tell over the phone. Listen, we’ll do something this weekend, OK?”

“I’m holding you to it. Reggie isn’t stealing you from me, either.”

“He wouldn’t dare. He knows you could kick his ass.”

My good friend lets out a short but loud laugh. “I so could.” Cicely proceeds to ramble off all the things that have been happening in her world.

I listen as I ride the bus back to Hotel Submission. She hardly stops to breathe, and I finally have to interrupt and end our call when I reach my stop.

Once I make it to HR, I get on the employee only elevator that takes me up to the “mysterious” floors.

Kruse hops in just before the doors close and nods at Sampson, the evening elevator guy.

“Do you ever take a day off?” I ask Mr. Head of Security.

“Yes, but not a lot of them. How are you feeling Ms. …”

“Stuart.”

“Ah, right, Stuart.” Kruse smirks at me, and I can’t help but assume it’s because he thinks I’m having sex with my boss.

“I got some sleep and feel great now.”

He smiles and turns his head forward. Starting at his feet, I examine him in his suit as we pass each floor.

Since he’s nearing seven feet tall, it takes a few seconds for my eyes to reach his golden blonde hair, which is cut short and neat.

“Watch yourself this evening, Ms. Stuart,” he says with another smirk after we step off the elevator.

Geez, his behavior is making me nervous about facing everyone else who witnessed my fall. “I promise you won’t have to scoop me up off the floor tonight.”

“And look who it is; the lady I’m reading all about here in my messages,” Shannon says after I enter her office. Hazel eyes are tilted up at me as I stand before her desk.

“I can explain,” I blurt out a little too anxiously.

“I have a message that came from Mr. Adrian Cassano, stating you would not be working tonight or tomorrow—”

“Tomorrow, too?” Oh, that pompous ass … who I miss already.

“Please do not interrupt me.” She’s scowling, and I’m walking a fine line here.

“Sorry.”

“I have another message that was from you, begging to work.”

“I need to work, and I’m perfectly fine. I didn’t eat yesterday. It’s my fault, and I won’t let it happen again.”

“You’re not trying to starve yourself to look good are you?” She scans my body, and I’m curious if she thinks I need to starve.

“No, I was busy, and honestly, I completely forgot to eat, which isn’t like me.”

She swats her hand at me. “Fine, fine, you can work, but don’t get sick again, or I’ll have Mr. Cassano chewing my ass. I’m not even going to ask why he was personally contacting me.”

Shannon holds up three more message slips. “Want to know who these are from?”

“Uh, who?”

“Rick Jacobs. Three calls asking if you were OK. I guess he was making demands to know how to reach you. He was concerned.”

“That’s sweet of him.”

Sitting back in her chair, she crosses her arms over her stretchy, black dress. The circle neckline dips deep at her chest, revealing a little more cleavage than I’d deem appropriate for a supervisor.

Her age works against her in this environment, so I guess you have to use whatever assets you have to hold the attention of the opposite sex.

She has two adequately sized assets resting below a silky head of amber curls, which are cascading over top of them.

“I’m all for keeping our clients happy. It means they come here frequently and spend more money. However, you juggle too many of them, and we will have problems.

“It has happened before, and I don’t like fist fights in my lounge. If you’re spoken for by a certain someone of importance in this building ....”

Her words trail off as if she’s waiting for me to cough up some top secret information. “Then be careful as to how much attention you pay another man.”

“Yes, ma’am–I mean Shannon.”

Sitting up, she plants her elbows on her desk and leans forward some as if she’s about to tell me a secret.

“If by chance you are spoken for by a certain handsome someone who runs this hotel and casino, it would be the first time I’ve seen or heard of that happening.”

Her eyes smile for her, and a part of me wants a trophy for being the first employee to hold the attention of Adrian Cassano.

The other part, the part of me that feels completely out of control from being smitten for the man, wants to shout through the intercom that I’m not spoken for, so he has no opportunity to break my heart.

My fucking heart. Shit, it feels something. It’s been so long since that’s happened with a man. I can barely remember.

I think of him opening his soul up to me at the dining room table today, and I feel like a jackass for pushing him away.

Men I’m around are seldom comfortable discussing their feelings, yet there he was, admitting how those around him make him feel and how easy it is for him to talk to me.

“Earth to Vicky.” I blink a few times and focus back on Shannon.

“Uh, I’m not spoken for, and I should go freshen up. Thank you for being understanding.”

I bolt out of there as fast as my strappy heels will allow. Rick is going to show up tonight. He’s also going to ask me out.

I’m fairly certain that’s where our conversation was headed before I passed out last night.

This is getting problematic, and it’s why you don’t get emotionally attached to anyone involved in a case.

***

The evening has been embarrassing. I’m shocked that Rick isn’t here, and I feel presumptuous for assuming he would be.

Most of the men have asked how I’m doing and have offered witty remarks. With a smile, I respond graciously, unlike the tumble I took to the floor.

I observe Tara, having to be gracious, too, as she waits on the older gentlemen. It grosses me out seeing men in their fifties hitting on a twenty-three year old.

Aside from being a bit flighty, I’ve discovered from our conversations that she’s highly intelligent and holds a bachelor’s degree in business.

Claiming she makes more working in the Elite lounge than she would using her degree, she refuses to quit until her student loans are paid off. It’s hard to believe she could be making more as a server.

“That man in the grey suit is going to have alcohol poisoning from trying to get you to his table so many times tonight,” I say to her when we meet up at the bar.

It’s eleven o’clock, and there is only one game still playing, so I’m leaving. Tara insisted on staying until the last man is out.

“He won’t let up and is trying to get me to see him outside of the lounge.”

“Eww, no,” I say. She doesn’t look at me or respond. “Tara, are you considering it?”

“Mr. Glover is newly divorced, so I think that’s the only reason he’s pushy. He seems nice enough.”

“No amount of money is worth a date with that man, and sex should be off the table completely. I get a bad vibe from the guy.”

Tara turns to me and throws a hand on her hip. “I imagine you have family in this world since you don’t seem concerned about money.”

She points a finger to her chest.

“I have no one, so maybe I am a little desperate to find those who can ensure I’m taken care of.”

“Tara, I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to be insensitive. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

She turns and faces Sebastian who is pretending not to listen. He places drinks on her tray, and she marches away. My people skills seem to suck today.

“Nice to see you on your feet.”

Recognizing that voice, I whip my head to the side. Rick Jacobs is standing next to me at the bar, wearing a sexy smile.

“Rick, good evening.” I look around the room, for what I’m not sure, but he’s in the right place at the wrong time. “Why are you just now arriving?” I ask.

The mischievousness in his sandy eyes becomes more visible with each centimeter his smile widens. “So, you had noticed I wasn’t here this evening.”

I feel my face flush as I smile back.

“Yes, I noticed. Shannon informed me that you had been trying to check on me today, so I wanted to thank you.”

A concerned look washes over his face.

“I was worried. You fell hard, and then in seconds you were taken out of here. I wanted to be sure you were alright.”

Rick’s hands are in the pockets of his dark jeans as I reach out and lightly wrap my fingers around his forearm.

“I appreciate the concern, and I’m fine now. Yesterday was a busy day, and I had forgotten to eat a meal, which is funny since I typically eat a lot.”

Realizing I’m still holding his arm, I let go and look to the ground. “I’m sorry you had to witness my fall.”

His fingers tilt my chin until our eyes meet.

“It’s nothing to be embarrassed about. I’m glad you’re OK, and it’s good to hear you normally eat.”

His already sexy mouth is more pronounced from his chuckle, but he’s still not as handsome as Adrian. “I’m hosting a party Friday evening. Would you be my date?”

“I am off work Friday night.”

“So, you’ll come?”

I bite the corner of my lip and think of Adrian. I have to consider the reason I originally took this job.

Time spent with a client from here might be an opportunity to discover information Adrian’s not going to be forthcoming with.

“Yes, I will be there.”

“I’ll send a car for you.” Rick pulls a business card from his wallet and hands it to me. “Please, call my assistant tomorrow and give her your address. She’ll arrange everything.”

I stare at the card, guilt already gnawing at my insides. “Thank you for the invitation and for checking on me.”

“It’s my pleasure.” Rick’s smooth hand slides up my arm before he’s kissing my cheek. “I look forward to seeing you again. Goodnight, Vicky.”

Confidently, he strolls toward the door, so I turn to Sebastian. He’s smirking at me as he wipes down the counter.

“What?” I ask.

“You sure are livening things up around here.”

“It was boring before I came along?”

“No, but it’s definitely been juicier lately, and now I know my first girl in line for drinks has a freaky side.”

“Freaky side?”

Glancing around, Sebastian leans forward on the bar. “Vicky, have you forgotten the name of this hotel and casino?”

“Submission. What about it?”

Humor fades from his green eyes, and he leans in closer. “It’s more than a theme.”

Sebastian looks alarmed as he abruptly stands. I follow his gaze to the person standing next to me. Simon. What now?

“I need to speak to you in private.”

He’s younger and an asshole, so why the hell does he intimidate me?

“Of course.” I follow him down the length of the long bar.

Aside from the touch of auburn in his midnight hair, he could fade into darkness with his matching black shirt and dress pants.

A thinner build than his older brothers, he moves nervously in front of me, unlike the controlled, confident swagger Adrian and Theo possess.

He turns back to face me, and I notice he has the same attractive nose as his brothers. It’s thin and straight except for the little bump at the bridge of it.

Adrian told me his family has Greek heritage, and it’s obvious from their chiseled features I can’t help but swoon over. Even the young asshole is cute.

“It’s no secret that our attractive and spirited servers are a perk that brings our clients back every day, so I encourage you to be
friendly
.

“What I won’t allow is for you to be
friendly
with clients and my brother.”

His eyes are as black as night, darker than Adrian’s, and they remind me of a cave. You know darkness lies in them, but is there danger, too?

“I’m not in a relationship with your brother.”

“Good. As long as you are both clear on that detail, we shouldn’t have a problem.”

Simon leaves me alone, and I’m stunned by what has transpired today.