Every single man blocking their way stared at Luciano with disapproving eyes. Honestly, it wasn’t all that different than being in his own office. Disapproval was comfortable and easy. Especially in these circumstances, he liked that they felt like a challenge.
“You’ll need to discuss an appropriate time in my schedule with Andrea,” Serena replied dismissively.
“We already have.”
Serena looked back at Andrea, who nodded nervously. “You had space at ten-thirty and they were very…determined.”
“Very well. I will see you then. If you’ll excuse us.” She gave them an imperious glare, gestured for them to move out of her way.
With her left hand. Luciano watched as every single one of them zeroed their gaze to the ring on it. There was not surprise, but there was consternation. But they shuffled out of the way so Serena could march through.
She led Luciano to what he assumed was the door of her office. She opened it and gestured him inside.
“Serena, this is very perplexing,” one of the men said, making a move as if he’d follow her into her office.
“For you,” she said cheerfully. Then she shut the door on his face, without so much of a hint of regret. She moved to her desk and placed her briefcase on it. Every move was precise and economical, as if she didn’t care one bit about the grumpy old men in the hall.
“Did your father really trust those dimwits?” Luciano asked casually, wondering if she’d leap to their defense when it came to him.
She did not. “I am afraid so. They agreed with whatever he said, and that is how my father preferred to run a business.”
“But not you?”
“Why would I surround myself with people who agree with me when I could surround myself with intelligence and tact and ensure that I have the best operations by nature of the fact I’m bringing sharp minds together for a common goal?” She moved about her desk with impatient movements—a woman on a mission.
It surprised him a little to hear her say this. She seemed so determined and sure of herself, he was surprised she gave any time to anyone else’s intelligence or sharp mind. Also, it sounded too close to how he managed his business. “I quite agree with you,” he said, settling himself into a cushy armchair in the corner.
The office itself was sparse, minimalist and not at all like her or her home. But this chair was cozy and comfortable, and no doubt something she’d chosen for herself.
“Yes,” she surprised him by saying, instead of trying to eviscerate him with some politely delivered stab at his intelligence, or lack thereof. “I looked into your club.”
He watched her face, especially when she expressly did not meet his gaze. “Did you?” he murmured, intrigued that she might look into anything that had to do with him. But maybe he shouldn’t have, and maybe he shouldn’t be pleased. If she’d looked into it, it was no doubt to get her hands on it later.
He’d blow it up himself first.
“I expected, like so many trust fund babies, you would have filled the books with paying off school cronies and others riding the coattails of their family’s wealth,” she said, settling down to her laptop. “Instead, you’ve hired some heavy hitters.”
“Your acting is improving. You don’t even sound shocked.”
“I wouldn’t say your ability to make a decent business decisionshocksme,” she said thoughtfully. “Not at this point. You are not quite as dim as I would have liked to have given you credit for.”
“Why, Serena, I must be rubbing off on you. Has our kiss or my ring robbed you of your senses?”
Then she did meet his gaze. She even smiled. “It must be both.”
It was a joke, bordering on flirtatious, and Luciano could not account for the way that made his chest tight. Made him think of said kiss, of her body pressed to his—on the beach last night, on the balcony this morning. How different and intriguing she was. How completely, uniquelyher.
He did not know anyone like her. Except, just maybe, himself. Though he did not share her strange obsession with animals and floral.
Their gazes held a few beats too long, just like at the beach last night. When she finally looked away, he’d hoped it’d feel like he won a challenge.
It didn’t. It felt like a loss.
“You’ll attend the meeting with me. We’ll outline our plan—the parts they need to know anyway. Then we’ll meet with the lawyers. We’ll need to move that along so no one can attempt to throw a wrench in it.”
“Which means we’ll also need to move the wedding along, don’t you think?”
She sighed, but she didn’t argue with him. “Yes. The sooner the better.”
