“I’m so fucking proud of her,” Tate said, smiling as she resumed her place on stage. “Another brainiac in the family. You two are like two peas in a pod.”
“Why do you think I hired her?”
“As your assistant,” Tate shot back.
“Actually, that was Liv’s idea.”
Tate snickered. “Only because she wanted a reason for you to get rid of Carmella.”
“I fucked her once,” I whispered. “When I was seventeen. You guys make it out like I had some long-standing relationship with her.”
“Well, regardless, I think Liv is happy you finally moved Carmella to your Silicon Valley office.”
“What am I supposed to do after the year is over and Liv has satisfied her end of the deal?”
I offered to pay for her education. Olivia was so much like her older brother that she refused my help. However, when she applied for financial aid, they denied her because of my income.
So, I offered to let her work for one year at Battle Industries in exchange. Everyone, including Olivia, said that was too cheap of a bargain. The money didn’t matter. I would have paid for her college anyway. But the opportunity to have her at my side every day was too sweet to pass up.
Tate shrugged. “Find a replacement.”
“Good assistants are hard to find. Why do you think I kept Carmella around for so long?”
“All I know is if you bring her back from California, Liv will kick your ass.”
I laughed. “You’re probably right.”
After graduation,I treated Tate and Olivia to lunch at Cafe Lacroix. It seemed too simple for her big day. But when I suggested throwing a party, she rejected the idea.
“I want to celebrate with my two favorite people,” she’d said with a cute smile. “And I want to do it at our favorite restaurant. Low-key. Nothing special.”
She deserved so much more than a fifty-dollar burger, but it was what she wanted.
“I’m so pumped to start work on Monday,” Olivia said between bites, grease sliding down her lip.
She licked it away, and I nearly stopped breathing. My sole focus went to her mouth. Tate was saying something, but my brain couldn’t process it.
Get it together, Battle.
“Drake decorated an office for you. He hired a designer and nit-picked every color and piece of furniture. Wait until you see it. You’re gonna love it, Liv.”
Her eyes widened at me. “I get an office?”
I nodded. “You need a place to work without distractions. You’re more than an executive assistant. I wanted you to have a space of your own.”
“Drake,” she squealed, rising from her chair to hug me. “You’re the best. Thank you. When we made this deal, I didn’t expect much. But you always exceed my expectations.”
I kissed her cheek. “You deserve it. I’m proud of you, Liv.”
My cell phone dinged with several messages in rapid succession. Two from Luca Salvatore. Three from Cole Marshall. Five from Marcello Salvatore. One from Sonny Cormac. The rest of The Devil’s Knights would soon start blowing up my phone.
Olivia glanced over my shoulder. “Everything okay?”
“Sure,” I lied. “All good. Why don’t you finish your food before it gets cold?”
“Um, okay.” Olivia bit her bottom lip. “You sure you’re good?”
I bobbed my head. “Work stuff. Not a big deal.”
