Andi brushed her hair behind her ear and blushed as I spoke, “I got a call from Bec’s penthouse. The security there said they received a note, like the ones we’ve been receiving here.”
I turned to Bec in surprise, “Have you received one there before?”
Bec shook her head, “Maybe it was sent there when I was still out of the office. They knew I wasn’t here and sent it to the only other place they assumed I would be.”
“Isn’t that where you’ve been?” Andi asked in confusion.
Livia shook her head, “Bec here has been shacking up with Rome at our house. The two are living in sin.”
I rolled my eyes at my sister's dramatics, “Don’t listen to her, she was dropped on her head as a child.”
Livia flipped me off. Bec just laughed.
Andi looked between Bec and me, “Are you two… actually together now?”
Bec sighed and smiled emphatically at Andi, “Yes. I should have told you. It was still really new, and then the incident occurred, and I forgot. I’m so sorry.”
Andi looked between the two of us, and I could have sworn I saw a look of betrayal. “How long? How serious?”
“Not long. A couple of months now,” I explained and looked back at Bec. I couldn’t help but smile just seeing her face, “But it’s serious for me.”
Bec blushed and smiled back, “Same here, Cipriani.” She turned her attention back to Andi, “I really am sorry for not telling you sooner.”
Andi waved her off, but her eyes glistened as if she were holding back tears. “It’s fine. I just thought it was all for the media. Anyway, should I have the letter sent here?”
Bec turned to me, “Can I grab it? I have some clothes and toiletries I need from my place anyway.”
I stood and rounded the desk. “Make me a list and I’ll grab it all.” I leaned down and dropped a kiss on Bec’s cheek.
“Aww,” Livia mused and draped her arm over Andi’s shoulder, “Aren’t they just the cutest?”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
BEC
“Do you ever just stand here and watch the cars drive around down there?” Livia asked. “They look like little specks from this high up.”
She had pulled one of the chairs and positioned it in front of the wall of windows in my office a couple of hours ago.
I hadn’t expected her to stick around after Rome left with Andi for my penthouse. When I gave Rome the list of items I needed him to pick up while he was there, he knew what less than halfof the items were. His confusion while reading over the list was rather adorable. Andi eventually made the decision to go with him. She knew my penthouse like the back of her hand and had bought the majority of the items in the first place. Thus, Rome would get the note, and Andi would get what I needed. Having the two of them go together seemed like the best decision all around.
This did leave me without an assistant for the time being. Andi had just as many tasks as I did, if not more. Between running my life and my schedule, she was crucial to my success. I typically didn’t work without Andi or some sort of backup. The phone calls alone would be enough to send me over the edge.
Cue Livia Romano, who was self-appointed as my stand-in assistant for the afternoon. She was actually rather brilliant at the position. From what I knew about her, she was known as the wild child of the family. Bouncing between jobs, finding herself in the most bizarre scenarios, and causing chaos all around. Her reputation made me hesitant to let her take over Andi’s responsibilities even for a short time, but Livia had proven me wrong instantly. Her personality and spunk helped keep people in line, and her brilliance allowed me to throw tasks at her she didn’t understand but figured out nonetheless.
In the last few hours, she had managed to complete Andi’s entire to-do list and helped book tickets for an upcoming trip to Oregon.
The only issue with Livia… she needed attention. She had brought Andi’s phone and computer into my office and was now performing random tasks from her spot near the window. She had a pink blanket that matched her hair draped over her lap. I have no idea where she pulled it from, but I was learning not to question her.
I had also learned that I didn’t mind her company… it was a welcome distraction to my racing thoughts.
I shouldn’t have been surprised that my dad was willing to sacrifice my job and happiness for money. That was what had truly corrupted him. My mom had talked about when things were good with him. Neither Will nor I remembered, but according to her, prior to Bly Enterprises, he was loving and kind. It’s why she fell in love and ultimately married him. It’s also why she stayed for as long as she did. She had hoped that someday he would revert to the man she once knew—the man she fell in love with and had wanted to share a life with.
But money corrupts, and it ate away at everything that made my father good. He became addicted to the success and the rush of building the company. Like any other addiction, it ruled his life, and he never felt truly satisfied. His family, friends, and the good in him were all sacrificed for success.
When he had initially handed me the company, I, too, had hoped that he would revert to the man my mom once knew, or at least a version of him. While I had never been fond of the man, I was still a daughter who desperately wanted her father to love her… to put her first. A father who cared and supported his children.
I guess it just wasn’t in the cards for me.
