Not just defended me. He used my first name. “Bree’s competence.” Not “Ms. Dawson.”
Don’t read anything into it.
Probably just defending his territory.
His employee.
It’s not about me specifically.
But my hands are shaking slightly as I return to the courier situation. And I can’t stop replaying the way his voice sounded when he said my name. Like itmattered.
“What was that about?”
I nearly jump out of my skin. Cressida has appeared beside the reception desk, coffee in hand, eyebrows raised.
“Nothing.” I fumble with my phone, trying to call back the courier dispatcher. “Just a visitor who wasn’t on the log.”
Elspeth’s executive assistant gives me a look that says she doesn’t believe me for a second. “Uh huh. And Mr. Rossi personally makes sure all unauthorized visitors leave?”
“He was already walking by. Coincidence.”
“Right.” She takes a sip of her coffee. “That woman was Gabriella Hale. Martin Hale’s sister. She and Nico have... history.”
History.
The word lands in my stomachlike a rock.
Of course they have history.
Of course someone who looks like that has history with someone who looks like him.
What did I think?
That I was special because he slept with me once and then pretended it never happened?
“I should finish up here before Piper gets back,” I say, which is absolutely not me avoiding this conversation.
Cressida gives me a knowing look but mercifully doesn’t push. “Okay. Have fun.”
“Thanks.”
She heads back toward the executive wing. I finally get the courier dispatcher back on the phone and spend the next ten minutes sorting out the R&D delivery situation.
But the whole time, I keep glancing toward the glass walls of Nico’s office.
He’s back at his desk now. Working. Not looking in my direction.
Piper returns from lunch five minutes later, and her eyes are gleaming with barely contained curiosity. “I heard there was some excitement while I was gone.”
Jesus.
The gossip mill is already churning?
“Nothing exciting,” I say, gathering my laptop. “Just a scheduling mix-up.”
Piper’s smile is sweet and sharp. “That’s not what I heard.”
I don’t ask what she heard. I don’t want to know.
