Seven scoffed. “Why should I? If I wanted a blow-by-blow of how much I sucked in bed, I would have provided you with a survey when it was over.”
“That’s not what I’m saying at all,” Enzo countered, stumbling over his words. “I just want to see you more. I like you?—”
“Are you sure?” Seven spat back, words dripping with animus.
Enzo huffed a sigh, like Seven was already exhausting him. “Yes. I don’t usually make offers like this?—”
“Oh, wow. I’m flattered,” Seven simpered, rolling his eyes to keep from bursting into tears.
This was so humiliating.
Enzo leaned in, expression strangely earnest considering the next words out of his mouth. “You should be. Like I said, I don’t do brats. But I’m willing to make an exception for you. I…really like you.”
Seven’s laugh sounded bitter even to his own ears as he fought back the tide of emotions threatening to overtake him. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to punch Enzo or cry. Maybe both. Letting the older man bend him over his desk would have been way more dignified than having to sit here and listen to him offer to “train” Seven to be his bed warmer.
He’d make an exception for him? Was he supposed to thank him? What the fuck was he even offering him? Sure, Seven liked the idea of calling a guy Daddy. He wanted to be cared for. He wanted someone who would take the lead and let him turn off his overactive brain just for a little while. He wanted someone he could trust to know what he needed and when he needed it. He didn’t want…whatever it was Enzo was offering him.
He didn’t trust Enzo. Not this version of him. But before Seven could tell him to go fuck himself, the partition opened and one of the servers entered, her amber eyes shining with interest as she studied the two of them.
“Who’s this?” she asked by way of greeting.
Enzo continued to stare at Seven. “A candidate for a job at my firm,” he lied smoothly. “I wanted to treat him to lunch.”
Boy, Enzo really didn’t care about keeping his stories straight. First, he was Seven’s mentor, now he was his potential boss? Well, given his proposal, he guessed that part wasn’t far off.
“He’s cute,” she said, as if Seven couldn’t hear her, boldly checking him out just like Enzo’s mom had. This girl had to be related to him as well. Was Seven just fly paper to the Conti family? “Is he single?”
Seven forced himself to grin at the girl, flashing his perfect teeth at her. “He is.”
She smiled back. “Oh, yeah? I’m Carlotta. But most people call me Carli.” She put the end of her pen in her mouth in a way that would have sent most straight guys into a frenzy.
“I’m also very gay,” Seven said mournfully.
“That’s good,” Enzo said tightly. “Because she’sveryunderage,” he said, tilting his head and giving the girl a firm look.
Carli looked back and forth between the two of them, then rolled her eyes. “My brother clearly wants to make you do his filingandbone you. Make sure he pays you what you’re worth. He’s loaded. So is that fancy firm he works for.”
Right. Was Enzo offering to pay him for…? No. There was no way. Not even Enzo would make that kind of proposition.
“Carli,” Enzo said through clenched teeth. “Shut up.”
Seven snickered when Carli rolled her eyes again. She was definitely a teenager. Enzo had said his family wasn’t afraid of him and he was right.
She stuck her tongue out at her brother, then turned to Seven. “What can I get you to drink?”
“Just water, please.”
She nodded. “I’m sure my brother can explain the menu to you.”
“Don’t you want to know what I want to drink?” Enzo asked, irritated.
“No. You can have water, too,” she said.
She gave a little wave to Seven, who returned it, then she was gone to get their drinks.
“That’s your sister?” Seven asked once they were alone again.
“One of them,” Enzo muttered.
