AndI'd have to work in relative proximity to Raffi DeLuca.
Is that a pro or a con? I'm not sure.
I stare at my phone, finger hovering over a particular contact. Part of me wants to talk to my mother about this job offer, get her perspective on the whole situation. But something holds me back. Mom has always been cautious, sometimes to a fault. She didn't want me to move to LA from my small hometown in Oregon, and she seems almost afraid of the big city, dragging up all the stats about crime and the dangers it holds. That's despite the fact that she grew up in New York City. She's a small-town girl these days, she insists.
And that's not me. I love LA, love living here, even if I'm so shy that I haven't made many friends, haven't even had the guts to go out to nightclubs or bars, despite some invitations from coworkers at the Bellamy. But I love the big city and I have big dreams to match. So how can I expect Mom to understand the opportunity that Julian Castellani is offering me?
If Julian's salary offer is legitimate, it could change…well, everything. I could get a jump-start on saving up for my lifelong dream: owning a top-class, exclusive establishment that caters to a select few guests at a time. I want to create a space that is intimate, luxurious, unforgettable. A place where every detail is carefully curated, from the thread count of the sheets to the vintage of the wine.
And…I could learn about those things while working at Redwood. I could learn and plan and save, and when I've learned and planned and saved as much as I can, I could leave with millions in the bank.
With that kind of money, I could help my mother too. She's spent years taking on alterations and mending jobs, working to support us. But I suspect what she really wants is to create her own fashion label, to sell her designs and clothes, even just online. A small-town girl she might be, but she has bigger dreams than she admits to. If I take this job, I could give her that chance. I could set her up with her own studio, her own team, even. I could change her life, and mine.
Ifthe offer is legitimate.
If the Castellanis are legitimate.
That evening, I dial the number Julian Castellani gave me to call when I'd made up my mind. He answers on the second ring, voice smooth and confident.
"Darian Thornfield-Hayes, I'msoglad you called. Have you had a chance to consider my offer?"
I take a deep breath. "I have, Mr. Castellani. And I'm afraid my answer is no."
There is a long, long pause. "I'm sorry, I think I must have misheard. Did you say?—"
"No, Mr. Castellani," I say firmly. "Accepting this position would mean a number of changes in my personal circumstances, and I'm concerned it would also require a significant compromise in my work-life balance. After careful consideration, I've concluded that I am not prepared to make these sacrifices at this stage in my career."
Another long pause. I let it stretch on, my heart beating faster and faster. What now? Will he cajole?
Will hethreaten?
"Bravo," he says admiringly at last. "Well played."
The line goes dead, and I put down my phone feeling a little shaky. But I made the right call, I'm sure of it. That much money comes with too many strings.
Admittedly, my first instinct had been to oppose Raffi DeLuca just for the sake of it, and take the job. But I can't base my lifechoices around defying good-looking security guards with warm brown eyes.
No. I've made the right choice. And now Raffi DeLuca can just be some pleasant memory I bring up from time to time when I feel lonely.
CHAPTER 4
RAFFI
Four daysafter he's come and gone, I can't stop thinking about that Thornfield-Hayes guy.
Darian.
Julian Castellani had been so damn pissed when Darian turned down the job, I thought blood was going to be shed—and all the while, I had to hide my grin. Guy might've looked like a pushover, but he sure showed a backbone when it came to Julian.
But Darian is still on my mind. The way his blond hair was so perfectly styled, those golden eyes, the stubborn look he got when I suggested he think hard before taking the job…
It's for the best that he didn't get mixed up with us Castellanis. And it's good news for me, too, if my immediate reaction to him was any indication. In my line of work, attachments are a weakness. Something for enemies to exploit.
Jack, for example—he has it bad for that artist guy of his, Miller, and I see the fear in his eyes every time Miller's name comes up in conversation. He's constantly worried that someone will use Miller Beaumont to get to him. And Sandro…well, hell, ifanything ever happens to Teddy, it'll destroy Sandro completely. The Boss puts on a tough front, but we all know Teddy is his Achilles heel.
So it really is for the best that Darian Thornfield-Hayes is living his best life away from Redwood. As for me, I need to get my head on straight. Focus on the job. That's what matters, not some guy I barely know, no matter how sweet he might have been.
I'm set on working my way up, making something of myself in the Family. I'm not gonna mess up my trajectory over some cute blond.
