Dominic usually leaves a selection of sandwiches for me and anyone else to pick from, but he’s off for the next two days, so I’m fending for myself. Not that it’s a great inconvenience. I’m an expert at taking care of myself, having done it since my dad remarried.
“I came to offer you a job,” Angelo says eventually through gritted teeth. I pause with my sandwich halfway to my mouth.
“Oh? Planning to pimp me out? Or put me to work as a drug mule?”
“For fuck’s sake, Chiara, you’re my wife! Why would I do either of those things?”
I shrug. “You married me against my will. As far as I can tell, nothing is off the table.”
He mutters something rude under his breath before exhaling slowly.
“I understand you have a business degree.”
My eyebrow shoots up while a spark of excitement flares. Are my days of watching reality TV about to end?
“I never finished it, but yes. Why? Is the IRS on your case?”
“No, but there are some…anomalies in the accounts, and with Ronald unexpectedly dying, I need help to figure out where the problem lies and who’s responsible.”
I force my face to remain disinterested, but inside, I’m bursting with excitement. I love this sort of shit. Solving puzzles and hunting for clues makes me happy. And the thought of being given an actual job to do is thrilling.
“I guess I can’t testify against you if you’re arrested, so having me look at your accounts is low risk.”
He nods.
I hum thoughtfully. “But what happens if I funnel all your cash into an offshore account and blow it on online poker and flaky crypto investments?”
“Then you’d die in an unimaginably brutal way.”
“Really, Angelo? I expected a slightly more imaginative threat.”
A vein throbs in his temple as we engage in a staring contest. Not going to lie. I want this job. Anything to relieve the tedium of doing nothing every day is good, but the thought of being given access to the family accounts? That’s way more than good.
“Okay,” I say with a shrug.
His eyes narrow in suspicion. “Okay?”
“Okay as in yes, I’ll look.” I fix him with a glare. “I expect to be paid for this work at the same rate you’d pay a financial consultant. And I also want to work from your offices, so I have access to all the information I need when I need it.”
“Fine,” he grits out. “But you will have guards with you at all times, just in case you feel like running away again.”
I ignore his sneer. This opportunity is an unexpected lifeline. And besides, we both know I’m not going anywhere now that I have Felix.
My new job starts sooner than expected. Like, the next day.
Angelo arrives at stupid o’clock and says it’s time to earn my salary. What salary isn’t clear since I haven’t seen a contract or been party to any discussion about remuneration.
Knowing him, there won’t be a salary or any financial compensation for my time, but I’m not worried about that right now. No, I’m too excited about being given an opportunity to flex my brain cells, even if it means leaving Felix on his own.
“Mr. Di Rossi, sir,” the brunette in the tight red dress says in a voice so breathy she probably has a side hustle as an OnlyFans content creator. “Your nine a.m. is waiting on the line for you.”
“Thanks, Cecelia. Can you tell him I’ll be there shortly? Oh, and bring me some fresh coffee.”
“Of course, sir. Is there anything else you need?” She licks her lips and thrusts her tits out.
Not once has the bitch spared me a look. It’s as if I’m invisible.
“No.” Angelo turns away to focus on his phone. The woman finally looks at me before dismissing me with a faint sneer.
