Leo shakes his head. “Bad girl.”
Lake’s face is flushed so red, I think she might overheat.
My phone rings again, and Rosalba drops it off on the breakfast table. It’s the hotel’s number, so I answer.
“Mr. Angelini, it’s Antonio from the bar. I returned from my vacation and Brunella told me you asked for me.”
“Good morning, Antonio, I was just…” I pause when Lake freezes and then drops her fork. She tucks her hands under the table and looks up with fear in her eyes. Before I can decide if I’ll continue the conversation or ask about her well-being, she excuses herself from the table.
Lake tries to bolt past me, but I snatch her wrist and tug her back.
“Finish your meal,” I say. “I’ll take the call in my office.”
She’s terrified. I think her hands might be shaking, and that’s why she’s not picking up her fork. What in the world?
In my office, I sit behind my desk and keep my door open so I can watch Leo and Lake. She picked up the fork, but she’s picking at her food instead of eating it, every so often lifting her head toward me. She should’ve sat in my place so she could chat with Leo, but she seems to be watching me.
If she’s not on her knees watching me for cues on when I’ll come in her mouth so she can decide if she’ll spit or swallow, there’s no reason for her to watch me this attentively.
“Mr. Angelini?” Antonio says, still on the line.
“I’m here, Antonio. Do you remember that woman I shared an evening with?”
“I remember her, yes.”
“Did you take her home?”
“I did.”
“Where was she staying?”
“Luigi’s”
Correct. “And did you see her enter her room?”
“Yes, sir. I waited until she went inside.”
Hm. “She claims she got mugged that night.”
“Not on my watch, sir.”
“Did you touch her?”
A pause, then: “How do you mean, sir?”
“Anyhow whatsoever. Did. You. Touch her?”
“No, sir. You asked that I escort her home, and I waited for her, then I took her home.”
“Did you shake her hand? That’s touching her.”
“Sir, the woman was yours. I did not touch her.”
I push. “Maybe you thought she was pretty and couldn’t help yourself?”
“No, no, I swear I didn’t.”
He sounds sincere, but once she heard his name, she froze and looked terrified. The urge to call him over so I can rip him to pieces comes over me. “Are there two of you on staff now?”
