Matteo Barone with his ambition and resentment.
I didn't yet know which would strike first.
But I'd be ready for both.
CHAPTER 6
Isla
Iraced through the Plaza’s marble lobby, heels clicking as I checked my watch for the third time in five minutes. Outside, late October rain streaked the windows, typical for this time of year. The quarterly investors' gala started in less than an hour, and I was cutting it dangerously close. As Cassian's executive assistant, I needed to arrive early to handle last-minute details and greet key investors.
I'd changed before leaving the office—the burgundy silk dress I wore felt elegant but exposed in a way that made me hyperaware of my body. Especially after Cassian's hands on my skin earlier, working that zipper free. The memory sent heat through me that had nothing to do with the crowded lobby.
Focus, Isla. This was work. Professional. I was here representing Barone Industries, nothing more.
I smoothed down the silk and headed toward the ballroom entrance, where hotel staff were making final preparations. Crystal chandeliers cast warm light over white-clothed tables, each set with gleaming silver and fresh flowers. It was elegant, expensive, and exactly the kind of event where one wrong move could cost me everything.
"Ms. Quinn?" A young woman with a clipboard approached. "I'm Sarah from events coordination. Mr. Barone's office said you'd be handling the early arrivals?"
"That's correct." I shifted into professional mode, grateful for the distraction from thoughts of Cassian. "Walk me through the seating arrangements."
Sarah led me through the ballroom, pointing out key tables. "The Calabrese party is seated here, front and center. Mr. Barone specifically requested that they have optimal visibility."
Of course he did. Everything Cassian did was calculated.
"And the Harriman table?" I asked, remembering the senator's name from files I'd reviewed.
"Here, adjacent to the main stage. His chief of staff confirmed attendance this morning." Sarah checked her clipboard. "We're expecting approximately two hundred guests. The silent auction items are displayed in the east gallery, and the live auction begins at nine."
I nodded, mentally cataloging details. "Has the AV team confirmed the presentation equipment?"
"All set. Mr. Barone's remarks are loaded and ready." She hesitated. "Will he be attending? We weren't sure, given the last-minute schedule change."
"Mr. Barone had a conflict but sends his regards," I said smoothly, the lie coming easily. "I'll be representing Barone Industries tonight."
Sarah's expression shifted—respect mixed with something like pity. Being the stand-in for a powerful man at his own company's event wasn't exactly glamorous. But it was my job.
"Understood. Well, you look lovely. That color suits you."
"Thank you." I glanced down at the burgundy silk, trying not to remember Cassian's fingers brushing my skin. "I should check in with catering. Is the kitchen accessible through—"
"Ms. Quinn?"
I turned at the familiar voice, my stomach sinking.
Vincent Calabrese stood a few feet away, his silver hair perfectly styled, his tuxedo immaculate. The same man who'd sat across from me in that conference room days ago, watching me analyze his operation's security weaknesses.
"Mr. Calabrese." I forced a professional smile. "I didn't expect guests to arrive quite this early."
"I like to survey the field before battle." His eyes traveled over me with an appreciation that made my skin crawl. "And I must say, the view has improved considerably since our last meeting."
I maintained my professional mask, though every instinct told me to step back. "Can I help you with something? If you're looking for the silent auction items, they're displayed in the east gallery."
"I'm exactly where I want to be." He moved closer, invading my personal space. "Tell me, Ms. Quinn—does Cassian know what an asset he has in you? Or is he too busy with his—other operations to notice?"
The emphasis on "other operations" wasn't subtle. He was fishing, trying to see what I knew about Cassian's business beyond the legitimate facade.
"Mr. Barone trusts me to represent the company professionally," I said carefully. "Which is what I'm here to do tonight."
