Placing my phone on the seat, I chose my breakfast and enjoyed the view of the city. It was a ride share. It couldn’t cost that much.
Chapter 10
Axel
I stared out the window across the river to Manhattan as I received an update on my company. Hockey wasn’t my only occupation, but it wouldn’t last forever. Fortunately, I had a head for business and acquisitions. That might be the one good thing I got from my father. “How much is still outstanding?”
“Three more shareholders. They are original stockholders, so it may be expensive,” my attorney said.
“Do what you must do. I don’t care what it costs. Just get the remaining shares. If I need to step in and make the call, let me know. Also, make sure the CH shareholders meeting is set for the last week of December.”
“I’ll send you an email confirmation.”
The knock on my door was my signal to end the call. “I have to go. Keep me updated via email.”
Ending the call, I crossed the room and opened the door. Luca had his back to me as he looked around the hallway. “Impeccable timing. Come in.”
“Thank you.” His tone was cooler than I expected. Closing the door, I followed him as he made his way into the apartment. “Nice place.”
I looked around to see what he saw.
“Can I get you something to drink?”
Luca stopped in front of the sofa and put his computer bag down on the coffee table before taking a seat. “No, I’m good.” His pinched expression was a contradiction. George had reported that Luca was in a good mood when he dropped him off this morning. If I didn’t set him off, then it had to be his work. Stepping closer, I grabbed his biceps. “What happened? What can I do?”
“Nothing happened.” His face said otherwise. “Well, that’s not true.Youhappened.”
“You make that sound like a bad thing.”
He huffed and slipped from my hold. Taking a seat on the sofa, I chose the chair across from him. “That’s debatable.”
“What have I done now? George said you enjoyed the ride this morning.”
Covering his face with his hands, he sighed heavily. When he looked my way, he was visibly irritated. “Why are you staring at me?”
Biting my lip to keep from smiling, “I’m trying to understand what I did wrong to make you so exasperated with me.”
Luca’s scowl relaxed more as he looked at the floor. “None of this makes sense.”
I sat back against the cushion. “What do you mean?”
He got up and paced around the back of the sofa. “I thought we were on the same page after dinner. But then you violate our contract before we even start.”
I frowned. “How exactly did I do that? Please enlighten me.”
Rounding the sofa, he sat back down and propped his elbows on his knees. “We agreed that I would help you find a place to live. Nowhere in our agreement did I agree to a car service, breakfast and lunch, or to being carted around all day like someone I’m not.”
“True. But you agreed to some revisions, did you not?”
I almost laughed when he glared at me. “Yes, but I didn’t expect the royal treatment. That’s not me.”
“I don’t see it that way. You needed to get to work, and I needed your car. It’s a compromise and an obvious solution to a problem. What’s wrong with that?”
“But a luxury black car service? And why did you need my car?”
I was not used to having my motives questioned. “It’s being repaired.”
Luca froze. “That’s not in our contract. See? This is what I mean. Rich people throw their money around, and now I’m beholden to you. Call whoever you sent my car to and tell them to stop.”
