"Yeah," she answers, sitting on the bed. As she sits, her robe shifts, revealing her thigh, and I look away. She notices and covers herself.
"You said Declan just showed up. How did he get in?"
"Probably the same way you did," she snaps, and I realize all this is wrong. Declan has no right to do what he did.
I move closer to Gianna, crossing over her suitcase, until I tower over her. "Did he say anything else?" I ask, searching those intoxicating eyes.
We remain like that for a minute, just staring into each other's souls before Gianna looks away first. "No. Can you leave now and next time knock before you enter," she says. I stretch my hand towards her, and she backs away slightly. I sigh, slowly pushing her hair over her shoulder before grabbing the edge of her robe and pulling it closer to cover her up.
"Did Alex return your phone?" I ask, and she turns to the shelf beside the bed.
"Yeah," she answers.
"Good. Settle in, and if you need anything, call me."
She gives me that familiar look again, the one that always paints me as a crazy person. Maybe I am crazy. Maybe Gianna has driven me mad.
"I'll be right back. Don't go anywhere," I say, walking towards the door.
"Like I have anywhere to go," she mutters as I leave her room.
I'm fuming. What meeting does he want her to be a part of? I'm responsible for Gianna. He didn't mention anything about a meeting to me and just went straight to her. That's where I draw the line.
I pull out my phone and dial Declan's number. It rings once, twice, and doesn't pick up. I try another number, my jaw aching from how hard I'm clenching it. The moment Alex picks up, I don't waste time.
"Where is Declan?"
There's a long pause. "Sir, I..." I hang up. If he can't answer in two seconds, I don't need him. I'll find him myself. My steps echo down the hallway. Each step is loaded, anger boiling at the surface, hands twitching at my sides like they don't know what to do with themselves.
I reach the elevator and slam my thumb into the button. The doors open too slowly, mocking me with every second.
I step in alone, and the mirror inside catches my reflection. Tense shoulders, eyes like a storm barely contained.
I adjust my collar out of habit, even though it isn't wrinkled. I watch as the numbers climb. Each floor a beat, a breath I can't release. By the time it dings, I'm already walking.
I walk down the corridor, past Declan's P.A, ignoring her greetings and her warning that Declan is about to have a meeting as I head to his desk.
Declan raises his eyes to look at me, his brow coming together in confusion. "What is this?" he finally speaks.
"We need to talk," I say.
"Whatever you have to say can wait," Declan says, his eyes returning to the paperwork in front of him.
"It can't wait," I begin, and he leans back on his chair, brows raised, arms folded before waving the P.A. to leave.
In half a minute, she scurries out of the room, and I close the door behind me.
"This better be a matter of life and death," Declan says, folding his arms on the table.
"Why were you in Gianna's room?" I ask.
"You interrupted me and are willing to shirk your own duties because of the Rosso girl?"
"Why were you there?" I ask again.
"I can choose to be anywhere I want. If you have nothing better to say, leave."
"That was a violation. Gianna is here because of me, and she's under my care," I say between clenched teeth. "You can't just sneak into her room. She's off-limits."
