She sniffs. "It happens all the time."
"Nope, not that."
"Well, he's noticed your work ethic. Whatever it is, he's impressed. Lucky you!" Her grin is real.
I can't help it. I roll my eyes. "In that case, I'm anything but lucky, Ruby."
She is too busy looking wistfully after him to notice my sour comment. "Maybe he will call me in for some alone time, too. I can share. And boy, does that man know how to wear a suit."
"I hope so. Otherwise, he'd be incompetent."
"So damn hot." She sighs. "No ring, but he's probably got a girlfriend. I'm going to Google him!"
With that, she takes off, and I blow out a shaky breath.
I want to get up and go to his office now, but I make myself wait.
The project I was working on is done and has been done for the past twenty minutes. I have been doing busy work, but finally I can't take it anymore.
I smooth my pants, and then I make my way to the elevator, feeling like a hundred eyes are poking me in the back as I go.
Since no one decides to use the elevator, the ride is short to the top floor where his office is, and I step out into thelush foyer. A forbidding personal assistant sits behind a desk.
He eyes me with a death stare, making me pause and stop.
"I'm Lola Carino-Winters. Mr. Marino asked to see me."
He somehow manages to look down his nose at me from his sitting position. "Take a seat. I will check if his schedule's free and if he's in."
"You do that."
"I will. Who knows how long it will take or even if Mr. Marino has time."
Somehow, I manage not to roll my eyes. I sit on one of the beige chairs, ignoring the sofa, and pick up a magazine from the coffee table. I have no idea what it is, I'm not reading it, just flicking through to give me something to do.
The minutes stretch until suddenly the assistant puts down the phone he has been murmuring into and steps out from behind his desk. "Mr. Marino will see you now."
He leads the way.
"Close the doors behind you, Luke," Enzo doesn't lift his head from over the computer.
The doors click, and I stand there.
Slowly, he raises his head, and our eyes meet.
The silence stretches taut.
"You're all grown up." He takes me in like he is cataloguing every inch of me, and it is very disconcerting how it makes my insides flutter.
"So are you." My words come out a little breathy.
Enzo gestures to a seat. "Sorry about your dad."
I just bet you are.
I bite my tongue as I remain standing. "I'm sorry if I have been less than professional dealing with you. Please don't fire me. I can?—"
"Lola."
