AMALIA
THIS DRESS NEEDS TWOpeople to get into, which I didn’t think about when I bought it. I’ve got the zipper halfway up my back, and now it won’t budge. I twist my arm behind me and reach for it again, but my fingers can’t quite catch the tab. Great. This is exactly what I need an hour before we head into Dominic’s gala.
I tug at it one more time and feel the fabric pull. If I yank any harder, I’m going to rip the whole thing, and then I’ll have to wear something else, and we don’t have time for that. We already know tonight is mostly a waste. Dominic will be there, and so will half the people worth knowing in this city, and we probably won’t learn a single useful thing. But that’s the point. We need to be at whatever events he’s at. We need people to see us with him.
“Matteo,” I call out, because I heard him in the hallway. “Can you come here for a sec?”
He pushes the door open and stops when he sees me holding my own arm behind my back like a fool. “Problem?”
“The zipper’s stuck. Can you get it?” I turn around so my back is to him.
He comes closer, and his fingers brush the small of my back as he takes the tab. He gently works it free of the fabric it caught on, and then he draws it up the rest of the way. His knuckles graze my skin the whole time, and I tell myself to ignore it, but my breath gets stuck anyway.
“There,” he says.
I glance over my shoulder at him just as his gaze lifts to mine, his hand still resting at the top of the zipper. I should step away. Probably.
“Thanks,” I manage.
He clears his throat and takes a step back. “You look good. Dominic’s going to be all over you.”
“Don’t remind me.” I grab my clutch off the bed and check that the lipstick and my phone are inside. “Let’s just get this over with.”
THE GALA IS IN A BIGhotel ballroom, and waiters with trays of champagne move through the crowd. Matteo settles his hand on my back as we come in, like he always does. There are so many people here, including politicians, businessmen, and a few faces I recognize from Dominic’s other parties.
It doesn’t take me long to spot Dominic. He’s across the room near the far windows, a drink in his hand, and there’s a cluster of people around him. Important ones. I recognize a city councilman, and an older man I’m pretty sure runs half the port. Dominic’s saying something, and they’re all listening carefully and nodding along.
He touches one man’s shoulder, says something to the woman next to him, and the whole time he looks completely at ease, as if these people came to see him and he’s doing them a favor by showing up. He makes them want to be the ones he’s smiling at, but his charm is the trap.
“Let’s go remind him we exist.” I take a deep breath.
Matteo and I make our way over to him, and the closer we get, the tighter my chest feels. Dominic notices us before we reach the group. His mouth spreads into a grin and he lifts his glass a little.
“Ah,” he says, breaking away from his circle to greet us. “The Petrellis. I was starting to think you weren’t coming.”
“We wouldn’t miss it,” I say, giving him my warmest smile.
“Of course not.” He looks me up and down, and then he turns to Matteo. “And you. Still staying out of trouble?”
“Trying to,” Matteo says with a grin.
Dominic waves a hand at the two men next to him. “You should meet these gentlemen.”
We do the introductions and shake hands, and I do my best to remember their names.
“So tell me,” Dominic says, turning back to us, “what is it you two actually do? You show up to my parties and charm everyone in the room, but I still don’t have a clear picture.”
“A little of everything,” Matteo says. “We like to leave our options open.”
“I like options too.” Dominic nods.
I take a sip of champagne. “What about you? Everyone here seems to want a piece of whatever you’re doing.” I tip my head toward the men he was just talking to. “You must be doing something right.”
A smile spreads across his lips. “Same as you. I’m a very busy man. Schedules change. People get impatient.” For a moment, he sounds almost tired, but he’s probably faking it.
Or maybe not. The man Matteo and I overheard in the restaurant was impatient about shipments, so Dominic might be juggling more than he wants to, and it’s wearing on him. Then again, someone else could be taking care of it all for him.
“Well,” I say. “We’re still open for a partnership. With the right people by your side, you could even take a vacation.”
