Page 374 of Valentino

“What?”

He shrugs, “He’s not performing.”

“You can’t fire Roger; he’s going through a lot right now. His wife left him.”

“Probably wasn’t performing in bed either,” he mutters dryly as he puts his gold cufflinks on. “Wouldn’t surprise me.”

“Now is not the time, can you just give him a warning please?”

“It’s amusing that you think you have a say in this matter.” He pulls his suit coat on. “Next appointment?”

“You have a phone conference with Holly, you are closing on the land for the shopping mall at 1 p.m. today, and she needs to run through a few details.”

“Aha.”

“At eleven you have a walk through the finance department to see the new refurbishment of their office.”

He screws up his face in disgust, “Why?”

“Because you do,” I snap in frustration. “You paid for it, the least you can do is be excited.”

“You’re getting a bit lippy this morning, Grace,” he snaps. “Don’t piss me off before nine.”

He walks back into his wardrobe and the scent of his aftershave wafts through the office.

Fuck it…. why does he spray that when I’m in his office?

It’s morally wrong.

I keep reading through his diary, “You have lunch at 12.30 with…” I frown and my eyes rise to meet his, “Veronica.”

“Aha,” he says casually, “Drink your coffee, so I can collect your cup.”

I sip my coffee as I plot his death.

Is it Veronica Rothchild?

That’s a new name, I don’t know a Veronica other than Veronica Rothchild the super model, and I know that they met two weeks ago at a charity event.

I’m happy with his regular women because I know that he sees them just as that…. regulars. But every time he meets someone new, I panic a little, this could be the woman whom he finally falls in love with.

As well as acting, another job I excel at is an undercover detective. I know who he is sleeping with before he does.

“Well, you don’t have long for lunch, you have to be back at the office at 1.30 for a very important meeting.” I focus on the screen.

“Cancel it.”

“Impossible.” I keep typing and try to change the subject. “Who am I sending flowers to today?”

“Hmm.” He purses his lips as he thinks. “Melissa.”

“The card reading?” I act uninterested.

“You were incredible last night.”

I clench my teeth so hard I nearly break my jaw. “Is that it?”

“Umm.” He walks over to the window and looks down over New York. “Come away with me this weekend.”