“Doing what exactly? Oh, that’s right, picking out a sperm donor because you’re a control freak who won’t let a real-life man close to you but that’s good for them, saves them from freezer burn.”
I close my eyes against the pain his words cause in my chest. When I open them, he’s gone.
***
Enzo
Clenching my jaw tight against the apology I know I owe Chloe, I get the fuck away from her before I say something else I’ll regret.
In the car, I pull out my phone. “Enzo, how are you?”
“Stay the fuck away from Chloe, she’s completely untouchable. Do you understand?”
Tony’s chuckle is unrepentant. “An old man’s attempt at meddling. I see it worked. You’ll thank me later.”
“Dominic made her cry.” She didn’t say it but I could see it in her eyes.
“Don’t go breaking noses. Your Ms. Hutchins, as most beautiful women are, was a little too sure of her hold on you. Dominic simply placed a doubt in her mind. Reminded her other women might be willing to give in to your endless attractions.”
The wave of red washes away. “You had no right to interfere.”
“I regret nothing. Some people don’t know what they have until it’s gone; she was simply reminded of that.”
“She’s out of bounds until I say otherwise.”
“As you wish. Good luck with her, she’s a beautiful woman and a good match for you.”
Hanging up, I shake my head. Even though I still want to pound Dominic’s face, the anger is gone. They’ll stay away from her; for now it’s enough. I should be thanking Chloe for not repeating the completely and utterly stupid thing I did. Christ, even now thinking of it I can’t believe I did it.
I have no idea what led me into the store on the way back from Che’s house, only once I was there, instinct kicked in. Marrying Chloe made perfect sense. The plan was to wait until after the house was finished, but standing there with her in my arms, it felt right. Even as everything she said made sense, it was all I could do to keep from lashing out at her in anger for daring to refuse.
My first thought once my head cleared was to fire her ass, sell the house and wash my hands of the whole stupid interlude. Only pride refused to allow me to take a bath on the house. The place had sat on the market for over two years. From a business standpoint, which was all it represented now, the best thing to do was to complete the updates it desperately needed. Turn it into the home Chloe proclaimed it could be, then turn around and sell it at a profit, which I know I can do.
I was sure I could work with Chloe, but I was wrong. Every time I see her, I want her even more. At this point she’s a fire in my blood. I’m unable to sleep, or focus on anything but how much I want her. I’m not going to try and change her mind; she’s so stubborn she’ll only dig in her heels. She doesn’t want me, she’s made it more than clear too many times. It’s time I started listening to her.
Pulling up her number, I begin sending texts. I want updates every day, in the morning and in the evening. I want pictures of all the work every morning and in the evening. She needs to send me an accounting of everything spent, as well as her planned spending by the end of the day. Starting now, every week she needs to send a report to me by noon Monday, and what has been spent by noon on Friday with any updates on projected spending.
I’m at my desk before she responds.
Payment starts now.
Hell, no.
Payment starts week two. Or you can quit at any time and what you earned will be paid.
No response. She’ll quit, soon. I’ll make sure of it.
***
Chloe
I hate him. I hate him. Oh my god I hate him so fucking much. So quit, just quit. Except I can’t walk away from Enzo.
At work I have an issue with two agents fighting over a commission. Figuring it out takes almost two hours with a demand to take the issue to Dante to settle, and thank fuck Dante backs my judgement.
I have an hour to get together everything Enzo demanded. Tabatha is a huge help, she sends everything over in an Excel spreadsheet I use to add the other expenses. I’m proud of myself for getting it in only a few minutes late.
I’m wondering what I want for lunch when I get a response to the email I sent Enzo.