As we head in that direction, Wolfe and Jinx play things up. Lily grasps my upper arm, letting me lead, while Wolfe grabs Jinx’s ass. He twirls her into his embrace, kissing her. Their public display turns from dirty to practically indecent.
“Get a room.” I slap Wolfe on the shoulder as Lily and I squeeze by, taking the lead.
“I’m so damn happy they finally got their heads out of their asses.” Lily’s grip on my bicep tightens. “I was getting tired of their constant fighting.”
“You and me both.” I loop my arm around her shoulder, tugging her close. She leans her head on my shoulder and places her hand over my chest.
“My, my, you’re so—rock hard.” Lily runs her hand over my chest, shamelessly feeling me up, but all she feels is the hard Kevlar plate beneath my shirt.
I can’t help but laugh. With the way Wolfe and Jinx heat things up, Lily and I are left in the dusty wasteland of platonic friendship.
But that’s okay.
Our job is to be the lookouts for Wolfe and Jinx. Theirs is to make a scene to set up their upcoming performance.
Every move is being watched and recorded by hundreds of cameras embedded in the ceiling and the walls. Which makes the undercover bit kind of funny.
4
MARIA
Our waiter removes our lunch dishes beneath my mother’s disapproving glare and sniffs of disgust. She berated him during the entire meal, complaining about anything and everything.
Most of those things were well outside his control. She’ll leave no tip, Mother rarely does, but I’ll see he’s rewarded handsomely for the verbal abuse my mother subjected him to.
The plates and glasses clink as his hand shakes. Chin tucked, he escapes before my mother can dress him down for his sloppy service.
I take in a steadying breath, bracing for the real part of our conversation. Until now, Mother has been almost bearable, but her sharp tongue no longer has a target in our helpless serving staff.
I dig in, determined to once again beg for reason.
“You can tell Uncle Marco to pull back his men. I don’t need them, and I’m sure he needs them elsewhere. Not to mention, following me around is a waste of their skillset.”
“Your safety is important to Marco.”
“And you.”
You need to stop poking the bear.
It’s bad enough I have to endure my mother, but my inner voice needs to cut me some slack. This isn’t easy.
“Excuse me?” Her lips pinch tight as her left brow arches with offense.
“My safety is important to Uncle Marco as well as you.” Will she get the hint?
Unlikely. But she will take offense.
“Oh please, you’re trying to start an argument with me. I’m not going to tell Marco what to do. It’s not my place.”
Called that one.
Sure did.
“I don’t care if it is, or it isn’t your place. He’ll listen to you, and as your daughter, I’m asking you to help me out.”
“If you think I’m on your side of that discussion, think again. Despite what you think, you are important to me.”
Only because I forced her to say it.
“I don’t need to live in a prison.”
“Don’t be dramatic. You’re not a prisoner. That kind of behavior is unseemly in a lady. As for your security detail, they’re there to keep you safe. Honestly, you live with your head in the clouds. How you ever made it through college is beyond me.”
She turns her hand over, examines the perfection of her manicure, then makes a show of fiddling with the twenty-karat diamond my uncle shoved on her ring finger. She does that to forcibly draw the eye.
If she thinks I care one bit about the rock on her finger, she can think again. The diamond is so massive, it’s grotesque.
“Unseemly?” I bite my tongue. There are many things I can say about that comment.
“Yes.” She slaps her hand on the table, making the crystal rattle. “You need to stop acting like a child.”
“How is any of what I said acting like a child? I can take care of myself.”
“You are heir to the Rossi fortune. You act like you don’t know what that means. With no idea of the danger all around you. If only I’d had a son. A male would understand.”
“Of course, Mother, my fragile female brain can’t comprehend such complicated things, and as far as being in danger? How the hell am I in danger?”
“Now, you’re twisting my words. The business world is complicated. Unscrupulous men will do whatever it takes to get an advantage over their competitors. It takes a degree of aggression you simply don’t possess.”
“Aggression is different from danger. I spent years learning everything I need to know and being aggressive isn’t the end all and be all of success.”
“Book smarts are not the same as experience.” She dismisses my comment with a sniff of indifference. “You lack experience. Who else in your graduating class stepped into the position of CEO? Even if you were a man, it would take years to learn everything.”
“Well, unfortunately, Dad died before he could pass on his knowledge. But I’m finding my way.”
“No need to find your way. Your uncle is more than willing to step in. Besides, you’re not getting any younger.”
Younger?
Here it comes …
“I don’t need him stepping in.” Leaning back, my arms cross over my chest. Yes, it’s a defensive mood. Yes, she sees it for what it is.
She may not be a Wolf of Wall Street, but my mother is the Empress of Expression.
The not getting any younger comment is one I’m not touching with a ten-foot pole. My purpose in life does not begin and end with my uterus.
“You’re too stubborn to ask for the help you need.” She flicks her fingers as if getting rid of something distasteful. “You should’ve paid more attention to your lessons in finishing school. Decorum and manners were never your strong suit.”
“I had other things to learn.”
“Of course, but letting you waste all your time on the martial arts messed with your brain; gave you ideas and blurred the lines between men and women.”
“If you mean it taught self-confidence, self-reliance, and self-discipline, then you’re right.”
It’s also perfect for keeping in shape. To this day, I practice my moves religiously and train with an instructor several times a week. It keeps the mind sharp, the reflexes on point, and it’s a great way to work out my aggression.
“You’re a beautiful woman, Maria. That’s the power you wield. It’s your best attribute, and someday, you’ll understand what that means. Not to mention, that’s what we’re going to capitalize on. Running the Belvedere is a fantasy that’s run its course and has come to its end. It’s time to turn your attention to the future.”
“Wow, I’m sorry you’re so disappointed in me. I suppose graduating with honors means nothing to you, and have you looked at our financial reports?”
“Why should I? Marco tells me what I need to know.”
“That’s exactly my point. Who’s he to decide what you need to know?”