26

Gianni

“Boss?”

The sound of Roger calling for me out in the hall is what breaks the resolve I’ve barely been able to hang onto once five-thirty came and went. That was more than a half hour ago, and there’s still no sign of her.

She lied to me. She fucking lied to my face when she said she’d come home after work. I’d get a phone call if there was traffic or some emergency. Unless she was trying to avoid me.

Which means that’s exactly what she’s trying to do. She’s too responsible for this to be anything but deliberate.

I’m already halfway to the door before I bellow in reply. “What the hell do you want?”

He was on his way across the hall and now falls back a step. “I had a handful of contracts for you to look over. The new shipments?” He extends a handful of folders.

Folders I ignore. “I don’t have time for this shit right now.” The damn things could be written in Sanskrit, and I wouldn’t notice. I can’t care about anything but Caterina. Why isn’t she here? Why hasn’t she called?

Did