Clara
I pulled up to the address that Dante had given me, the place definitely not what I’d expected. It was a superb two-story Italian-styled villa in Herne Bay, one of the most expensive suburbs in Auckland, if not the whole of New Zealand. I double-checked the address on my phone, the number and street definitely matching. Wondering how on earth a South Auckland boy had ended up in a suburb like Herne Bay, I got out of my Civic and ran my hands over my smart skirt and blouse, hoping I looked presentable enough for the interview. Dante had texted that a producer would be interviewing me, making me realise that this wasn’t just about Dante wanting to ‘hang out’ with me.
It was a real job.
I took a deep breath in and headed for the gate, not sure why I was doing this, willingly walking into the lion’s den once more. No, I knew why, I didn’t want to go to work. The thought of even looking at Simon, let alone speaking to him after what he’d done, made me feel sick to the stomach. Yeah, I was a coward for running, but I had the right to deal with it however I damn well pleased. Though, it also showed me that maybe I didn’t like my counselling job as much as I’d thought I had. First, I tried to take a month off when Dante turned up, and now I was leaving because of Simon, grasping at the first job I was offered.
Or maybe the real reason I was here was because I wanted to see Dante again. I also wanted to apologise for my embarrassing outburst the day before. I shouldn’t have blamed him, because I could’ve said no to him like I’d said no to Simon. This was on my head, not Dante’s.
Taking in another calming breath, I took to the steps of the grand house and pressed the doorbell. Waiting nervously for it to be answered, I patted my hair, which I’d pulled back into a bun, hoping that whoever interviewed me didn’t mind that it was pink. At the clinic people liked it, but I wasn’t sure a P.A. position would suit my quirky style. Well, at least I was wearing one of my smart teaching suits, which I only pulled out for interviews.
Footsteps approached the other side of the door, then it pulled open. A stunning woman with a mix of orange and blonde hair smiled out at me so sweetly I automatically smiled back. She was about my height, but with a willowy body, her long, flowing blouse hanging loosely over her leather-clad legs.
“Hello,” she said, her accent having a slight lilt to it, reminding me of the Welsh side of my family. “From Jade’s description, I’m assuming you’re Clara?”
I nodded. “Hi,” I replied back, wondering whether she was Dante’s manager’s girlfriend. No, that man had sounded gay, which could mean... I swallowed, hoping she wasn’t Dante’s girlfriend. I hadn’t thought of that, had just assumed he was single with the way he acted around me, especially after he’d asked for a blow job, but... His file had stated he was a sex addict, although I wasn’t so sure about that, since a sex addict would’ve taken up Candace’s offer. Maybe someone else had filled out his form, some of the things said in there rather horrifying, not something I’d admit to if I was him.
The woman smiled wider, kindness in her eyes. “There’s no need to be nervous, Clara,” she said, stepping aside. “Come on in.”
I entered the house, noticing a staircase off to my right, the walls a snowstorm of white. The woman indicated to a doorway on my left. I followed her direction, finding more white in the lounge, along with a rather eye-opening painting of two naked men above the fireplace.
The woman indicated to the sofa. I sat down, moving my bag to my lap, wondering where the producer was.
The woman sat down in a chair on my right, giving me another soft, friendly smile. “Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. I’m L, Jade Park’s friend. I’m involved with writing and producing a lot of Dante’s songs, as well as playing the guitar on his album. Well, when we start recording, that is.”
I held back my surprise, my assumptions about her totally off. I’d just assumed when I’d been told I’d be interviewed by a producer, some old guy in a suit would see me, not a rock chick younger than myself. She looked in her mid-twenties, the fact she was a producer at such a young age impressing me immensely.
She continued, “I’m glad Dante’s ready to work. I was concerned he would be out of commission for a while. I think the idea of him having a helper to make sure he stays sober and out of women’s beds is a very good idea.”
My eyebrows shot up. “Out of women’s beds?”
She shifted about in her seat, appearing uncomfortable with my question. “When he’s sober, he’s fine. He’ll flirt with everyone, it’s just his nature, which I’ve been told you’re aware of, but when he drinks...” She shook her head. “That’s an entirely different matter altogether. He loses all self-control, and is easily taken advantage of. When that happens, he usually ends up a complete mess, unable to function. Then the cycle is repeated, and his behaviour grows more concerning. The last time he drank to excess he had a mental breakdown, which is why he ended up in your clinic.”
I blinked, surprised it had gotten that bad, Dante’s behaviour not suggesting any of that, other than his flirtatious nature. Maybe he was putting on a front, like he’d done when he was younger, just was better at hiding things now.
“His file didn’t mention a breakdown,” I said, “only his excessive drinking, womanising, and his dabbling in porn.”
“Porn?” she asked, looking confused.
“Yeah, his file at the rehab said he did porn.”
She frowned. “Well, if he did, I’m sure his manager wouldn’t have included that in his file. I’ll mention it to Jade, get him to check it out.” She jotted something down on her notepad. Once done, she raised her gaze. “Let’s move on with my questions. I’m curious about why you left your counselling job.”
“Actually... I haven’t quit, I’ve taken time off, though I really don’t want to go back.”
“Why?”
“Another counsellor did something that upset me,” I replied, unable to hold back a grimace at the memory.
“Upset you how?”
I bit my lip, not really wanting to tell her.
She pushed up from her seat and sat down next to me. “Did this person hurt you?”
I didn’t reply, not understanding how we’d even gotten onto the topic.
She placed a hand over mine, then appeared to have second thoughts, removing it, L’s concern clear. “You don’t have to tell me anything, but if you ever want to talk about it, I’m here whether you want this job or not.”
I nodded, taken aback a complete stranger would offer something like that.
She smiled at me reassuringly, averting her gaze for a moment, a gentle shyness coming through her actions. “I see why Dante likes you so much,” she said, not looking away this time. “He told me that even if you turned up in a hooker outfit, I was to give you the job.”
I snorted out a laugh, unable to help myself, Dante’s colourful language always amusing me.
She smiled wider. “You’re one brave woman for wanting to work for that man. I could never do it. Well, not as a P.A., because I obviously still have to work on the album with him. I just wouldn’t want to have him as a boss. He’s rather intimidating.”
My eyebrows shot up. “Dante intimidating? I’ve never thought of him in that way. He can make me feel uncomfortable at times, but I’ve never felt intimidated.”
“I feel intimidated by tall, muscular men. It’s one of my problems, not anyone else’s. But he’s my best friend’s employee and friend, not to mention the brother of someone very dear to me, so I endure him,” she said, her eyes sparkling, the emphasis on endure sounding tongue in cheek.
“Endure is an apt word for Dante. He can be a handful.”
She nodded. “Which is why I’m so surprised his brother is the complete opposite.” Her expression went dreamy. “Ash is the stoic type, not at all like Dante.”
I didn’t reply, the woman obviously having a thing for Dante’s brother.
She shook her head, another smile pulling at her lips. “Well, you’re something else,” she said, “because I never feel comfortable talking to people, and here I am talking to you as though you’re my friend.” She patted my hand and leaned towards the coffee table, picking up a folder of papers. She held it out for me to take. “Here’s Dante’s timetable, as well as the job description and salary you’ll receive if you accept the job. Please let me know as soon as possible whether you’re happy with everything, because I need to hire someone quick.”
I went to open the folder.
She placed a hand over mine, stopping me. “You can look at that after you leave, I have just enough time to show you your room if you accept the job.”
“My room?”
Realisation crossed her face. “Didn’t Dante tell you that this is a live-in position?”
I shook my head, a touch stunned by her words. I would be living with Dante!
“Will that be a problem? Because it’s a requirement. You’ll need to be on hand if Dante goes off the rails.”
“Oh... I suppose that makes sense,” I said, trying to keep my voice level. I hadn’t considered this situation, not even an iota. Also, I’d lived with Georgie ever since I’d gotten out of prison, even in prison. I’d never even contemplated leaving her behind. If anything, I’d thought that she would leave me, marrying some hot guy, while I grew into a bitter old spinster who she visited with her hoard of kids. We’d joked about it, although to me it was a very real possibility.
L nodded, “Which is why the room is next to Dante’s. Let me show you it. It’s rather lovely.”
She pushed out of her seat, indicating for me to follow her. I did, leaving the lounge in a daze, walking up the staircase on automatic, the room she’d brought me to so much larger than my one at home. It was filled with dainty antique furniture and a king-sized bed, breaking up the snowstorm of white.
L opened the door on the south-facing wall, which was tucked in the corner of the room. She indicated for me to follow her, disappearing through it, which surprised me, since I’d assumed the door was for a wardrobe. I stepped through the opening and into another room, this one much more masculine-looking. A poster of Bob Marley was pinned up on the wall, along with an Avenged Sevenfold poster, an image of a surfer riding the waves, and a half-naked woman leaning over a motorbike. There was also a couple of surfboards in the corner, as well as two guitars, one electric, one acoustic.
L patted a dark wood cabinet. “Your job will also involve making sure that Dante doesn’t stash any drugs or alcohol. Just before he went into rehab, the maid found a bag of pills hidden in his mattress, along with some bottles of alcohol in the back of his wardrobe. He’s got more addictions than fingers and toes. You’ll need to make sure he stays clean, whether it’s stopping him from downing pills, drinking, or sleeping around, it’s all part of the job. A tough one, considering who you’ll be watching over, but an important one. We all love Dante. He’s like a younger brother to me, while Jade is besotted with him. If he could, he’d marry the man.” She smiled sadly. “Pity for him Dante’s not that way inclined.” Her eyes widened. “Oh, and you’ll have to scan all his phone calls, blocking certain women, such as his ex. She’s not to go anywhere near Dante. Don’t let Dante know that, this is on Jade’s orders, that’s his manager and the record company owner.” She tapped the folder I was holding. “That’s if you take the job, but quite frankly, once you see the pay, I’m sure you’ll say yes.”
She turned, heading out the door. I followed her downstairs, stopping at the entrance.
She held out a slim hand. “It was very nice meeting you, Clara. I hope you accept the position. If you do, you can start working straight away.”
I shook her hand. “Thank you, and it was nice meeting you too, L.”
She gave me a friendly smile and opened the front door. “Have a nice day, Clara.”
I replied with, “Likewise” then stepped outside, breathing in the fresh air as she closed the door behind me. I felt a little better after seeing her, the woman having put me at ease. I just wished it was her I was working for instead of Dante, because that man... I exhaled, knowing I was setting myself up for a fall, just unable to step away from the crevice.
I quickly walked to my car and got in, opening the folder, curious about the salary. Spotting numbers, I pulled the sheet out, my mouth dropping to the floor at what I saw, the salary astronomical.
“Good Lord!” I gasped, not believing what I was seeing. My counselling job didn’t even pay half of that, and not with accommodation included. I leaned back against my seat, what was happening so surreal, this past week surreal.
My phone rang, making me jump in my seat. I looked at the number, recognising the clinic’s. I let it go through to voicemail, not wanting to speak to Simon or anyone there for a few days. I grimaced, feeling guilty for abandoning my patients, but...
I wasn’t as important as Georgie made me out to be, because any of the counsellors were more than capable of looking after my patients, and if I really needed to, I could visit them when Simon wasn’t working. I still couldn’t believe he’d given me the job just so he could go out with me. I hadn’t accepted his invitations for dinner for a long time, not interested in getting into another relationship, but he’d persisted, to the point where I’d eventually warmed to him, totally oblivious to what he was really like. Simon had hidden his nasty side so well, what he’d said about Dante and his father still angering me. Yes, Dante’s father was horrible, but to put him down just because he was in a relationship with a man? For goodness’ sake! My father was married to a man! Which meant that Simon wasn’t just insulting Dante’s father, he was insulting mine.
I looked back down at the pay for the P.A. position, knowing I was never going to be offered something as well paid as this again, and I could still use my counselling skills on Dante. He needed my help, wanted it too.
My phone started ringing again, Georgie’s number coming up this time. Knowing I couldn’t avoid her calls forever, I answered with a, “Don’t bite my head off.”
“And why shouldn’t I?” she snapped. “Simon told me you took off. What happened?”
“Something I’d much rather not talk about, other than I’ve been offered another job, one that pays...” She screeched at how much I said, causing me to move the phone away from my ear.
“You can’t be serious!” she yelled through the phone.
I placed it back to my ear. “I’m very serious, it’s all in the contract.”
“What’s it doing? I want all the details!”
I grimaced, not looking forward to her response. “I’ll be Dante’s P.A., making sure that he stays away from alcohol, drugs, and women.”
She gasped. “You have got to be kidding me?”
“Nope. I’ve just finished the interview with one of the record producers. She said I have the job if I want it.”
“No, no, no, you can’t work for Dante, but... How can he offer so much?”
I glanced at the embossed logo on the page. “Dante’s signed to a well-known record label. He lives in a freaking mansion in Herne Bay.”
“You are talking about Dante, right? The tattooed, gang member.”
“He’s not a gang member anymore, Georgie, and he has a great voice.” My thoughts went to the musical I’d cast him in when he was a kid. “No, it’s not great, it’s amazing. He also has an amazing presence on stage. The time he sung Matchbox 20’s Bent on stage even silenced a teacher who hated him. He was so good, Georgie.”
“I bet he was,” she said, her tone filled with sarcasm. “And I bet you’ll fall right back into his bed and get hurt. That man will kill you, CC. It may not be by his hand, but he will. You almost died in prison because you couldn’t control yourself around him. What do you think will happen if you take this job, no matter how much money it pays?”
“He’s an adult now,” I said, flicking to the next page. A passport photo of Dante was stuck above information about him. I ran a finger over the picture, wanting him so bad.
“Yeah, adult is the word. He freaking worked in porn.”
“That may not be true,” I said, even though I knew it was, what Tyler had told me hard to refute.
“Well, it’s written in his damn file.”
“Either way, I’m still considering taking the job.”
“We’ll talk about it when you come back to Simon’s.”
“I’m never going back to Simon’s, and if I accept this job, I’ll be living in Dante’s house.”
“No, Clara, you can’t!”
I grimaced, feeling guilty. “I’m sorry, I can’t keep wondering what if, Georgie. I need him to remember the good times, to remember loving me. If he can do that, maybe we could get back what we lost.”
“You can’t be serious, he’s not that fifteen-year-old boy anymore, Clara. He’s a fully-grown man—”
“Who I love dearly!” I snapped, not believing she was making out as though I’d only been attracted to Dante’s youth. If anything, I found Dante more attractive now, the man pure sex. “And it was never his age I fell for, it was Dante.”
“I didn’t mean it that way, I meant he’s not as innocent as he once was.”
“Dante wasn’t innocent when I was with him.”
“Regardless, you can’t seriously be thinking about getting with someone who’s done porn. Just think where his dick has been.”
I scowled. “Quit it, Georgie.”
“No, come back, Simon still wants—”
“I don’t give a shit what Simon wants!” I barked, having had enough of her touting that bastard’s false virtues. “Dante is a hundred times better than that arsehole, and I don’t want you staying with Simon. He woke me up with his face between my legs.”
“What?!”
“Yes, I was dreaming about Dante, yet when I opened my eyes it was Simon doing all of the things I was dreaming Dante was doing. I don’t know what I said in my dream, he claims it was yes, but all I know is I was asleep and he took advantage of me.”
“Christ,” Georgie gasped. “I can’t believe Simon would do something like that, he’s so—”
“—good at lying. I learned a lot about him yesterday. He’s bigoted, Georgie, thinks gay people are warped. He also bossed me around like some domineering arsehole, then tried to make out I’d done him wrong when I called out Dante’s name after coming. I didn’t know it was Simon, I never gave him permission to touch me like that.”
“I’m so, so sorry, Clara. You should report him to the boss. Don’t leave because of him, he should leave.”
“And what will happen when he tells the boss about my conviction? Simon hid it from Royce without my knowledge, only hiring me because he was interested in me. If I accuse Simon of anything, he’ll pull up my record, making out that I’d tried to hide it. He even told me he’d do it.”
“I ... I can’t believe this. I had no idea he was like that. Regardless, you can’t let him get away with this.”
“He already has, and right now, I’m done with it. I’ve got this amazing job offer, one that pays more than twice my counselling salary. I can’t turn it down.”
“Well, Clara, just remember, if you take it, you won’t just be accepting that money, you’ll be accepting everything that comes with Dante.”
“I realise that.”
“No, I don’t think you do. What about Killer?”
“He didn’t leave that note or hurt your friend, he was released, proven innocent.”
“Then who did it?”
“I have no idea.”