CHAPTER THREE
Pretty much everybody in the office was keeping out of Sasha’s way and she couldn’t blame them. She was in the worst mood ever, chewing everybody out, even for the most minor infraction.
And it was all the fault of Dante Perakis. She had to get rid of him.
She picked up the phone and dialed the extension for the transport manager. Within seconds Jim Cameron was on the line. “Yes, ma’am?”
She cut to the chase. “Who is that new limo driver you assigned to me? Where did you get him?”
“Who? Dante Perakis? He…he’s the guy filling in for Emile.”
“I know that.” Sasha frowned. She’d heard the hesitation in Jim’s voice. There was something fishy going on. “I want to know where he came from. Did you do a background check on him?”
“I…no, ma’am, but he came highly recommended.” The transport manager’s voice was beginning to sound strangely breathless.
“Oh, really.” Sasha frowned. “By whom?” The fish was getting smellier with each passing second, seeming more and more like a corporate spy set-up than ever before. When Jim didn’t respond right away she prodded him. “I’m waiting.”
“It was Mr. Palazzo, ma’am. Mr. Raffaello Palazzo.”
Sasha jerked back in surprise. “Rafe? Rafe recommended him?”
“Yes, ma’am. He told me Dante Perakis would be the perfect replacement while Emile was away.”
“Oh.” There went her theory that Dante was some sort of corporate spy. He’d been recommended by Rafe, her friend and confidant. With him in the picture her spy theory made no sense at all. “Oh, I see.” She was speaking on auto-pilot as she said the words but she really did not see. Why would Rafe recommend a man like Dante Perakis as her driver? Was Dante a friend of his, maybe someone from his college or high school days? Was that why Dante seemed so different, so knowledgeable about the business world?
“Is there anything else you would like to know, ma’am?” Jim’s words broke into her thoughts.
“N…no. That is all. Thank you.” She hung up the phone. She’d planned to order the transport manager to fire Dante but after hearing that he’d been hired on the recommendation of her trusted friend, how could she?
“Hmm.” She drew in her breath and let it out as she thought about the situation. She wouldn’t go the route of having Dante fired so it looked like she was stuck with him a while longer, at least until Emile got back.
But she had a new plan. Next time she saw Dante Perakis, Rafe’s friend or not, she would make sure he understood that she was the boss and he was the employee. Even if he thought he was helping, she never wanted him laying a finger on her again.
The way her body reacted to his touch, if she were to survive the next week and a half it was best if she made sure he kept his hands as far away from her as possible.
***
Dante was turning the chicken on the barbecue grill when Rafe walked up to stand beside him.
“Smells good,” his friend said. “It looks like you’re not too bad in the cooking department.” He chuckled. “Maybe I should have arranged for you to be Sasha’s chef, not her chauffeur.”
Dante looked at him askance. “You don’t like me very much, do you? It’s hard enough being her driver. I would be pulling my hair out if I had to cook her meals. I can just imagine how picky she would be. Her meals would have to be perfect.”
Rafe nodded. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. I could never do something like that to a friend.” He glanced around the backyard. “So where is everybody? I thought this Labor Day barbecue was supposed to be for your friends and family. Am I the only friend you’ve got?”
Dante laughed. “Mom dragged Dad off to the mall. They’ll be back soon. Everybody else is running late. Don’t blame me because you’re always the early bird.”
Rafe shrugged. “Couldn’t help it. Ari kicked me out of the house so she could get ready for her day with her girlfriends. She was only too glad to get rid of me.” He shook his head but he was grinning. He slapped Dante on the shoulder. “Well, at least I’ve got you.” He was laughing but then the laughter died away and he inclined his head. “So what’s the update on the Sasha seduction project? You haven’t said a thing about it. What gives?”
Dante stabbed at two pieces of chicken then dropped them into a nearby bowl. He shrugged. “It’s early days yet. Not much to tell. All I can say is, she’s not going to be an easy nut to crack.”
Rafe nodded. “I warned you. She’s been hurt before so she doesn’t have a whole lot of trust in men. But if any man can bring her around I know you’re the one to do it.”
Dante grimaced. “You’ve got a lot of faith in me.”
“Hey, you’re the lady killer, aren’t you? The one who said you can have any woman you want.”
Dante laughed. “Yeah, I said it, and I meant it, too.” He nodded. “Just give me a few more days with your Miss Force. I’m working on a strategy. By the time you ask me about this again she’ll be all mine.