Chapter Five
Elisabet
As soon as I step out of Landon’s office, I feel flustered. He wangled his way into my evening asking me to join him for dinner. Even though he says it’s purely business, I have a feeling a man like him doesn’t keep things purely business. Stalking my way to the exit, my mind is adrift with images of what dinner entails.
This is something I can’t allow to happen. Business and pleasure do not go hand in hand. In fact, they’re the opposite. And I need to keep them separate. Slipping into the driver’s seat of my car, I start the engine while remembering how he smiled. The way his eyes danced with amusement. And the way his hands, those beautifully manicured hands, gripped the pen as he signed the contract for us to go into business together. For me to be his client. I’m not sure why he wanted that, but when I read through it, it all seemed legit, so I signed.
I’m not officially a client of Stone International. I know he has properties for sale across the country, as well as in Europe. Perhaps one day, if I decide to extend my business, he can help.
***
When I pull into the parking lot of the hotel, I can’t believe where the day has gone. Granted, I’ve been to see five suppliers and picked out furniture for the new restaurant. My mind is still on Landon. For some reason, the man has weaseled his way in and I can’t get him out.
I step into my suite and take a deep breath. The beautiful room I’m renting is my safe haven for now. As soon as I step inside, I inhale calming breaths. The man affected me. He shouldn’t. We can’t embark on this stupid plan of his, but I can’t lose that building. He doesn’t know why I want it, and he’ll never find out.
When my phone rings, my heart jolts in my chest. One glance at the screen tells me it’s the one person I was hoping would leave me be.
“Ciao,” I answer, knowing that if I don’t, he’ll follow me to the West Coast, and that’s the last thing I need right now.
“Ciao, Bella.” His response is light, almost too uncaring, because I know this man, and that’s not how he normally speaks to me. “Come stai?”
“I’m fine, Marco. What do you want?” His dark chuckle is my response. It causes me to shudder in fear.
“Is that any way to speak to the man who helped you escape?” His voice is thick with indignation. He knows he’s right, and I can’t argue with that. He did help me. Only because I had no other choice. The life I was stuck in was one that would never have let me escape without Marco’s help.
“I’m tired. You know I didn’t mean to be so abrasive.”
“Si, I know this, Bella. Now tell me, when are you paying me the money that you owe me?” The words jar me. I thought I had more time. That’s why I wanted to purchase the building, open the restaurant, and make a profit before I had to let go of the money I had saved. Granted, there is a lot, but with what I owe Marco, and what the building costs, I’ll never be able to get the restaurant up and running with whatever’s left.
“I need more time, please?” Shutting my eyes, I pray. I beg and plead with the Gods above to help me here. To offer me some mercy, but deep down I know I’m fucked. When Marco Gianetti wants his money, he goes to extremes to get it back.
“Time, Bella, is not something I know very well.”
Nodding, I sigh into the receiver. “I know. I promise you I’ll get it back to you. I just need another couple of months. Once the building is restored, and I can open, there’ll be more profit than you can count.”
“Profit? If you’re lying to me—”
“I’m not. Marco, you’ve known me almost all my life. Have I ever lied to you?” I’m not beyond begging. This is life or death—mine.
He’s silent for a long while, and I wonder if he’s going to refuse. I’ve never been so scared. Fear skyrockets through me, sizzling in my veins as I wait for him to say something. Anything. When I finally slump into the small chair at my kitchen table, he responds.
“Fine. Tre mesi…” Three months.
“Thank you! You will not be sorry, I promise you, Marco,” I tell him as relief is evident in my voice. I know I can do this. All I need to do now is prove to Landon he has to sell me that building. There’s no way I can fail.
Marco hangs up before I have time to thank him once more. It’s my own fault for getting into business with a man like him, but I had no other choice. If it weren’t for him, I’d be dead right now.
Glancing at the time, I realize I have an hour to get ready before my dinner with Landon. I’m not sure what to wear, since this is business. I’m used to dressing up for dinner dates, but for something professional, I’m not accustomed to the correct attire. I head into the bedroom with my mind whirling with possibilities.
As much as I find Landon Stone handsome, alluring, and sexy, I know I’m in no position to even think of this as a date. It’s a professional arrangement. My contingency against losing both my business and my life.