Evangeline
“Oh shit. Oh shit,” I repeatedly mumbled as I half-ran, half-walked through the bar. I didn’t think my luck could get any worse.
My ankle.
My disaster engagement.
Running into Kevin tonight.
Throwing myself at Carmela’s brother.
Now, I was back to square one because there was no way I’d work for Gian after hooking up with him. I couldn’t believe I didn’t recognize his name. Granted, Carmela always called him Gianluca and he introduced himself Gian, which sounded a lot like John. Once I saw them side by side, I couldn’t believe I missed the similarities between the two of them. They had identical light brown eyes and the same glossy, dark hair.
I needed to forget how incredible it had felt to be in his arms, his mouth moving against mine. Or how close I was to begging him to strip off my clothes. Or how disappointed I felt when Carmela interrupted us.
My stomach heaved, and I covered my mouth. Oh my God, I hooked up with the male version of my best friend. With my hands trembling, I stepped into the street, frantically flagging down any taxi in the proximity.
I climbed inside the first one that stopped, and I finally felt like I could breathe normally. I gave the driver Carmela’s address, laid my head back, and closed my eyes. Lately, my life had been one mistake after another. Tears snuck out of the corners of my eyes, and I wanted to slap myself. I was so sick of crying.
The taxi stopped moving, and I discreetly wiped my face with the back of my hand.
“It’ll be twenty-five bucks,” the driver said.
I reached for my purse—then, I remembered I had left it on the sofa in Gian’s office. “Shit.” I threaded my fingers through my hair. “I’m sorry. I left my purse at the bar. Would you mind driving back?”
The driver glanced over his shoulder. “Do you have money in your house? I can wait.”
“I don’t have a key. It’s in my purse.”
The driver rubbed a hand down the side of his face. “Are you serious? Your purse might not be there anymore.”
I swallowed back the sobs edging up the walls of my throat. “I left it in the owner’s office. Nobody will take it, and you can double the fare.”
“The owner?” he said, his voice softer than a few seconds ago.
“Yes. I’m friends with the owner and his sister.”
He pulled away from the curb. “I’ll take you back. Don’t worry about doubling the fare. I’m happy to help out a friend of the Trassatos.”
Contemplating his swift mood change, my eyes narrowed for second. Maybe what my friends whispered about the Trassato family was true. I tugged on the hem of my shirt then decided it didn’t matter either way. I had kissed Gianluca Trassato. So what? It wasn’t a big deal. If the rumors about him were true, Gian had plenty of women coming and going in his life. In all likelihood, he had dismissed me from his thoughts the minute I exited his office. I’d be smart to do the same.
“That’d be great. Thanks for your help,” I replied, already feeling better.
Fifteen minutes later, the driver pulled up in front of Gian’s nightclub. “I’ll be right back,” I said.
“Don’t worry. Take your time.”
I headed directly to the bouncer at the front door, circumventing the line to get in the bar. It hadn’t decreased much since I went in the first time. After a quick explanation to the bouncer, he unhooked the red velvet rope and let me inside again. Not stopping to look for Kevin, Carmela, Gian, or anyone else I might know, I darted through the crowds of people to the back area of the bar leading to Gian’s office.
Unlike when I had followed Gian through the No Admittance doorway, a large man now stood in front of the door. He wore a black suit, an impeccably starched white shirt, and a dark tie.
“I need to get back there,” I blurted out.
Folding his bulky arms across his chest, he glanced at me, a frown on his face and his dark eyes narrowed. A wave of cold rushed through me. Something about him made me grateful I hadn’t run into him in a dark alley.
“No.”
“I left my purse in Gian’s office. I had a meeting with him earlier.”
He pursed his lips, a dubious look on his face. “The answer is still no. He’s busy right now. Come back in an hour.”
I heaved a worn out sigh. “I need to pay the taxi outside, and I don’t have any money.”
He shrugged. “Find someone who cares.”
“Can you go back there and get it for me?” I asked impatiently. “I left it on the sofa in his office. It’s a black clutch purse.”
“No. No one is allowed back there right now. Including me.”
“What the hell am I supposed to do?”
He arched one messy eyebrow. “I don’t care. Just find somewhere else to do it.”
“Are you fucking kidding me right now?”
His dark eyes jerked to mine. “Look, lady, you can either come back in an hour, or I’ll have someone escort you out of here.”
“Thanks for your time.” I spun on my heel. “Asshole,” I said, flipping him off without turning around.
Admittedly, it was childish, but I’d gotten sick of men pushing me around. Gian had probably already moved on to some other woman for the night, and this time he added security so they wouldn’t be interrupted. Well, he and his goons could go fuck themselves. If that man refused to let me get my purse or go back there to get it for me, I’d try the exit door I saw earlier.