Chapter 4
Luca
Most weren’t fans of Monday mornings, I however, loved them. It made for a perfect segue from having too much time on my hands, especially now that my two friends were attached. Throwing myself into my work helped clear many of the cobwebs that could plague my mind, and most of them had to do with how different everything became after Jude’s wedding.
I talked a good game when it came to my friends, and all that went with being an eligible bachelor in New York City. Truth be told, I was envious of what they found, and often wondered if that kind of connection was in the cards for me.
There shouldn’t have been any reason for me to feel love wasn’t something I’d someday find. My parents have been married for many years, as have my grandparents. Divorce wasn’t a word we Benedettos were familiar with, so the obvious belief that I’d also have a wife and kids in my life wasn’t farfetched. Yet, I couldn’t relate to what my two best friends were lucky enough to find.
I, Luca Benedetto, had never been in love.
Being in the states for twelve years, one would think at one point someone would have piqued my interest. Whether at school or even while living in the city, all the women I’d encountered should have increased my odds. Sabrina was the first woman who intrigued me.
My mother still claimed my soul mate resided in Italy, and not America. I had hoped by now my parents would have moved on from their argument for me to move back to Italy. Just as recent as my weekly phone call to them yesterday, my mother carried on by laying on the guilt that they weren’t getting any younger, and she’d like to see her sons settle down before she died.
Luca, there’s a lovely young lady that just moved to Milan. I met her at mass. You should come home and meet her. She’s very nice.
Nice, her keyword for she wouldn’t win the Miss Italy title anytime soon. My mother went on and on, in Italian, telling me more about this mystery woman.
I listened diligently and then replied, No, thank you.
I wasn’t the only one they pressured. My older brother, Dante, got the brunt of our mother’s complaining. He was the first to come to America, and I followed two years later. Our baby sister, Gianna, stayed behind in Milan and was coddled and spoiled.
A knock on my door forced my attention to Jude, who stood holding an envelope while grinning. “Got a minute?”
“For you, I have two. Come in.”
He walked to the chair facing my desk and sat, making himself comfortable. “Good weekend?”
“Uneventful,” I said with a shrug. “How was yours?” The salacious grin on his face spoke volumes. “I don’t want to know,” I interjected, preventing whatever was about to fly out of his mouth. Pointing to the envelope he held, I raised a brow and asked, “What’s that?”
“Well, it’s the reason I’m here. We both know you don’t like to be disturbed on a Monday morning, but this is important.”
My thoughts immediately flew to Waldon, the prick client that had it in for me since Jude disappeared last year on that stupid social experiment where he met Brae. Because of Kyle’s prank, Jude was gone for six weeks, leaving me to run this place as he frolicked in the Caribbean while falling in love.
“If that asshole is still griping about his portfolio not performing, tell him I have proof of otherwise. I made that jackass almost nine million in the last year alone.”
A sideways smirk spread over Jude’s face. “Actually, it was nine and a half, but it’s not about Waldon. He won’t be bothering you anymore.”
Part of me felt a thrill that maybe he took his complaining rich ass elsewhere, but then in spite of all the heartburn he gave me, I’d be losing a nice size bonus every year. Optimism turned to anger at that possibility, and I scraped a frustrated hand through my hair ready to release a pent-up rant. “Fuck that shit. Wherever he moved to, I can guarantee that it wasn’t me who…”
“Benedetto, calm down.” Jude opened the flap of the envelope, removing the contents inside. “He didn’t leave Soren Enterprises. What I meant was he is no longer your problem, but is now that of my executive director’s.”
My mouth gaped while I blinked a few times trying to understand what the fuck was happening. “I’m the executive director. Am I being transferred or something? If so, I’d prefer to go to L.A., and not Chicago.”
“No, not transferred but promoted.” Jude sat watching my expression, waiting for me to process what he had said. After a few long moments passed and my mouth still hadn’t uttered a word, he laughed and handed me the paper he held. “Congratulations, I am promoting you to executive vice president of Soren Enterprises.” I took the paper with a shaky hand, and scanned it quickly, but couldn’t focus on any specifics other than my new title.
“I don’t know what to say.” My eyes cut to Jude’s face as he smiled over how flustered I appeared to be.
“Thank you would be a great start.”
“Thank you. But you know what I mean. I wasn’t expecting this. I just got promoted not more than a year ago.”
“Right, and you also played the role of president while I was gone those six weeks, of which were very profitable regardless of my absence. That is just one of the reasons I want to do this. The other, you always have my back, and that means a lot. Really, I should be thanking you.”
I studied the paper again, this time paying attention to the salary increase, and stock options that now came with my new title. Other benefits such as travel amenities and vacation time were also laid out in full detail. “Wow, this is amazing, second in command, huh? Are you planning to disappear again?”
“No, but now I can without feeling guilty. I want to surprise Brae with a trip to Hawaii for her birthday in June, and like the last time I won’t be taking any calls or communicating with the outside world.” At my surprised expression, he added, “Except you.”
“Gotcha. So, you’re giving me two months to get comfortable wearing your shoes?”
“Pretty much.”
I shook my head, and he laughed. “You know I’m kidding. This company is what it is today because I had you by my side. Since day one, you’ve had the same knack I had, and I trust you implicitly.”
“Thank you.” I stood and offered my hand for him to shake. “I’ll do you proud, my brother.”
“You always do,” Jude said, holding our handshake for a few more seconds. “Just promise me one thing.”
“Anything.”
He stood and shoved his hands in his pockets. “When Brae calls you later, please remember she is the love of my life and you shouldn’t hold her antics against her. She means well. Otherwise, I’ll have to hurt you, and a worker’s comp claim isn’t something I want to file.”
“Noted,” I said, dreading why the hell Mrs. Soren was going to call me later. Just before Jude stepped through the door, I added, “Hey, a hint at least?”
“Her name begins with a C, and she’ll be joining us for dinner tonight to celebrate.” With that, he walked out leaving me wanting to call Cassie to warn her.
Cassie and I arrived at the Sorens’ apartment building at the same time. I knew Brae would be elated thinking we came together. The woman was relentless in her quest to see us as a couple and was lucky we both loved her.
I knocked on their door and when Jude opened it and saw us standing there, he gave me a cocky smirk. “Please, not you too.” I handed him the bottle of wine I brought and stepped aside for Cassie to walk in first. “Our simultaneous arrival is a coincidence.”
“Hey, Jude. How are you?” Cassie rolled up and gave him a kiss on the cheek before walking in to hug Brae, who was wiping her hand on a small towel.
“Hi!” If Brae was a bottle of champagne her bubbly personality would cause the cork to explode with force. After she released Cassie, she threw her arms around me and whispered in my ear. “You both are so adorable. I told you.” I let out a sigh and shook my head just as a ding rang out from the kitchen. She released me and said, “That would be dinner. I’ll be back. Have a seat at the table.”
Cassie and I sat on one side, leaving room for the Sorens on the other.
“Brae cooked?” The uncertain tone in Cassie’s voice made me laugh.
Jude shook his head. “No, just reheating. You know she’s lucky if she doesn’t burn peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.”
I poured myself and Cassie a glass of water from the pitcher on the table, shaking my head at my friend who clearly had lost his mind. “You don’t cook peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.”
He nodded. “I know.”
“Hey, I heard that.” Brae appeared with a tray of four plates. Jude being the kind husband stood and took it from her, so she could hand us each our dinner.
“Is Bobby Flay in your kitchen?” I bobbed my head to the left and right trying to spot the chef.
“No,” she sat down and placed a napkin on her lap. “But this Chicken French, from Le Gourmet Kitchen around the corner, is to die for. I hope you like it.”
Jude chuckled. “Aside from the dry cleaners, that restaurant is my biggest weekly expense.” Brae snarled at him, but his peck on her cheek placated her. He poured us all a glass of wine and held his glass in the air. “Thank you both for coming here to celebrate the promotion of my new Executive Vice President. Congratulations, Luca.”
We all gently tapped our glasses together. When I turned toward Cassie, she beamed, “Congratulations. I didn’t know you got a promotion today, that’s fantastic!”
I was a bit confused because even though I never had the chance to call her, I figured when Brae invited her she would have told her. “Why did you think you were coming to dinner?”
She cut her eyes to Brae who gawked at us as though she just discovered electricity. “Oh, no way. I know what you’re thinking, missy, and we are going to nip this in the bud right now.” Jude set his fork down and gave Cassie warning eyes. “Nope, you can get that look off your face, Jude. Your wife is one of my best friends, but enough is enough.”
“But, Cass,” Brae smiled sweetly at her. “You two are so cute together, why not?”
My best move was to keep my mouth shut and keep eating. Cassie, however, didn’t feel the same way. “Because, although Luca is a wonderful man…”
I leaned over. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” She refocused on Brae, lifting a brow to emphasize her point. “He is not the man for me. We are friends that’s it—if you must know, we did make-out once and there weren’t any sparks. Remember when Jude kissed you on stage when you first met and your body got all fluttery?”
“You got fluttery?” Pride shone all over Jude’s face.
Brae rolled her eyes at her husband while Cassie continued, “Well, when I kissed Luca I didn’t feel anything remotely close to a flutter.”
“Gee, thanks.”
Jude let out a laugh, and now Cassie was the one rolling her eyes. “Oh, shut it. And why aren’t you agreeing with me?”
I cleared my throat, “Everything she said is true. There wasn’t an a-ha moment or anything remotely close to it. We’re just good friends, that’s it.”
“Brae.” Cassie had a tenderness to her voice that I imagined she perfected in her classroom. “It was like kissing my brother or a cousin. Not that I go around getting naked and kissing my family, but do you understand?”
“Wait—” Brae thrusted her hand palm up. “You guys were naked?”
Cassie brushed it off. “That’s not the point. The point is, not everyone needs or should be a couple.”
“I know. I just want all my friends happy, that’s all.”
Jude kissed his wife on the cheek. “Sparky, they are happy. Let it go.” She nodded and the conversation was dropped.
Dinner was fantastic, and we all agreed to hang out at our favorite bar, Dispatch, on Friday night. Cassie and I shared a cab home, and when we arrived at her apartment building, I walked her to the door to make sure she got in safely before heading to my place.
“I’ll talk to you soon, be sure to lock the door when you get into your apartment.”
She kissed my cheek, “Yes, sir. Text me when you get home so I know you’re safe.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Cassie was a great woman, and it was a shame we didn’t have that fluttery feeling, as she called it, because she’d make the perfect girlfriend. But, she was turning into one of my best friends… and to me that was better.