I should be thanking the gods for what they delivered to me. Yet instead, I’m f**king pissed. Really pissed.

Chapter 9

Liv

Sleezeball calls us both into his office. I say good morning to Summer and she doesn’t even look my way. She’s in a worse mood than usual. Daddy must have cut her allowance.

“So ladies.” Sleezeball comes around and sits on the corner of his desk, his arms folded over his chest. “Looks like we have a problem.”

Summer folds her arms across her chest and raises her chin. Looks like the problem must belong to the princess. I try not to smile as I speak. “What’s the problem and how can we help, James?” I’m such a brown noser, but I don’t even care. Six more weeks. I can finally see a light at the end of the tunnel and I’m not above a little ass-kissing to make sure I’m the one that makes it there first.

“Well it seems Mr. Stone has refused an interview with Summer.” I look to Summer for an explanation, but she snubs me. My face turns back to Sleezeball, waiting for more information.

“He’ll only give his story to you, Olivia.” Sleezeball shrugs his shoulders. “So you’re back on the story, Liv.” He sighs loudly. “I’m not even sure why this guy’s story is so important, but my boss wants it. And since Mr. Stone has decided he wants you, that’s what he’ll get. You.”

My mouth is still hanging open when he dismisses us. I almost make it out before Sleezeball speaks again. “Olivia, stay for a minute. Summer, close the door on the way out.” Really, could my day get any worse?

“Listen, I know you asked to be let off this story for personal reasons. However, it seems we don’t have a choice here anymore. So, take this assignment as a learning experience. Whatever you and Mr. Stone have going on, exploit it and get me a good story.”

Total sleezeball.

***

Summer is still stamping around our shared workstation when I get back to my desk. I’m guessing being rejected is new to the little princess. Although I’m pissed as hell at Vinny for interfering with my work, I have to admit, seeing her knocked off her high horse does have its perks.

“I don’t know what game you’re playing Olivia, but making me look bad in front of James is going to cost you.” Her face distorted in anger, she doesn’t look quite so attractive. “I’m not just going to win this job, I’m going to wipe the floor with that ratty little head of yours.”

I can’t help but laugh at her threat. Who knew the princess had it in her? Game on.

***

I leave the office and head straight to the gym I know Vinny works out at. I have no idea if he’ll be there this time, but he’s getting a piece of my mind if he is. Instead of a few hours calming my initial anger, it’s made it worse. Worse to the point that I’ve gone from a light simmer to a full-blown boil and the top is about to come flying off the pot…and hit someone in the head.

How dare Vinny screw with my work? Who does he think he is? I’ve worked too damn hard to get where I am to let some old crush interfere with where I need to be. He wants to play games, he’s going to find out I’m not the same little girl he thinks I am. I’ve grown up since he broke my heart in high school. A lot.

I enter the gym and look around. It’s filled with bulky guys with tattoos and I’m surprised when a pretty, albeit very pregnant, woman walks up to me. She looks out of place dressed in a stylish red suit, her hand mindlessly rubbing the basketball she looks to be carrying around in her stomach.

“You look lost.” She smiles at me warmly. “Are you looking for someone?”

“Ummm…yes, I’m looking for Vinny Stonetti.” Hesitantly I respond.

“You must know Vinny for a long time?” The pretty pregnant woman tilts her head assessing me. Oddly, her inquiry and stance feel motherly, almost protective, although she certainly isn’t old enough to have a child as old as Vinny.

“Actually I do. We went to high school together.” I furrow my brow in confusion. “But how did you know that I’d known him for a while?”

The woman smiles warmly, “Because he made the change from Vinny Stonetti to Vince Stone a few years back. No one calls him Vinny around here anymore. Well, except me and my husband, Nico. I’ve known him since he was a teen, so he’s still Vinny to me. My husband still calls him Vinny too, but that’s to piss him off more than anything.”

I smile at the woman, I can tell in the tone of her voice she has a soft spot for Vinny. It doesn’t surprise me. Most women do. Until he screws them over and leaves them devastated. Like he did me. “Is Vinny…eh…Vince around?”

“He’s not here yet. But he usually comes in about now. He trains with my husband.”

“Oh. Okay, I’ll come back later. Or maybe I’ll just call and set up an appointment.”

“You’re welcome to wait. I was just going to have a cup of tea in the back. Why don’t you join me? We can exchange embarrassing stories about Vinny.”

I don’t have to think about it long. I’m already here and maybe I can get some material for my story from her too. “Sure, sounds good. By the way, I’m Olivia.” I extend my hand.

“I’m Elle.” Smiling, she shakes my hand and then it returns to her belly. “And this here is Nicholas Jr. I think he’s already practicing his kicks. He’s just like his daddy, strong and full of energy.”

We walk through the gym and into a small kitchen on the far side of the room. Elle puts on an electric kettle and pulls down two mugs. “I only have decaf. My husband read way too many baby books and threw out anything with caffeine within an hour of us finding out I was pregnant.” She smiles and rubs her belly protectively as she continues. “We waited a long time to have this little guy. My husband finally retired from fighting last year. He’s a little on the protective side when it comes to us.”

Smiling at her frankness, I respond, “Decaf is fine. I’m still wired from the three cups I had at the office.”

Elle and I chat for a while, the conversation comes easily, almost as if she’s an old friend I’m catching up with rather than someone I barely know. Oddly, it feels as though I could sit around for hours in my pajamas watching old movies and eating ice cream straight from the container with her after one of us has had a bad breakup. She just seems like that kind of girlfriend. I don’t know how much time passes but it’s easy to forget I just met this woman. There’s just such an instant friendship that we find ourselves giggling most of the time. As we finish our tea, Elle looks into her now empty cup with remiss. She sighs. “I miss coffee. Tell me what your three cups tasted like today. I’m that desperate. My health nut of a husband doesn’t even drink coffee. Some weeks I go without even the smell of it.”