Love Me (The Elites of Cheshire shore #2)

42. Rome

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

rome

N othing. Not a damn thing can wipe the stupid grin off my face. Not the parking ticket I received, not running ten minutes late to work, not having my dad in the office and having to sit with Luca again. Absolutely nothing can wipe the grin from my lips.

“Can you stop staring at me like that?” I continue to skim over the manifestos we’d received. The whole concept of losing paperwork is lost on me, especially when the paper trail is so clearly there.

“No, I really can’t.” Zander looks at Becks before he gives a subtle shake of his head. I would glare at him but my face hurts too much to do so. “You are so in love, it’s sickening.”

“Don’t you have your own office to go bother someone else in?” I grunt.

“Don’t mind him, he’s just salty, his girlfriend partied too hard without him.” Luca crosses one leg over the other, getting more comfortable in the chair opposite me. Fucking cocksucker.

“Not my fault, you know, bros before hoes.”

“Are you calling me a hoe?”

“In this context, you fit the hoe category,” Luca replies. I’m glad he’s not hurt anymore, the only thing worse than Flo being upset is Luca bitching she didn’t go to him with her problem.

“There is no way I’m leaving this office; I’m going to get Ryder to organize a desk in here for me. You two are better than cable,” Zander mutters as he, too, pours over records. If he wasn’t actually really helpful, I would have kicked him out already. But with Dante increasing relations in Kadelburg, Ven Industries needs to keep turning—minor crisis or not.

So far with all the digging through the time sheets, manifestos, and submitted paperwork, it shows everything we’ve been doing is above board and the same procedure we’ve been following for years. And now that we’re trying to acquire Deeter Group, it’s all of a sudden wrong. It leads to one conclusion. And it’s the conclusion my brothers and I were dreading the most. It can only mean one thing. It’s an inside job.

“It’s an inside job,” Luca says the moment Dante’s face comes through the screen; it’s grainy and dark. No Hi? How are you? Just straight to the point. When it comes to Ven Industries, my brothers are brutal. He blinks slowly, evidentially our impromptu call having woken him up.

“What do you mean you think it’s an inside job?” Dante practically screeches.

I eye Luca from the corner of my eye. “Way to wait to tell him, dickwad.”

Dante runs a hand through his hair, making it stick up in all different directions. “Shit.” Dante sharply whistles air between his teeth.

“We’ve got Zander and Becks here and we’re going through every single document with a fine-tooth comb, we will find what we need to.” I elbow Luca.

“Good.” He nods, running a hand over the growth on his cheek. “We need to get this shit shorted before the cabinet in Kadelburg finds out.”

“How are things progressing there?” I ask. This whole situation needs to be under wraps sooner rather than later so we can focus on the future of Ven Industries.

“We’re on track to submit the plans for the port. I have a meeting with the royal family soon. They just need to sign off on it so that I can go through parliament.”

The way things work in Kadelburg is weird. The Royal family needs to vet things first; it’s some stupid law from 1825. Dante has had to learn the country’s laws more than us; it’s why he’s been splitting his time between Kadelburg and Cheshire Shore the last two years.

“Good. We need this port to happen. It’s vital to our European export.”

“On it, boss.” Dante points two fingers to his temples in mock salute as a manicured hand glides down his T-shirt clad chest. “Well, gotta run,” he says, before ending the call.

“Why couldn’t I handle international relations?” Luca asks, staring at the darkened computer screen.

I raise my eyebrows and glance at him. “Because you didn’t want to do international relations in college. It was, and I quote, ‘too foreign for your liking.’” When we were setting ourselves up to take over Ven Industries, Dad made sure we knew the areas that we would need in order to continue to make this company succeed. The international relations section was left for Dante and Luca, and since Luca was older, he chose first, leaving Dante with the job. Not that I can say my brother is complaining. Dante seems to enjoy all the pleasures international relations bring.

“How about a switch? You know cross learning or whatever shit that is.”

“It’s parallel play, and no. Dante has worked hard with Kadelburg’s government we are not going to risk all that because you’ve decided you want to be Mr. Worldwide.”

“I’m going to ignore the Pitbull reference,” Becks interrupts us. “It ages you too much. Are you ready?”

“Yeah.”

“I don’t think Brian Deeter owns Deeter Group. And I think this whole thing is a giant smoke show.” Becks holds up a piece of paper as the room goes deathly silent.

I finally pull myself away from the office, a handful of folders I plan to go through later tonight tucked safely under my arm. I had Sav look for some corresponding documentation at Ven Industries. If Becks is right, then we have a bigger problem on our hands, but it just might work in our favor for the acquisition.

I’m almost giddy to get home and show Flo. Finally, the smoking gun I’ve spent weeks looking for. This piece of evidence is invaluable, and I can’t wait to present it to my dad and prove to him once and for all Ven Industries really is safe with my brothers and I, and we do know what the fuck we’re doing. But the first person I want to share this with is my girl. Once this whole thing with Brian is sorted, we can focus on the one thing that really matters to us—our relationship. I’ve had Sav look into a special trip I have planned; Flo definitely deserves one, especially after what she’s been through lately. I push the front door to our apartment open and loosen my tie.

Sav

I’ve got those documents you asked for, I’m on my way to a date but can quickly bring them by

Rome

Thanks, Sav. I really need them. I’ll let the doorman know so you can just come right up

Sav

Thanks

I drop the bags on the kitchen island, toe off my shoes, and message Luca, letting him know Sav is on her way with the other documents and to come down so we can comb through everything we have. I want to get as much of this done before Flo gets home so the rest of the night can just be about us. I need to shower first. I make my way to the bathroom and undress, just as I am about to step in the shower, I hear my name being called. Flo is home. Excitement pulses through my veins, and I realize for the first time, that if this is the rest of my life, I’m one lucky fucker. I quickly wrap a towel around my waist and walk out of the bathroom to meet her.

“Hey, beautiful.” I give her a kiss on the cheek. Shit, I have to reschedule with my brother because I know if he comes down here now, he’ll never leave, and I really want some time alone with Flo. I excuse myself to go have a shower and message Luca.

Rome

Sorry. Will have to make it tomorrow morning in office. Busy tonight

Luca

Only because it’s my best friend will I let this slide. But please keep the banging noise down. Some of us need our beauty rest

Fucker.

Luca

It’s ok, I’ll burn the midnight oil. After Sav drops the documents off I’ll come get them. You guys have the night off

I hurry through my shower and dress; Sav will be here any minute. I probably should’ve told her to go to Luca’s apartment since he has kindly offered to do all the work tonight. I walk into the living room and see Sav standing in front of me, I guess Flo let her in.

“Hey, Sav.” I take the files from her. “Thanks so much for bringing these over. I need to get these down to Luca.” I flick through the documents before casting my gaze up to her and flashing her a smile. “Flo and I are going to have a date night.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, why?” Something in her expression makes my stomach tighten. What happened?

“She said she was going out somewhere but left quite quickly.”

Oh shit.

“Anyway, I need to go, my date is waiting. I’ll see you in the office,” she says and walks out the door.

I grab my phone and immediately pull up Flo’s contact.

“Rome, your favorite brother is here,” Luca calls as he walks into my apartment. I’m already dialing Flo’s number but it goes straight to voice mail.

“Luca,” I bark. “Have you heard from Flo?”

“No, why?”

“Sav just said she ran out of here like something was wrong and now I can’t get ahold of her.” I try calling her again and I get voice mail.

“She’s not answering me either.” Luca pulls his phone away from his ear.

Ice floods my veins as dread sweeps across my stomach. Neither Luca nor I can get ahold of her. A small voice in the back of my head whispers, I hope she hasn’t misread the situation with Sav.