Dangerous Desires

Ch 3: Lola

I'm a morning person, but not this darn early. Having to be at work for six in the morning is wild. Especially when I didn't go to sleep until eleven at night. Matteo sent me a text to pack some clothes because I will be staying in the penthouse with him, and he also has a trip overseas he needs me to accompany him to later this week.

The drive to the hotel is a blur of streetlights and early morning fog, but reality slaps me awake when I arrive at the grand hotel and casino. Even at this ungodly hour, the lobby is bustling, with guests coming and going like it's midday. I head straight to the private elevator leading to the penthouse.

I reach Matteo's floor, and as the doors open, there he stands—tall, dark, and impossibly sharp at six in the morning. How does anyone manage to look like they've stepped out of a fashion magazine this early?

"Good, you're on time," he says, his voice a commanding rumble that seems to roll directly from his chest.

"I'm always punctual." I smile, trying to match his intensity with a bit of my characteristic cheer. Matteo doesn't smile back, but the hint of amusement in his eyes suggests he appreciates the effort. He steps aside to let me enter the penthouse. "Did you have housekeeping come up here?" It reeks of bleach, like an insane amount of it—burning nostrils.

Matteo closes the door behind us, his face suddenly serious, the earlier hint of amusement gone. "No, that's not bleach you're smelling. It's a disinfectant. I had a situation here last night. I couldn't risk anyone else handling it." I know what bleach smells like, but I will let him have it. Whatever he says, he is the boss, after all.

My eyes widen. "A situation? Like what kind of situation needs this much bleach?" I can't help but notice now that even with the sharp sting of chemicals in the air, there's something else, too—something metallic. I don't want to seem like I'm trying to invade his privacy or anything, but this much bleach is concerning. "Did you kill someone?" I jokingly ask.

Matteo's eyes briefly flicker, a shadow crossing his usually impassive face. He doesn't laugh. "Let's just say I take the security and cleanliness of my personal spaces very seriously," he replies, his tone flat but somehow menacing. "But it's nothing for you to worry about." He motions for me to follow him. "You will be staying here for the foreseeable future."

Nothing for me to worry about? This man is a walking mystery wrapped in an enigma, tucked inside a custom-made suit. I guess when you have all the money in the world at your fingertips, you can be just that, but it is unsettling. Mental note: Stay out of Matteo's personal space.

"You mean this week. I'm only here for the week." I correct him.

Matteo pauses and turns, his eyes locking onto mine. "No, not just this week. Longer. I'll be staying for two months, which means you will be living here, Lola."

"I have an apartment, which means I have rent that needs to be paid, and I have a dog," I tell him because I'm not staying here longer than a week. I refuse.

Matteo's eyes narrow slightly. "Your rent will be taken care of, and you can take your dog to a pet hotel or something," he says, his tone leaving no room for argument.

But, oh, there is going to be an argument.

"My dog is my bottom line, and you will not touch my bottom line. Hamilton is staying with a neighbor for the week and not a day longer. Besides, if Ms. Linda watches him any longer than a week, I fear she might charge me, and I don't have extra money to spare. So, if you want me here, Hamilton comes too."

"I don't like animals, Lola."

I tilt my head, matching his firm stance with a stubborn lift of my chin. "Well, Mr. Valentino, I don't like mysterious situations that require gallons of bleach and extended stays in penthouses, but here we are." My tone is light, but my eyes are dead serious. Hamilton isn't just a dog; he's family. He doesn't like animals, which is great—perhaps he will get this ridiculous idea of me staying longer out of his head. I don't even want to be here now.