When I get home, I grab the pile of mail I had thrown on the desk as I left. I pull out a large manila envelope. Walking to the refrigerator, I grab one of the last two beers and I walk into my room. I plop down on my bed, looking at the envelope.
That’s odd, there’s no postmark, no stamp.
I open it and pull the contents out. My heart drops down into the pit of my stomach as I look at a picture of Rocco and me in a heated embrace on a glossy eight-by-ten photograph. My breathing is shallow. What the hell? I can’t tell where we are. The close-up of our faces takes up the entire picture. I slide it to the back and look at the next one showing his hand underneath my shirt. I glance at the floor next to my bed. It is the same shirt I wore earlier today in his office. The next one is a similar embrace but in front of the couch he carried me to. The passion in our faces, the heat in our kiss, these photographs show it all. My fingers loosen and my head gets dizzy as the pictures fall to the floor. I feel a warmth flood over me. Who would do this? I look down at the pictures scattered on my carpet.
“I have to talk to Joanne before someone tries to use these against me or Rocco.”
Chapter 15
ROCCO
“Hey, Rocco.”
I look up from my work and frown when I see Nancy standing in my doorway.
“Nancy,” I say, bluntly. I turn back to the computer.
“Can I talk to you?”
“Depends. Are you here to try to sabotage someone again?”
She walks in and sits in the chair across from my desk. “I want to apologize for that. I was jealous, and I really had no reason to be. I’ve talked to Maddie and we are good. We actually went out the other night and made amends. I like her,” she nods.
“Well, good. It’s nice to know you are able to work through any differences you had.” I hesitate, waiting for her to continue, but she sits there and looks at me with a solemn expression on her face. “So, what can I do for you?” I ask, when she doesn’t offer anything more.
“I really don’t know how to, or if I should, bring it up. I’ve always liked you and I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Never mind. It’s just going to look like I’m trying to get her again. I should go.” She gets up and starts to walk out. I’m skeptical, but maybe if I hear what she has to say, I can decipher a truth versus a lie.
“Nancy. It is obviously bothering you if you came in to tell me. Come back over and sit.”
When she finally sits back down after a few moments of hesitation, she presses her lips together and looks down at her hands.
“I just don’t want any problems, but I’m worried that Maddie might not have the best of intentions in her relationship with you.”
“Relationship?” So much for keeping it under wraps.
“Yeah. I know about you two, and I was so happy when I heard. I know we didn’t get off on the right foot. That’s why I… kind of encouraged her to talk to you. I think that is why she went to see you the other night.”
“So, you knew.”
“I honestly thought she had good intentions. I thought she really liked you.”
“She… does,” I reiterate with skepticism.
“Just keep your guard up, please?”
“Nancy. Stop beating around the bush. If you have something to say, then say it. Otherwise, stop wasting my time.”
I watch as she purses her lips and fidgets with a button on her top.
“I was supposed to meet her at Manhattan’s Best last night but I called and canceled. Something came up, however, it finished early so I decided to go after all and when I got there I overheard her talking to someone and it wasn’t good.”
“I’m sure whatever you heard was taken out of context.”
“She said something about going to Joanne, something about an investment? She is going to tell her you seduced her and pushed yourself on her. I’m afraid she wants you out of the way.”
“That is ridiculous.”
“She has pictures, Rocco.”
“Maddie wouldn’t do something like that. She doesn’t have it in her.”
“I didn’t want to believe it either, so I stuck around in the shadows until I saw this.”
She pulls out her phone and presses a couple of buttons. When she hands it to me and shows me a picture of Maddie in an embrace with another man I find myself still skeptical, examining the picture, looking for some signs of Photoshopping or Maddie pulling away, or something. A feeling in the pit of my stomach forms and I begin to believe Nancy. Apparently, my face shows it.
“I’m so sorry. I know how you feel about Maddie.”