“Dr. Peabody,” he said, “You mentioned that you had papers in your office that would be required to arrange for the transfer of items—release forms, catalog pages—do you think that you could bring those to me now? I have a meeting this afternoon, but I would like to make as much progress as I can today. You never know when an opportunity is going to,” he paused, “slip away?” He turned, back to Mina, expression dark and unreadable, and stared. “That is the phrase, yes? Slip away?”
She couldn’t find her voice so she nodded instead. Marco smiled but it never reached his eyes.
“Good, good.” He turned back to Dr. Peabody. “Sometimes I think we should do all our communicating with actions. Words mean so little to some people, and can lead to such misunderstandings.”
Mina trembled as she stood, remembering the last words she’d said to Marco before he climbed from bed. He’d promised to arrange breakfast after his run, told her to sleep, that she’d need her rest. She laughed a little thinly, already feeling the panic brought by the light of day. She pulled the blankets up to her chin, wild curls falling across her eyes, and nodded. It’s so comfortable here. I don’t think I’ll ever want to leave. He rolled over her, pinning her blanket and all, and kissed her possessively. Long moments later, both of them breathing raggedly, he’d answered. Good. Leaving isn’t on the agenda.
As soon as he’d left, though, her feet weren’t just cold, they were ice cubes. She knew he was expecting her to stay, knew she’d all but promised that she would, but she couldn’t do it. The power, the money, the passion… it was just too much for her to handle.
“Of course! I’d be happy to get that paperwork started for you. I have a packet that our new donors are given, and if you can give me ten minutes my assistant can collect all the other items we have prepared. You must understand that once we get into deliveries and security that there will be more specific materials that must be addressed, but Mina here will be able to talk you through any of that as it comes up.” He paused, fingers tapping against his chin. “Ivy?” Ivy jumped and pulled her eyes away from Marco.
“Yes, Dr. Peabody?” She was already moving towards the door and it took every ounce of restraint for Mina not to grab her arm and stop her. “Is there something you’d like me to take care of?”
“Yes, yes,” the little man was muttering, now, his mind speeding along at a mile a minute. “I need you to run down to the Development and Giving department and pick up the donor packet that they have, and then stop in the office of the Senior Archivist and let him know that we need all the release forms and transport restrictions for the more delicate items that will be coming. Oh, and don’t forget to stop in…” His voice faded away as Ivy followed him down the hall, visions of Etruscan sugarplums dancing in their heads.
And just like that, she was alone with Marco Genovese.
The room was admittedly small, but with Marco standing there it felt miniscule. His broad shoulders blocked her view of the door, her only avenue of escape, and she looked everywhere but at his face, afraid of what she’d see there.
Or what she wouldn’t see.
She could feel the walls closing in on her. She shifted from foot to foot nervously, waiting, waiting, waiting, but she wasn’t sure for what.
“You left without saying goodbye.” Marco’s voice was flat, the words curiously distant.
“I thought it was better that way.” Her voice didn’t crack and she was grateful for that. Her breathing was tight, her heart was racing. She raised a hand to push a curl out of her face and was amazed that it wasn’t shaking like a leaf. Long, muscular legs took a stride forward and cut the distance between them in half.
“You were,” he paused again and she forced herself to look at him, “mistaken.”
His calm infuriated her. How dare he come in here, to her office, to her world, and pull this kind of stunt? He might be used to all this King of the Universe crap, but she didn’t have to put up with it.
“The only mistake I made,” she said, anger putting an edge in her voice, “was going home with you in the first place.” The look on his face changed minutely and she hurried on. “Don’t get me wrong. I enjoyed myself. I did. I can honestly say I’ve never experienced anything like it before, but it was a mistake. Rebound madness. A one night stand.”
Everything in the room grew still. She wasn’t even sure she was breathing. Marco held her gaze for a moment that stretched into another and another, longer and longer until she was almost dizzy with it. Then he stepped forward, crowding her back against her desk, the heat from him palpable even in the stuffy little room.