The sarcasm in my voice had Belinda bellowing again. It was like waving a red flag in front of the ever-increasingly crazed bull.
I thought he was going to shout back, but oh no. Instead, he marched around to my side of the desk towards me. I took that opportunity and ran around the other side.
Belinda darted out of my way as quickly as possible, and I was off, sprinting for the stairs.
“Clara, come back here!” Luca was shouting from not far behind. He didn’t scare me, though. In fact, I was having fun.
I saw Alessandro in the hallway downstairs along with some of the others. “Good morning, Miss Murphy.”
“Good morning,” I said breathlessly.
“Alessandro, stop her!” Luca shouted.
Alessandro, as instructed made his play to grab me, but all of a sudden Luca growled. “No, get away from her. Don’t fucking touch her!”
Conflicted, Alessandro dropped his hands, but felt obliged to stand in my way. Every time I darted, so did he. With a smirk on my face, I said, “Alessandro, you better get out of my way.”
I could tell he was watching Luca leisurely walking down the stairs. This was definitely Luca’s downfall. He never seemed to rush for anything. He thought I was now under control, but he had another thing coming.
Before any of them could register what was happening, I unhooked my silk gown and showed Alessandro—and anyone else who was watching—my assets.
Alessandro’s eyes nearly bugged out of his head, and I knew then I would be able to carry on my journey.
“Fuck, Clara. What the fuck are you doing? Alessandro, stop fucking staring at her!” Luca’s growling was escalating around the hallway, and I knew that once he caught me I was going to be in big trouble. “Clara, don’t you dare fucking run away from me!” I puffed a sarcastic laugh, winked at Alessandro, and then bolted. “Get back here right now. Don’t fucking make me run after you.”
Too late, I was out of the hallway and running through the kitchens. “Hey, Tony. Hey, Samantha.”
“Hey yourself. What you doing in here like that? And why are you all out of breath? Does it have anything to do with that ruckus outside?” It would seem that everyone had gotten used to Luca’s presence.
I smiled and was about to answer when Luca barged through the door. For a split second, I almost lost it. He looked fucking hot, but he was even more so when he was angry.
“Sorry, guys. I’ve gotta split!” After grabbing a grape from the counter and giving yet another wink, I was off, leaving behind a trail of laughter from Samantha and Tony, and a, “Stop fucking laughing,” from Luca. Miserable fart. He had no sense of adventure.
Swinging myself through another door, I ran like the wind down the corridor and out through one of the back exits to the hallway. I took a peak outside but I couldn’t see anyone. In fact, I couldn’t see anyone behind me. All seemed a little too quiet. Where was Luca?
I didn’t know quite what to do. I didn’t have a particular place to go or hide; I had just gone with the flow and bolted without thinking.
Knowing I couldn’t possibly stay like this for much longer, I swung the door open into the packed hallway and went running for the stairs.
Everyone was watching and smiling as I ran past them all, winking as I went. I was actually by the stairs, and I went to place one foot on the first step when I felt a pair of all-too-familiar arms from behind me.
“I’ve got you now, you piece of work.” Luca hauled me over his shoulder and proceeded up the stairs.
“Put me down,” I protested. That just awarded me a swift spank on the bottom.
I looked down to the crowd and saw Belinda, Samantha, and Melinda smiling from ear to ear. “Help me,” I pleaded with them. They just smiled and waved at me. “Traitors!”
“Don’t worry, Clara. I’ll sort out the rest of that list!” Belinda shouted.
“You’ll be sorting out more than a list the next time I see you!”
Just before we disappeared from sight, I saw a very disappointed Rachael shaking her head from side to side. I would have to have words with her at some point.
“Luca, for fucks sake, stop being all cavemanish, and put me down!”
As soon as we were inside the room, that’s exactly what he did, but not before pinning me up against the wall. “You ever fucking do that again, and I swear I will rip Alessandro’s eyes out. Do you hear me?”
Still feeling playful, I stuck my tongue out at him. Luca just closed his eyes and shook his head. “How many fucking times do I need to remind you?”
“I have work to do.” Trying to duck under his arm for a getaway, Luca gripped me.