“See, there’s the smile we all know and love. Don’t let what that bastard said get to you. I know you, Clara. You’re going to stew on everything he said, but don’t let it rule you. He’s won if you do.” I smiled at Samantha, but noticed movement out of the corner of my eye. It would seem Tony had noticed our little huddle and knew something was wrong.
“What’s happened?” He could definitely tell something was up.
“It’s nothing, Tony. Let’s go home.”
Tony stood strong. “Something’s happened. What is it?”
With a shy smile, Mia looked up to Tony. “Antonio Cavelli happened.”
I glared at Mia. I didn’t want to be starting trouble. Not here.
“Where?” Pretty soon there were two others joining him. Did they have fucking radar? “In the café down the road there,” Mia pointed to where we had just been. “He cornered Clara when she came out of the toilets.”
Feeling a little annoyed, I said, “Okay, Mia. I think I can speak for myself.”
Belinda and Samantha smiled knowingly. Yeah, I was being the alpha female again. I didn’t like people speaking for me. Not when I had a perfectly adequate tongue in my mouth.
“Yes, of course. Sorry.” Mia looked away timidly, and I felt like such a shit.
“Did he hurt you?”
Snapping my attention back to Tony, I shook my head. “No, he was just being a prick.” I smiled trying to lighten the mood, but Tony and the others were off. I knew it would be a wasted journey. Antonio would be long gone by now.
With a sigh, we all walked towards the car. I pulled Mia into my shoulder and planted a kiss on her head. “I’m sorry I snapped at you.”
Mia laughed and squeezed me back. “That’s okay. I know what you’re like and should have realised… Sorry.”
Standing by the car, it wasn’t long before Tony and the others were back. “Let me guess. He wasn’t there?”
Tony shook his head. “Luca’s super pissed, and he wants you back at The Castle—pronto.”
I rolled my eyes. “Of course. We can’t keep the lord and master waiting, can we?”
I was trying to be light-hearted about it all, but the whole journey back, I couldn’t help but replay Antonio’s words back in my head. How much did I really know about Luca? I was mad because I didn’t want what Antonio said get to me. But how could it not when there was some truth to what the arsehole had said?
Getting back to The Castle in next to no time, it wasn’t long before Luca was out the door and running towards me. “I’m going to rip that fucker’s heart out. What did he say?”
Ignoring him, I carried on up the stairs to the door. “Why do you look so worried, Luca?”
Huffing he shouted, “Don’t play fucking games with me. What did he say?”
Stopping momentarily in the hallway, I was aware that an audience was gathering. “I’m not having this conversation here.”
Getting madder, Luca stood his ground. “Well, let’s go up to the tower and discuss it.”
I gestured to the bar and smiled at him. “I will do. But I will get a drink first. I’m suddenly dying for one after all that shopping.”
Luca looked dazed and flustered. “What the fuck? Clara, get your fucking ass up the stairs now!”
I glared at him. “No! Drink first and then we talk.”
Walking towards the bar, I noticed a number of my girls—and even some of Luca’s men—smiling in amusement at our little battle of the sexes thing we had going on.
I’m not sure if Luca was shocked or too angry and high on adrenaline to act, but he let me go without a word.
I sat down at the bar and gestured towards Bill. “Hey, Bill, can I get a brandy—neat—please?
“Certainly, Clara.”
Swivelling my chair around, I noticed a very pissed off Luca glaring at me along with some highly amused faces. “I’m ever so parched,” I said, winking.
Forgetting himself for a moment, Alessandro blurted, “Oh Luca, I think you’re in trouble now.”
Luca glared at him with clenched fists. “Shut the fuck up!”
I got angry. “Don’t you dare speak to him like that!”
“Or what, Clara? Tell me?”
Downing my drink in one go, I shouted, “Or the next time you’ll be moaning my name it won’t be because I’ve just given you the best fucking orgasm you ever had in your life!”
Shocked and regaled is what I would call everyone’s expressions. It didn’t take a genius to realise Luca had had enough. “Are you finished with your drink now?”
Shaking my head, I stood firm. I was finished, but I’d be damned if I let Luca have his way anytime soon. “No. In fact, I think I’ll have another.” I was about to swivel my barstool back round to Bill when I felt his hands on me.