“Of course. The location isn’t a problem by itself. It’s who the offer is coming from.”
“All right, I’m completely lost now. Explain it to me like I’m stupid. Use small words.”
“The offer is coming from OrbitaProm.”
“That means nothing to me.”
“Its CEO is Roman Demidov,” Ferrara said, his gaze turning thoughtful.
“Again, that means nothing to me.”
“Demidov is… well known in certain circles.”
“Ugh,” Nate said, beyond frustrated. “It’s like pulling teeth! Can you elaborate for once instead of being all arrogant, mysterious, and shit?”
Satan shot him an irritated look, but to Nate’s surprise, he actually clarified what he meant.
“He’s a Russian oligarch suspected to be an important figure in the Russian mafia,” he said, without any inflection in his voice. “Or maybe he used to be one. There have been rumors for the past few years that he’s getting rid of the illegal side of his business, but I don’t know how true the rumors are.” The corners of his mouth turned downward. “I don’t exactly move in those circles, so any information I have is secondhand and possibly unreliable.”
Nate tried to digest what that meant—what Ferrara wasn’t saying.
“You suspect Demidov has some nefarious motives? Because of your family?”
Ferrara shot him a sardonic look. “Have you been gossiping about me?”
Nate flushed. “No more than everyone else. It’s common knowledge that your family is… you-know-what.”
“You-know-what,” the asshole repeated, his lips twitching.
Nate glowered at him. “Don’t mock me. So what, you think he wants to use you to get to your family? Everyone knows your family basically disowned you.”
A strange expression crossed Ferrara’s face. He shrugged.
“Then what are you worried about?” Nate said.
“I’m not worried.”
Nate rolled his eyes again. “Right. What are you mildly concerned about then?”
Ferrara said nothing.
God, he was so damn infuriating!
Nate racked his mind. “You’re worried he’s made a deal with your father to get you implicated in something you don’t want?”
After a few moments, Ferrara shrugged, his eyes hooded. “It’s possible.”
Nate was sure Ferrara wasn’t telling him something important, but he doubted he’d get an honest answer—or any answer at all.
“You may leave early today to pack and get your things in order before the trip. Brenda has already bought the tickets. You can get more details about the trip from her.”
“Why do you need me with you, exactly?” Nate said. “You didn’t take me with you to the Japanese trip.”
“Because I didn’t need you.”
“But now you need me? Why?”
“Later,” Ferrara said curtly, returning his gaze to his computer. “Pack for a week-long trip.”
Nate looked at him suspiciously, his Spidey-senses tingling and insisting that something was off, but he knew when he was being dismissed.
He turned and left, feeling baffled and annoyed.
***
“I don’t like it,” Maya said, watching Nate put his charger into his suitcase.
“I thought you had your own charger?” Nate said, looking around and trying to remember if he packed his toothbrush.
His sister sighed. “Don’t play dumb. You know what I mean. I don’t get why he needs you for this trip.”
“I’m his assistant,” Nate reminded her.
Maya humphed, looking as skeptical as Nate felt. “What will you be assisting him with during business negotiations at some fancy Italian mansion?”
Nate shrugged, trying not to show that he’d felt equally confused ever since he’d found out the details of the trip from Brenda—that they would be staying at Roman Demidov’s luxurious villa on Lake Como for the duration of the negotiations.
“Lake Como sounds nice,” he said lightly. “Maybe I’ll visit that villa from Star Wars while I’m there. I’ve always wanted to see Italy but I didn’t think it’d actually happen anytime soon—and free of charge.”
Maya snorted. “Free? I’m sure you’ll be earning it on your knees.”
Nate glared at her, his face warming. “That’s not—that’s not why he’s taking me with him! It isn’t happening again.”
“Right.”
“It isn’t!” Nate said, hating how defensive and weak his voice sounded, even though he was telling the truth. He was.
He grabbed his suitcase and headed out, too annoyed with Maya to say goodbye.
But she caught up with him outside. “Sorry, I was being an ass,” she said, grabbing his arm and hugging him. “Have a nice trip, yeah?”
Nate nodded, dropping a kiss on her forehead.
She pulled back and looked him in the eyes, her gaze serious. “Just be careful, all right? I don’t trust that man.”
Nate could only smile faintly and nod.
He was almost late for boarding.
“Where have you been?” Ferrara said sharply when Nate entered the first-class cabin.
“I’m here, aren’t I?” Nate said, dropping himself into the seat next to his boss. His stomach clenched as he caught Ferrara’s dark eyes. He looked away quickly.
Maya was wrong, right? Right?
He looked down, acutely aware of the man beside him. “My sister thinks you’re taking me with you to suck your cock.”
Someone made a choking noise.
Nate flushed, realizing that there was someone else in the cabin—an elderly woman in the seat by the opposite window. She was glaring at him, clearly scandalized.