“I’m fine,” I say, careful to mask the embarrassment and irritation in my voice.
“So, Dad,” Bianca interjects, thankfully pulling his attention from me, “I was telling Mom about all the rental properties you have now, and I thought maybe she could rent out one of your places.”
Now, it’s his turn to choke on his drink. “One of my places?” he sputters.
“Oh, Dante that would be so great, it would really help me out. When you rent a place, you never know how your landlord is going to be. At least I know what I’m getting with you.” She sets her hand down on his forearm, squeezing it familiarly, like she’s done it a hundred times before and I have to look away before the jealousy shows on my face.
“Um, that’s a nice idea but I don’t actually have any properties available right now. The only vacancy I have is in the middle of renovations.”
“You don’t have anything at all for me?” Amanda practically coos at him.
“Like I said, there’s nothing available.” She snatches her hand back from its resting place on his arm and turns to give Bianca a steely look. The awkwardness sits heavy over the table and I can’t help but try to clear it.
“I’m sure there are plenty of vacancies in the city right now,” I interject. “We could keep an eye out for you. Maybe check around and see if we know of any places? I’m sure we can find you something near Bianca.”
Both Bianca and Dante shoot me appreciative looks while Amanda doesn’t bother sparing me a glance before muttering, “Sure.”
The rest of the meal is dotted with Amanda’s attempts to engage Dante in conversation with his not-so-subtle re-buffs, while Bianca tries to play peacekeeper, with Hollie and I interjecting when we can. I haven’t enjoyed a meal less since the last time I went home for Christmas.
We’re nearing the end of our entrées when Bianca gives her plan one more shot. “Dad, Mom and I were planning on doing at little sightseeing and shopping after brunch. Do you want to come with us?”
“I’d really love to, pumpkin, but I have a ton of work I need to catch up on.”
Bianca gives a tiny pout but continues to push, “You can’t have that much to do. C’mon, it will just be for a couple of hours.”
“It’s okay, darling. We’re used to hanging out on our own without your Dad,” Amanda says with barely contained disdain dripping from her words.
Dante ignores the jab from his ex and looks genuinely regretful, he never could resist a pout from Bianca. “I really can’t, honey, I’m sorry. The office is covered in paperwork that needs to be sorted and I missed an important email last week that’s set us behind. Things are such a disaster I’m actually thinking of hiring someone part time to help with some of the admin stuff.”
Bianca’s face lights up and a smile forms on her lips. “That’s perfect!” She claps her hands together in excitement.
“It is?” Dante asks, obviously confused by his daughter’s sudden enthusiasm.
“Absolutely.” She nods. “Violet was going to look for a part-time job but if you have one available, she can just work for you. Two birds, one stone, and all that.” She leans back in her chair looking quite pleased with herself.
My head jerks up from the empty plate I was studying, and I can feel my eyes go wide. “Excuse me?”
Dante makes a little choked sound and I’m pretty sure his eyes are as round as my own when he asks, “Violet?”
“She’s right, it is kind of perfect,” Hollie adds. “Working for Dante would be infinitely better than being stuck with an ass of a boss like mine.”
Well, she’s not wrong. A part-time job working for Dante would be greatifI wasn’t pretty sure there were hearts in my eyes every time I looked at him. But if the expression on Dante’s face is anything to go by, it doesn’t seem like I’m his ideal candidate.
“I don’t really think it’s up Violet’s alley. It’s just some filing, sorting emails, maybe making a few calls. I’m sure she’s not interested.”
I absolutely do not want the job. Having to work for Dante would be a special kind of torture. Torture that I have been doing an excellent job of avoiding the past few months. I should be thankful to him for immediately putting down Bianca’s idea. But... something about him not even considering me has my ire up. Does he think I can’t handle it? Or does he think that I’m too stuck-up to lower myself to office work? Not to mention the fact that he told Bianca I wouldn’t be interested without even asking me. All of a sudden I can’t stop thinking about how my parents have been telling me what I can and can’t do my entire life with not a single concern for what I want.
“What are the hours?”Did I just ask that?
Dante jerks his head toward me, eyes wide with something that looks suspiciously like panic.What the holy hell am I doing?
“Well, I hadn’t really thought about it. I would only need someone for about ten hours a week so I guess the hours could be flexible...”
“Perfect,” I find myself saying. Dammit, did I just talk myself into working for Dante?
Apparently I’m not the only one surprised that I just weaseled my way into a job. Dante is looking around the table with a bit of a stunned expression on his face. Well, he might not think I can handle working for him but that just makes me determined to be the best admin he’s ever seen.
“So, when would you like to start?” he asks without looking me in the eye.