It’s something she started doing when we lost our mom. Our world changed and she was there to make it all seem like it would be okay.
“Hello,” I answer as I hold a finger up to Gio.
He winks at me and takes my tablet to start tapping away at it.
“What’s up, sis?” Nyla says.
“Nothing, I’m with Gio working on my boss’s schedule.”
“Tell Gio I said hi. Are they still treating you well?”
“Of course,” I reply. I cover the phone and lean in toward Gio. “Ny says hi.”
To my surprise his eyes dilate and his lips part. I furrow my brows. The two have met once and for no more than a few seconds.
I dart my eyes over to Jace and he seems to be interested in the conversation. Something that’s highly rare. I make a note to ask questions later. Gio quickly recovers and clears his throat.
“Hello, Nyla. Will she be home for the holidays?”
I place the phone on speaker. Peeking over at Jace once more. He’s on the edge of his seat, his phone in his hands. If I didn’t know better, I’d think his attention is fully on the device.
“Ny, Gio asked if you’re coming home for the holidays? I have you on speaker.”
“It depends. Am I wanted home for the holidays?”
“Absolutely, I miss you. I was hoping you would come home.”
I glance at Gio and notice he seems to be holding his breath. I find myself mirroring him.
“I would like to get to know my friend’s sister more. Come home. I’ll send a jet to…”
Gio pauses to wait for Nyla to answer the implied question. She laughs. I can’t help but feel like I’m missing something here.
“I’ll come home. I have to go.”
Gio bares his teeth for a second before he quickly schools his features. Jace sits back in his seat with a tiny smile in the corners of his lips.
Chapter 3
Lunch
Dante
I look down at my phone and nearly growl. The nanny has been texting me to inform me Bethany took off and left Bella hanging. They were supposed to spend the day together.
“Is everything okay?” Gio asks.
I look up and frown. I don’t want to tell him the truth. He’ll only gripe about me needing a divorce. I look to Lizzy as she busies herself with her phone. I can’t help the smile that comes to my lips.
She’s reading. I can tell by the concentration on her face. She gets that look a lot while at her desk. I make a mental list of all the things I do know about this woman from having her work for me over the years.
I clear my throat, drawing her attention. She looks up, a bit startled. While my brother fails terribly at hiding his chuckle, I force mine down. Lizzy’s cheeks seem to glow as she looks between the two of us.
In this moment, I take in the differences between Bethany and Lizzy. While both are brown skinned. Lizzy is darker. She’s more of a deep brown complexion. For lack of a better explanation, Hersey’s chocolate comes to mind when I look at Lizzy.
Bethany, on the other hand, is more of an almond brown. Where they both have oval-shaped eyes. I think Lizzy’s are a bit higher in tilt and more oval. Hers are definitely darker than Bethany’s. Lizzy is taller than my wife, but fuller in shape.
I shake away the comparisons, to clear my thoughts. I’m not here to match my wife against my assistant.
“I hope I didn’t interrupt a good part,” I say, pointedly nodding to her phone.
“Oh, no. I hope you weren’t trying to get my attention for too long.” She gives a sheepish smile that lights her face.
Again, I can’t help noting how different she is from my wife. Bethany has become like a dark cloud these days. It’s always about her. My phone buzzes, pulling my attention from the woman sitting across from me. I scowl before looking down at the annoying device.
“Don’t worry. You didn’t miss much. His phone has had his attention since we arrived. I’m sure my sister-in-law is at it again,” Gio says smugly.
I give him the finger and stand, smoothing down my tie and buttoning my jacket. “If you will excuse me, I need to make a call.”
I move away from the table without waiting for a reply. Bethany is going to make me strangle her. I sent her a text to find out why she has, yet again, disappointed our daughter? Her reply, she needed to get her hair and nails done.
Hair and nails she had done yesterday. I should know. I had a team sent to her for the party. This is something that could have waited, or she could have taken our daughter with her. Bella loves to have her nails painted.
“Why are you testing me?” I seethe into the phone when I reach the sidewalk outside of the restaurant.