Down to Business (Business Series) (39 page)

We both looked over as her phone rang on her dresser. She rushed over and picked it up.

“Hello? Okay, I’ll be down in a minute.”

She turned back to me and blew me a kiss. “My friend is here to pick me up. Don’t spend the whole night worrying please? He’s fine. He’s Vinny.”

I sighed and looked down at my phone in my hand. “Yeah, I’ll try.”

“I’ll see you in the morning.” She grabbed her purse and walked out to the living room. “Lock the door after me!”

I listened to the door close before I got off the bed and went to lock it. Afterwards, I sat on the sofa and sulked, staring down at my phone. I wondered if I should call the police, but then I figured his mother should be the one to do that. I wondered if she had heard from him yet. I prayed that he was safe.

I pulled Lindy’s afghan over me and turned on the TV. I checked the news to make sure there were no serious car accidents or shootings, my mind going much grimmer than I wanted. I considered walking to his dorm, but I figured most likely that was the last place he’d be. When I lost all hope, it was around 12:30. I curled up under the afghan and managed to fall asleep until the sound of someone pounding on the door jarred me awake.

I sat straight up, my heart pounding painfully against my ribcage. I immediately remembered I was alone and had nothing to protect myself. I slipped out of the afghan and stood up, only to be shaken up all over again by a second set of louder knocks. I gathered my courage, stepped up to the door, and leaned on the tips of my fingers, peeking through the hole. All I could see was black hair and a forehead. Then I recognized Vinny’s profile when he turned his head to the side.

I sighed in relief and I couldn’t get the door opened fast enough. I even yanked on it without unlocking it. Once the door was open and he was standing alive and well before me, I was overwhelmed with emotion. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to punch him or kiss him. My tear choked greeting came out as:

“Where the fuck have you been?”

He was soaking wet from the rain, and the look in his red-rimmed eyes told me that he was fighting his own demons.

“I’m sorry,” he answered, his voice rough.  He reached out and embraced me tight. I squeezed him back and released another sigh of relief.

“Get in here,” I said, pulling away. “You’re soaked… did you call your mother? She’s worried.”

“Yeah, I called her before I got here.” He stepped inside and ran a hand through his drenched hair. “Where’s Lindy?”

“At some kegger looking for a rebound.”

I took his soaked black hoodie from him and laid it over the kitchen chair to dry.

“Did you want something warm to drink? I think we have some instant coffee somewhere—” When I turned around, he caught my shoulders and took my mouth in a hungry kiss. I grabbed the front of his white undershirt to steady myself as his tongue met mine in hot clashes, while his hands moved beneath my shirt to caress my naked breasts. I moaned, suddenly consumed with lust. My heart that was pounding in a panic minutes before was now threatening to combust. His lips chased up and down my neck and his hands moved from my breasts to follow the curve of my hips. They ended up down in my pants, where they cupped my rear and pulled my hips into his. His hard-on pressing between my legs, sent a thrilling ache throughout my lower body.

All of my concern for his well-being changed to concern about how long it would take to get him naked. I unbuttoned his damp jeans and peeled them down. Once he was down to his boxers, her lifted me onto the kitchen table and pulled my pajama top over my head.

I wrapped my legs around his waist and our mouths met again in a deep kiss. He pushed me further onto the table and peeled down my panties, leaving me nude and aching for him. It felt like an eternity for him to remove the last of his clothing and get the condom on. Once he was ready, he pulled me to the edge of the table and I wrapped my legs around his waist. He stared into my eyes and guided himself between my legs. I shuddered and released a moan as he sunk deep inside my walls. He held me there for a moment, and I relished the feeling of him before his hips began their assault, drowning me in the pleasure I had come to love so much.

Once we finished, he carried me to my room and we laid in my bed. I laid my head on his chest and listened to the sound of his heart thudding against my ear while he held me close. Releasing a satisfied breath, my fingers traced up and down the front of his chest as we enjoyed the quiet calm. After a few minutes, his breathing slowed along with his heart’s pounding. I looked up fully expecting him to be asleep, but his gaze met mine and he leaned in to kiss me.

“Are you okay?” he whispered against my lips.

“Shouldn’t I be asking you that?”

“I am now,” he said, kissing me again and running his fingers through my hair.

I pulled back and looked into his eyes. “Where were you tonight, Vinny?”

He paused and looked up at the ceiling. “I needed to get shit straightened out. Clear my head.”

I frowned. His vague answer telling me he didn’t want to elaborate. “Where did you go to do that?”

“My father’s place.”

I stared at him, stunned by that answer. “You saw your father?”

“Yeah. He called me after I left Mazzolas. He wanted answers. He wanted to know what I planned to do about getting cheated.”

“And what did you say?”

“I said I didn’t know. At the time I was so overwhelmed I didn’t know what to do, so when he told me to meet him at his apartment so we could talk, it sounded like a good idea.”

I placed my hand over his chest. “What happened?”

He shook his head. “We just talked. He told me I needed to keep my friends close and my enemies closer. He said that what Vivian’s father did was wrong and he wouldn’t forget it, our family won’t forget it, and we should get payback.”

My eyes widened. “You’re not going to do something crazy are you?”

His serious expression changed to amusement and he smiled at me. “No. You really think I’d do something crazy?”

“I don’t know. I’ve watched those crazy mob movies. I know what people like your dad do for payback when they get wronged.”

“That shit is dramatized.”

“It is not.”

He smirked. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to do anything crazy. I’m going to play my cards right. Acting like an asshole isn’t going to help.”

“What’s your plan?”

“I’m going to convince Vivian to give me back her share.”

My heart dropped. “How do you plan to do that?”

“Once I get a couple months of managing under my belt…I’ll pay her off.”

“Why doesn’t your mother just pay her off now? Isn’t it her fault Vivian’s father is involved anyway?”

“It’s not my mother’s problem anymore. It’s mine, and I’ll take care of it.”

“What if she doesn’t want the money?”

“Then I’ll give her something else she wants in exchange.”

I knew what she wanted. “Vinny…”

“Don’t worry about it. It won’t come between us, trust me,” he assured. “It’s just going to take some time.”

“So I’m guessing we have to keep pretending there is nothing between us?” I asked, frowning.

“For a little longer.”

I sighed and rolled over, glaring into the darkness.

He leaned over me and rubbed his hand over my abdomen. “Come on Autumn, don’t do this now.” 

“It’s just annoying. I feel like I’m your whore or something. Your mother knows about us, Suz knows, so why do we even care what Vivian thinks?”

“Because Vivian is taking a five-hundred grand away from me by owning half of the company. This is my business now, Autumn. I need to think like a business owner. Vivian is part of my business now whether I want her there or not.”

I turned to him again and sat up, unable to hold back my anger. “Yeah well I’m your girlfriend. Maybe you need to think about that too.”

He looked stunned for a moment. I realized that it was the first time either of us had admitted to being official.

His brows came together in frustration. Why do you keep giving me such a hard time?”

“Because it’s hard. Now that she is an owner you will spend even more time kissing her ass.”

“I won’t kiss her ass. You know that was not my choice. My hands are tied.”

I dropped back onto my pillow and draped my arm over my forehead.

“Just keep in mind that it’s temporary until I get Mazzolas to myself. Then she will be done with and you get to have me to yourself…” he pulled me on top of him and kissed my lips.  “That is what you want, right?”

“You know that’s what I want.”

He brushed his hand through my hair. “That’s what I want too. I promise I’m going to make it up to you.  I’ll make it up to you tenfold.”

I smirked. “Oh yeah? How do you plan to do that?”

“I have my ways,” he said cocky like. “Why do you think Vivian wants to get back together? She knows what she’s missing.”

I rolled my eyes. “Maybe she should have realized it before.”

“I’m glad she didn’t realize it, because I might not be here with you,” he said, staring into my eyes.

I had to smile. “You know, I never got to congratulate you on your promotion.”

“I can think of some ways you could congratulate me.” He mumbled and pressed a kiss on my neck.

I closed my eyes and fought the urge to give into his suggestion. “If that’s the case, I already congratulated you twice today.”

“One more time can’t hurt,” he said, rolling me onto my back and kissing my collarbone.

“It’s already two in the morning.” I said brushing my hand through the back of his silky hair.

“What’s your point?”

“We should be responsible and go to sleep so were not dragging our asses in class tomorrow.”

“I have enough responsibility…I think I deserve one last night of fun.”

I smiled as he pulled me against him and kissed my lips, quieting any further arguments.

Who needed sleep anyway?

One Month Later…

Vinny
wasn’t kidding when he said he was going to have more responsibility after taking over Mazzolas. He worked just about every day. I liked watching him handle his new position, especially when he would greet guests all professional, dressed in his suit.

After a month of managing Mazzolas, it took a toll on him. He started sleeping through Business 101 and instead of going to the gym after class, he would take naps at my apartment while I did our homework. I began to worry that he wasn’t going to finish the semester.

It became a usual occurrence that right after we finished in bed, he’d pass out within five minutes. I felt like everything was taking its toll on him, including Vivian. As expected, she started throwing her new position in everyone’s face. She’d make me do stupid things that she hated to do, but she didn’t know I came from a background in food service where I did everything, so I didn’t mind refilling the ice water pitcher and folding napkins. I just let her think it annoyed me to satisfy her.

She also grew bolder with Vinny, which did bother me. She would walk up when he was talking to guests and introduced herself. She would pet his arm or rest her hand on his back, and look up at him with her fake smile so people questioned if they were together. It made me want to stick a fork in her.

Before I knew it, mid-terms were right around the corner. Unlike me, Vinny was unprepared, so I forced him to come over and get some studying done. I might have been able to complete his homework, but he’d have to take his own exams.

On his first day off from Mazzolas in weeks, I made him dinner, which consisted of hotdogs and French fries. He ate it like it was his last meal and before he could try to fall asleep on me, we cracked open our textbooks.

We sat on opposite sides on the coffee table in the living room  and I jotted down an outline for our mid-term in Business 101 while he played around on his phone.

“Are you taking notes on your phone or what?” I asked sarcastically.

He looked up and smirked. “I really don’t need this class anymore, I already got the position I am going to college for.”

“You still need your degree. Put the phone down and get writing or no sex afterwards,” I threatened, writing more notes.

“That’s bullshit.”

“No it’s not, Vinny. You need to pass so take this shit seriously.”

“It’s only midterms.” He set his blackberry down on the coffee table next to his open book and grabbed his pen. “I know all of this already.”

“Then why did you get a D on your last pop quiz?”

“Because I was too distracted thinking about your ass.”

I narrowed my eyes at him and smirked. “Don’t you dare blame me for that. I can’t help it you think with your dick.”

He grinned. “What can I say? I like my extracurricular activities more than getting good grades.”

“Maybe we will have less extracurricular activities and more studying until your grades improve…” I threatened, pointing at the textbook.

“Maybe we should have less of this shit and more sex…” he tossed the text book aside. “Did I tell you how hot you look taking down a foot long hotdog?”

I threw my pen at him. He blocked it with his arm and jumped up to retaliate. I screamed and tried to hide behind the throw pillow on the sofa, but he tackled me, tossed the pillow aside, and tickled my sides until I thought I would pee myself. It was the one time I was glad his phone rang. I was so exhausted from all my laughing and squirming I just laid there and listened to him talk. It was some supply company calling to tell him that his order for Mazzolas was going to be late. He told them that if they didn’t get the shipment there on time, he’d never order from them again. Once he hung up, he turned back to me and draped his arm around my shoulders.