Turn Towards the Sun Book Two: After the Rain (44 page)

“Sounds good, so see you soon,” he says, and hangs up.

As I wait for the elevator, I spot creepy Dax standing outside, watching the pool area being tiled. I hope to avoid him. The more I’m around the man, the less I like him.

I head up to the third floor and step out. Oh wow. Some of the carpeting has been laid in the hallways and a few of the rooms. I spy a table near the elevators covered with the fabric swatches I’m supposed to check, and I carry them into one of the rooms so that I can see them in the proper context. I hold a few swatches up to the wall to see how they look against the warm, creamy paint we chose.

“You’re back, Mrs. Milano.”

Startled, I turn around to see Dax standing in the doorway.

“What do you want?” I ask, annoyed. I don’t even bother to hide my disdain.

“I want many things, little lady.”

“Don’t call me that. This is not the wild, wild west, you know.” I roll my eyes and go back to my work.

“It’s just the southern in me showing.”

I ignore him and try to focus on my fabric swatches. Out of the corner of my eye, I see that he’s still in the room, leaning against the doorframe. “Again, do you want something?” I ask him.

“I do.”

I sigh, exasperated. He plays this little game all the time, hovering around me until I finally leave a room or Enzo arrives. Quite frankly, it’s bordering on harassment.

“Listen, Dax, I have work to do. I have neither the time nor the interest to play your little games. So either tell me what you want or leave.”

He walks towards me and I suddenly feel uncomfortable. I don’t like the expression on his face.

“You act so high and mighty all the time, but at the end of the day you’re just another rich little cunt I’d like to bang,” he says, grabbing my arm and pulling me close.

“Let go of me!” I shout. “Are you crazy?”

“Yes, I am. You drive me crazy, and you know it. Walking around here with your tight jeans on, you’re a little cock tease, ain’t ya?”

“Dax, let go of me right now! I’ll have your balls for this.”

“You can have my balls anytime you want,” he replies.

“How exactly do you think this is going to work out for you? I’m married to your fucking boss. You think I’m just going to let this go? You’re dead wrong, asshole.”

“Why do you act like you don’t want this attention? Women like you always want this. I can make you feel things your slick Italian husband can’t. I’m a man’s man.”

“You’re a creepy prick and nothing more,” I shout at him. “You’ve got five seconds to get your fucking hands off me.”

“Or what..? What are you gonna do?”

I slap him across the face as hard as I can, but he just laughs and shoves me down on the bed. Suddenly, he’s on top of me, trying to kiss me.

“Get off me,” I scream as loud as I can.

The next thing I know, Dax is off me and across the room. I look up to see Calvin, who must have walked in on the scene. I watch in shock and amusement as he punches Dax straight in the jaw, knocking him to the ground.

“What the hell are you doing? She’s Enzo’s wife!” Calvin hovers imposingly over Dax, who wipes blood from his mouth and makes no attempt to get up.

“Are you okay, Ava?” Calvin asks, offering me his hand.

I stand up and smooth down my sweater. “Yeah, I’m fine now.”

Dax pulls himself up off the floor and I cross my arms over my chest.

“Mrs. Milano, my apologies. I just assumed–”

“Assumed what? You thought Ava would fuck you? Are you insane?” Calvin asks.

“No, I’m not insane. I just thought she might. Lots of chicks do, especially the married ones.” He straightens his shirt.

“Enzo will find out about this,” Calvin continues. “You realize that, right?”

“Yep,” Dax replies. “He’ll have my resignation tomorrow morning. I know him well enough to know that our working relationship will be over after this.”

Oh shit. The hotel is nowhere near done and everything was going so well. As much as I don’t want to see this jerk-off ever again, I have to admit that he is good at his job. In just a few months, the project would be finished.

“Calvin, can I talk to you for a minute, please?” I say.

“Sure Ava. What’s up?”

We walk over to a corner to talk. “Dax can’t quit yet,” I tell him. “We’re almost done with the hotel. I think we should put this past us for a couple more months. Let him finish the job. He didn’t hurt me.”

“No way, Ava,” he responds. “I don’t keep secrets from Enzo, especially ones like this.”

“I know, I don’t either, but Calvin, he’ll lose his mind over this. It will derail his focus and he’ll lock me in the house for months again.” Especially after he finds out I’m pregnant.

Calvin considers my proposal for a moment. “Even if we could keep it from him, we can’t ensure that Dax won’t say something.”

“Dax has far more to lose. He’ll forfeit a very lucrative deal and he’ll lose out on the prestige of being associated with this hotel. He’ll keep his mouth shut.”

“Then how do we handle it when the hotel is complete? Enzo will be furious with us for keeping it from him,” says Calvin.

“There will be no reason to tell him. The relationship will be over. Enzo isn’t building anything else here.”

“I don’t know, Ava. This is risky.”

I think about what I’m suggesting and shake my head. He’s right; I already know how I feel when I keep secrets from my husband. What am I thinking?

“You’re right, Calvin. I can’t keep secrets from Enzo. I just don’t want him to lose everything he’s worked so hard for with this hotel over a stupid incident like this. I don’t know what to do.”

“I know what you mean,” he replies. “He’s going to flip out, and rightfully so. I would lose my mind if some tool treated Gabby like that. But, I think the right thing to do is to tell Enzo the truth.”

“Okay.”

I turn to find Dax still rubbing his jaw. Guess Calvin has a pretty fierce left hook. I sigh. We have no alternative but to tell Enzo. This is not going to be good.

“Dax, I don’t even know what to say to you right now,” Calvin tells him. “This little stunt fucked up everything. I can’t believe a man who is as good as you are at his job lets his dick make his decisions for him.”

“Hey, she’s a pretty girl. I got carried away and, like I said, it usually works. You have my word that it will never happen again. I’ll stay far away from you, Mrs. Milano.”

I nod. He actually sounds sincere. I don’t know how trustworthy the guy is, but it won’t really matter when my husband finds out.

“Go back to work, Dax. We’ll have to let Enzo decide how to handle things,” Calvin says.

“That’s what I’ll do. Again, my apologies ma’am,” he tells me on his way out.

Oh, so now I’m ma’am? A minute ago I was a rich little cunt. Nice.

“You’re sure you’re okay?” Calvin asks.

“Yes, completely,” I reply. “He didn’t hurt me at all, and thank God he was unsuccessful in kissing me. He really thought he had a chance with me? Unbelievable.”

“Well, unfortunately he’s right. A lot of married women around here are willing to have a little fun. Most of the women who used to hit on me were married. Enzo and I always had a rule, no married women. Too much trouble and really bad karma,” he adds, smiling.

“I think you should tell him,” I suggest.

“Yes, I think it will be best coming from me. He’ll be too emotional hearing it from you.”

“Are you going to call him now or wait until he comes home?” I ask, wanting to be prepared for his wrath.

“I haven’t decided. If I call him now he will be home tonight, but he really needs to get his business done in California. I think I’ll call Alex. He knows him really well, too.”

“Okay. I’m going to just call it a day and go home,” I say. “I’m a little tired anyway.”

Francesca comes into the room with a worried look on her face. “Yes, what is going on up here? Dax came down and told me he screwed up.”

“Oh, he screwed up, alright,” Calvin tells her. “He made a pass at Ava.”

“What?” she gasps.

“Yeah, I walked up here and he had her pinned to the bed, so I clocked him.” Calvin rubs his hand.

“Oh my goodness, are you alright?” she asks, hugging me.

“I’m fine. He didn’t hurt me. I’m more worried about Enzo’s reaction at this point.”

“Yes, as you should be,” Francesca replies.

“Calvin is going to handle it,” I tell her.

She rubs my hand. “That is best.”

“If it’s alright, I would like to go home,” I say. “I’m feeling very tired.”

Francesca nods. “Of course. The curtains can wait, no?”

“Thanks, Checca.” I kiss her cheek. “And thanks Calvin for everything.”

I shudder to think how that scene would have played out without his intervention.

When I get home, I find Cassie and Chris are not at home. After a few hours, I hear them come in. I tell Cassie what happened and she is outraged.

“I knew that guy was no good. I’m gonna kick his ass next time I see him,” she says.

“You may not see him again. When Enzo finds out, he’s out.”

“For sure, Enzo’s going to have his ass.”

“I know.”

“You seem sad. What ya thinking?” Cassie asks me.

“We’re so close to the hotel being finished. It is more than five months ahead of schedule. Enzo is so excited about it, and even though he’s an asshole, Dax is really good at what he does. I just wish this hadn’t happened.”

“It’s not your fault. I mean, except for being hot and wearing tight jeans.” She laughs, and I know this is her attempt to lighten the mood. “Seriously though, Dax fucked up, not you. So he will have to deal with the fallout,” she adds.

“Yeah, not so much,” I argue. “You haven’t had to deal with Mr. Overprotective yet. It’s not fun. I’ll be a prisoner in my own home. As it is, when he finds out about the baby, he may keep me locked up just the same.”

“Okay, yeah, so he’s a little excessive there, but he has a right to be. You were stalked by a woman who tried to hurt you on more than one occasion. Then, let’s see, you were chased by blood-hungry paparazzi for several months, and now you’ve had the king of all losers jump you as soon as he could get you alone.”

“Well, gee, when you put it like that.” I smile.

“You’re at a point now where I think you can stick up for yourself if Enzo gets overbearing,” Cassie says.

“I guess.”

My phone rings, startling both of us. It’s Enzo.

I answer the phone with “Hey, babe,” trying to keep my tone light. I have no idea what he knows yet.

“Ciao amore. Come stai?” he asks, sounding normal.

“I’m fine. Just tired,” I tell him. “How are you?”

“I’m tired too. I just spent ten hours dealing with zoning issues. I think it’s worked out now. I just ordered dinner and plan to go to sleep soon. What are you doing tonight?”

“No plans. I’m just going to hang out here with Cassie and Chris.”

“Okay, bella. I’ll call you in the morning. Just wanted to let you know I was thinking of you, and I love you.”

“I love you too, and I think of you every moment of my day,” I say.

“That pleases me to hear. See you soon.”

“Ciao.”

When I hang up, Cassie sits down next to me on the couch. “I take it he doesn’t know anything yet?”

“Nope, it doesn’t seem like it. Calvin wasn’t sure when he would tell him.”

“How do you feel physically?”

“I’m good. Just tired.”

“Yeah, you should probably get used to that,” Cassie says. “When my friend, Susan, was pregnant, she said she could never get enough sleep.”

“Super.”

“Are you hungry?”

“Yes. What do we have?” I ask.

“Chris bought some sandwiches from this really good deli he found. I’ll make you a plate if you like,” she offers.

“Thanks, girly.”

My phone rings again. This time it’s Alex.

“Hi Ava,” he says. “You need to know that I advised Calvin to call Enzo and tell him what happened today with Dax. It’s the best way. Even though we all have his best interests in mind, we both know his reaction will be far worse if he finds out we kept this from him.”

“Yeah, I know. Is he calling right now?”

“Yes. If I know Enzo like I think I do, you can expect a phone call or his presence very soon.”

“Do you know if what he was doing in San Diego was important?” I ask.

“Yes, but it’s nothing I couldn’t do for him if I had to. He likes to do these things in person, but you are more important to him than any hotel property, as I’m sure you know by now.”

“I do. I’ll brace myself.”

“He isn’t going to be upset with you, Ava.”

“I know, but he is going to be upset. It’s going to derail the progress of the hotel.”

“Hey, that doesn’t matter,” Alex insists. “What Dax did to you was unacceptable. That matters far more than a hotel. He’s not the only contractor in the city.”