The Italian Heir-CASTELLANO SERIES: MARTIN’S STORY

11

Erika was right—I wasn’t exactly the world’s best boss. I may have falsely professed that I was. As I sat there at the head of the meeting table, I could think of at least 7 different names I would like to call some of my employees.

Incompetent t**t was one of the seven.

“Lucas, you do realize Castellano Holdings does not just center around Rogue anymore, don’t you? Over the years, it has become one of our many other businesses. In other words—history. We’ve evolved from those fashion magazine days and birthed many other industrial and commercial sectors that serve the community all around America. I believe we had a meeting not too long ago discussing what your department should be focused on just last week. Perhaps your subordinates could enlighten you?”

A few murmurs circled around the table and Lucas’s face grew beetroot red. I knew he was a rather arrogant t**t when it comes to work. I’ve heard many of his subordinates feared him because of his micromanaging leadership—something I do not encourage. I’d hate to pull rank on him, but apparently, he doesn’t adhere to warnings.

However, he hasn’t done anything that broke any of our employee rules, so there was no reason to fire him, demote him or put him in his place? Yes.

“My a-apologies Sir, but we were told that a-advertising Rogue was on the priority list under the advertising sector that’s been scheduled as a p-priority.” he stuttered and grew increasingly uncomfortable. The rest at the table grew restless; some were giving Lucas I-told-you-so looks.

In other words, someone grew balls big enough to call the shots on behalf of me without my consent.

“Says who?” I growled. Erika lifted her eyes to meet my fiery ones.

“Me.”

The double doors opened much to John’s protests of ‘Ma’am you are not allowed in there’ and Zoe came striding in with her 4-inch stilettos seemingly like she owned the place. I dismissed John with a wave of my wrist and he answered with a hard look, nodding politely before shutting the door once again.

Lucas quickly emptied his seat on my left and scooted all the way to the end of the table while Zoe purred a thank you. The whole room of 20 people fell silent as Zoe turned to me, her chin sticking out confidently.

“You do realize…” I flattened my palm against the long desk. “Unlike my father, my patience runs out faster than you can utter a word of pointless apology walking into the middle of a meeting like this. What brings you here unbidden, Miss Blunt?”

“And could a lack of empathy for your future business partner be the reason why you’re not CEO?” She whispered for the benefit of protecting my dignity. Or so she thought when there were audible gasps from the table, but I wasn’t the least fazed. “Miss Blunt, you should be familiar by now. I hold no value to titles and positions but authority and exceptional intellect, however, I hold in high regard. Why do you think I’m seated here in this very spot and not someone else?”

Before she could interrupt, I continued. “I may have given you 30 minutes of my time but not my approval of giving orders and making decisions on my behalf to my employees. Tell me if I’m mistaken, but I do believe I call the shots around here.”

“Really? But Lucas here doesn’t seem to mind,” she said.

“That is why Lucas is being replaced as the Senior Ad Manager; Tom, you will take over on this project.”

Tom, a timid but skilled man who was always undermined by, yes, you probably guessed it. He looked up, bright eyed. “But Sir, you can’t possibly have my assistant! I’ve already got a head start on this project—“ Lucas sounded desperate, his palms pressed against the table looking like he wanted to throw a fit on the spot.

“Without my approval,” I interjected calmly. “I should further demote you for your insubordination, but I will not do so. It’s time you learnt a thing or two about respect, ergo consider your short break a favor from your superior.”

Lucas looked like he wanted to say more, but I hope he took the hint by just the expressionless look on my face.

I now turned my attention to a flustered Zoe. “And Miss Blunt, I would appreciate it if you were to consult me on something as salient as such. I find your actions rather impertinent, to begin with.”

“Everyone, please leave us.” Zoe, red-faced, looking sharply at everyone else around the table.

If I wanted to be a jerk to my ex in front of everyone, I would’ve told everyone to stay put. However, before I uttered an order, everyone was still rooted in their seats, not moving a muscle. They were waiting for me. “Meeting adjourned. Leave us please.” I announced tartly. Laptop lids slammed, chair wheels rolled against the expensive carpets and pens clicked. Amidst the sudden dismissal, no one uttered a syllable.

“Erika, sit down.” I fastened my hand on the handle of her chair to keep her from leaving like the others, some stole glances, others ignored and shuffled out silently. Zoe was wise in keeping her mouth shut for now after the little stunt she pulled.

“Did you really need to embarrass me like that?” she chided when everyone had cleared the conference room.

“Consider my efforts spared when you did it all on your own earlier” I countered, feeling slightly agitated that she had the audacity to question me like such after the little stunt she pulled. “And Lucas’s demotion is all your doing, I suggest you both steer clear of each other considering you’re both equal chuckleheads when it comes to subordination.”

“I’m growing tired of your cocky, insensitive comebacks, Martin” she said tiredly.

“Just like how I grew tired of you always wanting things done your own way,” I said smoothly, weaving my hands together and placing them in front of me. I was now bored.

“You finally admit it.”

“I have nothing to hide.”

“Martin, there can only be two reasons why women would charge up your office—either to kick you in the nuts for what happened the night before or they have an actual business proposal to discuss, and I would like to propose that in Miss Blunt’s case, it’s the latter. Now, cut to the chase.” Erika spoke up. Zoe opened her mouth then shut it again after realizing that Erika had done what she was never able to do from the start—to shut me up and apologize.

“Sorry, tesoro, I got carried away.” I compensated, then turned to Zoe once more, who raised a brow at that term of endearment I'd not once used on her. “If I may retract my words, what I meant to say was—I wasn’t expecting you so soon.” I said dismissively.

“Yet here you are.”

I cast a quick glance towards Erika looking for any signal of approval and she gave me a small thumbs’ up.

“On the contrary, this is just the very start.” Zoe interrupted our little discreet exchange. “There’ll be a lot more from where this comes from, and in order for us to cement our partnership between both companies, ergo I’ll need your signature on my contract if there are no other questions you’d like to ask.” She said in a business-like tone while she removed a brown envelope from her bag and slipped it in front of me.

“Great, in exchange I’d require your signature as well.”

“You don’t trust me then?” she voiced. “Don’t judge me too harshly if that were the case. I do not trust blindly, I evaluate and calculate, then perceive as to what I decide to make of the situation. Fair enough?” I leaned back into my seat, moving my finger pads in a wave like motion against the table, deducing.

“Even after all these years, Martin, you’re still not how I had expected you to be. Still ever so calculative, so careful.”

“Forgive me if my traits don’t line with your expectations. My first priority is living up to my own.” I smiled genially. In my peripheral vision, I saw Erika licking her lips visibly as she shifted in her seat, her leg moving on top of the other as if clenching them. If I didn’t know better, I’d say someone was getting turned on.

“John, may I have that envelope now please?” I removed my finger from the button on the telephone on the table. John knocked and walked in on my approval, placed a large brown envelope in front of me and excused himself—his movements were almost robotic. Erika looked at me questioningly but this wasn’t the time or place to explain. She knew better than to ask.

“On second thought, if you would please excuse the both of us for a moment? There are some things I’d like to discuss with my ah…protégé.” I said, rising from my chair. Zoe looked very displeased at my lack of eagerness to move forward with her request, whereas Erika stood up immediately, following me right out of the door.

I led her into a secluded room of the Advertising Department, to be exact—a prop closet that was hardly visited unless required. Before the door even slammed shut, Erika had me cornered up against the wall with my tie bunched in her fist. “You seem impatient.” I said darkly. The only source of light came from the little window at the top of the enclosed dusty space.

“I don’t know what’s gotten into me ever since last night, but if you don’t do something about this pronto, I’m going to scream bloody murder.”

I stepped in the space between her legs and let my thigh graze the center of her legs. Just as I expected, she was soaking. “Forgive me if I were to feign ignorance but I would like to know what could have caused…” Trailing my hand up her thigh—riding her dress up altogether. I rested my hand on her hip; I admit I felt slightly giddy at the contact of her warm skin. Yes we were best friends, but we were just like two individuals of the opposite genders who clearly had no intentions of keeping their friendship just platonic.

“This.” My thumb stuck underneath the band of her cotton panties, testing the waters to see how she would react. She let out a breathy moan and her chest sank before rising to reach mine. “Fine, I was aroused by your smart-mouth comebacks and the way you ran the place exuding all the aura of a man who calls the shots. Had I known what I was getting myself into—“

I was afraid she’d say something that indicated regret, but her answer surprised me. “I’d still do it all over again. So if you were going to say something about your stupid little rule—“

“There’s a word for that sweetheart—sapiosexual.” I leaned in close, gently biting the shell of her ear and she shuddered lightly in reaction, letting out a tiny gasp, forgetting her argument altogether. “There’s only one other question I’ve been dying to ask.”

“What is it?” her words came out barely in a whisper as I kissed the small spot beneath her ear.

“Are you wearing that lipstick for me?”

“Why ask a question you already know the answer to?”

And that was all it took to break my final resolve.

My head swooped down and caught her lips in mine, kissing them hard. She let out an appreciative moan as she pushed herself against me, rubbing her throbbing core against my thigh shamelessly as we kissed. I liked being in control, especially in situations like these. Hence, I spun her around and cornered her against the plastered wall as I trailed my lips down her neck, biting her creamy skin with my teeth.

My tongue dipped down her décolletage, pushing aside the neckline of her dress, sucking the skin of her mounds hard until it left a deep red mark. Her fingernails dug deep into my coat, the pain was quickly replaced with pleasure.

Her muffled moans of my name against my dress shirt told me she didn’t mind the aggressiveness one bit. My fingers slid down her back, her spine serving as my compass as I palmed her ass and hoisted her into my embrace, her legs wrapped around my torso immediately and her sandals digging into my back.

Tilting her head back, she gave me more space for my mouth to roam around her neck. What lay beneath this dress served as a mystery to me and I intend to unravel it layer by layer. It’s what I do best.

15 minutes later, we walked back into the meeting room acting like nothing frisky just happened in a prop closet just a few doors away. I wonder if Zoe heard Erika’s moans. They were wild; my ears were still ringing with the sweet sounds I didn’t even know she would ever make in my presence.

“So, can we continue where we left off?” Zoe asked a little impatiently as she turned her phone face down.

“You sure you don’t want to read my terms and conditions before signing them?” I asked, after signing the contract from her end and slamming it shut. “Unlike you, I trust those who I work with. But as for you, maybe a little more than average.” She smiled. Wrong move, I thought. In my world, silly mistakes are the result of carelessness, complacency even.

I’ve read through Zoe’s business contract and I knew it wasn’t her who had drafted the contents, but as to who? That didn’t really interest me. Rhea’s deductions about the lackluster in my appearance earlier this morning was accurate; indeed, I had stayed up all night reading through this contract I had someone prepare for me—and, of course, recalled how Erika’s lips tasted against mine.

As much as I don’t want to work with someone I used to sleep with, I knew this business proposal could rake in generous profits the company needed for this particular business sector and Blunt Corp was a longstanding company in the advertising field. So what could possibly go wrong?

“Don’t you think this calls for a little celebration to kick start our partnership that’s due to take place next week? How about a little lunch treat on me?”

“I understand this is your first rodeo and I appreciate your candor, but aren’t you making this a little too obvious, Miss Blunt? What about your first successful partnership?” I rose from my chair and so did the two women on my either side. “It’s just lunch, Castellano, no need to be such a dickhead about it.” She smiled candidly.

“He prides himself on being one.” Erika snorted, to which Zoe had a little smirk in reply. “Lead the way then, Miss Blunt.” I extended a hand to the door, for courtesy’s sake, but pulled Erika back so that her back hit my chest, leaning into her—she stopped breathing. “Let’s see if you’d change your mind if you actually saw the real d**k head sweetheart.” I whispered and smirked when I watched her lips part slightly.

What came after this, to say the least, was going to be quite interesting.

**

There’s a fine line between right and wrong. However, if you justify your actions and wrestle with your judgment, no one can question you and suddenly your mistakes don’t seem so wrong after all.

I was trying very hard to keep it in my pants. I take pride in my ability to exercise constant self-control and discipline when I willed myself to do so, but what do you do when you have the willpower of f*****g celery? For the love of all that’s pure, pull it together.

“I can already hear the cogwheels in your head whirring. Should I be worried?” Erika asked, as I had one hand on the wheel, the other running through my hair. I smirked, easing my grip on the wheel. “Has Rhea caught up with your progress yet on week one working for me?” I asked, changing the topic.

“No, why do you ask?”

“Say if she were to ask you what you learned from me, aside from shamelessly exploring your boss’s chest and having your tongue down his throat?”

“Oh, don’t you dare try to pin it on me smartin. You had your hand down in places where you shouldn’t.” She said composedly, despite the events that happened last night that continued this morning. “Although, do correct me if I’m wrong but you did initiate the whole thing, I was only merely following my boss’s orders earlier today.” I knew she was referring to much earlier when I had snuck her into a supply closet and had her pinned up against the wall with my leg between hers.

I snorted in reply while keeping my smug look with my tongue grazing against the top row of my teeth. “I wouldn’t be too smart-mouthed if I were you sweetheart.”

“I only learn from the best.” She smoothed her dress against her lap. I shifted my hand that was resting on the gear to her thigh as if that was the most natural thing ever. She smiled but said nothing as she stared out of the window as the cars drove past us on the opposite highway.

“Uh oh, I think I may have forgotten about Lucien in the heat of the moment. We were supposed to have lunch together.” Erika’s fingers flew to her mouth after a sudden realization. I smirked. “You did that on purpose didn’t you?” she narrowed her eyes toward me.

“Did what on purpose?” I asked.

“You wanted me at lunch with your ex without even asking me first and you knew there was no way Lucien could sit in on this one.”

“Do you really think you could cope keeping a straight face in front of him despite what happened between us earlier this morning?” I said, raising my brow.

“Did you intend to make something out of what happened then?” she countered, not even bothered to downplay her rising vexation.

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t answer her just yet. If I had said yes, does that mean we were actually going to have to sort our non-existent feelings for each other that would eventually blossom into something more if we tried? If I replied no, that would just mean that whatever was going on between us was purely physical with no strings attached.

Thankfully, upon arrival at our destination made it easier for me to avoid the question momentarily, but I knew if it weren’t now,

I’d still have to answer her someday.

“Isn’t that Rhea?” Erika raised her brow, unfastening her seatbelt and I too, looked ahead. It was Rhea alright and she was walking into the restaurant that we were supposed to have lunch at with Zoe Blunt. “Speak of the devil.” I muttered.

“Rhea!” Erika called out the second we stepped into the restaurant. The woman spun around looking surprised to see the both of us here. “What are the coincidences?” she squeaked. “Who are you here with?” Erika asked.

A waiter swooped in by accident, nearly knocking into Erika with a tray of wine glasses filled with bubbly champagne on it to which I had swiftly shifted Erika to my other side with a gentle grab of her forearm and the other on her waist. In between apologies from a flustered waiter, a startled Erika and a waving familiar stranger that seemed all too familiar to me—it was a mildly chaotic moment.

“Are you alright?” I asked, my hand still circled around her and Erika nodded. “Zara’s here.” Rhea announced after making sure her best friend was alright, while I dismissed the waiter. Erika then shifted her attention from me towards the ‘date’ Rhea and Steve had set me up from before.

“Hey, didn’t think we’d be meeting so soon again.” Zara chirped, her eyes falling towards where my hands were—on and around Erika. “E, this is Zara. I believe you’ve not met before.” Rhea said gently whilst being completely oblivious to what had happened again earlier this morning.

My hands slid from Erika’s waist and forearm as she straightened her posture and smiled at Zara at the expense of her best friend’s introduction. Also, I just didn’t think either woman would appreciate it if they found out I went out with one and made out with the other on the same evening. “Hello, I’m Erika. It’s nice meeting you.”

“Yes, of course, Rhea always gushes about you and, honestly, I was quite excited about meeting you in person.” She said before shifting her eyes towards me. “And what are the coincidences of meeting you two days in a row? Did you come here perhaps knowing I’d be here?” Zara’s voice was light and teasing. “I uh—“I began.

“You said we weren’t celebrating Castellano, but this crowd says otherwise.” Zoe Blunt raised a brow, the handles of her tote hooked in the crevice of her elbow as she walked in with her matching mint colored tailored suit.

“What the hell is going on?” I muttered under my breath to which Rhea’s eyes were wide as saucers at the sight of my ex. “It’s like we both have a foot each in your past and present dating life.” She pursed her lips together, trying to make sense of people that were joining us one by one. “Now that’s a little far-fetched, don’t you think?” I said quietly. Zara turned to look at Zoe Blunt questioningly.

“It’s a little complicated,” Erika said under her breath when Rhea turned to us for some sort of explanation.

“Rhea.” Zoe nodded politely. “Zoe.” Rhea returned the greeting half-heartedly. Zara’s eyes darted back and forth between the four of us, her mouth slightly agape hoping someone would be kind enough to provide her with some introductions, but none came.

“Zara and I will move to a table of our own. Why don’t you three go ahead and do what you came here for? I’ll see you later.” Rhea hastily kissed my cheek before giving Erika’s hand a little squeeze, looking rather weirdly at Zoe Blunt as if trying to make sense of her being there. I hadn’t got around in telling Rhea about the business deal I had just signed with my ex.

“I hope to hear from you soon about that second date, Martin.” Zara gave me a lopsided smile before walking deeper into the restaurant with Rhea.

“Who was that woman standing next to Rhea?” Zoe asked, dropping her bag to the table we were ushered to. “Oh, this should be interesting.” Erika said idly, giving me a little smile while I pulled out a chair for her. “Just a friend of Rhea’s.” I remarked.

“A friend that you’re banging or just platonic friends, sort of friend?”

“And you inquire too much for just an ex.” I said curtly, taking a seat next to Erika who had an unreadable expression on her face. “You’re awfully quiet.” Zoe ignored my reply and switched her attention towards Erika instead. “You know, you don’t have to feel awkward having lunch with us. It’s not like you‘re the new girlfriend or intimately acquainted with Martin for me to threaten you in any way, yes?”

“Oh, don’t you worry about me being awkward. If we were really acquainted, I think we’d spend lunch on the couch in his office instead of having lunch with the same person we don’t want to see.” Erika grinned while I choked on the glass of water at her comeback that left Zoe looking impressed. “Could we skip ordering instead?” I pushed the menu towards the two ladies who were seemingly on good terms despite the icy stares they were giving one another across the table.

Lunch went fairly well. I hadn’t realized how much I was starving until I had a whiff of my food in front of me. I was even more surprised when Zoe and Erika were speaking to one another civilly, completely leaving me out to dry. In the midst of being ignored, I felt my phone buzz in my jacket pocket and I reached for it.

“You look extremely left out.”

I raised a brow, smirking slightly; I took no notice as to which direction of their table Rhea and Zara were led to earlier. “Excuse me while I use the ladies for a moment.” Zoe announced quietly as she stood up and left.

I sighed before pushing my plate slightly towards Erika, who let out a little whimper. “Yes, you may.” I sighed as she stuck her fork into the little broccolis and dropped them on my plate. She looked up, her expression unreadable.

“You should go on that date with her.”