Chapter 1 - THE REASON LUCA HIT THE WALL
Luca’s palm remained against the wall beside my head.
But he never touched me.
That was the first thing I realized.
The second was that he looked more frightened than angry.
His breathing had changed.
His jaw was clenched so tightly a muscle jumped beneath his cheek.
“Luca?”
He closed his eyes.
“Go to your room.”
My heart was pounding.
“If I crossed a line, I’m sorry.”
His eyes opened.
“You didn’t.”
“Then why did you just hit the wall?”
“Because the alternative was worse.”
I stared at him.
“What does that mean?”
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then he stepped backward.
Immediately.
Giving me space.
“I wasn’t angry with you.”
His voice was rough.
“I was angry with myself.”
I didn’t understand.
He looked at the floor as though the marble held an answer.
“You kissed me because you were grateful.”
“Yes.”
“And I almost forgot that.”
My breath caught.
The intensity in his eyes suddenly made sense.
Not rage.
Desire.
And control.
He had slammed his hand into the wall to stop himself from touching me before he knew whether I wanted that.
The realization changed the air between us.
I swallowed.
“You could have just stepped away.”
A humorless smile appeared.
“I’m learning.”
Then I remembered why I had kissed him in the first place.
That afternoon, a collection agency had called.
My mother’s old medical debt had followed me for three years despite her death.
The balance was more than six thousand dollars.
Somehow, by dinner, the debt had been marked settled after an audit discovered duplicate billing.
Luca claimed he merely asked his attorneys to review it.
I had been overwhelmed.
I kissed his cheek.
Now I looked at him differently.
“How did you know about the debt?”
His expression changed.
“I told you. Marcus saw the collection letter in your file.”
“That’s not true.”
His eyebrows lowered.
“How do you know?”
“Because I never gave the agency my current address.”
Silence.
I continued.
“The collection letters go to Sarah’s apartment.”
Luca went completely still.
“Sarah?”
“My friend. The woman who worked here two years ago.”
Something cold entered his face.
“What was her last name?”
“Mitchell.”
He stepped away from me.
“What?”
I suddenly felt uneasy.
“Sarah Mitchell.”
Luca looked toward the security camera at the far end of the hallway.
Then back at me.
“Your friend never worked here.”
I laughed nervously.
“Of course she did. She’s the reason I applied.”
“No.”
“She told me everything about the salary.”
“She lied.”
My skin went cold.
“How do you know?”
“Because two years ago, there was no household assistant position.”
I stopped breathing.
Luca continued quietly.
“And I’ve never heard the name Sarah Mitchell.”
Before I could answer, Marcus appeared at the end of the corridor.
His face was pale.
“Mr. Rossi.”
Luca turned.
“What?”
Marcus held my confiscated phone.
“It received a message.”
He looked at me.
“From Sarah.”
My stomach tightened.
“What does it say?”
Marcus handed Luca the phone.
Luca read the message.
Then every trace of warmth left his face.
May you like
He showed it to me.
YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO GET CLOSE TO HIM, NOT KISS HIM.
