The Business Discussion

EMMA

Luis is frozen on the couch, still reeling from the events of the past five minutes.

“Seriously, do I have to do everything myself?” I pull my phone from my purse and dial Travis’s number. I want him and Robert to join us anyway. Travis picks up on the third ring.

“Travis, could you arrange coffee for six and some breakfast canapés? Have them sent up to the apartment. I’ll send the elevator down when you’re ready.”

“And bring Robert with you. We’re having a meeting.”

“Sure thing, Emma. I’ll call you when we’re ready.”

“Alright, Diablo, it looks like you and I have a lot to discuss. First off, I’m firing Robert this morning. He’s got no people skills and I just don’t trust him. Secondly—”

Diablo interrupts me.

“Hold on, Emma. You can’t just waltz in on your first day and start firing people.”

“You’re out of touch with the club, the businesses, the staff. You’ve been gone too long to make these decisions.”

“As I was saying before you so rudely interrupted, Levi’s been here for nearly two weeks doing recon on the club, you, the staff, and other matters. No one even noticed him, by the way.

“I’ve got a pretty good handle on things. I can confidently say I know more than you and more than you think I do.”

Diablo looks at me, stunned for the second time this morning.

“Diablo, can you stop doing that? It’s getting on my nerves. You’ve underestimated not just my intelligence but my determination to make this work.

“Of course, I’ll double-check my information. I’m not an idiot. As I was saying, Robert is fired, effective immediately.

“Secondly, I know who’s stealing from us in each club.

“And I’ve got contracts—or ‘alliances’ as you call them—with three mob bosses in my safe, including ones you thought I’d never get. Remember the Salentro twins?”

Diablo nods.

“Well, they signed. So now we’re seven strong. I’ve got meetings next week with the other bosses you’ve pissed off. I’m also meeting with Lauren’s father.

“Speaking of Lauren, I know you recently broke up with her and she’s threatening you with her father, but I’ll handle her and her father from now on.

“And Diablo, if I see you with her again, I’ll personally cut your balls off. If you expect me to be faithful, I expect the same.”

The stunned expressions are back, not just from Diablo but Luis too. I knew Diablo probably expected me to fail, but this is getting ridiculous. I turn to Levi.

“Levi, do you think this meeting is going anywhere? Because I feel like I’m wasting my time. I’ve got two people staring at me like they’ve seen a ghost.

“Maybe we should leave. What do you think?”

“As you wish, Ems,” he replies as usual.

This gets a reaction from Diablo.

“What the hell did you just call her? She’s your boss, not your friend or your mistress. You’re just her bodyguard. You should address her as such.”

Levi chuckles, looking at me.

“No, Diablo, Levi is more than a bodyguard. He’s a friend and so much more, someone I need.

“You don’t have to like my relationship with him, even though it’s strictly business, but you or anyone else won’t tell him what to do. He only listens to me, got it?”

“You can insult him, swear at him, do whatever the hell you want. In the end, what I say goes. Are we clear?”

Diablo stays quiet, his scowl shifting between Levi and me before he finally speaks.

“You’re mine, Emma. I’m the only man in your life. Only I can touch you and give you pet names. Do you understand? You’re mine!”

“Diablo, we’re here to talk business, not about your possessiveness. We can discuss that when we’re alone. I’d rather we focus on business, but it doesn’t seem like we’re getting anywhere.

“I was hoping for a productive meeting with some back and forth, but all I’m getting are shocked expressions or silence. The only time you speak is to insult Levi.

“Should we continue with business or reschedule? I’ve got meetings this afternoon. I’m already running late.”

My phone rings; it’s Travis. I look at Levi, hand him the key, and signal for him to bring my laptop when he returns with Travis and Robert.

“Why the hell do you two barely talk? You’re always mouthing something to him or giving him some sort of signal. It’s confusing as hell, Emma.”

“That’s the point, Diablo. Only Levi and I are supposed to know what’s going on in certain situations. That’s why I told you I’d hire my own bodyguard.”

“Well, I don’t like it. It feels like you have some weird connection with him. It’s confusing as hell. It needs to stop.”

“No, Diablo. It’s not going to stop. I need our relationship the way it is for my safety and the safety of the business. You have no idea how far I plan to take our businesses.

“One day you’ll wake up and I’ll have made you the most powerful man, with me by your side—not behind you, but beside you.

“But for now, you need to stop messing around and listen to my advice.

“If you can’t do that, I won’t just ruin you. I’ll make sure I’m the one with all the power. Are we clear?”

“Damn, Emma. What happened to the innocent woman I met almost three months ago? You’ve changed.”

“Let’s just say she was screwed over by a man she trusted, okay?”

Diablo is about to answer, but Travis, Robert, and Levi walk in. Levi hands me my laptop bag and takes his spot next to me without saying a word.

“How the hell did he know to bring that, Emma?”

“Now, now, Diablo. I’ve already explained our relationship. I don’t like repeating myself.”

Travis sets the coffee and breakfast snacks on the table. “Everyone, help yourselves, because I’m not your servant.”

I pour coffee for myself and Levi before making Diablo’s and handing it to him with some snacks on a plate. This, of course, pisses Diablo off.

Well, my plan is to annoy him a bit more. Looks like I’ve succeeded. He never lets me down, and I smile, making sure to hide it.

“Emma, I’m warning you!” His words only make me smile wider.

“Please, everyone, take a seat so we can start,” I say before taking a sip of my coffee.

“So, Luis, let’s start with you. You’re supposedly Diablo’s right-hand man and in charge of security.

“So, can you explain to me how it was so easy for Levi to get into not only our office but this apartment, without being noticed?”

Luis chokes on his coffee, starting to stutter. “Um, um—what do you mean?”

“Well, I know you were busy trying to cover up his affair with Lauren from not only me but everyone else, but surely security is a major factor in this line of business—and you failed miserably.”

“Anyone could have tried to kill Diablo and would have succeeded because of your carelessness.”

“Therefore, Levi will be taking over all security matters of the building. You can still hang out with Diablo, but frankly you’re not serving any purpose in my eyes except being an errand boy.”

“I personally think you should be fired, but I’ll leave that up to Diablo to decide since you’re friends.”

Diablo tries to interject but I cut him off.

“Diablo, you said I’m the boss and what I say goes. It’s in the contract.”

“If you want to back out of the contract, tell me now, but remember if you do, I won’t hesitate to enforce what I said earlier about ruining you.”

“You’re now just the face of this business, while I call the shots—or did I miss something while I was away?”

“No, what you say goes when it comes to business, but Luis stays. I’m not firing him. When it comes to our personal relationship it’s a different story, which we’ll discuss later. Please continue.”

“Robert, you’re fired, effective immediately.”

“The hell I am, you barely know me.”

“~On the contrary~, Robert. I had hoped you would leave without a fight. If you want reasons, I’ll give them to you. But in turn, you’ll face the consequences.”

“Levi, please hand me my laptop.” He does so, and after unlocking my laptop, I encrypt it to make sure it’s untraceable before looking for the files I need.

“Robert, you’re the main person stealing from this club. I’d say in the time I’ve been away, the amount comes to about half a million dollars. There might be more, but this is what I’ve been able to trace so far.

“You’ve also been giving information to our competition, the Magaddino family. This definitely doesn’t work in your favor.”

Robert is as white as a sheet.

“Emma, do you have any proof of this?”

I glare at Diablo. I’m really annoyed with the fact that no matter what I say, I keep shocking him and the rest of the current company with my revelations.

“For God’s sake, Diablo, how many times do I have to say that I always make sure of all my facts before I accuse anyone of anything?”

I stand up and walk to Diablo. Robert is sitting next to him on his left. I take the opportunity to sit on Diablo’s lap, surprising him a bit, with the laptop.

I show him first the club’s books, followed by a series of photos of Robert and the Magaddino family meeting in alleyways.

I then move on to the bar section of the club where he can clearly see Robert on his cell phone talking to someone.

I click the volume button and Robert’s conversation with the head of the Magaddino family starts playing, incriminating him as one of the snitches.

Robert jumps up from the couch and heads to the apartment door, fully intending to escape.

Diablo tries to push me from his lap but at a flick of my fingers, Levi moves toward Robert, stopping him in his tracks with a kick to his back. Levi pulls him up from the floor and turns to look at me.

“Take him to where we discussed, Levi, and wait for me there. I’ll deal with him later.”

Diablo relaxes again. When I move to get up from his lap, he pulls me closer to him.

“Diablo, we need to finish the meeting first.” I actually blush when I feel his erection press against my ass.

“I like this angle and I’d prefer to finish the meeting with you on my lap.”

“Fine,” I mumble, flustered.

Travis starts to squirm in his seat, as if he knows he’s my next target.

“Travis, I have no intention of firing you, but to say I’m disappointed in you is a huge understatement. Not only did you not notice what’s going on, but you’ve been distracted with Carly.

“If last night is any indication, you either need to quit or break it off with Carly, or I’ll have to give you a course on the basics of running a club. Which one do you choose?”

“Damn, Emma, seriously? I haven’t been running the club that long and you’re already on my case.”

“Travis, I expect nothing less than a hundred and ten percent, if not more, from all staff, because that’s what ~I~ give.

“If you feel I’m judging you too harshly, that’s your prerogative. But this club isn’t a place where you can entertain your girlfriend at our expense or the expense of our safety. This is a business.

“If you want to grow with us, I’ll mentor you. If not, you’re out. Choose now!”

“Okay, I’ll take this more seriously.”

“Travis, consider this your only warning. It’s my way or the highway. If you listen and learn, you’ll never regret it. We start tonight. You can go now.”

He looks even angrier than he did last night when I sent him packing, but he bites his tongue and stands up.

“Travis, lose the attitude before tonight. I’m out of patience. Don’t push me.”

“Luis, you can clear out too. I’m sure Diablo will call you if he needs you. Diablo and I need to have a chat.”

With both men gone, I’m left alone in the apartment with Diablo, perched on his lap. And let me tell you, Diablo is definitely excited.

“Diablo, it’s just you and me now. Let’s talk about whatever ‘we’ are.”

DIABLO

I keep thinking the same thing over and over. This woman is going to be the end of me. One minute she’s driving me crazy, the next I want to fuck her senseless.

She’s so damn sexy when she takes charge, and don’t get me started on how she handles a business meeting. She’s incredible. I’ve never met anyone like her, and I doubt I ever will.

I can’t believe what she’s accomplished in such a short time, and honestly, I’ve never been left speechless so many times in one meeting. Today she left me more speechless than I’ve ever been in my life.

She’s proven to be an invaluable recruit, and I’m thrilled that I’ve made sure she’s my girlfriend too.

Honestly, I just needed someone to take over my business and grow it, but she’s exceeded every single expectation I had.

I mean, the Salentro twins? Damn, I’ve been trying to do business with them for the past four years. Emma got a meeting with them ~and~ got them to sign with us. Hell, I couldn’t even get a meeting with them.

I know she has no plans to tell me any of the finer details of the hows, whens, or whys. All I need to know is that she’s mine and only mine.

I fully intend to make sure that never changes, even if I have to tell her how I really feel about her.

EMMA

I need to snap Diablo out of his daze and fast. We need to talk about “us”—whatever that is.

I have to deal with Robert and then still make my meetings before I start with Travis tonight at the club. I don’t have time for Diablo’s dumbstruck moments.

“Diablo. Come on, Diablo.” I snap my fingers in front of his eyes to get his attention. This is becoming a habit and a total waste of time.

He’s supposed to be the most feared Mafia boss, but all he’s shown me in the past two days is that he can be paralyzed by my words.

When he finally snaps out of it, he looks at me with his green eyes filled with what I think is lust and admiration.

He moves his left hand up to the back of my neck before pulling me down to his mouth, claiming mine with such intensity and wildness that I’m instantly turned on.

Damn, I guess the talk will have to wait for now.