CHAPTER TWO

Things She Shouldn't Know

Amara spent the first thirty minutes of her new job trying to figure out how not to get fired.

The office assigned to her was almost absurdly beautiful.

Glass walls.

A huge desk.

Two monitors.

A leather chair that probably cost more than her monthly rent.

And a view of the city that made her apartment look even smaller in comparison.

She sat down slowly.

“This is insane,” she whispered.

“You'll get used to it.”

Amara jumped.

She turned around.

Elena stood by the doorway, holding two cups of coffee.

“You scared me.”

“Sorry.”

“You don't look sorry.”

Elena smiled.

“I'm rarely sorry before nine in the morning.”

She placed one of the cups on Amara's desk.

“Coffee.”

Amara looked at it suspiciously.

“For me?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because you're going to need it.”

Amara laughed.

“Is she really that bad?”

Elena's smile disappeared.

“Who?”

“Alessia.”

Elena looked toward the hallway.

Then she lowered her voice.

“Don't say her name like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like she's just another person.”

Amara frowned.

“She is another person.”

Elena stared at her for several seconds.

“You really don't know who you've started working for, do you?”

“I know she's rich.”

“Everyone knows she's rich.”

“She's intimidating.”

“Everyone knows that too.”

“So what don't I know?”

Elena hesitated.

Then she leaned against the desk.

“Alessia doesn't trust people.”

“Okay.”

“She doesn't keep friends.”

“Okay.”

“She doesn't forgive betrayal.”

Amara took a sip of coffee.

“That's dramatic.”

Elena gave her a look.

“You'll understand.”

Before Amara could respond, footsteps approached.

Elena immediately straightened.

Alessia appeared in the doorway.

Her gaze moved from Elena to Amara.

“Good morning.”

“Good morning,” Amara replied.

Elena nodded.

“Morning, Ms. Romano.”

Alessia walked inside.

“Did you finish the schedule?”

Amara reached for the tablet.

“Yes.”

She handed it over.

Alessia glanced through it.

“You moved the board meeting.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because you had two meetings scheduled at the same time.”

“You could have asked me.”

“I could have.”

Alessia looked up.

“But you didn't.”

“No.”

A beat of silence.

Elena looked between them.

Amara couldn't tell whether Alessia was angry.

Her face gave nothing away.

Finally, Alessia returned the tablet.

“Good.”

Amara blinked.

“Good?”

“You solved the problem.”

“Oh.”

Alessia turned toward the door.

“Cancel the meeting with Mr. Hayes.”

“Why?”

Alessia stopped.

She looked back.

“Because I don't want to see him.”

Amara nodded.

“Understood.”

“And Amara?”

“Yes?”

“Come to my office at lunch.”

“Why?”

Alessia's eyes narrowed slightly.

“Is that a problem?”

“No.”

“Good.”

She left.

Amara stared after her.

Elena slowly exhaled.

“What?”

“You asked her why.”

“Was I not supposed to?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because nobody asks Alessia Romano why.”

Amara shrugged.

“Well, I just did.”

Elena looked amused.

“Apparently.”

---

By eleven thirty, Amara had already learned three things.

One: Alessia's schedule was terrifying.

Two: everyone in the building was afraid of her.

Three: Alessia somehow knew when anyone was talking about her.

At least, that's what Amara had started to believe.

She was reviewing an email when her phone vibrated.

Unknown Number.

She ignored it.

It vibrated again.

She answered.

“Hello?”

Silence.

“Hello?”

A woman's voice finally came through.

“Are you Amara Quinn?”

“Yes.”

“Who is this?”

The call ended.

Amara stared at her phone.

That was strange.

She put it down.

A minute later, someone knocked.

A man entered.

Tall.

Dark-haired.

Expensively dressed.

He looked around thirty-five.

“Where's Alessia?”

Amara looked up.

“She's in a meeting.”

“With whom?”

“I can't disclose that.”

He smiled.

“You must be new.”

“Yes.”

“I'm Matteo.”

He extended his hand.

“Matteo Romano.”

Amara shook it.

“Family?”

He smiled.

“Unfortunately.”

Amara laughed before she could stop herself.

Matteo chuckled.

“I like you already.”

“That's dangerous.”

His smile widened.

“You'll learn quickly.”

He glanced at the closed door to Alessia's office.

“She likes you.”

Amara almost choked.

“She barely knows me.”

“Alessia doesn't need long to decide whether she likes someone.”

“I don't think she likes me.”

Matteo looked at her thoughtfully.

“Maybe you're right.”

“What does that mean?”

“Nothing.”

He started toward the door.

Then stopped.

“One piece of advice.”

“Okay.”

“Don't fall in love with my sister.”

Amara laughed.

“Trust me. That's not going to happen.”

Matteo smiled.

“That's what they all say.”

Then he left.

Amara stared at the door.

“What a strange family.”

---

At exactly noon, Alessia called her into the office.

Amara knocked.

“Come in.”

She entered.

Alessia was standing beside the window, her back facing her.

“You wanted to see me?”

“Yes.”

Alessia turned.

“Sit.”

Amara sat.

Alessia remained standing.

“You've been here four hours.”

“Five, actually.”

Alessia raised an eyebrow.

“You're counting?”

“I've been awake since five.”

“Why?”

“Because I was nervous.”

“You shouldn't be.”

“Easy for you to say.”

Alessia walked toward the desk.

“Why?”

“Because you're not the one who just started working for Alessia Romano.”

Something almost resembling amusement crossed her face.

“Fair enough.”

She sat down.

“Tell me about yourself.”

Amara frowned.

“You already have my résumé.”

“I asked about you.”

“What do you want to know?”

“Anything.”

Amara leaned back.

“I'm twenty-two.”

“I know.”

“I grew up in Port Harcourt.”

“I know.”

She stopped.

“Wait.”

Alessia said nothing.

“How do you know that?”

“I read your file.”

“My résumé doesn't say Port Harcourt.”

Silence.

Amara stared at her.

Alessia didn't look away.

“You also know my age.”

“Yes.”

“My previous employer.”

“Yes.”

“My university.”

“Yes.”

Amara's expression hardened.

“You investigated me.”

“I investigate everyone who works for me.”

“That wasn't in the job description.”

“It didn't need to be.”

Amara stood.

“I don't like this.”

Alessia looked up at her.

“Sit down.”

“No.”

Something changed in Alessia's expression.

Not anger.

Something colder.

“Amara.”

“No.”

She folded her arms.

“You said you value honesty. So be honest with me.”

Alessia stood.

“I am.”

“Then tell me why you know things about me that I never told you.”

Alessia walked around the desk.

She stopped several feet away.

“Because your past matters.”

“To you?”

“Yes.”

The answer came too quickly.

Amara's heart skipped.

“Why?”

Alessia's eyes remained fixed on hers.

“Because I don't make mistakes when it comes to people.”

“That doesn't answer my question.”

“It answers enough.”

Amara shook her head.

“You're impossible.”

“So I've been told.”

She turned away.

“Go back to work.”

Amara didn't move.

“Is that all?”

“For now.”

Amara walked to the door.

Her hand was on the handle when Alessia spoke again.

“Your father was named Daniel Quinn.”

Amara froze.

Her entire body went still.

She turned slowly.

“How do you know my father?”

Alessia's face was unreadable.

“I know many things.”

“My father died six years ago.”

“I know.”

Amara's throat tightened.

“Stop saying that.”

Alessia said nothing.

“What does my father have to do with you?”

Nothing.

The silence itself felt like an answer.

Amara stepped closer.

“Alessia.”

“Go home early today.”

“What?”

“I'm telling you to go home.”

“Why?”

Alessia looked toward the window.

“Because you need time.”

“Time for what?”

“To decide whether you really want this job.”

Amara stared at her.

Then she walked out.

The door closed.

Alessia remained motionless.

A few seconds later, her phone rang.

She answered.

“Speak.”

Matteo's voice came through.

“You told her about Daniel.”

Alessia's jaw tightened.

“She asked.”

“You weren't supposed to tell her yet.”

“I know.”

“Then why did you?”

Alessia looked through the glass wall.

Amara was sitting at her desk.

She looked angry.

Confused.

Beautiful.

Alessia lowered her voice.

“Because I'm starting to think waiting is going to be harder than I expected.”

Matteo was silent.

Then:

“Alessia…”

“I know.”

“You're getting attached.”

Alessia's eyes remained on Amara.

“No.”

A pause.

Then she whispered,

“Not yet.”