8

Gustavo had an office and a conference room off to the side of the hotel. There were several other offices belonging to personnel involved with the daily operations of the hotel. One office was empty, and a nameplate wasn’t attached to the door.

I worked with Gustavo for the day, shadowing his movements and understanding the duties of a manager of the hotel. Technically, he had a general manager who oversaw the employees, but he was responsible for the financial aspect. I got to study the balance sheets, seeing how much money the hotel earned on a daily basis. It was impressive—especially during the off-season.

The hours passed quickly, and I couldn’t help but assume my mother was an idiot. Man or woman, it didn’t matter. Anyone could run this hotel if they were passionate about it. I wanted to tell my mother to return to ancient times, because the present didn’t suit her well.

Gustavo printed off a few spreadsheets then laid them across the desk. “I have a meeting in just a few minutes. How about you focus on this until I’m finished?”

“What’s the meeting about?”

“Money,” he said, half joking. “Everything is always about money.” He was just about to step outside when a man appeared in the doorway. Tall, muscular, and wearing a suit like a second skin, he wasn’t the kind of guest I expected…because he was so young.

I was sitting at the desk, my eyes taking in the man in the gray suit. With brown eyes that seemed both dangerous and warm, he had a familiar face. He had high cheekbones and a masculine tightness to his features, and his appearance immediately ran a bell. It’d been so many years since I’d last seen him that I almost didn’t recognize him.

He’d been a man the last time I saw him. But now…he was a bigger man.

With broad shoulders and tight forearms, his manly physique was noticeable through his clothes. A shiny watch was on his wrist, an Omega, probably worth tens of thousands of euros. His thumb casually brushed over his bottom lip as he entered, his chin covered with a thick shadow that hadn’t been shaved in days. The cords in his neck were distinct, especially since his skin was tanned and tight. He had full lips, perfect for a hot kiss in the darkness of a cold bedroom. Those eyes were so powerful, they could make a woman spread her knees in just seconds.

I’d had some decent lovers in Milan…but none of them had looked like this man.

Hades.

He addressed my stepfather first. “Gustavo.”

My stepfather walked over to him and shook his hand. “Thanks for coming by. I know you’re a busy man.”

“A man is never too busy to make money.” It was the first time his eyes turned to me, and without his giving any significant reaction, it was clear he recognized me. It was the subtle narrowing of his eyes, the slight clench of his hard jaw. Slowly, his hands returned to his pockets as he studied me.

When we’d first met, I was nothing but a shy girl. I was barely an adult and didn’t possess the courage to handle an experienced man. His confidence had unnerved me, made me back up against the wall and turn rigid with fear.

But not anymore.

I rose to my feet and glided to him, working my heels like they were comfortable sandals. With my hand outstretched, I greeted him like he was a business associate. “Nice to see you again, Hades.”

He didn’t pull his hand out of his pocket for a second, as if my offer were inappropriate. Our first meeting had been anything but professional. We were two walking hormones who ground up against the wall like it was our last night on earth. I still thought about that climax sometimes, the first one of its kind. It was powerful, profound, and so much better than the pathetic ones the boys had given me.

He finally took my hand. His fingers moved all the way to my wrist, and he immediately squeezed me firmly, the pressure making my blood circulate from both fear and arousal. His eyes never left mine, and he didn’t seem to care if my stepfather picked up on the heat between us. “I’m sorry about your father. He was a good man.” It didn’t feel like a false sentiment. My father had been dead for years, and Hades didn’t need to acknowledge it. Seemed like he meant it.

I dropped the handshake first. “Thank you.”

“Good, you’re acquainted.” Gustavo gave me a gentle pat on the back before he stepped through the doorway and into the hallway. “Hades and I will take an hour, maybe more.”

“Can I sit in?” I asked, knowing he would say no.

“Not today,” Gustavo said. “In time.” He rounded the corner.

Hades lingered for a second longer, letting his eyes take me in as if he could easily picture me naked. Innate confidence burned in his eyes, as if nothing and no one could ever make him question who he was. He took a gentle step back, not wanting to take his eyes off me. Then he finally turned around.

My eyes immediately went to his ass.

Still tight, I saw.