Page 169 of By A Thread

“Why stop now?” I said, feeling marginally more cheerful.

“Just don’t worry about this thing today. Whatever they decide, we’ll figure out a way that I can still see you naked and you can still pay your bills.”

“And they say romance is dead,” I said airily.

He grabbed my face in his hands and kissed me hard. “We’ll make this work,” he promised.

And I believed him.

* * *

Ruth stoodbehind the reception desk looking flushed and terrified when Dominic ushered me through the office door. I’d texted her and Gola a head’s up this morning.

Me: So, I have news, and I might be fired. Don’t say anything yet. I’ll spill as soon as I can unless I’m being escorted out by building security.

Her eyes were twice their normal size. “Dalessandra is ready for you in your office, Mr. Ru—Dominic,” she squeaked. She pushed a drink carrier in our direction. “I ordered you a tea and a coffee.”

Dom paused, a puzzled frown on his lips. “Uh. Thank you, Ruth. That was… nice of you.”

Ruth gave what looked like a little curtsy and then turned bright red.

Dominic cleared his throat and picked up the tray. “Are you ready?” he asked me.

“As I’ll ever be,” I said grimly.

He turned and started down the hall. “Thanks for the drinks,” I whispered to Ruth.

“I can’t believe I curtsied! He’s just so hot it makes me stupid.”

“Preaching to the choir, my friend.”

“Good luck in there. Drinks tonight after dance?” she said.

No matter what happened in Dalessandra’s office, I was going to need a sweaty dance class and alcohol. “Yeah. Sounds good. I’ll text you.”

We found Dalessandra seated on the white silk sofa next to the head of HR, a woman with deeply etched frown lines bracketing her mouth. Clearly Jasmine had snapped her photo ID too. In it, she had one eye closed and something resembling a snarl twisting her mouth.

“Good morning, Dominic, Ally,” Dalessandra said, putting her teacup down on the oval glass coffee table. “Please, have a seat.” She gestured toward the white leather chairs across from her and Lady McFrowny.

“Morning,” Dominic said, sounding about as friendly as a pissed-off wolverine.

“I believe you two know Candace from HR,” Dalessandra continued.

I actually didn’t know her but didn’t feel like it was a good time to bring that up.

There wasn’t a hint of what kind of shoe was about to fall on me. Was it a steel-toed boot designed to smash me into the carpet? Or perhaps a designer stiletto that would skewer me.

“Hi,” I croaked out a forced greeting.

Dominic sent me awhat the fuck look, then took my hand and squeezed. Hard. Whether it was a good idea to rub our physical affection in HR Lady’s face, I wasn’t sure. But the contact calmed me. We were in this together.

Dalessandra’s lips quirked.

“I’ll just go ahead and put you two out of your misery,” Candace announced, peeling what looked like legal contracts out of a folder.

“Am I fired?”

“Christ,” Dominic muttered under his breath, rolling his eyes.