Page 105 of Ruin

The lights in Donovan’s office are too bright, but they always are. I sit across from him, jacket folded over my lap, legs crossed, ignoring the buzzing of my phone as Vin texts me relentlessly. Donovan is talking about policy platforms, media appearances, polling data. I nod in all the right places, the smile quick and practiced at this point, thanks to Giovanna’s training.

People want to feel listened to. They don’t need the truth. Just give them reassurances.

Giovanna. I haven’t seen her in six months, two weeks, and five days, not since I carved her orchid into her thigh, since she tore my soul from my body. But she lives in my head, all day, every day. Without everything she gave me, I wouldn’t be able to survive losing her. The irony is not lost on me.

Donovan is looking at me expectantly, a wiggle in his eyebrows that says he just told a joke. I try to laugh, and it doesn’t work, but the councilman looks pleased, and that’s the point.

By the time I step out into the hallway, Vin’s leaning against the wall, scrolling on his phone. “Got you something,” he says.

“What?”

Vin’s idea of a gift rarely aligns with mine.

He jerks his chin toward the girl standing behind him. She’s probably about my age, with long blonde hair, hands demurely folded in her lap. Pretty, not beautiful like Gi, but then no one is.

“This is Una. She’s gonna be your new assistant.”

“Did Donovan approve that?” I ask.

“Donovan doesn’t know his own shoe size. Don’t worry about it. She’s good.” Vin pockets his phone and grins at me. In a stage whisper, he says, “She’s good at a lot of things.”

I blink at him. “What?”

He rolls his eyes and pinches the bridge of his nose. “Jesus fucking Christ, for being a fucking genius, you are pretty fucking stupid sometimes. Look, the best cure for heartbreak is to fuck someone else, and she’s a good fuck. Trust me.” He winks at me.

My gaze flicks to Una, and her cheeks go pink. I grimace at Vin. “You slept with her.”

“Yeah.” He shrugs. “So?”

“You want me to sleep with a woman you slept with?” I’m genuinely confused why he thinks that would help me in any way. “Pass.”

“I don’t see your problem. Matti slept with Valentina after I did.”

“Well, from my recollection, he didn’t sleep with her.” After Vin dumped Valentina for cheating on him with our father, she wouldn’t leave him alone, so he asked Matti to fuck herass in a club in front of him to send her the message they were over. I don’t know if it worked, but it’s not something I intend to replicate in any form.

Vin laughs. “Yeah, but this is a different situation. Relax, it’s not like you’re going to marry her or anything. Enjoy yourself a little bit.”

“Is she a prostitute, Vin? Why are you assuming she even wants—”

Una raises her hand shyly. She has a thick Irish accent that she tries to tone down. “Don’t be offended on my account. I asked him about your situation. I’ve seen your work in the press, and I quite fancy a date with you if you’re interested.”

Vin shakes his head at me. “Don’t believe her. She heard you have a dick so big you should be in porn, and she wanted to try it out.”

“You’re an asshole,” I tell him.

“Been called worse.” He grins at Una. “Hey, Una, if you’re lucky, he might even smile at you.”

I look Una up and down, considering the advantages of having an assistant. Gi took care of so many things for me that I’ve been a mess without her. Maybe it’s not a bad idea.

“Una, you are welcome to the job that you were promised by Vin for whatever reason—I don’t want to know—but the first time you do anything outside the bounds of professionalism, you’re fired. Clear?”

Her lips part. She’s pretty enough that she’s probably not used to getting turned down; it’s a look I’ve seen many times before on women like her. But she nods fast. “Yes. Of course. I’m sorry.”

“Good. What’s the first thing you can do for me?”

I dispense with the formalities, any attempts at diplomacy.Most of the time, I’m on the brink of locking myself in my suite at Dragovari Tower and drinking myself to death. Smiling at people I could give a fuck about takes energy I don’t have, and if Una is going to be around me, she needs to understand that now.

She twists her hands in her lap and smooths her skirt, standing. “Whatever you need.”