1
Abigail
Iwrung my hands out nervously as I sat in the back of the taxi. The closer we came to my job, the more worried I became. Pretty soon I was going to have to go upstairs and ask my boss if I could have a raise. Or maybe an advance.Something.I was spending my last few bucks on the taxi now, and I would have to take the bus home. I wasn’t looking forward to that.
Quickly, I tucked my hair behind my ear and closed my eyes. My car had broken down two weeks ago and I hadn’t had the money to replace it. Of course not, when I was busy trying to take care of my sister and help with her baby. Things were tight, really tight. I needed a solution now.
My throat tightened the minute I stepped out of the taxi. I handed over my last few dollars and forced myself to walk through the glass double doors. It was early, but the law office was already quietly abuzz. A phone rang and someone’s soft voice answered it. I headed straight to the back of Mr. Rossi’s office.
I paused for a moment and raised my chin.I can do this. I’ve worked for Piero for five years now. I deserve this!I took a deep breath and knocked on the thick wooden door. When I heard his deep voice telling me to come in, I stepped into his office.
Piero stood behind his desk with his dress shirt still half open and his tie around the collar. His sleeves were rolled up his arms, and I swallowed thickly. I could just see a soft spattering of hair on his chest, and I had to resist the urge to run my fingers through it. Piero buttoned up his shirt and crooked a finger.
“I can’t get this damn tie this morning,” he mumbled. “It’s getting on my last damn nerves.”
I sighed and rounded his desk. “How is it that you still don’t know how to tie this thing?” I reached up and began to work on it.
“It’s a pain in the ass.” His eyes ran over me. “What’s wrong?”
I gazed up at him and then back down to the tie in my hands. Everyone thought Piero was a jerk, and yeah, he could be grouchy, but I saw beyond that. Most times, he could be a decent guy. If you didn’t catch him on a bad day.
“Nothing is really wrong, I suppose.” I bit my lower lip. “I wanted to talk to you about something.”
“You’re quitting?”
I shook my head. “No.”
“You’re pregnant.” His eyes narrowed. “Is that it?”
“What, pregnant?” I tilted my head. “What would make you think that? I haven’t even had a boyfriend in a year. You know that.”
“That doesn’t mean you’re a nun.”
I rolled my eyes. "That doesn’t mean I’ve been slutting around, either,” I muttered.
“I never said that.” He ran a hand over his tie and smoothed it down once I was finished tying it. “Anyway, what’s wrong?”
I swallowed thickly and took a step back from him. The tie looked nice, and I admired how good he looked when he was properly dressed up.Why couldn’t I have a guy like that?It always ran through my mind when I looked at him. Piero could be a hard ass, but he was strong, loyal, and even, I knew, a bit dangerous.
“I wanted to talk to you about something.” I fidgeted with my fingers. “Lately, I’ve been having a pretty hard time of things, and I could use a little help.”
“Help?” He sat behind his desk and rested his fist under his chin. “What kind of help?”
God, I hated asking for money. It felt so low and ridiculous. I got a paycheck every week and I still couldn’t stay on top of things. I pushed my hair behind my ear and took a deep breath before the words came tumbling out of my mouth.
“I’m having a hard time right now. I’ve been helping my sister and her baby, and my car went down. I don’t make enough to get it fixed right or even to get another car, and I’m worried that I won’t even be able to get to work tomorrow and I just need … something! An advance or a raise or anything that might help. I know you’re not in the business of handouts, but I could really use this and I—I don’t know what I could do to pay you back, but—”
Piero raised a hand. “God, slow down.” He shook his head. “So, you need an advance or a raise?”
I nodded my head gently. “Yes, that would help me a ton, really.” I smiled at him. “So, is it possible?”
“I’m afraid not.” Piero began to type on his computer and didn’t even look up at me. “Money can’t be thrown around so easily, you know. We have a business to run.”
My smile disappeared. I planted my hands on his desk. “Ineedthis. Mr. Rossi, I can’t keep going if I don’t have more money. I literally spent my last few bucks to get here. I won’t even be eating lunch. Okay?”
Piero massaged his temples before he glanced up at me. “I can give you a bit to get back and forth to work, but this isn’t a charity, it’s a place of business.” His eyes roamed up and down my body before he glanced at his laptop. “Now, I have work to do. My coffee?”
I stared at him in shock. He wasn’t even going to help me? I started to turn and walk off to get his coffee, but something in me snapped. I slammed my hands down on his desk and narrowed my eyes.