Stalking Ginevra (Morally Black Book 4)

I ride the elevator, still on a high from subduing the loan sharks. Mom has agreed to stay with Bossanova until we can work out how to keep them away. I’m hoping Benito’s name will be enough to deter those bastards, but I’m not about to take any chances.

The doors open at the 30th floor, breaking me out of my thoughts. I step out, spotting a crowd gathered around Pamela’s desk. They’re too close, leaning in, murmuring like something’s happened.

My breath catches. Don’t tell me there’s been another disaster? I continue toward the receptionist’s desk, forcing down a surge of concern. Maybe it’s just gossip. There’s no need to assume the worst.

“Can you imagine?” Pamela’s voice rises from the chatter. “Finding out your own father is a casino thief?”

I stop dead, my stomach churning. They’re talking about me. My pulse quickens. My blood heats, anger simmering in my veins, threatening to break free. I should turn around, walk away, act like I didn’t hear a thing, but my feet propel me to the crowd of gossiping hyenas.

“She completely lost it yesterday,” says a male voice I recognize as one of the junior associates. “Made herself come in front of Julian as if he would give her back the Bellavista account.”

Pamela snorts. “Desperate.”

Fury and shame burn through my throat, making me swallow hard. I clench my fists. Is this what they’re saying about me behind my back?

Keeping my heels from striking the polished floor, I reach the edge of the crowd. Pamela is the first to spot me through the throng. She pauses mid-sentence, her smile freezing, her cheeks draining of color.

“Is there something you’d like to say to me?” I keep my voice controlled, imagining it to be a blade wrapped in silk.

The crowd parts, and the associates back away from her desk. Some of them cast apologetic glances. Others grimace. I’m more concerned with the woman who was supposed to be a friend.

Pamela has always been there for our family. In turn, we’ve given her support. Dad allowed her to stay in his penthouse when she was hiding from her abusive ex. Mom and I visited her in the hospital when she had that miscarriage. I thought she was more to us than just a colleague.

Her smile wavers. “Oh, Ginny, we were just⁠—”

“Gossiping?” I place my hands on my hips. “Speculating? Or just making things up for attention?”

“We were just concerned.” Her gaze darts from side to side as if looking to gain support. “After everything with your father… and yesterday…”

Her voice trails off, leaving me squirming. I focus my attention away from the incident with the toy, not wanting my confidence to waver. Instead, I look her dead in the eye.

“What happened yesterday?” I ask, daring her or any of those bastards to repeat those filthy words.

An ugly flush blooms across her cheeks. It spreads down her throat before disappearing into the neckline of her shirt. Her eyes flicker again for backup, but everyone falls silent.

They’re watching, waiting. I step closer, savoring her crumbling bravado. Her mouth opens and closes, struggling to find the words. The remaining stragglers shift behind her, none daring to look me in the eye.

Good.

“Slander isn’t the kind of offense you should commit against an attorney,” I say through clenched teeth. “Keep my name out of your fucking mouth.”

When she drops her gaze to the desk, I turn to the nearest asshole, who averts his eyes. The others follow suit and dissipate toward their cubicles.

But I’m not satisfied.

I glance around for the male associate who made that sexual innuendo, but the rat already found a hiding spot.noveldrama

This can’t stop with Pamela. I need to deal with them all.

Pulse drumming in my ears, I walk to the center of the office, where there’s a water cooler. Everyone stops working as if I’m the most interesting thing that’s happened since Dad’s downfall.

I grab a chair, move it toward the wall, and stand on its seat. When all my colleagues are paying attention, I start.

“I had no idea my father was involved in fraud,” I say, letting my voice carry. “His actions didn’t just affect you. I’m also under threat.”

Chatter spreads across the office. Some of their features flicker with surprise, making me wonder if they thought I was sitting on a pile of his ill-gotten gains.

“Because of him, we’re drowning in debt. This morning, loan sharks came after my mother. They attacked her. If I hadn’t been there, anything could have happened. He’s put us in the worst kind of danger, and you stand here laughing about us like hyenas.”

The room falls dead silent. No one moves. No one breathes. I don’t care that I’m laying out all my problems to a bunch of assholes who will use it as fodder. They need to know we’re not profiting—we’re suffering.

“All I ask is for a little courtesy. To be treated the same as everyone else in this firm.” My voice tightens. “I’m just trying to survive.”

The weight of judgment presses on my chest, thick and suffocating. I withstand the scrutiny. That masked man has made me endure worse.

Movement in my periphery turns my attention to the corner office, where one of Nick’s goons stands in the doorway, filming. I no longer give a shit. Let him record. Let the world see that I’m innocent.

Silence drags on, making my insides churn. I withstand the scrutiny until Julian shoots out of his seat with an awkward round of applause. My stomach twists. I glance away from him, only to lock gazes with Nick Terranova.

He steps forward, his lips tightening. “Come to my office when you’re finished.”

So much for making a stand. It looks like I’ve talked myself out of a job.

Heart sinking, I step down from the chair and trudge past the cubicles. Each step becomes heavier with the weight of their stares, but I force my head high. If this is my last day at the law firm, then I’ll leave with my dignity.

I step into Terranova’s office, the door clicking shut behind me like a prison gate. He’s already seated at the desk, his silhouette backlit by the window. He sits straighter than last time, his hair slicked back, his features sharper.

Guilt tightens in my chest. Whatever confidence he lost when Dad stole his firm is flooding back to him.

“Sit,” he commands, not even glancing my way.

I take the chair in front of his desk, my spine stiff, bracing for the blow.

“You’re a problem, Miss Di Marco,” he says, his voice cutting like a razor. “A distraction. Your presence here disrupts the office. What you did yesterday in front of a client was unacceptable.”

A flush burns at the base of my throat, but I force my face into a mask of calm. I’ve faced worse. This man won’t see me crack.

Terranova rises from his desk, towering over me like a judge about to smash a gavel on my fate. “Your performance has been underwhelming. I’ve wondered if nepotism is the only reason you’re here.”

The accusation hits like a slap. My jaw tightens, but I stay silent. Defending myself won’t help. He’s already made up his mind.

He steps back. “I was thinking of firing you today.”

The world shifts, and for a second, I feel like I might shatter. I grip the chair, forcing my features to harden. I won’t give in to despair. Not here. Not now.

“But that little speech showed me you’ve got some fight.”

My heart slams against my chest. Blood roars in my ears, but I stay still. I don’t blink. I won’t let him see the flicker of hope.

“I’m giving you one last chance. Bob Brisket at the Meat Show is having legal issues. Go fix them.” He lowers himself back into his seat.

“I’ll handle it,” I rasp.

His eyes stay locked on mine, unmoving. “See that you do.”

I push to my feet and walk to the exit on trembling legs. It’s time to get my career back on track.