Chapter 22

Anthony POV

I sat in my office, carefully watching video clips of the nearby cameras from buildings near the base, I managed to scare Shane enough for him to tell me everything he knows about Darb, he told me Darb was assisted by a dark-haired, hazelnut eyes woman, who scared him to death with her calm but a nonchalant voice, but none of the security footages showed a clear view of her face, ugh! Oh, dad, I wish you'd just come back and take back your mafia business, I suck at this, I looked at my watch and wondered where the hell was with Meg...

My thoughts were interrupted by someone knocking on the door.

"Come in,” I whispered, the words came out brittle and dry.

And there she was, Megan. Dressed in a nude dress that clings to her body like a second skin, and for the first time I saw her in makeup, a full face of makeup, is this the same woman I told my self I wouldn't date because she was simple, wow.... she is beautiful, the most beautiful woman I've ever been with.

"Umm, Hi… I mean—Good morning… Good morning Ms. Francis, I must apologize for not accompanying you back to Florida, I was...taking care of unfinished business."

She stared at me coldly, no emotions of any sort.

"That's ok Mr. Rhone, I will go get your coffee, sir."

She turned and left the room and I watch her ass jiggled, and the slit on the back of her dress exposed her thick thighs, I licked my lips as I reminisced on our moments in Paris, I missed her, I missed her a lot, but she was the one who broke up with me.

Shortly after Megan returned with my coffee, placed it on my table and went by her desk, and began working, we missed out a couple of days, so we need a lot of catching up to do, I was extremely tired from dealing with Darb, my boys, my missing diamonds, or stones or whatever the fuck dad said they were, plus I was fucked Megan couple times so yes, I was fucking tired.

I kept glancing at Megan, but she was focused on the monitor before her, she kept rubbing her eyes out of discomfort.

"You know Ms. Francis if the monitor is too bright, you will damage your eyesight that way."

She smiled at and I calmly said, "I'm okay Mr. Rhone didn’t sleep much over the weekend, just a little tired.”

My heart sank at how well she is coping, the words left her lips like a true professional, without any emotion attached.

"Umm okay, Francis I'll like you to type up a quick job vacancy memo, we need a receptionist."

"Receptionist sir? What happened to Ms. Higgins?" She questioned with a smirk on her face.

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, this was awkward.

"Umm, she was terminated, because she holds a personal grudge against an employee, and started a rumor that may put the employee's life in danger."

She kept her eyes fixed on the screen, and the keyboard clicked as she typed, "Really that's sad, haven't heard that rumor yet, I wonder which employee is that? I know you can't discuss other employees with me Mr. Rhone so let me go ahead and ask Natalie out for lunch, I'm sure I will hear all about it."

"You're not going,” I uttered through my clenched teeth.

"Excuse me, I didn't catch that, could you up to your voice a bit sir.”

“You are not going on that stupid lunch date with your friend Megan, and I mean it.”

“Oh, it’s Megan now, what happened to Ms. Francis this… Ms. Francis that, you didn’t even call, not even to check to see how I was doing, you sent me on a jet, a twelve how hour flight… and you didn’t— you didn’t even call but it is ok but I don't know Anthony a nice explanation of why paparazzi was at my door would have been nice too, and why the fuck I need a driver, but you just went right ahead a played it off,” she cried out as I observed her closely.

Banging on the door rapidly, I shifted my gaze from Megan, starting at the door.

"Come in!" I growled. It was that girl from downstairs, Natalie.

"Good morning Sir, I need to speak to Meg— I mean, Ms. Francis.”

“She won’t be going out for lunch Natalie.”

“Yes, I will,” Megan challenged me.

“Higgins was the one who leaked your information to the media, I'm truly sorry, I didn't call because we ended things on bad terms in Paris—”

“France,” she smirked, correcting me.

“Does it matter Megan?”

"Umm, I'll just leave you two to dis—"

"Don't move Natalie! Anthony it's always an I'm sorry with you, growing tired of the word, some action would be nice", she angrily said gathering her stuff together to go and have lunch with her friend.

"Its okay Natalie, you can leave, we already made plans."

Without another word, she briskly left the office.

"What do you want for lunch, and not it's not a date, let's just be friends, I too agree with you that this was all a mistake."

She sat there quietly, before she answered, "Pizza....pizza would be nice".

I ordered two medium pizza, one with pepperoni and extra cheese, the other with bacon strips and pineapple alongside two can coke, Megan also asked me to add a mud cake, and she'll pay me back, but I told there was no need to,

We sat and ate in silence.

She wiped her hand in a piece of paper towel and took out her cell, she stared down at it worryingly,

"Is something wrong?" I asked.

"Yes— it’s a text...a threat, from an unknown number,” she mumbled.

I stopped eating, wiped my hand on a sheet of paper towel, and tossed it in the bin by my desk, I took the phone from her trembling hands and read the text message out loud, “Stay away from Anthony bitch, can't say I didn't warn you”

I took a deep sigh, this was Higgins number, I knew she was crazy but not this crazy, and I can't underestimate her.

"Listen to me Meg, this might sound crazy, but I will assign a bodyguard to you until I call a press conference and address the rumors, I'll try my best to get Higgins off your back, even if it means posing with an actress for a week or two, to make it look as if we never dated, or had a thing— if that’s what you want.”

“Yea— I think, it’s for the best,” she agreed, “But— but there is something else,” I scratched the back of my neck nervously, “You have to move in with me.”