Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 72973 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72973 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Dario hands the ring to Vivian, then says, “You owe her an apology.”
The fuck?
Before I can stop myself, my head snaps up, and I practically spit the words out. “I’m not apologizing for shit.”
Dario’s eyes latch onto my face, and as I watch recognition register on his face, followed shortly by absolute shock, my entire world tips on its axis.
I’m surprised when his tone is calm and steady when he says, “Vivian, apologize to Eden.”
“I’m sorry,” Vivian mutters.
His eyes narrow on my face, and then his features darken as if a storm is building, and I just know in my bones he’s going to fire me.
It takes all my strength not to cry as a crack splinters down the middle of my heart. My voice is hoarse as I give him a pleading look. “I’m sorry. I was going to tell you tomorrow morning.”
“We’ll talk about that later,” he snaps before his eyes flick to Mrs. Stafford. “Is this how you handle the staff?”
Mrs. Stafford instantly looks subdued as she says, “What was I to do? It was Vivian’s word against the janitor’s.”
Dario lets go of my arm and moves slightly in front of me, his bicep brushing against my cap.
“Would you have dealt differently with the problem if you knew Eden’s my girlfriend?”
I almost choke on a random drop of spit while Mrs. Stafford and Vivian gasp collectively.
“She’s what?” Mrs. Stafford asks.
“Eden is my girlfriend,” he repeats the words.
I watch as the women’s attitudes shift, and where they were ready to tear me apart a moment ago, they give me apologetic looks.
Because of Dario.
“I’m so sorry, Miss Taylor. I wasn’t aware of your relationship with Mr. L Rosa.”
“Miss?” I let out a burst of incredulous laughter.
“I didn’t mean to slap you,” Vivian says.
Lifting my chin, I ask, “Can I go, Mrs. Stafford?”
“Of course. Let me know if you need anything,” she says, her tone completely different from how she usually speaks to me.
Turning around, I walk out of the office. I go back to my cart, and determined to keep working until Dario tells me I’m fired, I grab the mop.
“We need to talk,” Dario says behind me.
“I’m working,” I mutter.
“Eden!”
I spin around. “I was going to tell you tomorrow.”
“That you’re a janitor?” he asks.
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
I give him an incredulous look. “Would you have still fucked me if you knew I worked for you?”
Slowly, he shakes his head. “Don’t reduce our relationship to a simple fuck.”
I suck in a shaky breath and try to regain control of my emotions, that are all over the place.
Dario takes hold of my hand and pulls me into the nearest studio. He shuts the door behind us, then turns to face me.
I lift my eyes to his face, and suddenly, it’s getting harder and harder not to burst out in tears.
I do the only thing I can and say, “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I didn’t want you to look at me and see a janitor. I wanted you to get to know me for who I am and not what I do, and…and.” I swallow hard on the lump in my throat. “I was scared you’d fire me once you found out.”
“I wouldn’t have fired you,” he murmurs softly.
“I know that now. That’s why I was going to tell you tomorrow.”
I rip off the stupid cap and wipe my palm over my hair.
The past hour hits me like a ton of bricks in the chest, and feeling smaller than a snail, I lower my head and stare at the scuff marks on my boots.
“It’s unfair,” I whisper.
“What?”
“They treated me like shit until they found out about our relationship. Mrs. Stafford has never been so nice to me.”
I shake my head as my anger spikes again. A condescending chuckle escapes me as I lift my head to meet Dario’s eyes.
“I was nothing in their eyes, then you come along, and with one sentence, their attitudes toward me change.”
“I’m sorry, Tesoro. I’ll deal with them.”
What will everyone think of Dario? They’ll laugh behind his back. The filthy rich guy and the poor as fuck janitor.
My heart hurts thinking Dario’s reputation will suffer because of me.
Protecting him the only way I know how, I say, “It won’t matter what you say to them or what you do. We come from different worlds, and everyone can see it. You live in a palace, and I can barely make rent. You eat at extravagant restaurants, and I…” I choke up and have to breathe through the chaotic emotions before I can continue, “It will never work between us.”
“It can, and it will,” Dario argues.
He steps closer to me, and placing his palm against the cheek Vivian slapped, he leans down to press a kiss to my mouth.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath of his scent.