Dante
Leo commented, "What's gotten into you?" as he settled across from me on the couch. I was sprawled in an armchair, one ankle resting on my knee while I perused some paperwork.
I responded, "What do you mean?" I shifted my gaze to meet his, and he smirked knowingly.
"You know, Amy mentioned she was with Gianna last night," he said, observing my reaction closely. I kept my expression stoic and, returning my attention to the file in front of me, pretended indifference.
"If you're going to tease me like a teenage girl, I recommend you leave now," I retorted, my focus still fixed on the documents.
I hadn't spoken to Gianna since the previous day. I needed to inform her about the remaining journalist who had refused to take down the article. During work hours, I had left a message on her personal phone. Hopefully, she would respond soon. Those pictures were an invasion of privacy, and I was determined to have them removed.
"Relax, Callum, no need to get all defensive," Leo suggested as he got up and walked over to my kitchen. "Would you like a beer?"
I declined with a shake of my head and sat up, gathering the paperwork into a folder and placing it on the table in front of me. Sighing, I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the table, and ran my hands through my hair.
"Jameson is killing me here," I lamented. "That little prick is always on my case about something new. Today he sent me a file about a case my mom had been covering."
Leo, sipping his beer, looked at me quizzically. "Apparently, she has this huge case down in Boston. They're trying to catch a foster care family that had been soliciting pictures of their young kids." I shuddered at the thought of it. "On second thought, I need that beer," I said, heading for the fridge.
"That's messed up. But why did Jameson you the case?" Leo inquired as he answered a text on his phone.
"He knows I don't speak to my parents anymore. He sends me anything and everything related to them," I replied in a flat tone, sitting down next to him this time.
Leaning over, I glanced at his phone, smirking. I then turned to him, wondering if Gianna had divulged the events of that night to Amy, and if Amy had subsequently spoken to Leo.
"Back off, asshole," Leo warned, shoving my shoulder.
I laughed and reached for the TV remote. Leo stood up beside me.
"She wants to see me; I'm going to pick her up. I'll talk to you later?" he said, seeking confirmation.
"Alright, Mr. Smith," I smirked, using Amy's last name. He gave me the finger and grabbed his coat.
"You're still coming to the birthday party tomorrow? Zack wants you there," he reminded me of his brother's party. I nodded in agreement, setting my beer down.
"Why does he want me there so badly?" I inquired.
Leo shook his head, typing something back to Amy on his phone. Without looking at me, he replied, "He wants you to meet his new boyfriend, claims he's found 'the one.'"
"Of course he'd want to flaunt his relationship in front of me," I grumbled, taking my beer back. "Claims I'm celibate because I don't ever date."
Leo just rolled his eyes. "I'll text you the details tomorrow," he said, walking out the door. I leaned back, enjoying the ensuing silence. So much had happened since Monday – first the club, then Wednesday night dinner, and then Wednesday nights... Yeah, two cold showers that night.
I had no idea why I felt the need to check up on Gianna at work yesterday, but I did, and learning that she never showed up left a bitter taste in my mouth. Why hadn't she shown up? Was it about the pictures? So many questions led me to the kitchen for another beer. I grabbed one, tossing the empty can into the recycling bin, and was about to head back to the living room when a knock sounded at my door.
What did Leo forget this time?
Approaching the door and resting the beer on the kitchen counter, I turned the knob, expecting to see Leo. However, to my surprise, it wasn't him.
Looking down, I met the round blue eyes of Gianna Ruth. My body froze, and my eyebrows furrowed. She looked tense, even nervous. Anxious, even.
"I meant to stop by your office today, but I had no time... I asked Amy for your address. I hope you don't mind," she explained and walked past me, making herself comfortable in my home.
There she stood, her hair flowing and her body dressed in leggings and a sweater, still the most gorgeous woman I had ever seen. What was wrong with me?
"Well, come in, please," I said sarcastically, shutting the door and approaching her as she stood there, watching me.
"I needed to talk to you about that article that's still up. It's been bothering me," she stated, keeping her gaze locked on mine, showing no signs of anything but determination. However, her face soon scrunched up in confusion.
"Did you really threaten that... woman who wrote the article?" she asked, swallowing nervously. Now I was the one who felt confused.
"I did not threaten her, Gianna. Just advised her to take it down," I explained, studying her face. I motioned with my arm, indicating the living room, inviting her to take a seat on the couch.
She shook her head and said, "I'm not staying long; I just want confirmation that you aren't going to go around and threaten people the moment they do something you disapprove of." Her words came out quickly, and she averted her gaze from mine.
I sighed, looking away from her, and grabbed a beer from the fridge. Sitting back down, I faced her and asked, "Whatever, Gianna. What's done is done. Would you relax and quit thinking I'm a monster of a person?" I responded a bit harshly.
She always seemed to think the worst of me, and it irked me. From the corner of my eye, I watched her survey the penthouse.
"I've always wondered what they looked like," she mused while her eyes roamed over the furniture and then ventured further to the floor-to-ceiling windows. "I see these penthouses in magazines and on TV... never in person."
"Well, now you have. Please take a seat, Gianna," I offered.
She relaxed her tense shoulders and turned toward me again. Her eyes roamed over the empty couch and the armchair across from it. She settled for the armchair and leaned back into it.
"So, I'm going to have to... fire Leo for sharing my address with that friend of yours," I joked while sipping my beer, watching as her eyes rolled in response.
"Don't be so extreme, Callum," she replied, crossing her arms.
She furrowed her brows and continued, "Wednesday. Jameson, that was the man you were beating the night we met, wasn't it?"
I tensed, setting the beer down, and clasping my hands together, I leaned forward on my knees. She turned back toward me, gauging my reaction.
"Yes," I admitted, nodding my head, but I kept my eyes fixed on hers.
"Can I ask why?" she inquired softly but urgently, as though she needed my answer.
"That's personal," I replied, not wanting to delve into the topic of my sister right at that moment.
"Oh, and digging into my past isn't?" she shot back, narrowing her eyes. "Why were you beating Jameson to the brink of death, Callum?" she demanded, her demeanor tense once more.
"Why are you so uptight about how I handle the last journalist Gianna?" I said while opening the third can. Watching her face now. It scrunched in pain very quickly but then it was gone. Weird.
"I just don't want you hurting anyone Callum. You tend to threaten and hurt people over your own selfish reasoning." She said rolling her eyes and crossing her arms.
Narrowing my eyes back at her I didn't answer. Tired of constantly fighting her over my actions, tired of the constant hatred she appeared to have for me.
We sat there for what felt like eternity. In silence. She watched me finish the third beer, just sitting there with an unreadable expression on her face.
I don't know if it was the beer or the fact she had such a control over my mind, but I found myself saying the next words.
"My sister is dead." I didn't wait for her reaction, just turned my head to the side.
"Jameson made a crude comment about her. I don't take those lightly." I heard her gasp and brought my eyes back to hers. She looked at me with sadness, and I hated it.
"Don't fucking pity me Gianna, I told you so you'd realise I'm not such a cruel man. I don't do things always with malicious intent." I bit back watching as she jumped at my harsh tone. I felt guilty at my response but then again, I was angry.
"Stop taking your pain out in anger Callum. I'm sorry about your sister, and I'm sorry.... about Jameson." She said quietly, but sternly narrowing her eyes while watching my features.
"Don't apologise." Was all I said turning to the night sky through the windows
My hands shook, but I managed to reply, "Jameson and his father have been long... enemies of mine. He said some things to me that night that were unpleasant." I glanced away from her, clenching my jaw. "On second thought, I'll have that beer," I muttered, grabbing another can from the fridge.
She was startled for a moment but then stood up and headed to the kitchen to retrieve her drink. I had a feeling her question about my sister wouldn't be the last tonight. And with that thought, I said, "Grab me another one too."