Rome for Always (The BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES Collection) (16 page)

But, as oftentimes happens in life, things were not
quite that simple. The first problem was, Iyana was not answering her cell
phone. He called four times that morning and left two voice messages. It got to
the point where he felt like a stalker. He wasn’t going to call that number
again.

He hated to do it but he called the home number he found
on her file. The result was even worse. At least he’d been able to leave a
voice message on her cell phone. When he tried the house phone all he got was a
recording that the number had been disconnected.

After two text messages and an email his back was
against the wall. He grimaced at the thought but there was nothing left to do
but go to her home. He had to understand her real reason for leaving and,
somehow, he had to get her to explain all that to Arie. If he could only get
Iyana to talk to her and get Arie to listen then everything would be resolved. If
clarification didn’t come from him but directly from Iyana’s mouth then Arie
would have no alternative but to believe.

It was almost noon when he hopped into his car and sped
off to Metairie. Iyana’s home was not hard to find. Nestled at the end of the
road, the neat little house was circled by an abundance of flowers that had
obviously been tended with great care.

He pulled up in front of it and as he walked toward the
house he took in the slightly peeling paint and the worn rocking chair on the
front porch. Despite the subtle signs of age the house was beautiful, with windows
that were clear and sparkling with soft white curtains falling behind them. On
the front door was a cheerful wreath and on the ground in front was a wide mat
that said, ‘Welcome to our home’. The place had a happy, lived-in look to it,
one that he liked.

Rome crossed the porch and, not seeing a bell, he tapped
at the front door. He got an immediate response.

“Coming,” a cheery voice called out and then he heard
footsteps approaching.

He straightened, preparing to introduce himself to
someone from Iyana’s family. Maybe it was her mother who would answer the door
or probably her sister. Whoever it was, he already liked her. There had to be a
beautiful person connected with that pleasant voice.

When the door opened it was Iyana who stood in the entrance.

Rome’s brows lifted in surprise. Iyana calling out a
greeting in a happy, lilting voice? How was it that he’d never seen this side
of his curt, no-nonsense personal assistant?

Obviously surprised, her eyes widened and the smile
froze on her face. She looked just as shocked to see him as he was to see her
in a lighthearted mood.

“Rome, what are you doing here?” Her voice was
breathless as she stared up at him. Then her eyes narrowed and the old Iyana,
the one he knew so well, began to creep back. “Are you here to order me back to
work?” she demanded. “Because it’s not going to happen.”

He didn’t get a chance to respond. He was opening his
mouth to speak when another voice made him pause.

“Yana, who is it, baby?” It was the heavy, rumbling
voice of a man.

Caught off guard, Rome stared at Iyana, waiting for her
next move. He’d hurried to this woman’s house, not even thinking of what he
would find upon arrival. Now he’d probably put her in an embarrassing position
– a man showing up on her doorstep when she obviously had company.

She swung away from him. “Coming,” she said, again in
that super-cheerful tone he’d come to associate with her alter ego.  When she
turned back to face him, though, she looked serious. “Rome, why are you here?”
she asked, the smile in her voice gone. “As you can see, I’m busy.”

He nodded. “I know and I’m sorry to disturb you but we
need to talk. It’s very important.”  

She gave him a look sharp with suspicion. “About what?”

“We won’t talk about it now,” he said, wanting to end
the conversation quickly. “Just tell me when’s good for you and I’ll be back.”
Then he added, “Or we can meet somewhere. Anywhere. I just need to talk to
you.”

He didn’t know if curiosity got the better of Iyana but
instead of sending him on his way she stepped back and held the door open. “No,
we’ll talk now,” she said firmly. “Come in.”

For the second time since showing up on her front porch
Rome raised his eyebrows in surprise. So, company or not, she was inviting him
in? Then he did a mental shrug and stepped forward. He could only assume she
knew what she was doing.

He found himself in a spacious living room with colorful
rugs on the floor, a piano against a wall and a plasma TV that had to be at
least seventy inches. The short, squat vase on the glass table in the middle of
the room was overflowing with roses, orchids and jasmine that gave the place a
flowery fragrance. The room was an intriguing mix of old world and new.

“Have a seat,” Iyana said, waving him over to a wide
sofa covered with an intricately embroidered quilt. “I’ll be right back.”

He did as he was told, going over to the sofa as his
hostess disappeared into another room.  And then he heard the heavy male voice
again. “Is it Michael?” the voice asked. “Tell him to come on back here. That’s
easier than me going up front to see him.”

“No, it’s not Michael,” was Iyana’s reply. “I’ve got…a
visitor. My ex-boss.” The last words sounded tight, like she was clenching her
teeth as she said them.

“Is that so? Bring him on back here. I want to meet
him.”

Rome’s brows shot up again. Iyana’s man wanted to meet
him? After she’d suddenly quit on him? He couldn’t help but wonder what story
she’d fed the man. Even he didn’t know her reason for leaving so what had she
told her boyfriend?

Within five seconds the woman in question was back,
beckoning to him. “Can you come with me, please? There’s someone who would like
to meet you.”

“Don’t I know it,” he muttered under his breath but to
Iyana he gave a brusque nod and got up from his perch. “I’m right behind you,”
he said as if the pending introduction did not bother him one bit.

She turned and led the way and soon they came to a sunny
kitchen where an elderly man sat by a window overlooking a garden that was even
more impressive than the ones at the front. The man was sitting in a
wheelchair.

“Ho there,” he said with a wave and a broad smile. “Is
this the famous Rome Milano I’ve been hearing so much about?” He stuck his hand
out for a shake, not waiting for an answer. “Come on over, young man. Let me
greet you properly.”

The man’s grin was infectious and although Rome had no
idea what Iyana had been telling him about her ‘ex-boss’ as she so eloquently
described him, he somehow felt comfortable in the elder’s presence. It was
actually a relief to be shaking hands with a senior rather than someone who
could have been Iyana’s beau.

Rome took his weathered hand. “Pleased to meet you,
Mr….” He paused, realizing he had no idea whose hand he was holding. Iyana’s
father, maybe?

“This is my grandfather, Andrew Jackson. Gramps, meet my
boss, Rome Milano.” Then, as if catching her blunder, Iyana mumbled, “I mean my
ex-boss.”

“Pleased to meet you, Mr. Jackson,” Rome said, giving
the man’s hand a hearty shake.

“Welcome to our home,” Mr. Jackson said then dropped his
hands and wheeled his chair close to the kitchen table. “Take a load off,” he
said. “Have a seat and we can share a pot of tea.”

That almost made Rome smile. He hadn’t expected Mr. Jackson
would be a tea-drinker. It was a stereotype but it made him sound so British.

“Uh, Gramps, Mr. Milano can’t stay. He’s sort of…in a
hurry.” Iyana made sure she was standing at an angle where Andrew Jackson
couldn’t see her face as she sent a speedy message to Rome with her eyes. The
message was, '
no tea for you, just move along'
.

Rome could take a hint. “I’m sorry, Mr. Jackson, but
Iyana’s right. I can’t stay.”

“That’s too bad,” he began but his granddaughter was
already moving toward the exit, giving Rome eyes that obviously meant, ‘
let’s
go’
.

Dutifully, he gave a bow of farewell to the gracious old
man and followed his ex-personal assistant back to the living room.

Quickly, she pulled the door closed then turned to face
him. “Now will you tell me what this is about? I’m sure it’s not a social
visit.”

He didn’t bother to beat around the bush. “I need your
help,” he said urgently. “I need you to come with me to see Arie to clear up
something.”

Iyana’s gaze narrowed and she folded her arms across her
chest. “Something like what?”

“I need you to tell Arie what your feelings are toward
me. She’s got all kinds of crazy ideas and I won’t get any peace until this
thing has been discussed and put to bed.” He gave her a look he hoped was
pleading enough to sway her.

She didn’t seem convinced. “Why should I do something
like that?”

“Count it as your good deed for the day, Iyana. Heck, it
can count for the whole week. Just help me out, will you?” Now he was really
pleading and he didn’t even care. He needed her help and if he had to beg to
get it, that was exactly what he would do.

“Would she have to come here?” she asked and Rome almost
kissed her. The question meant she was actually considering it.

“No, I’ll pick you up,” he said quickly, “or we can meet
you someplace of your choosing. I just need you to do this for me as soon as
possible. This evening, maybe?”

“No,” she said with a quick shake of her head. “I have
to take Gramps to oncology at five.” She bit her bottom lip then flashed him a
look that said she hadn’t meant for that slip out.

“I’m sorry?” he said, immediately picking up on the
significance of what she’d said. “Your grandfather has cancer?”

Iyana’s lips tightened and a cloud seemed to descend
over her face but she nodded. “Yes. He’s got to do chemo this evening. I can’t
do this for you until tomorrow.”

“Of course,” he said instantly, a wave of guilt washing
over him. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

“No.” Quickly, she shook her head. “I’m already doing
all that can be done. Please…” For a moment she looked confused, as if caught
between a rock and a hard place. “Can we talk about this when I get back
tonight? I’ll call you after Gramps is in bed.”

“Iyana, if it’s too much-”

“No, I’ll call you. I just…need to get back to him now.”

It was a pensive Rome who drove away from Iyana’s home
that afternoon. She’d worked for him almost two years and he hadn’t even been
aware of what she was going through.

And then another thought came to him. He hadn’t even
asked her why she’d quit.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

            “I don’t think she’s coming,” Arie said, looking peeved as she
toyed with her fork. “Let’s just go.”

“Just relax,” Rome said, taking the fork from her
fingers. “Just cut her some slack. Remember I told you, she’s got a lot on her
plate.”

That made Arie look pensive. “I know. It’s just…” She
sighed. “I don’t see the point of all this.”

“The point of all this,” Rome said, “is that we need to
have the truth laid out on the table. We can’t go on like this. We have to do
this.”

Another sigh and then Arie gave him a rueful smile. “I
guess you’re right. I know she’s going through a lot and I don’t want to judge
her. Maybe I was unfair, jumping to conclusions like that.”

“You were,” Rome said, giving her a pseudo-stern look. “You’ll
see.”

It was another nine minutes before Iyana pushed open the
door to Cafe Beignet, her eyes scanning the place in search of them.

“Over here.” Rome put up his hand and she immediately
hurried over.

“I’m sorry,” she said, sounding breathless. “I got held
up at my appointment.”

“Something to do with Gramps?” Rome frowned, concern for
the old man at the forefront of his mind.

“No, nothing like that.” She shook her head as she slid
into the vacant chair across the table. “It had to do with…a job.” She seemed
hesitant to share that piece of information, even embarrassed. Considering who
she was sharing that information with, it was understandable.

Rome decided to change the subject. “May I get you
something? Coffee? Tea?”

“No, nothing please. I can’t stay long. You wanted me to
come here. To answer questions, you said. Well, I’m here. Ask.” It was only at
this point that she turned her attention to Arie and her stare was cool, with
just a hint of challenge.

It was a bit unsettling but Rome was the one who had
hounded these women until they’d decided to meet so there was nothing left to
do but get that ball rolling. “You ladies already know each other,” he said,
“so I’ll get right to it.”

He paused, trying to find the right words. When he’d
planned this it had seemed so easy but now that the time was here it was like
he was lost for words. He cleared his throat then turned his attention to the
woman sitting across from him. He decided to plunge right in. “Iyana, I asked
you to meet with us because Arie has drawn the most farfetched conclusion.” He
chuckled but it sounded awkward even to his own ears. “She thinks you quit
because you fell in love with me.” This time he laughed out loud but he was the
only one laughing while the two women stared daggers at each other.