“Leaving.” He doesn’t raise his voice. He doesn’t need to. “Now.”
Amanda’s smile falters. “Gabriel, I didn’t mean?—”
“I know exactly what you meant.” He steps slowly into the room, suddenly seeming like he’s ten feet tall. His dark eyes are narrowed, locked onto her. “And you know damn well better than to speak to anyone in my household that way. Don’t make me remind you of your place, Amanda.”
Her eyes narrow right back at him. Then she takes in a deep breath.
“Per favore, mi parlerai così davanti alla servitù?”
I don’t speak a word of Italian. But I catchper favore—please? And the way her eyes flick to me on the last word,servitù, I’m guessing refers to the servant?
Gabriel’s jaw tightens. When he responds, his voice is low, controlled, lethal.
“Sai benissimo che lei è molto più che 'la servitù.' Ora vattene. Non te lo chiederò di nuovo.”
The words come out so fast, and I don’t understand any of them. But I do understand the tone, the finality.
Amanda’s face flushes. For a moment, she looks like she might argue.
She doesn’t. Instead, she snatches her briefcase from the table and strides past him, heels clicking sharply against the marble.
She opens the door roughly and departs with a slam.
I stand there, duster in hand, face burning, my chest tight with humiliation and fury.
Gabriel turns his attention to me.
“Thea—”
I cut him off. “I should get back to work.”
“She was out of line.”
“She wasn’t wrong.”
“Yes, she was.”
I shake my head and look away. “It doesn’t matter.”
“It matters to me.”
A strange blend of emotions rolls through me. I don’t know what to say or do.
“I need to get back to work.”
I take one more steeling breath, then walk out with as much poise and confidence as I can muster. Gabriel says nothing, but I can feel his eyes on me as I leave.
CHAPTER 8
THEA
Ican’t sleep.
I’ve spent two hours staring at the ceiling, listening to the house settle, my mind spinning through the events of the day.
I keep thinking about Amanda’s words, about Gabriel’s response.
Sai benissimo che lei è molto più che 'la servitù.