“My brother gave me that nickname because my mother is black.”
She blinked. “I’m sorry I asked that Vic, I-”
“Will you just stop apologizing to me, already? You can ask me anything Candace.”
She settled back in her chair. “Your father must love you a lot to give you his name.”
Pitch’s expression softened thanks to an emerging smile. “My mom said he wouldn’t have it any other way. They were both married-my dad’s wife and my mom’s husband hate me equally. My dad said he gave me his name so I’d always know I was loved-wanted.”
Candace hugged herself in the chair. “That’s beautiful,” she sighed.
“Yeah,” Pitch agreed, though his expression said otherwise. “It’s like a double edged sword- reminding everyone I’m different. That name’s made my life hell.”
“You shouldn’t let it,” her tone was soft yet firm.
Pitch nodded. “I get that, but it still stings...” he rolled his eyes and fixed her with an amused look. “You’re really easy to talk to.”
Candace looked pleased and gave a little stretch in her chair. “My mom is a southern girl. You either speak loud enough to make yourself heard over them or you learn to be a good listener.”
“I heard that Candace Maureen!”
Candace and Pitch laughed while Daniella Strong entered the room with a tray of iced tea.
Pitch stood. “Let me help you, Mrs. Strong.”
Daniella angled the sizable tray out of Pitch’s reach. “It’s Daniella and you’re a guest.”
“A gentleman too, I hope?” Pitch easily relieved the woman of the tray.
Daniella Strong treated herself to another perusal of the young Italian. “I wouldn't mind having this one for a son-in-law, Candy.”
Daniella sauntered from the room, leaving Candace holding her head in her hand once again. Pitch smiled broadly.
“I believe Southern women are my favorite kind,” he said.
~10~
“What the hell?” Aaron sent a sideways look to Gabriel who was shadowing him that day while Humphrey made moves with Vale.
Aaron moved from behind his desk while Gabriel looked on from the smaller worktable provided for him in Aaron’s office. The voices outside the door grew louder with unmistakable anger.
When Aaron threw open the door, he didn’t know what had him more surprised. The small woman outfitted in worn overalls and ranting in a rapid foreign tongue or his brothers who towered over her. Both looked murderously angry and yet powerless to stop the tongue-lashing they were clearly receiving.
“Call security, will you?” Humphrey demanded, having finally noticed his brother in the doorway. “Tell them we have a crazed, soon to be ex employee on our hands.”
The woman reverted from her foreign tongue to English. “Just try throwing me out of here, you son of a dog!”
Aaron’s quick burst of laughter drew a scathing look from Humphrey, a horrified one from Vale a suspicious one from the angry little woman.
“What seems to be the problem?” Aaron coolly inquired.
The woman resumed her foreign rant before Humphrey could open his mouth. Aaron stayed her words with a raised hand.
“English please,” he requested.
“Throw her out for trespassing!” Humphrey said.
“Didn’t you just say she was an employee?” Aaron queried.
Humphrey rolled his eyes impatiently. “She’s got no business in here, though.”
The woman crossed her arms over her chest. “I have every business here. People like me keep you all nice and comfy in your fancy pants rat holes.”
“Is there something we can help you with, Miss?” Aaron asked before Humphrey could respond to the insult.
The woman looked exasperated. “You can tell me where to find Aaron Tesano. He’s been tracking me like the cops for the last week and a half, nagging me about coming to his office. “I’m here to keep an appointment and this one-” she hiked a thumb up toward Humphrey, “has been on my tail the whole time like I’m here to steal something.”
Aaron nodded then, understanding. “Rena Abru?”
“Rena Abreu,” she clarified the pronunciation of her last name.
“Abreu,” Aaron repeated correctly and put a hand to his chest. “I’m the one who called. I’m Aaron Tesano. These are my brothers Humphrey and Vale. My brother Gabriel is in the office there. Won’t you please come in?”
A beat of silence passed and then Rena let out a ‘hmph’ and brushed past the men.
“Ari-”
“I’ll handle it, Hump.”
