The Boss Assignment (Rogue Protectors Book 3) by Victoria Paige (red scrolls of magic txt) 📗

wall that was her last bedroom this one almost occupied an entire wall. She slid open the accordion doors and the few clothes she owned… or rather Renata bought for her looked pathetic, taking one tenth of the space in the huge closet. And she was still wearing Antonio’s shirt. The smell of him was suddenly as suffocating as the man himself.

His moodiness was making her head hurt, and though she wanted to feel for the boy who’d had a rough start in life, Antonio was a grown man now who had responsibilities.

This shouldn’t get personal. She’d keep her mouth shut from now on.

She had an antiviral to make.

A restless night interfered with her plans to get an early start and be at the lab before anyone else was up. By the time she appeared at the breakfast table, Luis was already there doing the crossword in that morning’s newspaper and was drinking Brazilian coffee which packed a wallop of caffeine in a tiny cup. Sort of like espresso on steroids. Maybe that was why she couldn’t sleep well last night. Brazilians tended to drink them any time of the day and after the lab exercise yesterday, Antonio asked Ida to deliver a round of coffee.

But she was thankful for the carafe of coffee Ida had set at the table so she didn’t have to act difficult and ask for American-style java.

“Where’s everyone?” Charly asked.

“Nico is still asleep,” Ida said, walking into the dining room and laying down a loaf of bread. “Senhor Andrade already left. Renata is scurrying around somewhere.”

“Antonio already left?”

Before Ida could answer, Renata strode in, wearing tights and an exercise bra. “I do not scurry around. I actually went running. Exercise. You should try it sometime.”

Ida laughed sarcastically. “My exercise is taking care of the villa. Maybe you should try a day in my shoes and we’ll see how many calories you burn.” With that statement, the housekeeper exited the dining room.

Charly stared at the plate of bread. Jeez. Tension much?

Luis cleared his throat. “You two stop fighting. You’re giving Charly a bad impression.” She could feel him turn to her. “They’re not always like this.”

She glanced up and awarded the man with a dubious smile.

Renata plopped herself in a chair. “She should try a day in my shoes, running around the building, doing Antonio’s job.”

“That’s your job,” Luis pointed out.

“I know. I’m just pointing out to Mrs. Ida Castillo that I’m not lazy.”

“Neither is she,” the older man responded. “Being a housekeeper doesn’t mean her job is easier. My wife taught me that lesson when she left me alone at home with our son for a few days.”

“Why am I always the one who must compromise?” Renata asked.

“Because you don’t want to piss off the person who makes your food?” Charly grinned into her coffee.

Luis chuckled. “She has a point.”

Renata’s face, which was a tad red from her exercise, grew pale. “What an awful thing to say.”

Charly laughed. “I’m not saying she’s going to poison you. All I’m saying is she might put more salt in your food.”

“You know that’s not what you meant,” Luis piped in, eyes lit in amusement, looking at Charly. “You’re trying to backtrack. If you want to survive in this household, don’t shy away from baring your claws.”

Ida returned to the room with Nico trailing behind her. She laid one more platter on the table and took her seat. Nico obviously had just woken up and was in zombie mode, picking up the carafe of coffee and pouring it into his mug.

The housekeeper shimmied her butt from side to side as if settling in her chair and then looked around the table. “What? No one is eating?”

“Charly suggested I shouldn’t piss you off because you might poison me.”

Ida emitted an evil chuckle. “Good advice.” Turning to Charly, she asked, “How’s the hand?”

“What’s wrong with her hand?” Renata demanded.

“Antonio asked for the Ferion. Charly has issues apparently.”

“Only when I’m tired. I have hand tremors and weakness. And it’s better.”

“How did Antonio find out?” Renata asked.

Charly decided to tell them the version she would tell everyone else at the house. “He had a file on me and found out about my accident.” She looked pointedly at Nico to sort of guilt him as an accomplice to his boss.

It worked. The young man grinned sheepishly. “Sorry.”

“Next time if Antonio wants to know anything about me, tell him to ask me first.”

Though the file wasn’t the way Antonio discovered her injury anyway, it still unnerved her how he could be so observant and persistent, only to turn around and dismiss her like she was of no consequence. That had to be some kind of wall he built not to get too close to anyone.

“He does that all the time,” Renata said. “That’s how he works. He wants to know everything that he’s up against. He constantly asks Nico to get him information on everyone.” She shook her head. “But, boy, did he get obsessed with Ariana.”

Charly was mid-chew with bread and butter when she froze. She stared at the other woman across the table, swallowing her food before speaking. “Ariana Walker? Migs’ wife.”

“Oh,” Renata said. “I forgot. You were in the car with them.”

Right. How could she forget?

“She’s a brave woman,” Charly pointed out.

“Antonio was pissed when Miguel Walker swooped in and stole her.”

“I was with Ariana at Carillo’s and got to know her. I doubt there was any stealing that happened. She’s very much in love with her husband.”

“I’m sorry, of course,” Renata laughed. “That all seems so long ago.” The other woman looked apologetic. “But Antonio does care for Ariana. If he had any inkling that Walker was not doing a good job, he would take over.”

Charly recalled the sniping between the two men. She also recalled the unusual tenderness in Antonio’s tone when he talked to Ariana.

“She is gorgeous,” Charly squeaked. Her chest was suddenly tight. The coffee was still strong and was probably giving her heartburn.

“Right? When I was compiling