Italian Boss, Ruthless Revenge. Carol Marinelli

lied exactly.’ Caitlyn gulped. ‘Malvolio said it…’ She watched his eyes narrow, realised he must be thinking there was something more to their working relationship. There truly wasn’t. She had asked and he had agreed—it was as simple as that. ‘Oh, it doesn’t matter.’ Caitlyn shrugged. ‘I need three payslips anyway.’

      ‘Then stay.’

      ‘I don’t want to.’ She stood firm. ‘I’d rather not put Malvolio down as a reference. I know he deals with the domestic staff, and I know he usually would be the one, but I…’

      ‘You can put me—I can assure you I have more influence with Mancini than Malvolio does, and I will ensure it is extremely favourable.’

      ‘How?’ Caitlyn frowned. ‘How can you write my reference when you don’t know anything about me?’

      ‘Oh, but I think I do.’ Her words, only spoken through his lips now. He stared over at her—little, but strong and, unlike his brother-in-law, unlike the father of the baby, this stranger actually gave a damn about the woman who was carrying his child.

      ‘I will get the forms and have your pay made up. I will do it on Monday—that way, if you change your mind over the weekend—’

      ‘Could you get the forms now, please?’ She wasn’t looking at him now, instead staring out of his vast windows somewhere over his shoulder at the Melbourne city skyline. ‘I won’t be changing my mind.’

      ‘Just think about it.’

      ‘I’d like the forms now.’

      This time she didn’t add please.

      This time Lazzaro knew there was no persuading her otherwise.

      ‘Where’s Malvolio?’

      Storming through the Admin corridors, Lazzaro caught everyone by surprise. Admin staff with bags over their shoulders, hoping to slope off a little early, suddenly sat back down and started tapping at blank screens; the raucous laughter coming from the boardroom that signalled end-of-week drinks that Lazzaro supplied for his team, which should start at five but in fact seemed to start around lunchtime, snapped off as if the power had been pulled as he stormed into rather unfamiliar territory. His suite was on the top floor, and he had a private lift that absolutely bypassed the usually well-oiled engines of Admin.

      But come five p.m. on Friday, the wheels fell off somewhat!

      ‘He’s gone!’ Audrey Miller, Malvolio’s assistant, gave an anxious smile. ‘He had to dash off—Antonia rang and said she was having some cramps…’

      ‘Antonia’s in labour?’

      ‘I’m not sure.’ Audrey gulped. ‘But the staff got a bit excited, as you can see…’

      There wasn’t a hope in hell of getting the termination forms—let alone a final cheque cut.

      He’d deal with the lot of them on Monday.

      Right now, his sister could be in labour.

      His brother-in-law by her side.

      The same brother-in-law who had forced Caitlyn Bell’s resignation for all the wrong reasons.