Chapter 21

"Good." I released her and stepped back with a mocking smile. "Welcome home, sweetheart."

I left without waiting for a response.

The warmth of Vivian's skin lingered on my palm until I closed my hand around my lighter and let the cold metal chase away the remnants of her touch.

"Don't start," I said when I passed a frowning Greta. She was dusting in the sitting room, close enough to hear at least part of my conversation with Vivian.

The movers must've already left.

"You were too harsh," she admonished, confirming my earlier suspicion.

Greta was over seventy, but her hearing gave bats a run for their money.

"Not harsh. Honest." I checked my watch. I had a lunch meeting with a visiting CEO in two hours, and I needed to prep before I left. "Would you rather I lead her on? Indulge her childhood fantasies about Prince Charming coming in and sweeping her off her feet?"

"How do you know she has those fantasies?" Greta swept her duster over the fireplace mantel with more force than necessary. "She seems like the practical sort."

"You met her half an hour ago."

I couldn't believe I was arguing with my housekeeper over my fiancée. It must be those goddamned cookies Vivian bribed her with. Greta had a sweet tooth and a special fondness for chocolate chip.

"I have good instincts when it comes to people. Otherwise…" Another aggressive sweep over the mantel. "I would've written you off as an overbearing clone of your grandfather years ago."

My face shut down.

"Remember who you work for," I warned, my tone dark.

"Non osare farmi una ramanzina quando sono stata io ha pulirti il culo da piccolo."Don't lecture someone who changed your diapers."If you want to fire me, fire me. But I know there's a heart in there somewhere,ragazzo mio. Use it and treat your future wife with respect."

"I gave her a black Amex and a diamond ring." Every woman would kill for those things, and they were more than Vivian deserved, considering who her father was.

Greta stared at me for a full minute before she shook her head and muttered furiously in Italian under her breath. I couldn't hear what she was saying, but I imagined it was none too complimentary.

I stopped next to Greta and placed a hand on the duster, forcing her to still.

"You're a valued member of my household, but there are only so many liberties I'll allow," I said coolly. "If you'd like a vacation to clear your head, let me know and it can be arranged."

The threat hung in the air as an offer.

Her eyes narrowed. "No vacation needed."

"Good."

Greta had worked for my family since I was a baby. She'd helped raise me and Luca since my parents were shit at the job, and she'd run my grandfather's household until I convinced her to work for me four years ago. Instead of being upset, my grandfather had gifted me a bottle of ten-thousand-dollar wine for successfully undercutting him.

While I had a soft spot for Greta and considered her the grandmother I never had—both of my biological grandmothers died before I was born—I would not tolerate blatant disrespect.

If she were anyone else, I would've fired and blacklisted her the second the wordharshleft her mouth.

A polite cough pulled my attention toward the doorway where Edward stood with a neutral expression.

"Sir, the movers have officially vacated the premises," he said. "Would you like me to give Ms. Lau the full tour?"

I'd taken Vivian directly to her room without showing her the rest of the house. Hell, she'd already seen half of it at last week's exhibition.

"Please do." She should know the apartment's full layout. I didn't want her accidentally wandering into my room or office.

He inclined his head and disappeared down the hall. Greta marched past me and disappeared into another corner of the penthouse without a word, but her disapproval lingered like the scent of her favorite lemon-scented cleaner.