Page 31 of For Your Eyes Only
“I’m thinking.” His tone is impatient. “Gia said she’s a seamstress? Did she tell you how she got here?”
“She came to join the Ballet Company of America is what she said.”
“Yeah, that’s right. That place was a clusterfuck. They even made one of those documentaries about it.”
“I’m concerned it’s all a lie, a cover story.”
Silence.
A few seconds pass, and Franco slowly says, “Why would you think that?”
“I ran into Gia today on Worth Avenue. She said it was her birthday, and she had shopping bags from Valentino and Carolina Herrera… very expensive stores.”
“She got presents for her birthday? So what?” Franco is being so dim-witted, I wonder why I trust him to manage my business at all.
“Why would a poor girl trying to get home to her family spend the cost of an international plane ticket on designer dresses? Hell, she could buy three plane tickets for the price of one Valentino dress.”
More silence. “It’s true.”
“I offered to give her a ride home, and she declined. She wouldn’t tell me where she lived.”
“Is that so?” He doesn’t sound as concerned as I am, which worries me.
“Is Gia being trafficked?”
Franco explodes in a coughing fit, and I hold the phone away from my ear.What the fuck?I give him several seconds to get it together.
When he’s no longer coughing, I put the phone to my ear again. “You okay?”
“I don’t think Gia’s being sex trafficked.”
“I didn’t saysextrafficked. She’s a seamstress. She could be here against her will, forced to make clothes in a sweatshop. Hell, I don’t know what all these assholes do.”
“That’s a pretty big accusation you’re making.”
“How well do you know her?” Silence again. It lasts too long, so I continue. “How well do you know Bianca for that matter? When did you meet her?”
“I’ve known Bianca long enough.” He pauses, and I hear him drinking. “I don’t think they’re being trafficked. I would know.”
“Her situation doesn’t make sense. Get your guys to look into it. See what they find out and let me know.”
“You’re the boss.” He’s respectful, but I don’t like his dismissiveness.
In my line of work, you never allow suspicious situations to go unchecked.
“Keep me posted.” I disconnect, annoyed by his lack of interest.
Criminal enterprises take hold because regular people don’t believe it can happen in their neighborhood. It can.
My walking pace increased while I was speaking to Franco, probably because my adrenaline was pumping. Now I’m back at my building, taking the elevator to the top floor, the penthouse.
I don’t know what it is about that girl, but she stirs something in me I can’t deny. I want to be sure she’s safe. Her wild curls and sparkling black eyes, her dimpled grin all filter through my memory, and my stomach warms. I smile.
Alone. In my living room.Smiling.
Even if Franco isn’t convinced something’s up, I have her number. What the hell am I waiting for? Opening my phone, I tap out a quick text.You should have a birthday dinner, and I know just the place.
It takes a minute for her to reply, but her answer is perfect.Are you asking me to dinner?