Kate’s lips pressed into a thin line. “That was low,” she said. “If you’re even considering us for partners, there should be trust. We’re not out to take anything away from you, Fran. We’re here to bring you more success, but if you don’t believe it, maybe I need to rethink my position here.”

She stood up and walked out.

Layla gazed at me with a touch of sympathy. “I’m sure you’ll fix it with Lexi. I just wanted to be clear about what was said. We’re a team, Fran. You don’t have to do everything alone all the time, you know.”

She waited for me to answer, but I had nothing to say. She ducked her head, then followed Kate out, shutting the door softly behind her.

My hands began to shake. I was losing control, and I didn’t know what to do about it. Already, just thinking of Lexi yanking the account made my entire body clench and my heart beat faster. I thought of Allegra and how I should be calling to make sure she was at track practice and not with her new criminal friends. I thought of my mother, with her worried gaze and admonishments and the guilt I always felt in her presence. And I even thought of that doctor, who’d looked at me with kind eyes and a sexy smile, and I wondered what that strange flicker of recognition was, because it had been so long since I experienced any type of sexual spark, I didn’t know how to deal with it, let alone flirt. And then all the thoughts jumbled up into one big roaring mess, making me want to lower my head in my hands and cry.

But I didn’t.

I pulled myself together, sipped some water, took some breaths, and called Lexi again.

Hours later, I sat behind my desk and brought up the site for Italy tours.

Seemed as if I had no choice after all. We were going to Italy.

CHAPTER TEN

Allegra

I stepped out of the cab and stood on the curb, blinking away the fatigue that made me feel like I’d had too much to drink. The flight had seemed endless, starting with a delay, then long lines at customs. Our pickup never showed, so Mom had gone into her bitchy business mode, calling the tour director and complaining. I’d exchanged suffering glances with Nonni, but we’d just kept quiet and let her do her thing.