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Matteo winces, putting his glass down, and says, “Vincenzo, I don’t mean to be rude, but is this the conversation we should have over breakfast, in front of my daughter?”
I smile, staying silent for a long moment. “I suppose not.” I give Jordan’s thigh a little squeeze.
Their food is brought a moment later, and I spend time on my phone dealing with emails as they eat and share small talk I couldn’t care less about. I look up now and then to see how long until they’re finished. I’m itching for Jordan to hear the news.
When they’re finally done, and their plates are cleared, I put my phone down.
“Do you want to tell Jordan the good news, or shall I?” I ask, looking at Matteo. His eyes are burning with rage, and I half expect him to pick up his fork and stab me in the throat with it. Of course he doesn’t do that, and instead, his shoulders sag and he sighs.
“I’ll do it.”
He reaches for Jordan’s hand, taking it between both of his large ones.
“What’s wrong, Daddy? What’s going on?” she says, looking from him to me with a crease between her brows.
“Jordan, you know I love you dearly, yes?”
“Of course…”
“You are the only thing in this world that matters to me anymore, which is why I have to do what I have to do. It wasn’t an easy decision, but if things are to stay as they are, this is how it has to be.”
Wasn’t an easy decision? I barely blinked before the man was agreeing to my terms.
“I don’t understand what’s going on…” Jordan says with a small shake of her head.
Oh, things are about to get good.
“I got myself into some trouble, Jordan,” Matteo explains.
“What are you talking about? What kind of trouble?”
Matteo lets go of Jordan’s hand and grabs his alcohol, finishing it off in one mouthful. “The details don’t matter. All you need to know is I got myself into some trouble, and in order to keep you safe, I had to make a deal.”
I keep my gaze on Jordan, wanting to see the exact moment she realizes what’s going on. The precise moment she realizes her life is mine.
“What kind of deal?” she asks in a trembling voice.
Because I’m a businessman, I know how to make deals. I know if I want things to go my way, there has to be some give and take where it’s possible. Which is why I agreed Matteo wouldn’t have to tell her everything. Though he may think it’s me being fair, it’s not. I’m ten steps ahead of him and plan on using his mistakes to gain Jordan’s trust. I’m not going to make the man spill every secret he has right here and now. Some of them need to stay in the dark for a little while longer.
When she wants to tell me how horrible I am, what a terrible and awful man I am—because she will—and throw in my face how great of a father Matteo is, I’ll hit her with the hard truth. The facts.
She can learn the easy way or the hard way that I don’t lie. That I am an honest man.
Matteo sighs again. “Vincenzo has agreed to help us. He’s going to pay the debts I owe, but he needs something in return.”
“Daddy, you’re scaring me. What is going on?” she demands.
I can’t wait to take her home and make everything all better by licking her sweet cunt until she’s coming on my face.
“Sweetheart,” he begins, taking her hand again. “You, uh—” He sighs heavily, and says, “Sweetie, you have to marry Vincenzo.” He winces, closing his eyes and shaking his head as if he’s the one getting the bad news.
She’s silent for a long moment, then she laughs.
“You’re joking.” She turns to me, her eyes bright and shining with humor. “This is a joke.” She turns her attention back to her father, who is frowning deeply.
“This isn’t a joke, Jordan. It’s already settled,” he says solemnly.
“I don’t—” She gasps, her hand jolting up to cover her mouth. Her bright honey eyes widen as she stares at her father. She’s frozen, as beautiful as a goddess, like the Aphrodite statue a few feet away.
